The Krewe of Mardi Paws is a nonprofit organization[1] that was founded in 1994 by Denise Gutnisky[2] as a small dog parade that raised funds for animal shelters, and began to have a different theme every year starting in 1999. The parade was born in Mandeville, but was moved to Downtown Covington in 2020.[3][4][5] The parade is held during the typical Mardi Gras season.[6]
Although Bacchus was the first Mardi Gras krewe to have a celebrity appear as its monarch, Mardi Paws is the first dog parade to have a celebrity appear as its monarch. The first celebrity to walk in the parade as its King was Ian Somerhalder in 2014, who was born and raised in Covington, Louisiana.
The parade, typically held the first Sunday after Mardi Gras, was not able to roll in 2021 because of COVID-19, but they followed New Orleans in their idea to make "house floats," except the participants made "dog house floats.[7][8][9]" In 2022, the parade is scheduled to roll as usual, but the theme has not yet been decided.
Another event the organization has started is Mutts to Models,[10] also held in Mandeville, where local personalities walk in a fashion show with their dog;[11] The Mystic Krewe of Mardi Paws has also put on several adoption events as well as smaller fundraising events such as Mutts & Moonshine,[12] which benefited TADSAW, (Train a Dog, Save a Warrior),[13] a charity based in Texas that works with veterans and service dogs. In 2020, they also hosted "Trunk or Treat," a Halloween costume contest benefitting the St. Tammany Parish Animal Shelter[14] In October 2020, they hosted, "Mardi Paws Geauxs Pink" to help raise awareness for breast cancer.[15]
Parade
The Mystic Krewe of Mardi Paws rolls during the New Orleans Mardi Gras season, on the first Sunday after Fat Tuesday.
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