Lodge No. 45 Barking Up the Right Tree With "The World's Largest Dog Parade"

The group that put the dogs on parade for Lodge No. 45 are (l-r): Bro. Eddie Grimes, Mrs. Barbara Mecurio, who first presented a program on service dogs to the Lodge; David Montz, President of the Green Tree Rotary Club; Bros. Glen Smith and Scott Lengel, representatives of Independence Dogs of Chadds Ford, PA; P.M. Kenneth Kwasniewski, W.M. of Lodge No. 45; and Bro. Norman Arthurs, P.M., Sec. of Lodge No. 45. Bro. Grimes says the four-legged one in front is "Brother" Baggins.

For the past three years, a masterful effort for Lodge No. 45 in Pittsburgh has "gone to the dogs" and raised more than $8,000 for a unique charitable project. "The World's Greatest Dog Parade" is held annually in Green Tree during the borough's annual Octoberfest. Proceeds from the doggie march go toward training support dogs for the disabled. The dogs are trained from puppies to help do tasks for those who are disabled and add so much to the lives of disabled persons. It costs in excess of $12,000 to train one dog that meets the strict requirements for the task and only one out of ten dogs makes the grade to become a companion dog.

Each year, Lodge No. 45 sets up and promotes the parade with the support of the Rotary Club and the Knights of Columbus. Then dog owners do the rest. They bring their dogs in costume and are asked for a $5 donation ­ though many donate more. This year there were more than 100 dogs in the parade. Fun prizes were donated by merchants for the smallest dog, largest dog, one with the shortest legs and longest tail, plus just about any other pedigree distinction conceivable.

Bro. Eddie Grimes, who is credited with being the brainchild of the project in Green Tree, calls it "a barking success," and says that a dog-parade is the answer "If a lodge is looking for an outstanding (and easy-to-stage) project that will get wonderful publicity as well as good results." Bro. Grimes would be happy to provide information to any lodge interested in sponsoring its own dog parade. Contact him at (412) 921-1325.