Wyandotte Mayor Pledges to Walk Shirtless in Parade for Animal Welfare

No matter the weather, whether it’s snowing or dry or frigid or balmy, Wyandotte Mayor Joe Peterson will walk “shirtless” in this year’s Christmas parade on Saturday, Nov. 22.

Peterson has accepted the challenge from the organizers of the PAWS of Southeast Michigan Love Me Because pet adoption event to be held Feb. 15, 2015, at Hood’s Do-It Best Hardware, 1844 Ford Ave.

But there’s a catch. Before he walks shirtless, pet lovers and others need to fork over $1,000 in donations.

“I figure if each and every one of my friends donates $1, the goal could be reached,” he posted recently on his Facebook page. “@e will then become a sponsor of the (Love Me Because) event as ‘Mayor Peterson and Friends’! I would love to see this happen!”

So far, about $300 has been raised in the high-spirited campaign.

The mayor’s a good-sized man, and some people are stuffing money into the envelope marked “Mayor, please keep your shirt on,” said Patti Christie, a volunteer with PAWS and an employee of the hardware store.

Yet another envelope asks Peterson to walk in the parade in a tutu.

Nope, Peterson vows, that won’t happen. But he says he will match the check if somehow the envelope asking him to wear a tutu is stuffed with the most cash.

Joking aside, Peterson told Patch he’s happy to support the event. As a young rookie police officer in 1979, he rescued a dog from the city pound, saving it from euthanasia.

“That was back in the Stone Age days, and they were still putting animals to sleep. I brought that dog home to my boys, who were 2 and 4 at the time, and that dog lived for 17 years and grew up with my kids.”

Since then, there’s always been a dog in the Peterson house.

The mayor says he is a great supporter of animal rescue groups.

“They’re asking me to do one little thing,” he said

The annual adoption event places animals that are more difficult to adopt out, Christie said.

“They’re either special-need animal, or have been in a foster or shelter situation for a long time,” she said. “Some have one eye or are blind, diabetic or may require special souls, as we call them, to care for them.”

About 60 animals have been adopted at Love Me Because events and more than $37,000 has been raised to help animals in need. The event supports PAWS of Southeast Michigan, Wyandotte Animal Shelter, Shelter To Home, River Rouge Animal Shelter, and Keeper Kitties Rescue.

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Photo of Mayor Joe Peterson at the 2013 Christmas parade via Facebook