BROOKINGS — Cats, dogs, and maybe even some lizards or goats will be competing for prizes this weekend at the fourth annual Brookings Public Library Pet Parade.

“The pet parade is basically a beauty pageant for animals,” Mikaela Neubauer, library community services coordinator, said. “The owners will send in information about each contestant — a little quip about them, what kind of animal they are, what their name is. And I will be officially MCing, and I announce each pet as they walk by the judges and the crowd. And sometimes they stop to do a trick, which is really cute.”

They get a lot of cats and dogs — but occasionally some surprises.

“You never know what kind of animals you’re going to get at the pet parade,” Neubauer said. “My favorite last year — we had a bearded dragon with red painted nails, which was the silliest thing in the world! And in years past, we a had a goat that got so nervous that it needed to bring along a support goat so it had a friend to walk with.”

The concept of a yearly cavalcade of cute creatures grew from a summer activity at the library a few years back. 

“In 2021, our  summer reading program theme for the year was Tails and Tales — and I tried to think up a whole bunch of pet-themed programs,” Neubauer said. “I pitched the idea to our director, and she was so interested. We planned it, and I got it off the ground and it has been possibly our most popular programming event per year.”

Competition is limited to 20 animals, but they counted more than 180 spectators last year.

“We cap it at 20 pets period. So even if you bring in two pets, you have to register them separately. And registration will shut off, I think, twelve hours before the event — so people do have time pretty close up to the event to register,” Neubauer said. “It is completely free. You just have to come with a cute pet, make sure they are well-behaved, and that’s about it. You have a chance of being a winner.”

The winning humans receive medals crafted on the library’s Glowforge laser engraver. The triumphant animals themselves receive prizes donated from local businesses — Walk ‘N Rohl Pet Hotel, Tail Wagg’n Cuts and Zippity Do Dog have all donated prizes for the pets this year. 

“We have the official judging which is based on a rubric; and then there is the audience judging, where they can watch the whole parade, and pick their favorite pet and fill out their ballot,” Neubauer said. “Usually they’re quite different. It’s always fun to see what the community resonated with.”

The judges panel consists of staff from the library and the Brookings Regional Humane Society. Community choice voting is open to anyone who shows up to watch the parade.

“It’s completely free,” Neubauer said. “We would recommend bringing a chair of some sort or a blanket — because we will be sitting on the sidewalk in the grass by the library.”

The animals will strut their stuff on the catwalk Saturday at 2 p.m. More information is posted at brookingslibrary.org. 

Email Jay Roe at jroe@brookingsregister.com.