West Alabama Christmas Parade Will Honor Duty-Driven Dogs

The West Alabama Christmas Parade will honor dogs whose lives have been dedicated to improving others, the Tuscaloosa County Park & Recreation Authority announced on Friday.

As the holiday spectacle returns for its 48th year, PARA has chosen a nonhuman grand marshal for the first time – unless you count 1981, when Crimson Tide mascot Big Al got the honor.

The 2024 Parade will honor Libby the Dog, the now-retired rescue who has listened to local children read for almost a decade, as well as U.S. Marine Chris Williams, the President of the United States War Dogs Association.

Libby, who was rescued from the Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter by its Humane Education Coordinator Mary Calhoun, has been taken since 2015 into classrooms in Tuscaloosa where children would read aloud to her and improve critically important skills in a zero-pressure environment – Libby did not judge.

Libby the Dog was retired this summer, but another TMAS rescue, River the Dog, has taken her place so the Libby Listens program can continue.

The parade will also honor service dogs with much tougher jobs and U.S. Marine Master Sergeant Chris Willingham, who spent much of his two decades in the service in the Military Working Dog program.

A PARA spokesperson said Willingham’s canine companion Lucca, a German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois, served more than 400 missions in Iraq and Afghanistan during which no human lives were lost before an IED blast led to the loss of her leg.

Lucca survived and recovered, though, and was awarded honors including the Dickin Medal and Animals in War & Peace Medal of Bravery.

Willingham advocates for other military canines as the President of the U.S. War Dogs Association.

The parade kicks off on Monday, December 9 at 6:30 p.m. after the lighting of the Christmas tree at the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse at 5:30.

• Date: Monday, December 9, 2024
• Tree Lighting Ceremony: 5:30 p.m. at the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse
• Parade Start Time: 6:30 p.m.
• Parade Route: Starts at Greensboro Avenue and 11th Street, north on Greensboro, right onto University Boulevard, ending at University Boulevard and 19th Avenue.
• Registration: $40 for judged entries; $35 for non-judged. Mandatory participant meeting on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 5:45 p.m. at the Belk Activity Center.
• Contact Information: Sam Black at sblack@tcpara.org or 205-562-3220

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