NEW ORLEANS – Carnival season in New Orleans is the prime time to see all the crazy people. Just add their dogs to the mix, as they did Sunday, and it becomes the annual Krewe of Barkus parade. Aptly named, hundreds of dogs and owners paraded around the French Quarter. Human and man’s-supposed-best-friend, alike, were dressed for the occasion.
Amber Scott and her boxer, Roxy, were clad in she-and-doggie matching bumblebee outfits.
For Scott, it was her first venture to the parade, sponsored by the Krewe of Barkus and Meoux, which helps abused and homeless animals.
“It’s a really good time,” Scott said. “They were right about the weather for once.”
After several days of rainy, cold conditions, the skies seemed to turn blue shortly before the krewe marched and the afternoon transformed into a dry, pleasantly-chilly affair.
And unlike many Mardi Gras parades, this one started precisely on time. There were more breeds represented than not, every imaginable variety of terrier, collie, at least one St. Bernard, a golden retriever and numerous participants of obviously mixed variety.
They walked on leashes and rode on floats, mostly consisting of small decorated wagons pulled or pushed by their owners. In the parade tradition, standard-bearers walked in front of some of the floats. One banner proclaimed: “Indiana Bones and the Raiders of the Lost Bark.”
Popular outfits for the four-legged set included frilly collars and tutus, sweaters and hats, limited only by the owner’s imagination.
Johnny and Nicole Mezaraups marched their two dogs, one a fullbred Dalmatian named Beau and the other a part-Dalmatian named Natty, both of which came from an animal rescue program.
The couple said Beau had intended to wear a Louisiana State University jacket, but he seemed too intent on chewing it up.
“She brought our Maltese last time,” Johnny Mezaraups said. “But he’s a barker, so we left him home.”
Although some of the people participants tossed beads and other trinkets, the dogs were clearly the show for scores of spectators, many of whom brought their own dogs to enjoy the parade.
One was Tommy Conway, who snapped pictures while trying to keep up with his leashed beagle.
“Dogs are great,” he said. “But this proves how crazy Mardi Gras is.
