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Here’s who took top honors at San Juan’s Kids’ Pet Parade

by in News

Emma Hall, 12, and her rottweiler Rosie earned the honor to walk in the annual Swallows Day Parade after nabbing the judges’ favorite award in the annual Kids’ Pet Parade, on Saturday, Feb. 16, in San Juan Capistrano. The duo, with Emma as a sheriff and Rosie as her prisoner, also took home the award for best team costume.

About 300 spectators turned out for the annual event, which featured 15 contestants in four categories.

  • Madi Salinas, 12, of San Juan Capistrano shows off one of the tricks her dog, Teddy, dressed in a Superman costume, can do during a parade for kids and their pets at Los Rios Park in San Juan Capistrano on Saturday, February 16, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

  • Swallows Fiesta Association President Jim Taylor interviews Lily Gallegos, 8, of Mission Viejo, as she and her dog, Flynn, compete in the “Best Team Costume” category during the annual Kids’ Pet Parade at Los Rios Park on Saturday, February 16, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

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  • San Juan Capistrano Swallows Fiesta Association member Paul Lambros uses a second leash to help Savannah Erca, 11, walk her dog Kora, dressed as a gunslinger, as they compete in the “Best Team Costume” category in a Kids’ Pet Parade on Saturday, February 16, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer

  • Pepper, a Chihuahua mix, sports a sombrero and a poncho as he participates in a Kids’ Pet Parade, hosted by they San Juan Capistrano Swallows Fiesta Association, at Los Rios Park on Saturday, February 16, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

  • Friends Leyana Boldt, left, 5, of San Juan Capistrano and Amanda Bennett, 5, of San Juan Capistrano cuddle with a pair of Guinea Pigs at a booth for Zoomars Petting Zoo during a Kids’ Pet Parade at Los Rios Park in San Juan Capistrano on Saturday, February 16, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

  • Hana Henderson, 8, of Capistrano Beach walks her dog, Nalu, a Black Labrador Retriever, as they compete in the “Domestic House Pet” category during a Kids’ Pet Parade at Los Rios Park in San Juan Capistrano on Saturday, February 16, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

  • Swallows Fiesta Association President Jim Taylor interviews Emma Hall, 12, of San Juan Capistrano, as she and her dog, Rosie, compete in the “Best Team Costume” category during the annual Kids’ Pet Parade at Los Rios Park on Saturday, February 16, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

  • Sisters Alexa and Avery Roemer perform their “Songs About Dogs” in San Juan Capistrano’s Los Rios Park during a Kids’ Pet Parade on Saturday, February 16, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

  • A panel of Swallows Fiesta Association members, who acted as judges for the associationÕs annual Kids’ Pet Parade, applaud the parade participants as they compete in several categories at Los Rios Park in Old Town San Juan Capistrano on Saturday, February 16, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

  • Emma Hall, 12, of San Juan Capistrano and her Rottweiler Rosie compete in the “Best Team Costume” category during a Kids’ Pet Parade, hosted by the Swallows Fiesta Association, at Los Rios Park in San Juan Capistrano on Saturday, February 16, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

  • Lily Gallegos, 8, of Mission Viejo, sits with her dog, Flynn, a Maltipoo that her family rescued from the Orange County Animal Shelter, after they competed in the “Best Team Costume” category at the annual Kids’ Pet Parade at Los Rios Park in San Juan Capistrano on Saturday, February 16, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

  • Makenzie Bui, 12, of Capistrano Beach holds her rabbit, Domino, as they compete in the “Best Barnyard/Farm Animal” category in a Kids’ Pet Parade, hosted by the San Juan Capistrano Swallows Fiesta Association, on Saturday, February 16, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

  • Leyana Boldt, 5, of San Juan Capistrano holds a Guinea Pig, at a booth for Zoomars Petting Zoo, during a Kids’ Pet Parade at Los Rios Park in San Juan Capistrano on Saturday, February 16, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

  • Pepper, a Chihuahua mix, sports a sombrero and a poncho as he participates in a Kids’ Pet Parade, hosted by they San Juan Capistrano Swallows Fiesta Association, at Los Rios Park on Saturday, February 16, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

  • Eliore Tiner of Laguna Niguel holds her dog, Pepper, as he shows off his singing abilities while they participate in the “Still A Kid At Heart” category during a Kids’ Pet Parade, hosted by the Swallows Fiesta Association, in Old Town San Juan Capistrano on Saturday, February 16, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

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It was wonderfully busy,” said Jimmy Ferguson, parade chair. “All the feedback we’ve heard, everybody had a blast.”

Entries included dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs, but nothing exotic as in past years, Ferguson said. Surprisingly, no cats were entered. “I think the weather kept the numbers down as far as entries, but it turned out to be a beautiful day.”

Winners in the other categories were:

  • Domestic house pet: first place — Mattie and Teddy, a mixed-breed; second place — Hannah and Nalu, a black Labrador retriever
  • Team costume: second place — Jade and JoJo, a miniature pinchon
  • Exotic farm animal: first place — Kate and Cruella, a rabbit; second place — Madison and Inky, a guinea pig.
  • Kid at heart (over 60 years old): first place — Eleanor and Pepper, a Chihuahua; second place — Ann and Star Trek, a toy tribble

The Kids’ Pet Parade is one of several events staged by the San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association during the three-month Fiesta de las Golondrinas, leading up to the 61st annual Swallow’s Day Parade and Mercado Street Faire on March 23.

Upcoming events include El Presidente Ball on March 16, Fiesta Grande — featuring the hairiest man contest — on March 20 and the Frog Jumping Contest and Hoos’ Gow Day on March 22.