Presbyterian Village North (PVN) was bursting with red, white and blue as residents, teammates and their four-legged friends gathered for PVN’s 19th Annual Pet-riotic Parade. What started nearly two decades ago as a sweet idea from residents Joe and Rosie Nall has grown into a beloved campus tradition. Although Rosie passed some years back and Joe earlier this year, their legacy of joy and togetherness marched on in full force.
This year, the honor of Grand Marshal was bestowed upon fellow resident Dave Driscoll, who proudly led the charge with plenty of patriotic flair. Before paws hit the pavement, Jerry McSpadden got the crowd singing with a heartfelt rendition of “God Bless America.”
Then the parade was off and rolling — or strolling, rather — as more than 100 residents, teammates and families (plus plenty of pups) took to the campus paths for a cheerful one-mile walk. Dressed to impress in festive gear, both humans and hounds soaked up the unseasonably cooler weather and shared waves, laughs and tail wags all along the route.
One especially touching part of the morning was the pass-through of the Assisted Living and Memory Support neighborhoods. As the dogs trotted by, residents lit up with joy. A few reached out for pets, others clapped or called out to their favorite furry friends. The moment was pure magic.
The walk wrapped up lakeside at the Gruchalla Pavilion, where everyone cooled off and kicked back. Donuts and root beer floats hit the spot, and the pups got their own treat — dog-friendly pup cups that disappeared in record time.
Nineteen years in, the Pet-riotic Parade continues to bring heart, laughter and connection to the PVN community. It’s a reminder that sometimes the simplest traditions—like a walk, a song and a happy dog — can create the most lasting memories.
Photos by Sarah Macias | Story by Wendy Van Bemmel
