Help a shelter pet by grabbing a costume and joining the parade.

Sedona AZ (February 20, 2013) –  Is your special companion pet a show-off, a goofball, stunningly handsome or exceptionally bright and beautiful? Do they have the stuff for instant pet stardom? Time to find out! Prepare your pooches, felines, ferrets and parrots and embrace the Second Annual Tlaquepaque Pet-a-Walkie.

The first Pet-A-Walkie was a huge hit with Sedona residents and their pets, so much so that Tlaquepaque and the Humane Society of Sedona (HSS) are teaming up again this year to raise even more money for homeless pets. The Pet-A-Walkie takes place on Saturday, April 6, 2013, from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. A celebration of our beloved pets, the event includes the not-to-be-missed pet parade extravaganza, fantastic musical entertainment, and cool kid’s activities. Proceeds from the festival will benefit HSS, as the event’s primary sponsor is Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village.

For your potential pet idols, start now to find the perfect outfit or costume. “Turtles in tutus? Dogs in dresses? Snakes in sequins? Absolutely!” says Wendy Lippman, Resident Partner and General Manager of Tlaquepaque. “The idea behind this event is to raise money for the Humane Society of Sedona and bring the community together to celebrate their pets. Everyone is encouraged to dress up, bring the pets and kids in costume too, march in the parade and plan to spend the day. We will have a pet photographer, live entertainment, and a costume contest where we will be giving out big prizes.”

The event is open to all types of pets, not just dogs, with the exception of large animals. A complete list of rules and suggestions for pet owners can be found on www.HumaneSocietyofSedona.com/Pet-a-Walkie and www.tlaq.com. “We’ll have vendors selling pet-themed items and kid’s activities will take place throughout the day. Sedona’s favorite singing duo, Tom & Shondra will be on site as our fabulous MC’s and provide some entertainment during the judging and contests,” reports Lippman.

The event kicks off with the parade of pets around the Tlaquepaque village. Compete for the “Best in Show” costume contest where everyone will have the opportunity to win prizes for various costume categories. There are other categories including best pet trick, best look a-like, most unusual/creative and most glamorous to name just a few. There is a pre-registration fee of $20 per pet that guarantees an event t-shirt and bag filled with goodies for you and your pet. Visit www.HumaneSocietyofSedona.com/Pet-a-Walkie to register. Onsite registration the day of the festival is $25 per pet (does not guarantee a t-shirt) and starts at 8:30 am.

“Pet safety and enjoyment is our number one priority,” says Betsy, representative of the Humane Society of Sedona. “Our RV will be on site fully stocked with water and other pet amenities. There will also be a Tlaquepaque Pet Patrol throughout the event to help out where needed. However owners know their pets best and should come prepared with whatever they need to make the event enjoyable for all.”

Even after the parade, there will be many activities going on throughout the day including vendors selling pet themed items, musical entertainment, pet photographer and the HSS MAV will be on site with adoptable cats and small dogs.

To register for the Second Annual Tlaquepaque Pet-a-Walkie visit www.HumaneSocietyofSedona.com/Pet-a-Walkie. The website includes a full schedule of events and pet rules.

For companies interested in sponsoring the event, having a booth at the event, bag stuffers, etc.; contact Betsy Klein, Acting Development Coordinator, Humane Society of Sedona at 714-478-0353 or betsy@thesmartgal.com, or Wendy Lippman at 282-4838 or wendy@tlaq.com

Home to more than 45 shops and galleries and four restaurants, Tlaquepaque, the Art and Soul of Sedona, now in its 39th year, is located at 336 State Route 179 in Sedona, Arizona. It is open daily at 10:00 am. For more information call (928) 282-4838, visit: www.tlaq.com and www.shoptlaq.com.