From a fierce-looking Leonberger to the fierce-sounding Luga Monsters, close to 50 North Shore pets strutted their stuff last weekend in the 4th Annual Pet Parade at the Bannockburn Green retail center.
There should have been a most aggressive category for Ferrous, a 90-pound Leonberger puppy, who strained the leash toward his competition in the largest and most unusual categories. But he was doing what comes naturally. The Leonberger is a German attack dog.
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”He`s aggressive toward other male dogs. But he`s extremely gentle with children,” said owner Michael Kennedy of Highland Park, himself an aggressive challenger. Kennedy`s goal is U.S. Rep. John Porter`s congressional seat.
If the judges wanted to weigh the winning entry in the smallest-pet category, they would have had trouble. They practically needed a microscope just to see the pet. Make that pets.
Vernon Hills teenager Vishal Banker, 13, and his brother Jay, 8, brought about 500 Luga Monsters and approximately the same number of flying fairies. But the Bankers didn`t need the whole parking lot. Two jars of water were all that was necessary: freshwater for the tiny Luga sting worms; saltwater for the microscopic flying insect fairies. The fairies took first place.
The Bankers also favor other unusual pets such as scorpions, tarantulas, snakes and birds. ”We had a tarantula, but it`s gone. So is the snake. I have to set some limits,” said the boys` very patient dad, Kamlesh. ”But I think it`s good for them to learn about animals.”
The pet parade, hosted by Bannockburn Green, was more than a show. It was a chance for dogs and owners to compare notes and maybe even arrange a match. Who knows what the future holds for Max, a dashing miniature dachshund in his tiny black topper and tails, and for his female counterpart, dainty Chanel. The puppies have a lot in common. There`s their birth date, May 16, 1992, and residence, Deerfield. And more. ”Max was a birthday present to our son, Mike, from his grandparents,” Ruth Costello told Chanel`s owner, Sandy Schopa. Chanel was a grandparent gift to Ian. Both boys are 8 years old.
”I can`t believe it,” said Schopa, who simply had walked over to share dachshund stories.
If there had been a category called ”a face only a mother could love,”
Chubbs would have won, face down. His floppy folds overlapping, Chubbs is an English bull dog whose face looks like a warning to dieters who didn`t exercise. But owner Joe Adler of Highland Park said Chubbs hasn`t gone on a diet, yet. ”He`s overweight like the rest of the family,” said Adler`s wife, Marilyn, who gave her husband the dog as a recent birthday present. ”We`ll all start Monday,” Marilyn said. ”I think he`s beautiful,” Adler said. A passerby agreed, saying, ”The face is great.”