Sunday marked the 15th annual "Beggin' Strips Barkus Pet Parade" in Soulard (a neighborhood which next weekend will host what I've been told might be the 2nd largest Mardi Gras celebration in the US- these people love a party). The Pet Parade is essentially Mardi Gras for dogs as owners go all out to dress their pets in green, purple, and gold colored outfits, beads and all.
Apparently the event draws around 8,000 marching pets and as many as 80,000 onlookers each year. I was in the latter category... I will just let you know now that my dog Lexie does not make a habit of wearing clothes.
My friend Megan and I were a little overwhelmed by how much effort some people put into the parade. She works at Purina and informed me that Americans spend 34 BILLION dollars every year on their pets. I guess that's good... it keeps Megan employed! And, although it crossed my mind that some of the participants took things a little over the top, it was a fun day and a very family-friendly way to celebrate Mardi Gras. Plus it's all for a good cause: each owner paid $10 to march his or her dog in the parade and all the proceeds went to a no-kill animal shelter in the local area.
A crowd of pet lovers:
A minimalist:
A site you don't see every day:
And my favorite... the spray-painted poodle:
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