As kid I bet you loved Detroit’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. You’d waited all year long for the holiday season to begin and you couldn’t wait to watch the spectacular floats, loud marching bands, colorful clowns and high flying balloons move down Woodward. Then, finally, along came the reindeer pulling “the real Santa Claus” in his sleigh down the street to a podium where he accepted the key to our city “and the hearts of good children everywhere.”
What am I saying? I bet you still love it as an adult. I also bet you love animals. Well, have I got a deal for you. This year there is a new float in the America’s Thanksgiving Parade that is loaded with dogs and cats … wagging tails and all.
The new Strategic Staffing Solutions’ float called “Disco Dogs & Cool Cats” will be a star in this year’s parade. Called the world’s longest convertible by The Parade Company, this larger-than-life mobile display measures more than 120 feet long and is more than 14 feet tall. It’s adorned with more than 17 cats and dogs, an 8-foot tall disco ball and more than 100 dog bones. Take special notice of the dog and cat sitting at the front of the float. The dog is Chrissy and the cat is Trumbull, the pets of Paul Huxley, S3 chairman, and Cindy Pasky, the company’s president, CEO and founder. Huxley is also vice chairman of the Michigan Humane Society board.
The float is sure to become a favorite for animal lovers and parade goers alike. It was designed by Mishara Walker from S3 in collaboration with The Parade Company.
The float was unveiled on Wednesday, October 23 by S3 and The Parade Company along the riverfront at Rivard Plaza and Pavilion, which is maintained and operated by the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy. The Conservancy is developing three-and-a-half miles along the east riverfront, which has more than three million visitors annually.
“At S3 we value traditions. Traditions like the America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade bring joy to so many and bring together the metro Detroit community,” said Pasky. “This parade is truly part of Detroit’s culture. It is a very special and wonderful time to show our city off to the world. S3 is very pleased to be a part of it.”
“We are extremely grateful to have S3 as a Parade Company supporter and our team is privileged to work with a Detroit company that is so committed to our community and region,” said Tony Michaels, president & CEO of The Parade Company.
The unveil also supported the Michigan Humane Society. Those attending brought a can of pet food drive and all who donated entered a chance to win a unique opportunity to walk in the parade with S3.
The need to help animals in Detroit is great. Huxley said the humane society’s Cruelty and Rescue Team responds to 10,000 calls each year. In addition, the society’s Detroit Center for Animal Care at 7401 Chrysler Drive just off I-75 sheltered 12,000 animals this year alone.
So, in honor of the new float and dogs and cats everywhere, put your paws together for Detroit, America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, The Parade Company and the Michigan Humane Society.
