Pets and their owners are invited to strut their stuff on Merchants Way this Independence Day, in pursuit of prizes for such titles as "Most Wareham" and "Looks Most Like Owner."

Sponsored by Wareham Week, the parade and accompanying "pet tricks" competition will be part of the Wareham Village Association's Swan Festival.

Grand Marshal of the procession will be Henry, the big English mastiff who has been known to hold court at Pepin's Liquors. Owner Eric Pepin points out that it will be a doubly big day for Henry, who will be celebrating his third birthday on the 4th of July.

Pets of all sorts and their owners are invited to participate in the parade. Dogs, cats, birds, guinea pigs, ponies, you name it, from Wareham or elsewhere are all welcome. The only requirement is that all pets be on leash or in containers -- and, obviously, in no way a danger to other pets.

Registration, which is free, opens at 10 a.m. at the Wareham Fire Station on Main Street.

Pets and their owners will then gather at the foot of Merchants Way, roughly behind Cumberland Farms. The parade kicks off at 11 a.m. and will proceed up Merchants Way to Wareham Feed.

Parade judging in four categories -- Most Wareham, Most Patriotic, Most Unusual, Looks Most Like Owner -- will be by members of the Boys and Girls Club.

Back at the fire station, pets are invited to compete in a special event throughout the duration of the Swan Festival, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. "Pet tricks" -- whatever cool thing your pet can do -- will be captured on video for judging and subsequent display on WCTV and WarehamVillageSoup.com.

The first 50 pets registered get free bandanas from TD Bank.

For more information call 508-291-3677 or e-mail wva2012@gmail.com.