About 300 to 350 people joined Lower Allston's first Cat Stroll on Saturday afternoon, more than twice the attendance organizer Ashley Lesperance said she had anticipated. The parade set off from Smith Playground around 2:30 p.m., with participants pushing strollers and carrying cats in backpacks as they walked through the neighborhood.
Lower Allston's first Cat Stroll draws 300 to 350 people
About 300 to 350 people joined Lower Allston's first Cat Stroll on Saturday afternoon, more than twice the attendance organizer Ashley Lesperance said she had anticipated. The parade set off from Smith Playground around 2:30 p.m., with participants pushing strollers and carrying cats in backpacks as they walked through the neighborhood.
Lesperance, a Lower Allston resident, organized the stroll to bring the community together over a shared love of cats and spent more than six months planning it, according to the report. She said residents can expect another Cat Stroll next year.
Vendors set up at Smith Playground before the stroll began. Wellness Pet Company handed out free samples of wet cat food, dental treats, lickable treats and other products, and Director of Integrated Marketing Katie Piepiora said the company distributed at least 50 samples within the first 15 minutes.
Molly's Bookstore, which opened its Allston location last December, brought cat-themed books and stationery. Bookseller Deborah Feil said the puzzles the store brought sold within the first 10 minutes of the event.
After the stroll, attendees could continue at Sloane's, which offered a special menu inspired by cat-related terms, including the "Catnip Spice Bag," made with fried chicken tender bites and steak fries.
Among those who attended were Alysha Santos, 24, who recently moved to Allston and brought her 6-month-old kitten, Tama; Kevin Wang, 27, who walked 20 to 30 minutes from his home with two cats, carrying Happy in his arms and Cookie in a carrier strapped to his chest; Anna Buehler, 53, of Upper Allston, who brought 6-month-old foster cat LilBit in a backpack; and Justin DeThomas, 24, who recently moved to Cambridge.
Buehler said LilBit will be available for adoption through the Melrose Humane Society after completing some medical tests. DeThomas said he grew up with cats but does not have one now, though he is considering fostering or adopting.
As the group made its way through the neighborhood, participants stopped to admire cats sitting on porches, peeking through windows and, in some cases, being held up for the passing crowd to see.
- The source does not give a calendar date for the stroll, referring to it only as Saturday.
- The source does not state who produced the estimate of 300 to 350 attendees.
- The source spells one attendee's surname both DeThomas and Dethomas.
- The source does not state what the event cost to organize or how it was funded.
- The source does not state whether any city permits were required or obtained for the stroll.
- The source does not state whether the vendors paid to take part in the event.
Read the original at Boston.com