Dogs parade in outlandish holiday wear

Bailey the Yorkie from Poway won best float. She was also one of the Grand Marshalls this year. (Photos by Diana Cavagnaro)The 14th Annual Gaslamp Pet Parade returned to the Gaslamp on Dec. 17 with dogs in all shapes and sizes. This is a wonderful family event with dog owners coming in matching costumes with their furry friends. Some decorated floats, wagons, buggies, and bicycles all in the holiday theme. The parade began on 5th and L streets under the Gaslamp arch. The streets were lined with spectators on both sides cheering on the groups of canine friends and owners. The winners of the 2021 Best in Show, Bailey the Poway Yorkie and Derby California, led the parade as Grand Marshalls. The parade route finished at the Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter and continued from 2 to 5 p.m. with the Pups in the Pub Party.The first award given was the Stella Award. This was in memory of Taylor Kahle who worked at McFarlane Promotion and was a Gaslamp Quarter team member. Taylor Kahle was a devoted dog lover who adopted the pups Roo and Stella. In recognition of Taylor, the Stella Award was presented to Babs Fry of A Way Home For Dogs. Fry offers a free service to reunite owners with their lost dogs. If you ever lose your dog be sure to contact her at awayhomefordogs.com. The afternoon continued with more prizes. The honor for the Best Parade Float went to Bailey the Yorkie from Poway along with owner Mary Salinas Caraway. They demonstrated the Best Parade float costume. Best Matching Costume went to Riley and owner who were the most AWWW-inspiring. The Best Christmas Spirit went to Doodle and owner Barb Ayers who rode a float with a dog beach surfboard.The Most Outrageous Costume went to the most all-around creative and elaborate costume which was Roo who was dressed like Mariah Carey singing “All I Want For Christmas Is You” inside a snow globe. The Cutest Pet was handed out to Yoshi, a one-eyed chihuahua. and the Best Group went to Darvi. The Best Group is awarded to groups of three or more and it is fun to see whole families involved. This year, Darvi won. The Best in the Show was a replica of Snoopy’s dog house. It was on a wagon that was pulled by a couple dressed up as Charlie Brown and Lucy. One of their dogs was dressed as the Red Baron and the other dog was all yellow for Woodstock. The winners of this special honor will get to be the grand Marshals for next year’s 15th Annual Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade in 2023. They were chosen as the best of the best with their absolute show-stopping costume.The afternoon continued with craft beers, live music, pups and peeps games— and a whole lot of fun in the Gaslamp Quarter. To stay tuned in for next year’s event follow gaslamp.org.Upcoming events:Bridal Bazaar with fashion shows presented by Gretchen Productions at the San Diego Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2023. Three shows presented during the day. For more info: 760-334-5500The post Dogs parade in outlandish holiday wear appeared first on SDNews.com.

MORE

Drug dealer sentenced for fentanyl death

A drug dealer who made deliveries of a drug laced with fentanyl to a Downtown man who later died from an overdose has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. Saul Caro, 33, pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl when he sold counterfeit oxycodone pills that were laced with fentanyl that he delivered to a 35-year-old man identified only as M.S. in court records on April 11, 2021. Caro visited M.S.’ apartment at 3:49 a.m., according to federal records, and the man is estimated to have died at approximately 9:30 p.m. Police found a needle sticking out of M.S.’s left big toe on April 15 and he was slumped over his coffee table with drug paraphernalia scattered around. U.S. District Court Judge Gonzalo Curiel ordered Caro to pay $13,180.34 to the victim’s family for funeral and burial expenses. “Dealers beware…If you provide the fatal pill or powder, you will be held responsible for the victim’s death,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman in a statement. The proof of the drug contact between Caro and M.S. came from text messages between both men on their phones. The U.S. Attorney’s office released some of the text messages in court records. M.S. complained to Caro that he should warn people about the potency of some drugs he had received in the past. Caro replied he had warned people. M.S. then texted: “Yeah thanks otherwise would have been bad news for me lol” After his death, police officers impersonated M.S. in text messages to Caro on July 22, 2021 and negotiated a sale for more drugs. “Dude, where have u been” asked Caro to the impersonator of M.S., but the undercover officer did not elaborate. Caro, who also lived Downtown, agreed to make a sale and was seen leaving his apartment on a bicycle. He rode to a restaurant in the 900 block of E Street and texted the officer he was there at 9:14 p.m. Caro was then arrested. Court records say he was found with heroin and cocaine laced with fenantyl. Police obtained a search warrant to seize items in Caro’s studio apartment. Officers found a ghost gun with no serial numbers, 40 rounds of ammunition that included bullets for other guns, digital scales, packaging materials, and drug paraphernalia, according to records. “The defendant chose to disregard the significant risk associated with selling fentanyl and other drugs,” said Grossman. “His choices had severe consequences for a family that lost a beloved son and brother,” said Grossman. “The driving factor for all of us in law enforcement is the human toll that fentanyl is taking.” “We see the grief and destruction in person every day. We will continue to seek justice for every victim,” concluded Grossman. “There is no place to hide,” said Drug Enforcement Administration special agent in charge Shelly Howe. “The DEA and its partners will continue to track down, arrest, and prosecute those who are driving addiction.” “Abusing drugs these days will likely kill you,” said Chad Plantz, special agent in charge for Homeland Security investigations San Diego. Caro will receive credit for one-and-a-half years he spent incarcerated awaiting sentencing.The post Drug dealer sentenced for fentanyl death appeared first on SDNews.com.

MORE

Murder conviction for slaying unhoused Hillcrest man

A jury has convicted a man of first-degree murder in the slaying of an unhoused man in Hillcrest and he faces a sentence of 56 years to life in prison. Darcell Marquise Moore, 42, will be sentenced Feb. 23 by San Diego Superior Court Judge Jeff Fraser for the 2020 fatal stabbing of Shawn Timothy Puzzo, 60. The jury also convicted Moore of robbing Puzzo on April 15, 2020, in the area of Front Street and West Washington Street. Puzzo had injuries to his head and torso and was taken to a hospital where he died. Deputy District Attorney Philippa Cunningham said Moore faces a sentence of 50 years to life in prison plus a possible six year term on top of that. The victim was robbed of gift cards, some of which were for restaurants. Cunningham said he was stabbed 10 times in the face, neck, torso, and leg. A second man, Willie Gray, 67, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, and faces up to five years in prison. Gray will be sentenced on April 24. Gray’s attorney, Jordan Furrow, argued that Gray didn’t participate in the stabbing and “happened to be present” when Moore assaulted him. Furrow said Gray had “no bone to pick with” the victim and did not rob him. Both Moore and Gray remain in jail without bail.The post Murder conviction for slaying unhoused Hillcrest man appeared first on SDNews.com.

MORE