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In the Krewe of Barkus parade, dog biscuits get tossed along with beads and trinkets.
By CAROLYN THORNTON
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 16, 2003
New Orleans goes dog wild Feb. 23 when the Mystic Krewe of Barkus hits the streets.
This is a parade of costumed canines and their human consorts that trots through the historic French Quarter. Krewe members toss beads and trinkets from grocery-cart "floats" to spectators, some of whom throw back dog biscuits.
A parody of the human Krewe of Bacchus, Barkus is the only Mardi Gras krewe whose members have to be current on their vaccinations, be leashed and cannot be "in season."
Traditionally, the king of a Mardi Gras Krewe rises through the membership ranks, usually serving first as a duke or grand marshall of the parade. "We mimic the human krewes," Barkus board member Charlotte Bass Lilly said.
But though a secret ballot determines the Queen of the Barkus Krewe, beauty and breeding never are factors. The queen is always selected for her hard-luck-to-happy-ending story.
One of Lilly's seven dogs, Book, has been a queen. A poodle mix with English sheep dog coloring, Queen Book had been a victim of abuse when Lilly adopted her. Book had been burned with cigarettes, had no teeth and little bark, and was malnourished.
"A year later, she was healthy and . . . and barked," Lilly said.
Book's shy personality disappeared a week before the Barkus parade when she arrived, via the John James Audubon excursion boat, at the Aquarium of the Americas to meet her king. "She totally came out of herself, as if she had been waiting for that kind of attention all along," Lilly said.
On the morning of the parade, hundreds of dogs assemble in Armstrong Park, the staging area, yet there are seldom barks, bites or fights.
Last year the theme was "Freedom's Best Friend: Saluting Canine Heroes."
Boxers wore camouflage and bandoliers of bone-shaped biscuits. Signs declared "Terriers Against Terrorism" and "United We Bark." Superman and his caped sidekick, a Great Dane Superdog, towered over a kids fire truck with its tiny Chihuahua fireman.
Red, white and blue colored doggie jackets, hats and feather boas.
A couple of dogs were even dyed blue, evoking Louisiana artist George Rodrigue's famous Blue Dog paintings. Anything that sported spots pretended to be a firehouse Dalmatian.
There was even a sighting of Elvis.
Speaking of Elvis, this year's theme is "Tail House Rock, From Graceland to Jazzland."
"We wanted to remind people that there are hundreds of dogs incarcerated across the country who deserve a good home," Lilly said. Proactive about spaying and neutering programs, Barkus is a nonprofit organization. Profits from entry fees, T-shirts, food booths and silk-screen posters are divided among eight area shelter and rescue organizations.
Barkus began when a group of humans relaxing at the Good Friends Bar were casting about for something to do one weekend before Mardi Gras. Businessman Tom Wood had brought along his dog, Jo Jo McWood, who raised complaints for her nippy, somewhat neurotic behavior. Wood proposed making Jo Jo queen of her own parade and captain for life.
Thus Barkus, founded by Wood Enterprises, was unleashed. Eleven years later, the ranks have swelled to 1,500 official entrants, and there are usually tagalongs. (Last year one cat, a pig and a goat sneaked in.)
The parade tip sheet cautions the dogs: "Do not let your escorts stop for more than a few seconds for photo ops. . . . Sniff briefly, walk briskly."
The parade route makes several dogleg turns through the French Quarter and stops at the Good Friends Bar.
It's hard to say whether the humans or the dogs enjoy things more. "The humans are probably more stressed, trying to keep the floats moving and the costumes in place," Lilly said.
-- Freelance writer Carolyn Thornton lives in Purvis, Miss.
To participate, dogs can have their humans sign them up on the Web or the morning of Barkus at Armstrong Park by the French Quarter. Entry fees are $30 in advance, $50 the day of the parade. The Web site is www.barkus.org.
The Krewe of Barkus and Meoux in Shreveport welcomes all pets. Call (318) 752-2287 or go to www.animalkrewe.org.
Other dog parades take place in Baton Rouge, La., and Mandeville, La.