Carnival 2012 offers Capital City canines many ppportunities to ‘paw-rade’

Thanks to a change in the Carnival calendar, local canines and their companions have more opportunities to paw-ty and paw-rade than ever before.

For many years, the date of both the Capital and Crescent canine events conflicted. However, this year, Baton Rouge Capital Area Animal Welfare Society’s Mystic Krewe of Mutts parades on January 29th; New Orleans’ Mystic Krewe of Barkus to follow on February 12th. Then, on February 26th, Mandeville marks the 17th annual march of the Mystic Krewe of Mardi Paws.

Even though last year’s parade attracted an estimated 12,000 people accompanied by an untold number of furry friends, CAAWS’ President Frank Parks hopes the change of date allows even more participation.

Of course, the parade offers more than the chance to strut a mutt. Pre-parade festivities include contests for the float and costume that best illustrate The Good, the Bad & the Furry theme. This year’s Bark in the Park festival features rescue groups, humane education, food vendors and even pet chic boutiques.

“We offer the same great time every year,” says CAAWS President Frank Parks, “and the crowds get larger every year. That means people enjoy what we’re doing.”

Since community activists organized the very first Krewe of Mutts parade in 2000, proceeds have been donated to CAAWS. With support of major sponsor Raising Cane’s and registration fees, the Krewe contributes an estimated $15,000 annually to the non-profit’s spay/neuter fund.

“Without events like this and the money it generates,” says CAAWS Secretary Glenda Parks, “the organization could not offer spay/neuter assistance and the programs we do. CAAWS has been around for 28 years and has a reputation in the community. The Krewe of Mutts is an extension [of our work] with adoptions and putting solid animals into people’s homes as forever friends.”

With help from a dedicated corps of volunteers, the city’s oldest animal welfare organization remains a cornerstone of the community by providing a feral-cat trap-neuter-release program, spay/neuter coupons for low-income pet owners, cat and dog foster and adoption programs and education about responsible pet ownership.

For the eighth year, Grand Marshal Cane II and a royal king and queen recently adopted from CAAWS in 2011 lead revelers at 1 p.m. along the southeast side of North Blvd between Fifth and Fourth streets. The route begins on the south side of North Blvd at Fifth Street, turns left at Ninth Street and comes back on the north side of North Boulevard and ending at Fifth Street by Bark in the Park.

“Raising Cane’s is involved in the Baton Rouge community,” explains spokesperson Julie Perrault. “One of the key areas is pet welfare because Raising Cane’s was named after a dog. Because a lot of us are big pet lovers, it’s one of our favorite events.”

Early registration discounts for parade participants are available through January 27th. Since registration is considered as a donation to the non-profit, all fees are tax deductible. For more information, visit http://www.caaws.org/.

Click here to see some of the CAAWS’ adoptable animals on parade.

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