Mardi Gras may be over, but the festivities aren’t. There’s one more parade you can catch and this one isn’t to miss. The Krewe of Mardi Paws is a tradition that celebrates our four-legged besties in the coolest way. Plus proceeds from the event benefit both canines and kids through the Ian Somerhalder Foundation.
By: Heather Newgen | Twitter: @hnvoluntourist
Taking place on March 10th, the 25th annual “Mardi Paws” Parade is a totally different sort of event designed especially for dogs. This year’s theme is “SuperPaws,” and celebrates everything about comic book culture. Matthew Davis, who is currently starring in The CW series “Legacies,” a supernatural drama that’s the third show in “The Vampire Diaries” universe, will serve as the Monarch for Mardi Paws .
The Mardi Paws Parade will also have a king and queen. King Otis was rescued about four years ago just outside of New Orleans. When he was just a puppy found with his snout glued, wired and roped shut with electrical cord; a cloth tied tightly around his neck; and broken bones in his front leg. The rescuing officers suspected he was being weakened to be a bait dog in a dog-fighting ring and that he somehow managed to escape. Today he’s safely living with a loving family and two dog siblings in Covington, Louisiana. He loves his blanket and taking rides in the car.
Queen Allison was put up for adoption when her former owner went into hospice care. She got a totally new leash on life when her current dad saw her on online adoption site, got in his truck with his other rescue dog – a fellow Cavalier King Charles spaniel named Theodore – and drove all the way to Kansas to claim her so she didn’t have to endure a flight. These days 9-year-old Allison is very happy at her new home, and Theodore is her very best friend.
And of course you can’t have a parade without a grand marshal, so 10-year-old Audrey Nethery, an internet and social media sensation will take on the role.
Shortly after she was born, Audrey was diagnosed with an incredibly rare bone-marrow disorder called “Diamond-Blackfan Anemia”; she just released a cookbook to raise awareness about the condition. Despite multiple blood transfusions and heavy medication, Audrey is known for her high energy, as exhibited in a now-famous viral video in which she shows off her Zumba skills. She’ll bring that enthusiasm to the parade route and will likely bow-wow the crowd. Audrey has her own dog, Leo, plus a few cats.
“Lost” and “Vampire Diaries” star Ian Somerhalder is a big supporter of Mardi Paws and although he won’t be there this year, he has a special connection to the event. Proceeds from the parade help animals and children through the Ian Somerhalder Foundation (ISF). The “V-Wars” actor is an ardent animal lover and grew up in neighboring Covington, Louisiana where he purchased 100 acres of land to give back to the community.
About 70 of those acres will be set aside to preserve the bayou; the remaining 30 will support pet projects that serve the needs of animals, youth and the community at large. He’s worked like a dog to create his namesake foundation, which empowers, educates and collaborates with people and organizations that have a pawsitive impact on the planet and all its creatures. Scott’s Wish, which provides aid for patients with leukemia and life-threatening illnesses, is the other beneficiary of Mardi Paws events.
Mardi Paws always takes place on the Sunday after Mardi Gras on the lakefront in Mandeville, Louisiana, just across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans. It’s generally agreed that Mardi Paws, which rolls at 2 p.m., is pawsitively the happiest, yappiest event of the entire Carnival season.
It’s $25.00 to register your dog for the parade, all four-legged friends must wear costumes and the event is free to the public. Sign up your pooch here.