2024 Virtual Pet Parade will be Saturday, May 11th at 4:00 ET

How do I participate?

Pets are nature’s perfect companions, and we want to share your pet’s adventures with kids we support through Beads of Courage.

• Order a Beads of Courage Carry a Bead: Pet Edition kit!
• Have your pet wear the matching beads during a walk, hike, swim, or whatever fun adventure you both enjoy.
• To enter the Pet Parade, send us pictures and video of your pet(s) proudly wearing their Beads of Courage – Instructions are on the Carry a Bead packaging. 
• Tell others and vote for your pet and your favorites on our website – We will upload your photos and video to our site so followers can vote on their favorite pet.

All pets who carry a bead are our favorites here at Beads of Courage! Why?  

Mail one of the two carried beads back to Beads of Courage, along with a “Story Card” (included in the kit) that should be written “by the pet” – summarizing the adventure and sharing a few words of encouragement which will be sent to a Beads of Courage member to share your “paw-sitivity” with them when they need it most!

Background:

Beads of Courage released our Pet Carry a Bead and 1st Virtual Pet Parade to celebrate National Pet Week® May 2-8, 2021.

National Pet Week® celebrates the pets that enrich our lives and encourages responsible pet care every day of the year. Created by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Auxiliary to the AVMA in 1981, it is observed during the first full week of May each year.

Whether companion, comedian, confidant, or protector, our pets are always there for us. National Pet Week® celebrates this bond and encourages pet owners to be certain to provide their best friends with everything needed for a happy, healthy life. Veterinarians, veterinary technicians, school groups, and communities host a variety of fun and informative events throughout the week.

Learn more about National Pet Week at: https://www.avma.org/events/national-pet-week

SPONSORS

“My name is Linda and I’m a proud supporter of the Beads of Courage program.  Every child and his or her family going through a major health crisis can be overwhelmed with so many difficult emotions!  I hope the beads I carry will offer some support and compassion and become a part of their healing process.  The beads help the children or their families tell their story, and telling their story offers healing!  I always do my “carry beads” with one of my best friends… Elsie.  Elsie and I love to spend time outdoors and we go on lots of walks together.  Elsie always seems happy which makes her a great companion for sharing in my role with Beads of Courage.  She is full of love, is always willing to go on an adventure, is happy having her photo taken (for a treat of course), and wags her tail a lot when she meets other people!  Yes, Elsie is my beloved pooch.  Time spent with her while also supporting the Beads of Courage program is a win-win in my book (and in Elsie’s too… it usually means a fun time and a treat)!”                  

LC and Elsie