What happens when one Pet and Doll entrant eats another?

Editor’s note: A reader dropped by a humorous item that was published in 1969 or 1970. We thought you might get a chuckle. Here’s the article.

One participant in the annual Pet and Doll Parade today ate another in front of loads of spectators near the Civic Center.

A boa constrictor a young parade entrant carried around his neck apparently got hungry. When the youth set the snake down during a parade lull, the reptile ignobly invited a white rat in the entry in front for dinner.

The snatch sparked a quick rescue attempt by the rodent’s owner, who stomped the snake to force it to relinquish his pet. Some fisticuffs between owners reportedly followed.

“All I saw was the tail end of the rate,” recalled Tom Sullivan, city recreation director, who was in charge of the parade.

The constrictor won.