TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) - The first ever Krewe of Barkus Mardi Gras Dog Parade attracted canine companions from across the Magnolia State.
It's an event where man's best friend gets to be the center of attention as dogs of all shapes, sizes and breeds went for a stroll with their owners.
This walk at Veterans Park was to celebrate Mardi Gras.
The purpose behind the dog parade is to get dressed up and just have fun with fellow dogs and their owners.
"We're big fans of the dog park in Tupelo, so we brought Bokey out here," adds Benita Gruchy, dog owner. "We love Mardi Gras. We love fun, so we decided to come out and enjoy the parade and enjoy the beautiful day."
"It was fun because dogs got to interact with one another that maybe don't always get to get out," added Mallory Berger, dog owner. "You get to see people that you haven't seen in a while and just have a good time."
Owners say this marked the first time to get their dogs dressed up for a Mardi Gras parade, but for other dogs being able to sport fancy attire is something their owners like to do.
"Thompson, our bulldog, is pretty used to me dressing him up," adds Dana Traywick, dog owner. "So this was something new for him and so we just dressed him up made the float and just had a great time celebrating Mardi Gras."
Based on the turnout not only with the amount of dogs but with so many pet owners organizers of the Krewe Barkus look to turn this event into something that is annual.
"We had about 30 participants come out," adds Summer Knight, organizer. "We're hoping this is going to grow bigger and be a bigger success next year. We're so appreciative of everybody that came out. We're basically just trying something fun to do in Tupelo, trying to bring different fun things to Tupelo."
Those who participated -- besides strengthening the bond with their respective dog -- say they hope they have paved the way for something special.
"Well this Mardi Gras parade was special," adds Traywick. "We got to bring the pets and it was fun to have dog treats, beads and candy, and just enjoy this pretty morning."
