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Mardi Paws

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Mystic Krewe of Mardi Paws
Named afterMardi Gras
Formation1994; 31 years ago (1994)
FoundersDenise Gutnistky
Founded atMandeville, Louisiana
TypeCarnival Krewe
Legal statusNon-profit organization
PurposeAnimal welfare
HeadquartersCovington, Louisiana
Location
  • Covington, LA
OriginsMandeville, LA
Websitewww.mardipaws.com

Mardi Paws is an annual Mardi Gras parade held in Covington, Louisiana, in the United States. The event is dedicated to promoting animal welfare and features costumed pets and their owners parading through the streets to raise awareness and support for local animal-related causes.

History

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The Krewe of Mardi Paws is a nonprofit organization[1] founded in 1994 by Denise Gutnisky[2] as a small dog parade aimed at raising funds for animal shelters. Beginning in 1999, the parade adopted a new theme each year. Originally launched in Mandeville, Louisiana, the event was relocated to Covington in 2020.

The parade is held during the traditional Mardi Gras season.

While the Krewe of Bacchus was the first Mardi Gras krewe to feature a celebrity monarch, Mardi Paws became the first dog parade to do so, with actor Ian Somerhalder serving as monarch in 2014. Somerhalder, who was born and raised in Covington, Louisiana,[3]made his last appearance at the event in 2020.

Another event the organization started is Mutts to Models, also held in Mandeville, where local personalities walk in a fashion show with their dog. The Mystic Krewe of Mardi Paws has put on several adoption events as well as smaller fundraising events such as Mutts & Moonshine. This event benefited TADSAW, (Train a Dog, Save a Warrior), a charity based in Texas that works with veterans and service dogs. In 2020, they hosted "Trunk or Treat", a Halloween costume contest benefiting the St. Tammany Parish Animal Shelter. In October 2020, they hosted "Mardi Paws geauxs pink" to help raise awareness for breast cancer. a small dog parade that raised funds for animal shelters. Starting in 1999, the parade had a new theme each year. The parade was born in Mandeville, Louisiana, but was moved to Downtown Covington in 2020.[3][4][5] The parade is held during the typical Mardi Gras season.[6]

The Bacchus was the first Mardi Gras Krewe to have a celebrity appear as its monarch. Mardi Paws was the first dog parade to have a celebrity appear as its monarch. This was actor Ian Somerhalder in 2014, who was born and raised in Covington, Louisiana.[7] Somerhalder's last appearance at the event was in 2020.[8]

The parade, typically held the first Sunday after Mardi Gras, was not thrown in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but they took inspiration from New Orleans in making dog house floats.[9][10][11]

Another event the organization started is Mutts to Models,[12] also held in Mandeville, where local personalities walk in a fashion show with their dog.[13] The Mystic Krewe of Mardi Paws has put on several adoption events as well as smaller fundraising events such as Mutts & Moonshine.[14] This event benefited TADSAW, (Train a Dog, Save a Warrior),[15] a charity based in Texas that works with veterans and service dogs. In 2020, they hosted "Trunk or Treat", a Halloween costume contest benefiting the St. Tammany Parish Animal Shelter.[16] In October 2020, they hosted "Mardi Paws geauxs pink" to help raise awareness for breast cancer.[17]

Parade

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The Mystic Krewe of Mardi Paws rolls during the New Orleans Mardi Gras season, on the first Sunday after Fat Tuesday.

Parade themes

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  • 1994 - no theme
  • 1995 - no theme
  • 1996 - no theme
  • 1997 - no theme
  • 1998 - Where Y'at Dawlin'
  • 1999 - Walk on the Wild Side!
  • 2000 - Every Dog has its Day!
  • 2001 - Dog-gone With The Wind
  • 2002 - "PAWS"itively Patriotic!
  • 2003 - Mardi Paws Goes to HOWL-YWOOD!
  • 2004 - Olympic Com"PAW"tition
  • 2005 - Puppy Love
  • 2006 - Year of the Dog
  • 2007 - Mardi Paws Does Disney
  • 2008 - It's a Dog's Life
  • 2009 - Mardi Paws Tunes in to TV!
  • 2010 - Around the World[18]
  • 2011 - Diggin' Louisiana
  • 2012 - Mardi Paws Goes Bark in Time
  • 2013 - Mardi Paws Gets Doggone Wet
  • 2014 - Live from the Red Carpet
  • 2015 - Mardi Paws Takes a Road Trip[19]
  • 2016 - Love is in the Hair[20]
  • 2017 - Under the Big Top
  • 2018 - Fables, Fairy Tales & Nursery Rhymes[21]
  • 2019 - Super Paws[22][23]
  • 2020 - Beyond All Boundaries: Exploring Sea, Air & Space[24][25]
  • 2021 - Pups are "In the House"[26]
  • 2022 - 80s Pawp Culture
  • 2023 - Tales from the Barkside
  • 2024 - Bark 'n' Roll
  • 2025 - Taking The Game to the Streets

Charities

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References

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  1. ^ Times-Picayune, Bob Warren, NOLA com | The (30 October 2018). "Dogs and their humans will march in Mandeville's Mardi Paws parade March 10". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2021-07-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Official Gazette of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. United States: Patent & Trademark Office. 2002 [1986]. p. 992.
  3. ^ a b "STPSO K9 Copper named 2020 Canine Grand Marshal of Mardi Paws". WGNO. 2020-02-27. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  4. ^ "The Krewe of Mardi Paws will roll in Covington in 2020". WDSU. 2019-12-04. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  5. ^ "Mardi Paws parade moving to Covington, while a new dog parade sniffs out Mandeville lakefront". NOLA.com. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  6. ^ Sawyer, Meryl (2015). Closer Than She Thinks. United States: Open Road Media. ISBN 9781504027212.
  7. ^ "Forget Fashion Week! Ian Somerhalder Hosted a Precious Pup Pageant You Need to See Right Now". People. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
  8. ^ "Star Ian Somerhalder leads pup pack at Mardi Paws Parade in Covington". WGNO. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
  9. ^ Wolfe, Rachel (2021-01-22). "How to Celebrate Mardi Gras During Covid: Turn Your House Into a Parade Float". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
  10. ^ "Dog House Floats Popping Up in New Orleans Area Amid Mardi Gras Cancelations". Southern Living. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  11. ^ "Mardi Gras 2021 Parade Cancellations Inspire 'Dog House Floats' Created to Safely Spread Cheer". People. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  12. ^ "Forget Fashion Week! Ian Somerhalder Hosted a Precious Pup Pageant You Need to See Right Now". People. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  13. ^ Bachman, Kara Martinez (12 February 2018). "Actor Ian Somerhalder and royal canines get in costume for Mutts to Models ball". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  14. ^ "Mutts & Moonshine. Good cause. Good dogs". WGNO. 2019-05-17. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  15. ^ Jake, D. L. (2016). Phyto's landscape : a landscape design strategy for a German shepherd rescue facility (thesis). Ball State University, Muncie.
  16. ^ "Canine Trunk or Treat & Costume Contest". NOLA Family Magazine. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  17. ^ Jessica Saggio (7 October 2020). "Mardi Paws geauxs pink, docs paint their nails all to fight breast cancer". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
  18. ^ Wolfram, Carol (11 August 2017). "Tailgate time: North Shore Saints fans show team spirit". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  19. ^ Advocate, The (29 March 2015). "Photos: Mardi Paws". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  20. ^ Sanchez, Juan (2016-02-03). "With 'Love is in the Hair' theme, Mystic Krewe of Mardi Paws to roll Feb. 14". WDSU. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  21. ^ Schultz, Brandon. "5 Reasons To Go To The Mardi Gras Parade For Dogs". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  22. ^ Mardi Paws 2019, 4 March 2019, retrieved 2021-07-07
  23. ^ "Watch: Mystic Krewe of Mardi Paws wags through Mandeville". wwltv.com. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  24. ^ "Mardi Paws in Covington". NOLA.com. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  25. ^ "Star Ian Somerhalder leads pup pack at Mardi Paws Parade in Covington". WGNO. 2020-03-02. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  26. ^ Suzanne Pfefferle Tafur (28 January 2021). "Tongues -- and tails -- wagging over Mardi Paws doghouse floats for Carnival". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  27. ^ Times-Picayune, Robert Rhoden, NOLA com | The (16 March 2018). "Ian Somerhalder Foundation gets parish approval to access Lacombe property". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2021-07-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ "The Mystic Krewe of Mardi Paws". Biz New Orleans. 2021-01-18. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  29. ^ "Award-Winning Actress Kerry Cahill of the Oscar-Nominated Film Mudbound and The Walking Dead will Host Mutts & Moonshine to Benefit for Train a Dog, Save a Warrior". PRWeb. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  30. ^ "Mardi Paws with Take Paws Rescue and ONEHOPE Wine". My New Orleans. 2021-02-01. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
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