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Krewe of Barkus Parade

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The Carnival parades are under way, with one of the most unusual setting out from Armstrong Park: the canine Krewe of Barkus. Holding court this 17th year in Mardi Gras were King Scrappy and Queen Paris-- both qualified because they are rescue animals.

Roxanne Mentzer cuddled the queen, who donned a cape of feathers and gold lamme and a bow. She's come a long way from the shivering, thirsty Chihuahua found by the side of the road in Kenner, just after Hurricane Katrina.

King Scrappy's owner said the black Lab mix became lost as Katrina hit, and ended up in Santa Fe. His adopted family there agreed to send him home when they heard the story.

The theme of this year's parade was BatMutt, the Bark Knight, so Batman was clearly represented. Aboard one Bark Mobile were two French Quarter dogs. John Ordoyne kept several specifications in mind as he was building the little float.

As many as 500 dogs registered to walk or ride in the parade, which raised about $40,000 for charity.

Eileen is a news reporter and producer for WWNO. She researches, reports and produces the local daily news items. Eileen relocated to New Orleans in 2008 after working as a writer and producer with the Associated Press in Washington, D.C. for seven years.

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