Page 6 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, OCTObEr 23, 2026 Costumes and tricks on display at Breakheart Reservation’s Annual Pet Parade By Alex Burns H ot dogs, a mailman, and a family sandwich shop — these were some of the costumes that dogs of all kinds donned at the Friends of Breakheart’s Fourth Annual Halloween Pet Parade last Sunday. The fundraiser, sponsored by the state’s Department of Conservation and Recreation, asked attendees for a $10 donation per pet, with proceeds going to park activities and future events, such as a new educational center at Breakheart Reservation. Peter Rossetti, a longtime Friends of Breakheart member, said the event is an update of the group’s former “Blessing of the Pets.” Organizers added costumes to make it more fun. The goal, he said, is to show more people what the 600-acre reservation offers. “There are people in Saugus who don’t even know this exists,” Rossetti said. The event drew more than two dozen pet owners and their beloved dogs in fun costumes in the lead-up to Halloween. Attendees started the day by mingling, taking photos, and browsing tables from a range of vendors and rescue groups. Bria Tiro, a pet trainer and owner of “Training with Bri,” was at the event and offered a demonstration of pet tricks in front of the gazebo, followed by a trick contest. The Saugus Police Department K-9 unit gave a demonstration with one of its own German Shepherds, “Blue.” The demonstration included simple commands and calls, showing how working K-9 unit dogs respond to their handler’s instructions. The parade was up next. The roughly quarter-mile route wound through the parking lot, past the vendors’ stands, through the foliage trail, and back to the start. Organizers also held a raffle, with a portion of the proceeds to be donated to local adoption and rescue foundations. PLAQUE | FROM PAGE 4 ment, which searched through remnants from the original Belmonte saved back in storage units. The plaque was nowhere to be found. Cogliano A Saugus police officer works with K-9 Blue during a demonstration at the parade as owners and their costumed dogs watch from the lawn. (Photo to The Saugus Advocate by Alex Burns) The event also included friendly competition, and winners were announced in three categories: Best Pet Trick, Best Pet Costume, and Best Family Costume. The winner of Best Trick went to Charlotte, a mixedbreed pup, and her owner, Elena Grafton, 46, of Saugus. Charlotte, dressed as a mail carrier, showed off her trick: opening a toy mailbox — part of her costume — with her mouth and pulling out real mail. Carly Beckwith, 26, of Chelsea, won Best Pet Costume with her two dogs, who appeared as “Fenway Franks.” Josie, a seven-month-old dachshund, was the hot dog. Dexter, a five-yearold Rottweiler-Husky-Akita mix, was dressed as a Red Sox player. Beckwith, who works in Everett, played the hot dog vendor. “Eventually the wiener dog has to be the classic hot dog,” she said. “But that felt a little basic, so we wanted to make it a little creative.” It was the second parade for Beckwith and Dexter. Last year, Dexter dressed as the cartoon character “Dexter” from “Dexter’s Laboratory,” and Beckwith dressed as his sister, “Dee Dee.” Beckwith said she hikes at the reservation often, knows many of the vendors, and wanted to support a friend on the Friends of Breakheart committee. David and Jessica Lyon of Saugus, who won Best Family Cossaid he contacted the School Committee and Crabtree about the plaque when he first heard about the issue, but no action followed. The Saugus School Committee and Scott Crabtree’s office David and Jessica Lyon, of Saugus, dressed as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, posed with their 12-yearold Schnauzer-Yorkie mix, Peaches, which was costumed as a sandwich chef, at the Halloween Pet Parade. (Photo to The Saugus Advocate by Alex Burns) tume, came as “Peaches Family Sandwich Company” with their 12-year-old dog Peaches. The Schnauzer-Yorkie mix was dressed as a chef, while David and Jessica together dressed as a sandwich. The getup also included a sandwich stand, which David built, and it was attached to the stroller Peaches sat in. Many of the dogs at the parade were rescues or adoptees. Supporting such dogs is the mission of one of the vendors at the event, the nonprofit Eddie’s Ranch, which takes in senior dogs with disabilities, mostly did not respond to requests for comment. At that time, Cogliano and Cadoret also discussed putting a new plaque up in the courtyard at the Belmonte STEAM Academy. However, the courtyard was Costumed dogs and their owners walk the parade route through the fall foliage. (Photo to The Saugus Advocate by Alex Burns) those with back problems who use wheels. “Just because a dog is a senior on wheels doesn’t make them any less of a wonderful pet,” said Saugus’ Lisa Mattuchio, who founded Eddie’s Ranch in memory of her Yorkie, Eddie. He used wheels to get around and taught her how to care for dogs with a disability, Mattuchio said, adding that such dogs are adoptable and “will bring you so much love.” Proceeds from Sunday’s event will help turn the former sugar shack on the Reservation, which was used to host maple sugaring demonstrations, into an education center that can be used year-round, Rossetti said. About 600 schoolchildren visit each year for the maple sugarunder construction from 2021 to 2023, further halting the process, Cogliano said. In 2024, Cadoret turned to the broader Saugus community for help, posting on Facebook and soliciting comments from those ing program, learning how sap is collected and then gathering around a firepit to eat popcorn with maple syrup. “We are trying to emphasize to people that this is a great place to come and walk your dog,” Rossetti said. “It is a fun time and a fun place.” Coming up at the Reservation are the Turkey Trot road race on Thanksgiving Day and a yet-tobe-scheduled visit with Santa. Details on the events are on the Friends of Breakheart website and Facebook page. This story is part of a partnership between The Saugus Advocate and the Boston University Department of Journalism’s Newsroom program. who may have known her father. Dozens of comments poured in, some with suggestions on how she could get the town’s attention and others with rememPLAQUE | SEE PAGE 12 Carly Beckwith, of Chelsea, dressed as a ballpark hot dog vendor, carries her seven-month-old dachshund, Josie, in a “Kayem Fenway Franks” crate while her five-year-old mixedbreed dog, Dexter, wears a Red Sox cap and jersey. The trio won Best Pet Costume. (Photo to The Saugus Advocate by Alex Burns)
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