The LaGrange Pet Parade is debuting a brand-new mascot this season, one designed to embody the joyful, pet-loving spirit that has defined this cherished tradition for 80 years.  Equal parts celebration and creative leap, the idea emerged as a way to mark the Parade's milestone anniversary with something both memorable and unmistakably fun.

Drawing inspiration from the Parade's iconic logo, the Pet Parade Charities committee set out to bring its beloved dog to life, transforming it into a lively, engaging character ready to mingle with LaGrange and the surrounding community.  After exploring several design partners, they selected Chicago Mascots, a northside company known for creating unique, high-quality characters for sports teams, schools and businesses across the Chicagoland area.

Naming this new face of the Parade was left, fittingly, to the community.  Through a social media and email survey, residents cast their votes in force with "Granger" winning in a landslide.  The name Granger is clearly a clever, pet-friendly twist on LaGrange itself.

Behind the scenes, a small but mighty group of committee members took their role in bringing Granger to life seriously, making multiple trips to Chicago Mascot to oversee everything from fabric and color selection to construction details.  Yes, even the shoes sparked spirited debate:  should Granger sport an internal strapping system for flexibility or a permanently stitched sneaker for a polished look?  No detail was too small in the pursuit of mascot excellence.  

The Pet Parade Charities committee is confident that Granger will quickly become a beloved fixture, spreading smiles, high-fives and a little extra Parade magic wherever he goes.  Keep an eye out for Granger beginning in late April.  You won't miss him!

For all Pet Parade information, including Granger appearances, raffle, online auction, volunteering + sponsoring, kick-off party and the Parade Day, please visit their website at lagrangepetparade.org.