Pups proudly prance in parade
After hours of dogged determination, Diane Plummer finally was able to show off her ornate doggie float at the 2012 Mystic Krewe of Mutts Parade Sunday.
Plummer, 61, owns two Pomeranian dogs — a 3-year-old male named Teddy and an 18-month-old female named Pretty Girl.
She and her husband, Steve, built a miniature double-decker float for their dogs, consisting of a wagon, a wooden platform about three feet high and plenty of purple, green and gold garlands.
The top deck was covered in 8,972 beads, which, Plummer said, took her about eight hours to glue down.
“I put them on one at a time,” Plummer said. “After a while, it got easy.”
The Plummers were two of several thousand people in downtown Baton Rouge Sunday to watch or participate in the 13th incarnation of the Mystic Krewe of Mutts Parade.
All proceeds from the parade go to the Capital Area Animal Welfare Society, which organized the event.
Denis Ricou, a CAAWS board member, said the organization normally raises about $15,000 during the parade.
“I’ve been doing this since 2007, and every year we have more and more people come out to support us,” Ricou said.
Throngs of animal enthusiasts congregated along North Boulevard just to get a glimpse of the Mystic Krewe of Mutts Mardi Gras-style celebration.
The beginning of the parade sat patiently at the intersection of North Boulevard and St. Charles Street before the parade rolled.
The bark of bagpipes from the Baton Rouge Caledonian Pipes and Drums filled the air as a Baton Rouge police unit drove forward to clear the streets of people.
Minutes later, golf carts carrying Mayor-President Kip Holden and Raising Cane’s founder Todd Graves led the puppy procession.
Raising Cane’s served as a main sponsor of the event. Raising Cane II, the restaurant’s official dog mascot, served as grand marshal.
Canines ranging from poodles to pointers trotted along the path as their owners tossed beads, frisbees and bags of dog treats.
“We just hope somebody will see (these animals) dressed up and cute and will want to adopt one themselves,” Diane Plummer said.
Some animals hot-dogged their way through contests for best costume, best float and best group name. The decorative garb included tutus, cowboy hats and French berets.
New LSU softball coach Beth Torina served as a celebrity judge for the contests.
“I was excited to be part of such a big event in the Baton Rouge community,” she said. “Not only was the day lots of fun for myself and my two dogs, it was exciting to see everyone come out to support a great cause.”
Many of man’s best friends were dressed in sports-related gear, such as LSU and Saints jerseys.
But one dog owner, Tarrah Reis, dressed her dog in a jersey that came out of left field for a Louisiana resident.
Reis’ dog, a 2-year-old Labrador/Ridgeback mix named Lillah, donned a dog-sized jersey from the St. Louis Cardinals, the 2011 World Series champions. Reis is originally from St. Louis but lives in Prairieville.
Reis said Lillah seemed to be having fun while licking children’s faces. She said Sunday was her first time to attend the parade.
“I wish I would have (come before). Everyone’s friendly,” Reis said. “I wish that in Baton Rouge there were more dog-friendly events.”
Booths and vendors dotted the route along North Boulevard’s median and participated in a flea-market style venue called “Bark in the Park,” which offered items for sale such as dog treats, dog clothes and dog collars.
Signs along the Bark in the Park corridor begged customers to donate to local animal shelters — and clean up their dog’s poop.
Brian Moser, 31, and his 2-year-old son, Luke, spent time at a booth for Greyhound Adoption Group, an organization based in Pearl River that searches for homes for retired Greyhound racing dogs.
Luke Moser walked up to a small fence that held a 2-year-old female Greyhound named Nuvi.
As Nuvi moved, Luke moved with her, playfully trying to get it to interact with him.
Brian Moser said he and his family do not own a dog, but they may consider purchasing one in the future.
“Luke would be happy with any kind of dog,” he said as his son wandered around. “He just can’t stop staring at every dog that passes by.”