<p>Joey: I think that was my best. What's up? I'm at the Pooch Parade in Aurora, Illinois. There's a hundred dogs that entered. Spots sold out in a week, yes, a week. Biggest dogs, smallest dog, they even have a Grand Marshall, a tiny little Poodle Grand Marshall. Best smile, twinsies, and it's all for a good cause. You can also adopt a dog in need. Let's go check out the Pooch Parade.</p> <p>This one's for the dogs, Mike, right?</p> <p>Mike Nelson: This is totally for the dogs. This is our third annual Aurora Pooch Parade. We took a year off due to COVID and we're happy to be back celebrating our third annual event.</p> <p>Joey: Okay, what's your favorite dog?</p> <p>Mike Nelson: I like a Golden Retriever.</p> <p>Joey: If you were to be a dog, you would be?</p> <p>Mike Nelson: A Golden Retriever.</p> <p>Joey: I would be a Cane Corso. You know what that is?</p> <p>Mike Nelson: I'm kind of familiar.</p> <p>Joey: It's like a Mastiff. They almost look like a puma walking around.</p> <p>Mike Nelson: Okay.</p> <p>Joey: But they're really gentle. They can bite your face off, but they're incredibly gentle.</p> <p>Mike Nelson: Okay.</p> <p>Joey: So tell me about the Pooch Parade. Why're you doing this, and what do people think? I mean, dogs are just an amazing, just a breed of animal , and they just really bring life and joy to people. So, Pooch Parade?</p> <p>Mike Nelson: So being the second-largest city in the state of Illinois. That also comes with quite a few animals. We have our Aurora Animal Care and Control Center. When Mayor Irvin first came into office, I think he met with the animal care and control team, realized we have a ton of dogs, and cats, all kinds of animals. But we really don't do anything to kind of showcase the pets in Aurora.</p> <p>Joey: Sure.</p> <p>Mike Nelson: So, this event is very near and dear to the city's heart. Not only are we hosting 100 of Aurora's best dogs, we're also showcasing a bunch of the dogs that are up for adoption from the Aurora Animal Care and Control Center.</p> <p>When we realized how many dogs are in shelters, we really wanted to do something to try to get these dogs homes. So anything that we can squeeze these dogs in throughout the year, we do but this event is solely for them. So it's for the dogs that are up for adoption and also, we open it up to the public and let people bring their dogs, and they dress in costumes and have a great time.</p> <p>Joey: Don, how're we doing today? Good?</p> <p>Speaker 1: Pretty good.</p> <p>Joey: Now, what happened to the eye patch? You got nothing? You're afraid of cameras. All right, yeah. I know. What do you think about your chances today?</p> <p>Mm-hmm (affirmative), Mm-hmm (affirmative), okay good.</p> <p>George. George. What's up? He doesn't talk much, right?</p> <p>Speaker 2: No, he doesn't.</p> <p>Joey: Now, you guys look similar. Are you trying for something here?</p> <p>Speaker 2: Yeah, we're going for Bumblebees.</p> <p>Joey: Bumblebees, twinsies?</p> <p>Speaker 2: Yes.</p> <p>Joey: I'm here with Sir Woofles?</p> <p>Speaker 3: Wigglebottom.</p> <p>Joey: Sir Woofles Wigglebottom. Sir, Sir Woofles, how are you doing today? What are you dressed as? Oh, I think he said a hot dog. So you guys are going for what a twinsies award?</p> <p>Speaker 4: Costume or twinsies, yeah, either or.</p> <p>Joey: Costume or twinsies, it can work. What kind of dog would you be if you could be a dog?</p> <p>Speaker 4: Oh, a Sheba.</p> <p>Speaker 5: A Sheba as well.</p> <p>Joey: Okay. If you could be any kind of dog, what kind of dog would he be?</p> <p>Speaker 6: I'd have to be a Rottweiler.</p> <p>Speaker 7: I'd have to agree, I love the breed.</p> <p>Joey: What kind of dog would he be?</p> <p>Speaker 8: Rottweiler forever.</p> <p>Speaker 9: Rottweiler all day.</p> <p>Joey: Who would've guessed it? They're all going to be rottweilers.</p> <p>Lucy, how are we doing? What we going for? Mm-hmm (affirmative). What do you think she said?</p> <p>Speaker 10: I think she's going for fan favorite.</p> <p>Joey: Fan-favorite? Fiona, what do you think about Lucy?</p> <p>Fiona: She's cute.</p> <p>Joey: She's cute. How old is she?</p> <p>Fiona: Five.</p> <p>Joey: Five. So you going for fan favorite and maybe a little twinsies as well?</p> <p>Speaker 11: Twinsies for sure.</p> <p>Joey: I like that. If you were to be a dog, what kind of dog would you be?</p> <p>Speaker 12: I think I would have to be a shepherd, a Dutch shepherd kind of type.</p> <p>Joey: Okay.</p> <p>Speaker 12: They're black, they're cooler.</p> <p>Joey: Okay. What kind of dog is McGruff?</p> <p>Speaker 12: Um, I don't-</p> <p>Joey: Mr. Mayor, what kind of dog would you be if you could be a dog? And just be aware, I'm going to put a dog face on you right now.</p> <p>Mayor Richard C. Irvin: A Doberman Pinscher, my favorite.</p> <p>Joey: What's your favorite part about the pooch parade?</p> <p>Guillermo Trujillo: It's just the socialization of everybody here and being able to provide a family member to them. And present it to the rest of the people and how well they're well taken care of as well as just being part of the city. When we're talking about one Aurora, it means everybody. I mean the canines. We're talking sports, you're talking events, you're talking about politics. You're talking about public safety, everything. We want to do one Aurora, a well-oiled machine.</p> <p>Joey: I'm here with the champ, Bandido. Bandido how we doing? Good? How do you guys feel about winning the overall prize grand Marshall for next year?</p> <p>Speaker 6: I'm really excited. This is our first time so we just thought we'd come out, and come for Aurora, and it was a lot of fun.</p> <p>Joey: Is it beginner's luck or Bandido's just a star, right?</p> <p>Speaker 6: I think he's a star. I'm pretty sure.</p>