Pets and vets: July 4 doggie parade in Long Beach, Calif.
Saturday, June 29 saw 38 dogs doing their best imitation of lining up for the third annual Vito’s Dog Parade. First District Councilwoman Mary Zendejas, coordinator Juan Sanchez and the rest of her team hold the annual event in honor of “pets and vets,” as Zendejas put it.
“Our vets and our pets were being affected negatively by fireworks happening around the Fourth of July, and that really stood out for me as a councilwoman,” Zendejas said in a greeting to attendees. “So, I wanted to do something that would actually be honoring and doing something good for our pets and our vets during Fourth of July and what [the holiday is] really about: community, being out here, showing our pride. We all love our country, and we all love our pets.”
James Schotter, a member of L.A. County’s VPAN (Veteran Peer-Access Network), attested to the effects of pyrotechnics on the well-being of military veterans as well as the pet connection for comfort.
“[Fireworks] are stressful to me personally — they do unfortunately remind me of my experiences in Iraq,” Schotter said. Here in Long Beach, it’s year-round, but it starts to peak around this time of year. But my service dog, Vera, is fantastic in helping me abate those.”
The parade was named for community leader Vito D’Erasmo, who had encouraged Zendejas to hold the first parade. Zendejas honored D’Erasmo in a moment of silence after the Pledge of Allegiance.
“He loved pups! But what he loved even more was his community and making sure that he was doing his part to make sure that his community was uplifted,” Zendejas said. “So today, I officially rebrand the doggie parade, and I do it in honor of his memory. Nothing will ever be the same without him.”
Community and city organizations were in attendance. The April Parker Foundation represented BIPOC community empowerment, and VPAN and Long Beach’s American Gold Star Manor offered services to military veterans. Friends of Long Beach Animals, Fix Long Beach and Long Beach Animal Care Services’ Adoption Waggin’ were there for animal health and well-being.
“We actually want to encourage adoption today!” said actor Emiliano Torres, who enthusiastically took charge as master of ceremonies.