Mardi Paws 2011

[Linda and Murphy]

Hi everyone,

Murphy here.  I had such a wonderful day on Sunday.  I wish you all could have been here.  It was our Mardi Paws parade.  (Mom says it’s a fund raiser for the Humane Society.)

Every year before I was in the parade.  (One year we even won..I got dog supplies and a free bath and some grooming stuff and Mom and the Krewe got $50! She said that made me the best son ever and that I bought drinks for everyone! ) This year we just watched. We got there early and I met some of my regular people from Saturday.  We were on the lake and we always go swimming there so I was really excited.  The people said they had never seen me be goofy before. WTD? I just wanted to swim.  But no.

We walked around and met a lot of people. Everyone wanted to know what I was. I think I need a sign or something. I got lots of hugs from kids and some old people.  Mom had our place for the parade all staked out. Right by the dog watering station. Then the parade started.  They started throwing me stuff!  A Frisbee, a tennis ball, a stuffed cheeseburger!  And I can catch. (Mom said I was scaring people though). 

After a while, I was hanging out at the big watering bowls because it was hot.  Mom said to back up because I was scaring the dogs.  Then they started throwing dog treats. WOW! Milk bones and some other kind and those really good ones, too. Did I mention I can catch? Mom was afraid I would get sick and kept taking them away.  Then this funny looking dog came along. Mom said it was a miniature horse, whatever  breed that is.  Mom asked its owner if I could meet him.  The owner said NO, he is afraid of BIG dogs. WTD?? Finally the parade was over and our bag was full. Then we walked through the crowd.  Some poor little dog lost his toy in the lake. I volunteered to go in and retrieve it. Everyone thought that was cool but they made fun of me walking in the water.  Hey, why swim when you can walk?

We walked to the end (me all wet and feeling cool) and when we got in front of the reviewing stand (mom thought the parade was long over) they wanted to know what kind of dog I was and announce it over the PA system…my name and everything. Then I had more fans. 

At the very end, there was a petty zoo.  First I met a baby lamb. She smelled good. (the owner was afraid I would eat her because my food probably had lamb in it)  There was a portable pen had a big goat and two big sheep in it. Some guy came up and was talking to my mom and she wasn’t paying attention.   I had my head all the way under the bottom of the pen (they smelled so good) but mom caught me and we had to leave.  I didn’t even get to play with the baby ducks! (mom didn’t think that was a good idea)

I hope you have dog parades where you live.

Your  pal,

Murphy

[Clifford, Cloud, Jake..and Kim]

Hey Murphy - I thought we were buds??  I would have gone to the parade with you!  Oh wait, mom just said you live way down in Louisiana and we live in Michigan.  Could you imagine how much attention we would get if there was a bunch of us doodles there?  We'd steal the show!  It sounds like you had a great time, we don't have fun stuff like that around here but mom mentioned we might go to the special mall this weekend that allows people to bring their dogs.  I've never been there but I'm hoping they give out treats like you got.  I'm glad you had so much fun...although playing with the lamb and ducks would have been cool too.  Your pal Clifford.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Darwin...that is funny because at our St. Patrick's Day parade we had Irish Setters, Westies and Irish Wolfhounds.  Everyone thinks I am a big girl but those Wolfhounds were HUGE!!!!

[Camilla and Darwin]

Murphy, that sounds like so much fun! People throwing treats frisbees and cheesburgers. That sounds like heaven...

 There was a parade for Saint Patrick's day where I live, and they had lots of dogs in the parade. There were large groups of two different kinds. The first group were really short and stubby, and had long droopy ears and wrinkles. Man did they look weird. My mom said they were called Basset Hounds. Then there were some giant doggies with scruffy fur, almost like mine. They were called Irish Wolfhounds. I want to be as big as an Irish Wolfhound when I grow up! - Darwin

[Pat and Traveler]

Murphy, that sounds like the best day EV ER!  I think a picture with you and the sheep would be way cute.  :)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Murphy,

Your Mardi Paws Day sounds awesome.  Our Humane Society fund raiser walk is this Saturday. It will be Clancy's adoption anniversary. Our Humane Society is his Alma Mater.  This park is where we met him last year. Your Mardi Paws sounds pretty fancy.  We get to walk around the lake - it has real ducks but they stay far away in the middle of the lake. Last year there was one of those funny looking dogs at our walk too.  Why do they think they belong with US??? WTD?   I hope we get lucky like you and we win the raffle.

Your buds,

Ned and Clancy

[cheryl & oliver]

Well Murphy u are so lucky, we don't have those kind of parades here.  My Mom says she wished we did, so she could take me out to them.  It sounds like you had so much fun!!!,,Wtg Bro, we do have beaches here with the big ocean, but I am only allowed on a few of them, so we really don't go to often.  But we do go to the beach and walk on the sort of boardwalk, and everyone comes over to see me, and pet me.  Some people even take my picture!!!..Maybe I will get a call to be in the movies or a tv show???...Well a dog can dream, right???..Mom & Dad say I am cute enough to be in the movies...But I do wish we had some of those parade things here for dogs...Glad you had fun though...

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Hey Murph...glad you got to go to a parade and have fun.  We have parades here in San Diego quite a bit.  I went to the St. Patrick's Day parade last Saturday and met Holly Doodle  (Richard Crowe).  I have also been to the Fleet Week parade that we have once a year which as to do with the Navy.  I also am in the Ocean Beach (local town) Christmas Parade every year and I bring my two Springer best friends to ride in our 50 Ford Woodie with me!  I just love hanging out with my parents and going to parades.  I get the same thing...everyone wants to know what I am and they want to touch me.  I even have a scarf that says "I Am A Doodle...What Are You?"  lol  I sure wish I had a lake near the parades I go to because I would be in there in a heart beat!  Unfortunately my Mom forgot to take pictures of me with Holly Doodle so no photos this time!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Wow...that sounds like fun. Vern and Fudge have never been to a parade. Murphy, you are one lucky dood.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Oh WOW that sounds like so much fun!! We don't have anything like that around here!!  Way to go Murph for making your momma proud!!

[Pam and Ginger Snap]

I missed mardi gras this year.  I hope to go next year!!!