In Celebration of Our Four-Legged Friends

There are celebrations honoring the ugliest dog, fashion shows for haute felines, costume-laden pet parades and ornate animal expos. With all this animal adoration, there's no doubt about it. People love to celebrate their four-legged friends - and pet festivals are popping up all across the nation to prove it.

Here in St. Louis, we've got a few big events, but none can rival the annual Beggin' Pet Parade - a celebration that includes intricate animal costumes, "tail" gating and the ever-popular wiener dog races. Seem a little over-the-top? Maybe, but it's an absolutely barking good time. And not just because of great costumes like this.

There's no better place than a pet festival to witness the extraordinary bond between animal and owner. Look around and you'll find hundreds of people toting pets of all different shapes and sizes. You'll see tails wagging. You'll see people smiling. And you'll witness overwhelming evidence that pets can - and do - truly enrich our lives.

And that, in and of itself (even without the crazy costumes), is a pretty cool thing.



Are there pet festivals in your area? Do you take your cat or dog? What's your favorite part of the festivities? Share your stories by leaving a comment below.