Smith Village Pet Parade Winners Announced

CHICAGO, IL - Winners of the 11th annual Smith Village Pet Parade have been announced. The following pets took home top prizes in the July 20 event at the life care community in Morgan Park.Via Smith Village:

First Place: Mitsy, a 10-year-old black lab with plenty of pep. She set a healthy example by carrying a five-pound exercise weight in her mouth.

“She exercises, that’s how she stays so young,” said her owner, Kelly Blaha of Mount Greenwood.

Second Place: Snuffles, an 8-year-old chihuahua mix owned by Mary Ellen Riedel of Midlothian. He wowed the audience with his special vision. While most dogs are colorblind, he managed to select color plates. He also used his nose to turn a small windmill.

Third Place: Shenna, a 10-year-old, black-and-white Shih-Tzu Poodle mix owned by Smith Village residents Tom and Carolyn Trinley. Shenna, who is well-known by Smith Village residents, stole the show wearing a fashionable ensemble created and sewn by Carolyn Trinley.

This year, a living educational exhibit was added to the parade by the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences with two alpacas, a Nubian boer goat, two heritage chickens and a guinea pig.

Photo via Smith Village