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Puppies are everyone's favorite — especially when doing their best to get close enough to lick the hand — or face — of anyone and everyone they pass as the Sandpoint Lions' Grand Parade makes its way through the downtown.

From the Better Together Animal Alliance showcasing adorable dogs and puppies available for adoption to family pets running along a bicycle or hanging out on a float, dogs and parades are as American as the hot dogs and hamburgers served at many Fourth of July barbecues.

But did you know that animal behaviorists at the University of Arizona recently studied how hundreds of golden and Labrador retriever puppies performed at human communication tests?

According to a story on the Good News Network website, the study examined whether human-canine communication, in particular hand gestures, was an inherent ability or a learned trait through their exposure to people.

The study found that by 8 weeks old, the puppies could follow pointing gestures as well as adult dogs. It also found that their skill at finding a hidden treat by following a human's pointed finger stayed constant, the website reported. That suggested, study authors said, that the puppies were born with the ability to "understand" the human's communication.

The study was an effort by the university with the assistance of Canine Companions for Independence — which also has some of the cutest parade entrants at the Fourth of July Grand Parade — to gain a better understanding of how dogs and people communicate and what skills are innate and which ones can be learned.

The study also tested facial contact — something they found to is likely learned — and their reactions to difficult or unsolvable tasks.

Comparing the puppies' success to past generations, the website reports that the study found the heritability of following human instructions was over 40%.

What is also equally impressive is the Sandpoint Lions' Independence Day activities — all put on to celebrate the community and the nation's birth.

The parade's theme this year is "It Takes a Community" and the event will showcase the many local businesses which impacted by the pandemic, and celebrate the community and all residents, Lions Club officials said.

Applications are being accepted for the Grand Parade, and will be until the morning of the parade. The children’s parade will start at 9 a.m., and the Grand Parade will begin at 10 a.m.

While the club has the funds to cover the costs of the parades, celebration, and fireworks show, they're looking to make them bigger and better than ever.

To date, donations total $2,800.

Those donating to the Independence Day celebration will be named in future columns. If you would like to be anonymous, please indicate that on your donation or let the Lions Club know.

Although overall fundraising for this year is limited due to the short turnaround time, Lions Club officials held a raffle in 2019 to pay for 2020 fireworks, which were then run by Sandpoint Independence Day, Inc. instead.

Those funds, in addition to community donations, will be used for the Fourth of July events.

Those who wish to contribute to the July 4 fundraising can do so by clicking the donation link on the Lion’s Facebook page, facebook.com/SandpointLionsClub, or dropping off donations at the Daily Bee, 310 Church St.