Rose Parade 2012: Viewers admire floats
But what fascinated many parade-goers to the float was its six dogs, including four English bulldogs, trained to surf. The float is aimed at promoting the active canine lifestyle and to show what healthy dogs can do.
This is the fourth time the organization has traveled the 5 1/2-mile parade route. The last three years featured man’s best friend snowboarding, skimboarding and skateboarding.
Larry Firth, the float operator, said that even though the float is so long, the turns on the parade route should be "very easy.”
“We had harder turns getting here,” he said.
A group of men donning in Spanx and water backpacks took a breather after a run to the parade site. Kevin Klaus, 36, of San Gabriel said the childhood friends used to camp overnight at the Rose Parade when they were in high school. he said he will continue that tradition with his own family.
"I have kids and we will camp out at some point,” Klaus said. “It has to be done."
His 5-year-old daughter was eagerly waiting to become one of the campers.
Virginia Miller, who was hustling to see as many floats as possible before the parade started, lingered at the Natural Balance Pet Food exhibit for a while.
"I want to see the doggy surf,” she said. “The ability to train that doggie to surf. How many people can even get their dogs to pee at the right place?"
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– Rosanna Xia in Pasadena and Angel Jennings in Los Angeles
Photo: The American Honda "Sweet Dreams" float at the 123rd Rose Parade. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times
