A doggone good time

Notice of the upcoming 17th Annual Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade & Pups in the Pub Party (Dec. 13) put me in a glass case of emotions. 

Here’s why: Back in 2013, I was honored to be Grand Marshall of the parade, decked out as Ron Burgundy from “Anchorman.” Picture me in a burgundy sports jacket, brown slacks and a Papa Caterpillar mustache. A shelter dog was my co-star, Baxter. We were kind of a big deal.

That year I was a finalist in a national Ron Burgundy look-alike contest. I did the “Anchorman” schtick on local TV news. Newspaper columnist Diane Bell wrote “Donoho…got plenty of mileage out of his moustache.”

Alas, my ‘stache has faded from pepper to salt. My one-time role is now a grainy memory — but the Pet Parade still flourishes.

This year’s pre-parade party is at Nason’s Beer Hall at Pendry Hotel from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. 

The 1 p.m. parade begins at the Gaslamp Quarter Archway. Expect dogs, cats and exotic pets dressed to impress. A panel of judges will award prizes for Best Holiday Spirit, Best Matching Costumes and Best in Show.

Afterward, the celebration continues at the Pups in the Pub Party from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter. 

The Pet Parade is a friendly competition. But my Baxter set the standard: He starred in a Hollywood movie, “pooped in the refrigerator and ate a whole wheel of cheese.”

Beat that, Fido.