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During the month of February, towns across the US take time to celebrate Mardi Gras in a doggone friendly, fund-raising way.
The streets are filled with costumed dogs, themed floats, and of course, beads! Music fills the air while dogs are pulled in decorated carts, driven around in remote controlled dog-sized cars, and led by their owners, who toss beads and other parade favors to the cheering crowd.
Sandestin, Florida’s Mardi Gras dog parade panel of judges grade floats and parade participants on personality, following the parade’s theme of “Cruising Canines: Fetch a Wave,” and other determining factors – but a little bribery might have helped choose this years winner. Dennis Pillian of Alabama Live reported the exciting event, revealing a little known fact about the fun parade:
Bribing the judges was allowed and encouraged, with one group going so far as to plop a six-pack of Landshark beer on the judges’ table.
While the event was exciting and fun-filled, dogs and dog-lovers came out in droves to support the Alaqua Animal Refuge, for whom all proceeds from the party were donated.
Caption: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA – February 27, 2011: World-famous Bourbon Street in the French Quarter was ramping up for Mardi Gras. This is the “Barkus” parade, a parade just for dogs and their owners.
