Doggy Christmas Scene Ready for Parade

Pam Bloom isn’t afraid to admit it -- she has Obsessive Chihuahua Disorder, or OCD.

Bloom and her husband of 28 years are the proud owners of six Chihuahuas -- five girls and one boy -- all of whom reside in the Bloom household in Nazareth:

• Emmie
• Chloie
• Hershie
• Butchie
• Squirtie
• Lady LuLu

That's the brood, and if you happened upon six Chihuahuas heading down Main Street in Nazareth -- dressed as a manger scene with little Hershie as Baby Jesus -- then you've met them already!

This past Saturday, the Chihuahuas participated in , and they placed first in the “” category.

Bloom said her husband, Mike, crafted the manger out of barn wood.

“I’m trying to get [my Chihuahuas] to work because they’ve been eating for free for how long now,” joked Bloom, who added that she is active with Pro Model & Casting Agency in Bethlehem. Chloie’s pictures can even be found on the animal section of the agency’s website.

Saturday’s win wasn’t the first for Emmie, Chloie, Hershie, Butchie, Squirtie and Lady LuLu, however. In 2010, “The Blooms” placed first in the open / general category in Bethlehem’s “Mutt Strutt Halloween Parade” -- the five girls were dressed as flowers, and Butchie was dressed as the stem.

“I love doing [the parades] with them,” Bloom said.

For this year’s “Mutt Strutt Halloween Parade,” which will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 22, the Chihuahuas will again march through as a manger scene -- they were just getting warmed up at Nazareth’s parade.

“We are hoping to place first in the ‘Spirit of Bethlehem’ category,” Bloom said, adding that she loves that the winners take home a fleece blanket and a plastic trophy -- with dog treats inside, of course.

If You Go:

What:

• "”

When:

• Saturday, Oct. 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• The “Mutt Strutt Halloween Parade” will begin at 12:30 p.m.

Registration:

• There is a $10 registration fee per dog category.
• The fee includes a Doggie Day handkerchief and a raffle ticket.
• The first 75 dogs registered will receive a goodie bag.
• Registration will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the Courtyard.

Categories:

• Pet-owner look-alike
• Scariest costume
• Most creative
• Spirit of Bethlehem
• Open / general

Proceeds from Doggie Day in Bethlehem will benefit local animal organizations and shelters. For more information, call (610) 751-4979.