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Don’t Bring Your Pets, Pride Cymru 2023

File: 2023006-0437

 

St Mary Street, Cardiff (Caerdydd), Wales (Cymru), United Kingdom, on Saturday 17th of June 2023.

 

 

About the photograph.

 

Why did I give the title DON’T BRING YOUR PETS to those two photos of two different dogs, that were taking part in the Pride parade?

 

It is because it was a very hot day, a very hot summer day, so the pavements and the tarmac on the streets and roads got very hot.

 

Even when you think a dog’s paw pads look like they’re tough, the paws are still made of skin, and can be as sensitive as the bottom of your feet.

 

For those dogs, the one hour, one mile walk on hot pavements and roads, can cause pain and discomfort, may even burn the dog’s paws.

 

You try walking on one mile of hot pavements, with your bare feet, and see how you feel. If it’s too hot and painful for you, then consider how those dogs feel.

 

I was trying to do some photojournalism kind of photography, of the Pride parade in Cardiff, and while it took everyone approximately one hour to cover the one mile, it took me about two hours, bearing in mind I sometimes jog back and forth, up and down the parade, looking for interesting shots, in the burning heat.

 

I was sweating buckets, during the summer, I took photos of 5 different events, all outdoors and in the sun, I lost one whole stone of weight.

 

Imagine how it feels for those poor dogs, panting with the heat. I know some owners have stopped briefly to give those dogs some water, because I saw them doing it, but you have to consider that during a moving parade, with a group of people, you could be side-tracked and forgotten to give your dog some more water.

 

At the end, I got myself a massive sunburn, but don’t worry, I learnt my lessons, on the next similar photography pursuits, I use sun cream.

 

 

 

About the event.

 

Pride Cymru was previously called Cardiff Mardi Gras when it was formed in September 1999. It held annual festival in Bute Park. It became a registered charity in 2010, and starting from 2012, they held a parade through the city centre.

 

In 2014, Cardiff Mardi Gras was renamed to Pride Cymru, and had operated under the new name ever since the change of name.

 

Pride Cymru is in reality a weekend event, often called Pride Cymru Big Weekend, and attracts up to 50,000 people over the three days, with Saturdays having the parade through the city centre.

 

The route for the parade is approximately about more or less one mile in length, and would take anyone approximately up to an hour to complete the route.

 

Because I was doing photojournalism, trying to find interesting shots, therefore I often sometimes walk back and forth, up and down the parade, so it would take me about a couple of hours to do the photo-shoot.

 

That day was a very hot and strong sunny day, and I some sunburn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Uploaded on August 29, 2025
Taken on June 17, 2023