Austin’s First Dog Mardi Gras Parade

Has there ever been a town with as much love for animals as Austin has to give? We think not. Our rescue pets are family and we celebrate them at every opportunity. That’s why, of course, Austinites will finally get to celebrate Mardi Gras with their furry best friends, because Mardi Paws, the city’s first-ever dog Mardi Gras parade is upon us. Sponsored by the animal lovers at Grocery Pup, a company making insanely fresh and natural dog food right here in Austin, this parade is basically guaranteed to make you happy.

So what goes into a dog Mardi Gras parade, you might ask? Well everything. Just like the human version in NOLA, they’ll have a king, queen, and royal court who parade in little floats that are made from wagons. People and dogs in the parade will throw treats and beads to the crowd.
The theme for this inaugural year is “Saturday Bark Fever.” All floats will be disco-themed and attendees (of every species) are encouraged to dress like John Travolta walking into Studio 54.
Our king for the day will be Sebastian, who was rescued by Cutie PITooties and was fostered by Krista Allenby, owner of Ruff Adventures Dog Photography, at the end of September. When she first got Sebastian, he had severe mange and a skin infection. After just one month, he made a full recovery and was officially adopted by Krista. To celebrate his recovery and finding a new home filled with love, Sebastian has been crowned the King of Mardi Paws! Half of all proceeds from Mardi Paws will go to Cutie PITooties so they can rescue more pups like him.
Our queen, Lil’ Kim, is currently up for adoption and is a truly remarkable rescue. She was found in November in Lockhart with significant damage to her jaw due to either an electric fence or brown recluse bite (the exact cause is unknown). Austin Dog Rescue took her in and has helped her manage a full recovery. She’s undergone three surgeries to reconstruct her jaw and has been nursed back to health. Lil’ Kim is almost ready to find her forever home!
All funds raised for Mardi Paws will be split 50/50 among the two organizations that rescued the king and queen. Come out and have the time of your life for an incredibly worthy cause.
When: Saturday, February 10th
Time: 2 -6 p.m.
Location:
Lustre Pearl East
Can’t make it? Click here to donate to the cause.