I would like to express my appreciation to the many businesses and La Jollans who joined together to make the second annual La Jolla Pet Parade & Festival a tremendous success. What a great turnout for a great cause. La Jollans sure love their pets! But, what is really terrific is that the proceeds of the Pet Parade & Festival go directly to help pets and people across San Diego County who have needs that can’t be met without a hand up. Those of us volunteering in shelters and in low income neighborhoods know that many, many people are suffering financial hardships that prevent them from providing for their pets as well as they would like — especially over the last two years. Thanks to the financial support of the community, Spay Neuter Action Project (SNAP) is able to help thousands of people to be responsible pet guardians — and keep companion animals out of shelters. For instance, on a recent Saturday, 49 large dogs were fixed on SNAP’s Neuter Scooter in an Oceanside barrio. Forty-six of the dogs were pit bull and pit mixes who, unfortunately, make up 25 percent to 75 percent of the dogs in municipal shelters. Those dogs will not be populating our shelters. SNAP offers a “fix” — a rabies vaccine and a one-year dog license for just $20. This is just one of the targeted solutions that SNAP provides with the help of our donors and fundraising events. A very special “thank you” to Nancy Warwick of Warwicks and Janet McCulley, owner of Muttropolis, for your creativity, great spirit, humor and unstinting contribution of your time organizing the event and managing the day of the event. Many thanks to our Great Dane Sponsors: Ark Antiques for Animal Charities and Fay of Needle Nook, and to our Great American Mutt Sponsors: Engel & Volkers La Jolla and My Perfect Pet Dog Food. Also, hats-off to Maureen and Egon of the La Jolla Village Lodge for helping with organizing and sharing their parking lot and motel for the pet adoption venue; to Cathy and Ron Jones; to Mary Ellen Morgan and Karen Scoggins; to Ronda Ahrens for the fabulous surf-themed painting; to Bill at La Jolla Photo and Imaging for the great posters; to Terri at Quality Printing for super fast and expert work on the coupon booklet; to Nicole Sours-Larson of the Village News for the great pre-event article; to all the surf dog champs and their people; to our contest judges Coe Lewis, Margo Schwab, Virginia Degeneres, Lani Minella and Nancy Miller — and to all who attended. Together, we make the La Jolla Pet Parade & Festival a party with a purpose. At the La Jolla Pet Parade & Festival we get to share lots of smiles and giggles while doing a good deed for the critters. La Jolla is indeed the most pet-friendly town in California — probably anywhere. Candy Schumann SNAP cofounder Volunteer executive director