Hounds abound: Tecumseh goes to dogs and gets silly with Pet Parade, Wack-a-Doodle Day

By BRAD HEINEMAN

bradh@tecumsehherald.com

TECUMSEH — Pet pooches paraded with their families down Chicago Boulevard dressed in costume as various characters from throughout cinema history, and afterwards things got even more silly in downtown Tecumseh.

Pairing with the city’s annual Pet Parade, Tecumseh event planners came up with a brand new event, Wack-a-Doodle Day, which debuted June 20, immediately following the pet parade.

The whole concept behind Wack-a-Doodle Day, city officials said, was for people to visit downtown Tecumseh, be silly and have fun.

“The pet parade was a huge success. Thirty-nine pets participated in the Movie Mashups themed parade down Chicago Boulevard,” Rhonda Nowak, Tecumseh’s event and marketing coordinator, said in an email. “It always amazes me how much work people put into the costumes for this parade, and this year was no exception. The winner of this year’s parade arrived in a remote-controlled car driven by his family in full costume. It is so fun to see people’s faces as the parade goes by. Everyone is smiling and taking pictures.”

Rebecca Baldridge and Ted Leung, along with 3-year-old Wolfie, earned the distinction of winning the top costume prize. The whole family went with a Dracula-themed attire, which featured Wolfie seated in a remote-controlled car throughout the course of the parade.

Gift baskets for the costumed winners were donated by Red Mill Pet Supplies, Wags to Wiskers Pet Supplies of Tecumseh and Hollywood Feed of Ann Arbor.

After the parade, Wack-a-Doodle games were set up in the grassy lot at the corner of West Chicago Boulevard and South Pearl Street, and along the sidewalks as people strolled through downtown.

“It was great to see so many people strolling around town and visiting the shops and restaurants,” Nowak said. “It is great to see people out supporting the event as well as the businesses.”