Caroline's Wish Day Celebrated on Duluth Town Green

Family, friends and folks who had never met Caroline Clayton showed up to celebrate her Wish Day Sunday (May 15) on the Duluth Town Green. Many of them brought their dogs and dressed them up to appear in a “Puppy Parade” featuring the 6-year-old Dacula liver transplant survivor and “Boo,” her Wish dog.

The fun-filled afternoon gathering also celebrated granting of the 5000th wish by the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Alabama and Georgia. The foundation granted Caroline’s wish for a Yorkshire terrier puppy to play and sleep with her and to ride in a parade with her. 

The parade was led by the Drum Line from the Peachtree Ridge High School Band in Suwanee followed by a miniature train carrying Caroline, “Boo” and a bevy of children around the green. Adults and children walking and carrying their costumed dogs fell in step behind the train, and the band’s Flag Corps brought up the rear of the parade.  

Duluth Mayor Nancy Harris and Shavette Turner, vice president of program services and training for the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Alabama and Georgia, welcomed attendees to the celebration, which also featured bounce attractions, face painting, an artist creating animal balloons, and T-shirt tie-dying. Caroline did it all. She had a picture of “Boo” painted on her face, opted for a blue balloon dog, and tie-dyed a T-shirt just her size. 

Helping Caroline celebrate were her mom and dad Michael and Heidi Clayton, brother Jackson Clayton, grandmother Phyllis Rentz, and “Bella,” the family dog, who was attired in a tiara and pink tutu for the parade. “Boo” wore a similar pink ballerina costume.

Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Alabama and Georgia Board Member Paul Chill presented Caroline, who was joined on the Duluth Festival Center Stage by her family, with a plaque and a gift bag.

Dogs who attended the event received special treats. Children flocked to the bounce attractions after the parade, and the band Second Verse entertained as the celebration wound down.