Barkus - The New Orleans Dog Parade That Makes a Difference

Dixie: 00:00:02

Welcome to Animal Posse, the podcast dedicated to the

2

: 00:00:05

people and rescues making a

difference in the lives of animals.

3

: 00:00:09

Today's guest is Robin Beaulieu.

4

: 00:00:12

She's on the board of directors for

the Mystic Krewe of Barkus, and she's

5

: 00:00:16

also their volunteer coordinator.

6

: 00:00:19

. Hi Robin, how are you?

7

: 00:00:21

robin: Hey, Dixie.

8

: 00:00:21

How are you?

9

: 00:00:22

Dixie: I'm great.

10

: 00:00:23

I'm ready to talk about Barkus.

11

: 00:00:26

robin: Well, I'm excited to talk about

Barkus, one of my favorite topics ever.

12

: 00:00:31

This is like my 25th year with them.

13

: 00:00:34

So, we got a lot of history there.

14

: 00:00:37

Dixie: So what can you tell us for

people who don't know what Barkus is?

15

: 00:00:40

Tell us what Barkus is.

16

: 00:00:42

robin: Start at the beginning.

17

: 00:00:43

Okay, about 33 years ago Tom Wood who

is the owner of Wood's enterprises

18

: 00:00:50

Was with a couple of his workers

and friends Ken French and a couple

19

: 00:00:55

of other gentlemen I'll have to get

you their names in a minute and They

20

: 00:00:59

had started a margaret orr fan club.

21

: 00:01:02

She was a brand new weather lady here

in new orleans She was a fan Unlike

22

: 00:01:08

anything anyone had seen in the weather

before, she was very vivacious, she

23

: 00:01:13

had this red hair, and super charming.

24

: 00:01:16

So she had a fan club, and the fan

club would meet at the Queen's Pub,

25

: 00:01:22

which is upstairs at Good Friends,

a bar down on Dauphine and St.

26

: 00:01:27

Anne in the French Quarter.

27

: 00:01:31

Every week Tom Wood would bring his

little mixed terrier named Jojo,

28

: 00:01:36

female Jojo McWood, and Jojo did not

like a lot of people other than Tom.

29

: 00:01:44

She was known to be a barker,

A growler and an ankle biter.

30

: 00:01:49

So as you can imagine the other people

in the club were always really Not very

31

: 00:01:55

happy to see Jojo and one day they were

just complaining and complaining about

32

: 00:02:00

Jojo and Tom Why do you bring this dog?

33

: 00:02:03

She's a terror and he said I am going

to fix all of you I am starting a dog

34

: 00:02:08

parade in the french quarter and Jojo is

going to be the captain of that parade

35

: 00:02:13

for life and Barkus was born the year

after they got the permit from the city

36

: 00:02:19

and at first it was a very ragtag group.

37

: 00:02:23

And it quickly grew and grew

the first year they said, okay,

38

: 00:02:29

we can charge people for this.

39

: 00:02:31

So they really set it up as a nonprofit

and they shared a portion of the

40

: 00:02:36

profits with the Louisiana SPCA, which.

41

: 00:02:40

Okay.

42

: 00:02:40

This was 32 years ago, so this

was pre animal rescue, pre,

43

: 00:02:45

you know, pre all of that.

44

: 00:02:46

So they were pretty much the only game

in town, and since then the parade has

45

: 00:02:52

grown from about 20 participants to over

a thousand if you count people and dogs.

46

: 00:02:58

We usually have about 700 dogs,

10 brass bands, 5 marching krewes,

47

: 00:03:04

2 school bands, and we parade

16 blocks in the French Quarter.

48

: 00:03:10

The Sunday, which is the Sunday prior

to Bacchus Sunday, is Bacchus Sunday,

49

: 00:03:17

and we roll rain or shine, always.

50

: 00:03:22

Generally, our themes have to do

with movies, but we don't usually do,

51

: 00:03:27

after some big rain outs with Titanic

themes and things like that, we don't

52

: 00:03:32

really do boat or water based themes.

53

: 00:03:36

Anymore.

54

: 00:03:38

So that's the beginning.

55

: 00:03:39

And here, 32 years later, we are bigger

than ever, really exploded post COVID.

56

: 00:03:46

And we've given out, oh, probably about 1.

57

: 00:03:51

7 million to animal rescue

shelters and animal related.

58

: 00:03:57

Causes through the Gulf South region.

59

: 00:04:01

Dixie: Now you do have a king

and queen of Barkus too, right?

60

: 00:04:06

robin: Yes.

61

: 00:04:07

So, generally the king is

very well to do parents.

62

: 00:04:15

They can be any breed,

mixed breed, purebred.

63

: 00:04:19

We don't discriminate based on anything.

64

: 00:04:22

Color, race, creed, where you came from.

65

: 00:04:25

We don't care.

66

: 00:04:26

It's the king's largest.

67

: 00:04:28

That actually funds many of the

parade activities and our donations.

68

: 00:04:33

And the queen is usually a rescue.

69

: 00:04:37

We like to have a good story.

70

: 00:04:39

They don't necessarily need to be

as wealthy, let's say, as the king.

71

: 00:04:45

The king, as we said, the

king's largesse is really the,

72

: 00:04:49

helps us to put on the parade.

73

: 00:04:51

It's quite an undertaking,

costs a lot of money.

74

: 00:04:54

And, of course, it's really

important for us that, that.

75

: 00:04:57

The maximum amount of profits can go to

support animal rescue in any shape or form

76

: 00:05:05

Dixie: now for choosing the queen.

77

: 00:05:07

Can people, , submit a rescue story the

queen or how do y'all pick the queen?

78

: 00:05:12

robin: Yes, they can nominate.

79

: 00:05:13

It can be nominated

from the general public.

80

: 00:05:16

The board generally gets together and

we have several meetings about it.

81

: 00:05:20

We look at stories, we look at history.

82

: 00:05:23

There's a lot of factors that go into it.

83

: 00:05:25

So that's generally how

the queen is chosen.

84

: 00:05:29

Dixie: And what is the theme

for this year's parade?

85

: 00:05:33

robin: This year is vanity fur.

86

: 00:05:37

Barkus does the runway.

87

: 00:05:40

Dixie: With these themes when you

have people signing up their dog

88

: 00:05:44

to go in the parade you encourage

them to dress as the theme?

89

: 00:05:48

robin: Well, we try to make our themes

very general and as broad as we possibly

90

: 00:05:53

can A lot of people do dress with

the theme a lot of people will dress

91

: 00:05:58

with current events, you know, post

Katrina, we had a lot of FEMA and Blue

92

: 00:06:04

Roof parody costumes, just like you'd

expect in the city of like New Orleans.

93

: 00:06:12

Dixie: I can only imagine . Do

you have any kind of prizes?

94

: 00:06:16

People compete for like best costume or?

95

: 00:06:20

robin: We don't currently but that is

something we're thinking of bringing

96

: 00:06:24

to the party out on Armstrong Park I

don't know that it'll be this year.

97

: 00:06:28

But there was at one time many years ago

a costume contest, where they would get

98

: 00:06:35

a small prize really but post covid The

parade has just gotten so big that we

99

: 00:06:42

just haven't been able To fit that in, but

I think we're going to start doing some

100

: 00:06:46

additional programming at Armstrong Park.

101

: 00:06:49

You know, we have from 10:30 a.

102

: 00:06:52

m.

103

: 00:06:52

to 2 p.

104

: 00:06:53

m.

105

: 00:06:53

That's when the parade rolls and it

seems like a long time, but it really

106

: 00:06:58

gets quite crowded at the park and

there's a lot of people walking around.

107

: 00:07:05

So it's something we're going

to consider in the future.

108

: 00:07:09

Dixie: Now, as far as walking the

parade, you said it's 16 blocks.

109

: 00:07:12

How long does it take to pretty

much complete the parade?

110

: 00:07:17

robin: Once you roll out, if you're at

the beginning of the parade finishes

111

: 00:07:20

in about an hour and 20 minutes.

112

: 00:07:23

The end of the parade, once they

clear the park, it takes them, so

113

: 00:07:29

let's say the parade starts at 2.

114

: 00:07:31

The front people will finish about 3: 30.

115

: 00:07:34

It takes us about an hour and 20

minutes to completely clear the park.

116

: 00:07:40

Those people at the very back, once

they get out, it will take them

117

: 00:07:43

about an hour and 20 minutes as well.

118

: 00:07:45

The But we usually wrap up the parade

by 4:30 starts at 2 promptly at 2 PM.

119

: 00:07:52

We usually finish up about 4:30-4:45.

120

: 00:07:56

Phil: And they do have like food

vendors and stuff too at the event?

121

: 00:07:59

robin: Yes, we have food vendors

We have animal related products.

122

: 00:08:03

We have pet cetera there.

123

: 00:08:04

We have jefferson feed there there have

been years where we've had some of the

124

: 00:08:08

Clydesdale horses at the event we've

had pigs We've had a cat who was a

125

: 00:08:15

grand marshal one year a lot of people

don't realize it, but For many years,

126

: 00:08:22

we had cats actually in the parade.

127

: 00:08:24

The gentleman who used to bring his

cats would have them on a float.

128

: 00:08:28

It's been a few years since he's been,

but our membership is open to any

129

: 00:08:33

type of animal, believe it or not.

130

: 00:08:36

Dixie: Man, we need to

bring back a cat float.

131

: 00:08:39

robin: Hey, bring it back.

132

: 00:08:40

Dixie . We'll find room for you,

133

: 00:08:43

.

Dixie: So how do people sign up if they wanna get their dog in the parade

134

: 00:08:47

robin: they go to www.keweofbarcus.org

135

: 00:08:53

and I'll spell that www.keweofbarkus.org.

136

: 00:09:06

And I do want to talk about

a few things on the route.

137

: 00:09:08

So when we leave the park generally

the king and queen and some of

138

: 00:09:13

the royalty are toasted at our VIP

reviewing stand, which is at the corner.

139

: 00:09:18

It's actually at Good Friends.

140

: 00:09:20

We have the setup upstairs in

Queen's Pub, which is where

141

: 00:09:24

Barkis was born and germinated.

142

: 00:09:27

And we generally used to have Angela Hill.

143

: 00:09:30

She's retired.

144

: 00:09:31

But we still have our Margaret or she

is our grand Dam of Barkus and always

145

: 00:09:36

will be, and she is usually on the

street with a microphone, talking to

146

: 00:09:42

people, talking about the costumes.

147

: 00:09:44

Again, they do toast and different

presentations at that location.

148

: 00:09:50

Phil: And rescues, they do bring

in some of their volunteers, right.

149

: 00:09:53

To help work the parade route.

150

: 00:09:55

Yes.

151

: 00:09:57

robin: So to run the parade, it

takes 200 or more volunteers.

152

: 00:10:02

It's an enormous production.

153

: 00:10:07

And what we do is, we learned a long

time ago that we needed these volunteers.

154

: 00:10:12

So how can we get such a

massive amount of volunteers?

155

: 00:10:16

So we actually tie our donations in

to the furnishing of those volunteers.

156

: 00:10:22

So any rescue Provided that they furnish

us some volunteers, it can be as many

157

: 00:10:27

as 1 to 80 and they will receive a

donation based on that participation.

158

: 00:10:35

Phil: And some of the things that

these, volunteers do because I was

159

: 00:10:38

there a couple of years, right?

160

: 00:10:39

Yes.

161

: 00:10:40

. So, they tend to,, Yeah, I know, right?

162

: 00:10:41

Well, I was there one year when

it was a storm and raining.

163

: 00:10:43

Dixie: Yeah, but it was fun.

164

: 00:10:44

Yeah, it was a lot of fun.

165

: 00:10:46

Phil: But they can expect

to, , It was a lot of fun.

166

: 00:10:47

to do things hold corners,

hold traffic at corners, ? So, I

167

: 00:10:51

remember one year I was doing that.

168

: 00:10:53

robin: Actually, I think it's going

to be a little different this year.

169

: 00:10:56

We're going to have some heightened

security, so there shouldn't be any need

170

: 00:10:59

for our volunteers to be holding corners.

171

: 00:11:04

That is something we pay

the police very well to do.

172

: 00:11:08

And I believe that this year where it's

going to be different, but some of the

173

: 00:11:12

things the volunteers do and what our

greatest need is as krewe marshals.

174

: 00:11:17

And so they actually

walk along the parade.

175

: 00:11:20

They walk with our participants.

176

: 00:11:21

They try to encourage our

participants to keep up.

177

: 00:11:24

And at a steady pace, and they also

try to keep the crowds on the street

178

: 00:11:30

clear so that our parade can proceed.

179

: 00:11:33

Normally people don't

realize just how many.

180

: 00:11:38

Viewers we get it can in some places,

the viewing crowd can be 8 people deep.

181

: 00:11:45

So it does get quite crowded.

182

: 00:11:47

We do have barricades up at certain areas.

183

: 00:11:50

But I do think security is.

184

: 00:11:52

It's definitely going to be a whole

lot different from this year forward.

185

: 00:11:58

And I think I'd be remiss if I didn't

say you know, we were supposed to be

186

: 00:12:03

announcing our king in early January,

and of course we took a pause.

187

: 00:12:08

And push back the announcement of our king

due to the attack and the tragedy that

188

: 00:12:13

was suffered by you know the city of new

orleans and Our hearts went out to all

189

: 00:12:18

of the families and friends and everyone

affected by that And I think we're going

190

: 00:12:22

to have some element in the parade this

year that is going to acknowledge and

191

: 00:12:27

honor That particular event and that loss.

192

: 00:12:34

But back to the volunteers, I apologize.

193

: 00:12:36

Got off topic But so they essentially

walk they will sometimes push the floats.

194

: 00:12:42

We do have a very small amount of

floats Five to seven we try to put four

195

: 00:12:48

strong boys We do have a football team

from country day that has been really

196

: 00:12:53

great about helping us with that You

We have banners, we have signs, we have

197

: 00:12:58

lots of elements in the parade, so the

volunteers are really our lifeblood.

198

: 00:13:04

And They receive a t shirt which

can only be received get gotten

199

: 00:13:09

by volunteering for the parade

200

: 00:13:12

Dixie: now when the teenagers

volunteer to are they able to get

201

: 00:13:15

like volunteer credit for school.

202

: 00:13:17

robin: Yes, we are 501 C3 and we are we

do offer those service hours and a lot

203

: 00:13:24

of the schools have been really great.

204

: 00:13:26

We work with several different schools

country day being the biggest one.

205

: 00:13:30

But we're really very happy.

206

: 00:13:34

I think that the teenagers just bring

a joy and a spirit to our parade

207

: 00:13:39

that just adds a tremendous amount.

208

: 00:13:44

Dixie: Now, all traditional

Mardi Gras krewes do have a ball.

209

: 00:13:47

So does Barkus have a ball?

210

: 00:13:49

robin: Barkus does have a ball.

211

: 00:13:51

We have our ball at the Windsor Court

Hotel, so it's quite a nice ball.

212

: 00:13:57

We take over the top floor and just

as in a regular Mardi Gras krewe,

213

: 00:14:02

that is when our king and queen

Have a promenade into the room a

214

: 00:14:08

couple of hours into the big party.

215

: 00:14:11

We arrange for the King

and Queen to come in.

216

: 00:14:13

We do some presentations.

217

: 00:14:15

We talk about the King and Queen and

generally as of late we've had a nice

218

: 00:14:20

video that gives a little more in

depth history on the King and Queen.

219

: 00:14:24

We found that people sometimes

have a lot of questions.

220

: 00:14:27

They want to know what's

your favorite thing.

221

: 00:14:29

What do you like to do?

222

: 00:14:31

So we think that brings an element

to the ball where the people can

223

: 00:14:34

feel even closer to their royalty.

224

: 00:14:38

Dixie: Now, can anybody attend the ball?

225

: 00:14:40

robin: Anyone can attend the ball.

226

: 00:14:42

We, you can purchase

tickets on our website.

227

: 00:14:45

Generally, it's only a human event.

228

: 00:14:49

We will have a very few animals there,

and they're all going to be royalty.

229

: 00:14:54

We might have a duke or a duchess, and

definitely, as I said, it will be the

230

: 00:14:58

presentation of the king and queen.

231

: 00:15:01

They're only seen, this is their first

real public coming out, is at the ball.

232

: 00:15:06

We do a small event, On the Friday

before, which is at Galatoire's where

233

: 00:15:13

the king and queen are toasted and fed

lamb chops and some very special water.

234

: 00:15:20

But that is a small private media event.

235

: 00:15:24

We also unveil our poster at that time.

236

: 00:15:28

And the public coming out will

be the night of the ball, which

237

: 00:15:31

is that night, always the Friday

night before the Sunday parade.

238

: 00:15:38

Dixie: Rescue groups also participate

in the parade , they build floats

239

: 00:15:42

and those kind of things as well.

240

: 00:15:45

robin: In lots of ways, we have the rescue

groups participate any rescue group that

241

: 00:15:49

has given us volunteers the year before

will receive a donation at the ball.

242

: 00:15:55

We do provide two free tickets

for each rescue that will be

243

: 00:15:59

donating to so that they get to

attend and really be celebrated.

244

: 00:16:04

It's one of the times they

will be celebrated in public.

245

: 00:16:08

Also, in the parade, we allow for

different rescue groups to March.

246

: 00:16:13

They can bring up to 10 dogs and they

in addition to providing us volunteers

247

: 00:16:19

will also have that opportunity to

bring adoptable dogs and many of

248

: 00:16:24

the rescues have really used it.

249

: 00:16:27

As a marketing tool and they'll make

little business cards and hand them

250

: 00:16:31

out and lots of dogs will get adopted

just from being seen at Barkas.

251

: 00:16:37

So we're happy to support

that aspect as well.

252

: 00:16:40

Dixie: Can you list some of

the rescues that are involved?

253

: 00:16:44

robin: Sure.

254

: 00:16:45

I do want to say it's not just dogs.

255

: 00:16:48

We also support cat groups.

256

: 00:16:51

We support.

257

: 00:16:52

a bird rescue, birds of prey

and other types of birds.

258

: 00:16:58

We support not just shelters locally, but

as I said in the gulf region, there have

259

: 00:17:05

been times when we've supported shelters

out of north Louisiana, Mississippi.

260

: 00:17:10

It just depends.

261

: 00:17:11

I mean, sometimes these small

shelters might come into the

262

: 00:17:16

a big case where they're not

going to have enough resources.

263

: 00:17:20

And it will come to our attention and

we'll make donations to those groups.

264

: 00:17:25

We also do support a bunny group as well.

265

: 00:17:28

And so I'm gonna, I'll

go in alphabetical order.

266

: 00:17:32

That's how I have them.

267

: 00:17:33

Animal Rescue New Orleans, Humane

Society of Louisiana, Jefferson SPCA,

268

: 00:17:38

Louisiana SPCA, Gulf Coast Doberman

Rescue, Zeus' Rescue, Gulf South Golden

269

: 00:17:45

Retriever Rescue, Country Day, Take

Paws, Big Easy Animal Rescue, The Inner

270

: 00:17:52

Pop, Trampled Rose Rescue, Kismet Pet

Adoptions Magic Happens Bunny Rescue, Spay

271

: 00:18:00

Mart Kitten Program, and Wings of Hope.

272

: 00:18:06

That's just some, that's a partial list.

273

: 00:18:09

Dixie: If a rescue reached out

to you, would new rescues be

274

: 00:18:12

able to participate as well?

275

: 00:18:14

robin: Yes, they can participate.

276

: 00:18:16

This is the year they would furnish

us with volunteers and then they

277

: 00:18:21

will be invited to next year's ball

and receive a donation at that time.

278

: 00:18:28

Dixie: Okay, now the rescues that do

bring the dogs in the parade, do they

279

: 00:18:32

have good success with adoptions?

280

: 00:18:35

robin: Yes there was a time when I was

heavily involved with the Jefferson

281

: 00:18:39

Parish Animal Shelter, and I will tell

you, we've done so many adoptions the

282

: 00:18:44

week after because they met the dog at

that event, and they just fell in love

283

: 00:18:50

and so they followed up the week after,

and yes, it's a great adoption event.

284

: 00:18:56

Dixie: So now you went

through the history of Barkus.

285

: 00:18:59

How is it that you became

involved in Barkus?

286

: 00:19:03

robin: I my first official involvement

the first couple of years was through

287

: 00:19:08

my mentor and one of the animal, a

long time animal activist, Charlotte

288

: 00:19:13

Bass Lily And I used to go and

help her stuff envelopes and stuff.

289

: 00:19:17

It was when we did things a whole

different way than we do today.

290

: 00:19:21

But after a couple of years, she said, I

think you really need to be on the board.

291

: 00:19:26

So she nominated me to be on the board

and then post Katrina is really when.

292

: 00:19:32

I became most active because

we lost several board members.

293

: 00:19:36

So, you know, they lost everything.

294

: 00:19:39

They were not in New Orleans.

295

: 00:19:41

We had a parade to put on.

296

: 00:19:43

So that's when I jumped

into a many different roles.

297

: 00:19:46

And currently, although I'm the official

volunteer coordinator On day of I'm also

298

: 00:19:52

the captain of the parade separate from

Tom Woods and Jojo McWood who although

299

: 00:19:58

the first Jojo is long gone there is a

Jojo McWood every year leading the parade.

300

: 00:20:05

I am the on the ground captain putting

the elements together and ensuring

301

: 00:20:09

that everything is in its proper

place and the lineup is followed

302

: 00:20:14

and the parade gets out of the park.

303

: 00:20:17

Dixie: You know, you said that for

the attendance to have Barkus that

304

: 00:20:20

it'll be like eight people deep.

305

: 00:20:22

Usually, do you know about how many

people that is that would attend,

306

: 00:20:25

robin: you know, with the police have

not given us any numbers, but I can tell

307

: 00:20:30

you it's many thousands that attend the

parade and they are there for Barkus

308

: 00:20:37

It's the highlight of their year.

309

: 00:20:39

There are certain residents

that have huge parties.

310

: 00:20:43

There are certain water stations.

311

: 00:20:44

It's the bars.

312

: 00:20:45

I mean, it's really an event that has to

be seen to an experience to be believed.

313

: 00:20:53

Dixie: I totally agree If you're

going to come to New Orleans for

314

: 00:20:55

Mardi Gras, you have to go to Barkus

315

: 00:20:58

robin: We are the largest dog

parade, I would say, in the universe.

316

: 00:21:02

And although there may be

pretenders, we are the original.

317

: 00:21:06

And I believe because of our location

and our history and the different

318

: 00:21:12

elements like Margaret, or the

school bands, the brass bands.

319

: 00:21:16

I just really, I'm so proud

every year of the product that

320

: 00:21:21

we're putting out on this parade.

321

: 00:21:23

And one thing I also.

322

: 00:21:26

We've seen this parade

have Such an impact.

323

: 00:21:31

A lot of times our kings and queens

come in and the families, for

324

: 00:21:37

whatever reason, may have just really

built this bond with their dog.

325

: 00:21:42

And sometimes the king's

family are very wealthy people.

326

: 00:21:46

And for them, They start out, they can be

a bit stiff, little stiff upper lip, but

327

: 00:21:53

by the time they get to parade day, after

living through the preceding week and all

328

: 00:21:59

of the events and the ball, and then these

people screaming for their dog, it just

329

: 00:22:05

can really completely change their life.

330

: 00:22:07

And we have seen it and we have some

very loyal people to us We like to say

331

: 00:22:12

that once you participate in Barkus, it's

hard to get away just because it's such

332

: 00:22:17

a special event And it has really meant a

lot to past royalty and past participants

333

: 00:22:24

People prepare all year long for their

costumes their homemade floats, etc And

334

: 00:22:32

of course this year is a huge year for

us we're super excited about our king.

335

: 00:22:37

Our queen has not been named yet.

336

: 00:22:39

She will be named shortly before the

parade, the week leading up to the parade.

337

: 00:22:44

But our king, much like Rex, our king

has been announced and it's Master P.

338

: 00:22:49

D.

339

: 00:22:50

Benson, the dog of Gale and Tom Benson.

340

: 00:22:54

So we're super excited to have that

type of Involvement with someone who

341

: 00:22:59

is so many philanthropic and now she,

to see how she is really supporting us

342

: 00:23:06

and supporting the animals is really

a special thing for our city, I think.

343

: 00:23:13

Phil: Well, I can tell you, having

been to many Barkus parades, yes,

344

: 00:23:18

I can agree with you that people

will come outta their shells, right?

345

: 00:23:21

So you see 'em come out in their costumes

and it is, it's just something you have

346

: 00:23:26

to see, you know, you have to be there.

347

: 00:23:28

You have to see it.

348

: 00:23:29

But not just people, so I noticed like

some of the dogs that are for adoption

349

: 00:23:33

that are walking the route, you know, you

get to see the animals personality, right?

350

: 00:23:37

So rather than being, in a kennel

somewhere for adoption, and you see

351

: 00:23:41

them on the parade route, you know,

that's when you get to really see.

352

: 00:23:44

How the animal reacts from other animals

and I think you can really see what animal

353

: 00:23:48

you want, you know That's just my opinion.

354

: 00:23:51

robin: I agree phil that's a really

great point and one of the things I

355

: 00:23:54

like to say is like When a dog has been

through something like that a parade

356

: 00:23:59

like that and has had that experience

It's such a great experience for those

357

: 00:24:05

shelter animals that it's impacting them.

358

: 00:24:09

And like you said, you really do

get to see a different side of them.

359

: 00:24:13

It's a very happy event.

360

: 00:24:15

They're not behind, you know,

in a cage and they're really

361

: 00:24:18

able to be a dog for that day.

362

: 00:24:21

So that's really special.

363

: 00:24:24

Dixie: Yeah, and the dogs

definitely get excited, too.

364

: 00:24:27

robin: They do and you know, it's really

amazing to me that we can have that

365

: 00:24:30

literally Thousands of dogs when you

include all the dogs that are lining

366

: 00:24:35

the streets to watch the parade as

well, and it's very rare that we have

367

: 00:24:40

any issues between any dogs very rare.

368

: 00:24:44

I think they everyone gets

swept up in this amazing day of

369

: 00:24:49

food Fun and love and support.

370

: 00:24:52

It's really something very special.

371

: 00:24:55

Dixie: Now, do you ever have any kind

of issues with dogs getting lost?

372

: 00:25:00

robin: There have been a couple of

times where some dogs were running

373

: 00:25:02

around and the great thing is that

we always have shelter people there

374

: 00:25:06

and they know exactly what to do.

375

: 00:25:08

It's nothing but animal people

and we're always able to reunite.

376

: 00:25:12

A couple of times it had to be on the

Monday instead of that day but yeah

377

: 00:25:17

we've had a few get lost, not many.

378

: 00:25:19

You'd be surprised considering the

number of dogs that are out there.

379

: 00:25:25

Dixie: Now, do you still have a

need for volunteers for this year?

380

: 00:25:28

Always.

381

: 00:25:29

robin: Always.

382

: 00:25:30

Because we are all volunteer

run group, we are, we just

383

: 00:25:35

opened up the volunteer roles.

384

: 00:25:36

So we sign up our volunteers.

385

: 00:25:38

This is about the time we start

3 to 4 weeks before the parade.

386

: 00:25:42

And we actually allow volunteers

to sign up day of we prefer.

387

: 00:25:47

That they sign up through the website

early, but we do allow them to sign up as

388

: 00:25:51

late as day of our krewe marshal position,

which, again, is the most 1 in demand.

389

: 00:25:58

We have now moved up the time we

used to have it from 1 to 5, but this

390

: 00:26:02

year we're asking them to get there

just a little bit earlier at: 12:30

391

: 00:26:07

Dixie: Okay, and is the only

volunteer position is that the krewe

392

: 00:26:11

marshal, or could you use anybody

working in Armstrong park as well?

393

: 00:26:15

robin: Well, we used to have a

greater need in Armstrong Park, but

394

: 00:26:19

what we found is we have the same

people that return year after year.

395

: 00:26:24

So we do ask that people sign up for

the Krewe Marshall and if they want to

396

: 00:26:29

note somewhere in their form that the.

397

: 00:26:31

A earlier time would suit them.

398

: 00:26:34

I'll try to set that up with something,

but many of those positions are filled

399

: 00:26:38

by the same people, year after year.

400

: 00:26:40

And because we're dealing with merchandise

and registration packets, et cetera, it

401

: 00:26:45

does help to have those volunteers who

have a level of familiarity with it.

402

: 00:26:51

Dixie: Okay, and is there anything

else you would like to share

403

: 00:26:53

about Barkus the rescue efforts or

anything else related to the event?

404

: 00:27:00

robin: Well, yes, I would like to

talk about something we're going

405

: 00:27:02

to do that we've never done before.

406

: 00:27:04

We haven't even released any media

on it, but that'll come next week.

407

: 00:27:08

On Saturday, February 15th, at the

Dat Dog location on Ferrett Street,

408

: 00:27:14

we are going to do a public event.

409

: 00:27:19

Meet the Royals.

410

: 00:27:20

We will have the Barcus 2024

King and Queen and a few

411

: 00:27:24

of our Dukes and Duchesses.

412

: 00:27:26

We're going to have a DJ with some

music, a performance by the Weather

413

: 00:27:31

Girls, and it's a fundraiser,

all food and drink that's sold.

414

: 00:27:35

Between 1 p.

415

: 00:27:36

m.

416

: 00:27:36

and 4 p.

417

: 00:27:36

m.

418

: 00:27:37

and actually I think that

dog's doing it the whole day.

419

: 00:27:39

They're going to make a nice donation

to Barkus and it's an opportunity

420

: 00:27:43

for people to come and meet our kings

and queens and dukes and duchesses

421

: 00:27:47

and get a closer look and a few

sniffs and pets maybe a kiss or two.

422

: 00:27:53

Dixie: That's great.

423

: 00:27:53

robin: We are asking.

424

: 00:27:55

Yes, and we are asking that people

not bring their dogs unless it's a

425

: 00:27:59

service animal, just because this is

a restaurant and there will be food

426

: 00:28:04

and drink being consumed and served.

427

: 00:28:06

Dixie: Can you give us the website again?

428

: 00:28:08

robin: Yes.

429

: 00:28:10

Well, why don't I go over all the details.

430

: 00:28:12

The parade is Sunday, February 23rd.

431

: 00:28:16

Party at Armstrong Park starts at.

432

: 00:28:19

10 30 a.

433

: 00:28:19

m.

434

: 00:28:20

There are many ways you can participate.

435

: 00:28:22

You don't have to walk the parade if

your dog is older You can just sit up

436

: 00:28:27

in our vip tent If you purchase that

you can go to our reviewing stand

437

: 00:28:33

And you're welcome to just come enjoy

the music and the sites that we will

438

: 00:28:37

have in the park The website is www.

439

: 00:28:42

kreweofbarkus org We do

spell Krewe New Orleans baby.

440

: 00:28:47

It's www.kreweofbarkus.org.

441

: 00:28:57

Okay,

442

: 00:29:01

Dixie: thank you.

443

: 00:29:01

And I'm gonna include your volunteer

link too in the description.

444

: 00:29:06

Okay, so that way, in case anybody

wants to volunteer the link will be

445

: 00:29:09

there so they can go ahead and sign up.

446

: 00:29:12

robin: Okay.

447

: 00:29:12

Awesome.

448

: 00:29:13

Sounds great.

449

: 00:29:14

Phil: And I want to add, I just

looked at the website and I'm looking

450

: 00:29:17

at a photo of the Barkus poster.

451

: 00:29:20

So, I like to collect things, right?

452

: 00:29:21

So, anyone that wants to.

453

: 00:29:23

Buy one of these posters.

454

: 00:29:24

I would definitely jump on the website.

455

: 00:29:26

Take a look at it because it's

a good looking poster this

456

: 00:29:27

year So I really like it well,

457

: 00:29:29

robin: i'm glad you brought that up

philip our posters are one of a kind

458

: 00:29:33

done by Matt Renard through the renard

gallery He is also the vice president of

459

: 00:29:37

our group and has been a huge supporter

from almost from day one Also this

460

: 00:29:42

year we don't have our merchandise

up yet but It will be coming up soon.

461

: 00:29:47

We're offering a lot of

different merchandise that

462

: 00:29:50

we haven't offered before.

463

: 00:29:52

Instead of just our parade

day t shirt, we're going to be

464

: 00:29:56

doing a Barkas Sunday t shirt.

465

: 00:29:58

We're going to be selling flags.

466

: 00:30:00

We are working on cups and

special Barkas logo beads that

467

: 00:30:04

are going to be really cute.

468

: 00:30:07

A whole different type of bead than

we've done before and we're super

469

: 00:30:11

excited about the new additions.

470

: 00:30:14

Dixie: Well, we're going to be there.

471

: 00:30:15

We love walking the

parade as Krewe marshals.

472

: 00:30:18

robin: Okay, great.

473

: 00:30:19

Sign up the girl.

474

: 00:30:21

I'm gonna go sign up.

475

: 00:30:23

We'll be looking for those

Spaymart kitten foster volunteers.

476

: 00:30:28

We need them.

477

: 00:30:29

Dixie: Okay, yeah, and then we actually

started a rescue too, so we have a rescue.

478

: 00:30:33

We're building a sanctuary.

479

: 00:30:35

Yeah.

480

: 00:30:35

So we're the unwanted feline organization.

481

: 00:30:37

So, but we still work

with Spaymart as well.

482

: 00:30:40

So,

483

: 00:30:41

robin: okay.

484

: 00:30:41

Well, that's okay.

485

: 00:30:42

Put your name in girl.

486

: 00:30:43

Dixie: We're looking forward Barkus.

487

: 00:30:45

Like it is the best Mardi Gras parade.

488

: 00:30:47

Definitely the best.

489

: 00:30:50

robin: Okay.

490

: 00:30:50

I love it.

491

: 00:30:51

Thank you so much.

492

: 00:30:52

Really, this was wonderful to catch up

with you guys, and I'm looking forward

493

: 00:30:55

to seeing you in just a couple of weeks.

494

: 00:30:57

Dixie: Yep.

495

: 00:30:57

Looking forward to seeing you too.

496

: 00:31:00

robin: Okay.

497

: 00:31:00

We'll see you then.

498

: 00:31:01

Thank you all so much.

499

: 00:31:02

All

500

: 00:31:02

Dixie: right.

501

: 00:31:02

Goodbye.

502

: 00:31:03

robin: All right.

503

: 00:31:03

Bye bye.

504

: 00:31:05

Dixie: And that's all the time

we have for today's episode.

505

: 00:31:08

If you are in animal rescue, or if

you know someone that has a story that

506

: 00:31:12

should be told, please contact us.

507

: 00:31:14

We would love to have

you or them on the show

508

: 00:31:17

.

Thanks for listening, and please join us next week as we continue to

509

: 00:31:21

explore the world of animal rescue.