 Tucson Subaru Pets of Pima Parade puts paws to the pavement on Feb. 18
PIMA COUNTY, Feb. 9, 2024 – Pima Animal Care Center, Friends of PACC, and a variety of four-legged friends will hit the streets, literally, Feb. 18 for the third-annual Tucson Subaru Pets of Pima Parade, a celebration of Pima County’s pets. The parade, which begins at 10 a.m., is organized by Friends of Pima Animal Care Center to support the pets and programs at PACC.
In addition to hundreds of pet families, the Tucson Subaru Pets of Pima Parade will feature bands, floats, entertainers, costumed characters, classic vehicles, and more. This year’s Grand Marshal is Katie Powers, founder and president of Spay Neuter Solutions (SNS), a Tucson-based nonprofit facilitating affordable spay and neuter surgeries and other pet medical care.
Since its founding in 2003, SNS provided nearly 36,000 surgeries. Powers recently announced her retirement and the closure of SNS. She will be leading the parade with her dog Charlie, who was adopted from PACC last August. Inspired by Powers’ work with SNS, Friends of PACC has committed to launching a spay and neuter support program to ensure help is still available to people and pets in need.
“Katie’s commitment to the wellbeing of animals in Pima County is truly an inspiration,” said Torre Chisholm, Friends of PACC’s executive director. “We’re honored to celebrate Katie’s work at this year’s parade and to continue her work moving forward through Friends of PACC’s diverse programming designed to help pets and people throughout Pima County.”
All funds raised through the parade will go to Friends of PACC to further their work supporting pets and people at PACC and across Pima County. Friends of PACC funds many of PACC’s “above-and-beyond” programs that make it possible to keep PACC a life-saving shelter, according to Monica Dangler, PACC’s director.
“PACC could not be the progressive, life-saving shelter that it is without Friends of PACC’s support,” said Dangler. “The parade is the perfect time to celebrate our Pima County pets while raising funds to change and improve the lives of people and pets moving forward.”
Friends of PACC currently funds PACC’s Pet Support Center, including the Safety Net foster program and Keeping Families Together Fund, both of which are designed to keep families together even through temporary crisis. Friends of PACC also provides specialty vet care to shelter pets, additional staffing for the shelter, and is currently expanding its lost and found efforts to help more pets find their way home.
Parade participants will gather at the intersection of N. Sixth Avenue and E. First Street at 10 a.m., heading south on Sixth Avenue, then east on Seventh Street to its destination point in front of Corbett’s, 340 N. Sixth Ave. The parade will be followed by the Friends of PACC Festival at 11:30 a.m., where adoptable pets from six different local rescues and shelters will be featured along with live entertainment, food trucks, activities, and more than 60 vendors, including pet-themed arts and crafts. The festival will take place at the parade’s finish line on Seventh Avenue.
Click here for the map.
This year’s parade promises to be a fun outing for the entire family, including the furriest members of the family as well as the youngest. Register to participate in the parade with your pet at www.petsofpimaparade.com through Feb. 17. Participants can also register onsite the day of the parade.
Pet families are welcome to join the fun either in the “Raising Cane’s Procesión de los Perros,” “TEP Cat Convoy,” or the “Pet Pride” parade segment for all other pet types. To participate in the parade, people are asked to raise $50 or more in support of animals at PACC. In addition, thanks to sponsor Main Event, children 17 and under can register for free with their families. Businesses and organizations are welcome to join the parade as well by hosting a team.
Alternatively, the community is welcome to come watch the parade. The parade is free to view anywhere along the parade route or an elevated viewing experience is offered at the ticketed Corbett’s VIP Deck. The parade map and VIP information are available at www.petsofpimaparade.com.
Those unable to attend in person can watch the rebroadcast of the parade on FOX11 and MY18 on Feb. 25 or March 3. Check local listings for exact times.
Friends of PACC is the official nonprofit, philanthropic partner of Pima Animal Care Center. Its mission is to support Pima Animal Care Center and enhance its efforts to save the lives of pets in need. Their vision is that every pet served by Pima Animal Care Center is supported with the resources needed for a safe, healthy, and happy future. Follow Friends of PACC on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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