Therapy Animals of San Antonio Hosts Virtual 2021 Fiesta Pooch Parade
June 29, 2021 - Alamo Heights
By Trinity Dayton, Staff Intern | San Antonio Sentinel
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Therapy Animals of San Antonio is a non-profit organization with a mission in mind to heal those around them by connecting trained animals with a human companion.
- Fiesta is the one of the biggest fundraising opportunities for Therapy Animals of San Antonio.
Dressed in traditional Fiesta blouses and rebezos, complete with colorful flower headdresses—dog breeds ranging from dachshund’s to huskies had a photoshoot to be featured in Therapy Animals of San Antonio’s Annual Fiesta Pooch Parade.
Established in 1989, Therapy Animals of San Antonio is a non-profit organization with a mission in mind to heal those around them by connecting trained animals with a human companion, visiting numerous places such as hospitals, special events, nursing homes and schools.
In honor of the 10 day summer celebration of Fiesta San Antonio paying homage to the diverse cultures that make up the city, Therapy Animals hosted its annual Pooch Parade, Saturday, June 26. While the in-person event went virtual this year due to COVID-19 protocols of social distancing, this left pet owners and Therapy Animals to think outside the box when it came time to photograph their furry companions.
Fiesta is the one of the biggest fundraising opportunities for Therapy Animals of San Antonio, hosting a wide-range of events throughout the 10 day celebration. Followed by the Pooch Parade is a costume contest, showcasing the best dressed dog-finalists who were featured in the parade. A couple of weeks leading up to the costume contest, the organization posted pictures of the contestants on its Facebook page, making it accessible for viewers and participants to vote for the best dressed four-legged friends.
Not all pooches were required to be in costume, but some went above and beyond such as Therapy Animals San Antonio’s, Sandra Olslaver and her furry companion Maddie who was dressed in a bright blue ensemble with a striking feather ploom.
“Welcome to this year’s Fiesta Pooch Parade, we are so excited all of you are joining us,” Olslaver said in her opening statement. “[Maddie] is excited to join our parade and welcome all of you so let’s get started with the dogs!”
The event was pre-recorded and available to watch on Youtube, showcasing nearly 70 pooches in their best costumes and outfits.
Trinity Dayton is an English major, minoring in theatre at Texas State University. She is a life and arts reporter and a public relations assistant for the University Star. Email her at reporter@sasentinel.com