COLORFUL KIDS, PETS GO ON PARADE.

Byline: BEN SWAN

Saturday's popular event takes plenty of coordinating

to keep on track

By Ben Swan

The New Mexican 

Kids and pets are a magical combination. Throw in some colorful costumes for both, and the Desfile de los Ninos is more than an event -- it's a happening.

More than 1,300 children

are expected to participate

in Saturday's Pet Parade, one

of Santa Fe's favorite events

for at least 87 years, said

Yolanda Arrey, who's served

as parade chairwoman for several years.

"It's just so much fun for everyone," Arrey said. "It does

a lot for the children's self-esteem; it really empowers them. They learn not to be

so shy. And they get to show

off their pets."

Free registration begins at

7 a.m. behind La Residencia at the southwest corner of Palace Avenue and Paseo de Peralta, the gathering spot for the parade. The mile-long parade, which begins at 9 a.m., loops around the downtown area.

Despite the menagerie of many animals, the event is expected to have few hiccups, Arrey said, thanks to more than 160 volunteers assigned to various tasks, such as safety, registration and refreshments. There's even a Woof Patrol, a core group of animal-welfare advocates from the Santa Fe Animal Shelter & Humane Society.

The patrol was formed

more than a decade ago to ensure the animals have as much fun in the parade as the children, said Kerry Peavey,

the shelter's events coordinator. It's made up of about a dozen staff members and dedicated volunteers.

"It can be a stressful situation for the animals," Peavey said. "For most of the animals,

it's the first time they've been

in a crowd that size."

The patrol mainly focuses on the well-being of the nonhuman participants, which can be any species from iguana to parrot,

as well as stuffed animals. Hydration is generally the patrol's first concern, and water bowls are placed throughout

the course at about every tenth of a mile.

The staging area before the parade starts is considered the danger zone. That's when animals bunched together with no task at hand can get into trouble, Peavey said.

Patrol members are assigned to clusters of paraders and make a visual check that all animals are leashed or safe in properly ventilated cages. They also check to make sure costumes are not causing problems for the critters.

Members have extra leashes at their disposal, along with plenty of bags to dispense for cleaning up messes.

Dogs, the largest species represented at the parade, can cause the most trouble, Peavey said, especially if they are placed near cats or rabbits. Members try to make sure those conflicts are avoided by assuring safe distance.

"Sometimes dogs just don't get along," Peavey said. "But the good thing about the parade is that these are usually dogs that get along with other dogs and children."

Cats are a different story, and Peavey urged people to make sure their felines are secure in harnesses with leashes or safe

in cat carriers. "Once that first dog barks at a cat, the cat's gone," she said.

Retractable leashes -- those leads that allow dogs to go

from a few feet to many feet -- can also be a problem

during the parade. The long leashes can easily wrap around people's ankles. Peavey recommends locking the lead at a

few feet.

Some people do forget the parade is for children, Arrey said. And while young children do need adult supervision, any adults who want to participate in the parade with their pet should be accompanied by a child. It's also a nonpolitical event, so no political, religious or other special-interest groups are permitted.

"It's a wonderful event, but sometimes I think adults want

to take it over," she said. "I told one man who wanted to be

in the parade with his two

dogs, 'Can't you just borrow a child?' "

The parade goes west on Palace Avenue past the Plaza to Grant Avenue, turns right

on Grant to Marcy Street, goes right on Marcy Street and continues back to Paseo de Peralta, where it turns right and continues back to the La Residencia parking lot. Participants then may enjoy a traditional post-parade treat of Popsicles and soft drinks.

Several prizes will be awarded after the parade from the Plaza bandstand.

Contact Ben Swan at 986-3051

or [e-mail].