Pets lead charge to Saxonburg Carnival
SAXONBURG — Before children could win stuffed lions, tigers and bears at the Saxonburg Carnival this week, the annual event by the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company was opened Tuesday by a parade that included dogs, frogs and hogs.
The pet parade has been a tradition in the borough for years, and parade chairwoman Sarah Smith said it has grown in size and participation every year.
Each year, Calvin Mitchell, of Saxonburg, has brought a different pet from one of his 10 tanks of amphibians and reptiles, opting to bring his favorite toad, John, to the march this time.
He carried John, who is one of his heavier pets, through town on the parade route, which got the exact reaction he expected.
“Most people say, ‘I have never seen a toad that big,’” Mitchell said. “A few years ago I won for the smallest pet with snails; (John) is about 2-and-a-half pounds.”
Smith said she did not know how many pet owners signed up for the parade this year, but judging by the crowd at the Saxonburg Memorial Church, where the route began, turnout was good.
According to Smith, the parade always is populated by unusual pets, but there has been more agricultural pets in recent years.
“It has grown with a lot of farm animals, people bringing cows and chickens,” she said. “It’s just fun to see what everyone brings.”
Pastors from Saxonburg Memorial Presbyterian Church and St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church performed a blessing of the pets before they embarked on the parade route. The route took the pets west on Main Street to Pittsburgh Street before turning left to enter the carnival grounds.
While some pet owners had been bringing their animals to the parade for years, it was the first time for 6-year-old horse Ronny, who is owned by J and J Farms Animal Sanctuary in Saxonburg. Ronny has a genetic deformity called swayback, also known as lordosis, which arches his back downward.
Jessica Poutous, of J and J Farms, said the organization received its nonprofit status in September, and the parade was a good opportunity to get the word out about its mission. The farm also walked in the parade with several ducks and geese that were disabled in some way
“We take in disabled farm animals and save them from the slaughter,” she said. “We’re just here for the pet parade, it was a good chance to let people know we are here.
“It’s a little niche we found that we could help with here.”
People lined the streets of downtown Saxonburg to watch the animals go. Some of the attendees were there looking for one particular pet, Gertrude.
Holly Mead, of Jefferson Township, said she has been participating in the pet parade for 45 years, starting back when she was a child bringing raccoons to the march.
For the past few years she has brought Gertrude to the parade. The distinguished duck became a popular entry after going viral online.
Mead said she is happy to play such a crowd-pleasing role in a tradition she has enjoyed since childhood and was excited to introduce Gertrude to ranks of carnival visitors.
“People said they were driving an hour so they could meet Gertrude,” Mead said. “It’s so much fun to do, and now I love it for my children.”
