Florida Dogs Honored As King And Queen of The Mystic Krewe of Barkus.
–by Charlotte Reed
Maximilian T. Roth, a Chihuahua mix and furkid of Sherry Roth, PhD of Boca Raton, and Athena Cooper-Smith, a Pomeranian and furkid of Barry Cooper and Stuart Smith of Miami, reigned as the King and Queen of the Barkus Parade, held in New Orleans on February 19, 2017. Although neither dog lives in New Orleans, their families have long- standing ties with the local community, and a supportive relationship with the Mystic Krewe of Barkus. The Mystic Krewe of Barkus is a non-
profit organization founded in 1992 by Wood Enterprises. The 501(c)(3) organization is the only Mardi Gras Krewe in New Orleans for dogs and their owners. Moreover, dog lovers fly in from around the world for this not-to- be-missed event. This year’s theme was Krewe of Barkus
Pirates of the Crescent City: Barkus Tells Tales of Jean LaFleabag. In past years, themes have included: Jurassic Bark; 2001: A Dog Odyssey; Tailtanic: Dogs and Children First; Joan of Bark and 007: From Barkus with Love. The day before the parade, the King and
Queen enjoy a scrumptious brunch of lamb chops at the notable Galatoire’s restaurant. During the evening, the monarchs preside over the Krewe of Barkus Ball, usually the night prior to the parade. On the day of the parade, the King and
Queen, along with more than 1200+ costumed canines, start their march at 2pm from Louis Armstrong Park, proceeding on a 15-block route through the French Quarter. Stops include the VIP viewing stand at Good Friends Bar, where local news per- sonalities Angela Cook and Margaret Orr, co-hosts of the hap- pening, and VIPs toast the King and Queen and their Royal Court. Along the parade route thousands of spectators, includ- ing Beyoncé and Jay-Z, watched as dogs, dancers and brass bands marched.
Although many dogs and their owners dream of being hon-
ored by Barkus, there is a strict criterion for reigning as King and Queen. Whereas a King ascends through the royalty ranks, usually after being a Duke, the Queen is more or less a “rags to riches” story. According to Gregory Curtis, Krewe of Barkus president,
the official contribution for being King is $10K. And, if the Queen’s parents can raise money too, that’s even better. The year that Curtis’s dog was Queen, he raised close to $10,000 to match the King’s contribution. “Royalty contributions are never taken lightly because they help underwrite the parade cost and
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pass through as donations to several animal welfare groups, including local chapters of the SPCA,” said Curtis. Throughout the 24 years of its existence, the annual event has donated hundreds of thousands to dog-related non- profits.
Curtis also noted that a lot of dog owners
have offered to underwrite the Krewe of Barkus parade so their dog could be King or Queen, but there is more to it than that. In addition to the monetary aspect, both King and Queen should be notable pet personali- ties. And, their families should have a history of supporting animal charities including the Krewe of Barkus and its parade. While Dr. Roth did not want to discuss
their royal contribution, it is clear she is a dot- ing pet parent and lover of the event. “It is the highest honor to have Max recognized as King of the 2017 parade. Over the years, Max and I have enjoyed supporting this unique, non-profit organization and have had a truly joyous time participating in the parade,” she said. It is important to note that when Max is not presiding over dogdom, he works as a “mental health technician” at his mother’s practice. Like Dr. Roth, Barry Cooper, Esq. was
honored to have his dog, Athena anointed to reign as Queen of Barkus. This is Cooper’s second dog to win the top spot. His first dog,
an English Springer Spaniel, served as King a few years ago. And not only did he contribute $10K, he held a fundraiser for a local, New Orleans animal charity during Barkus weekend. The proud pet papa remarked that “Athena was bought as
an impulse purchase by a busy couple who had no time for a dog. As a result, she was deprived of what makes all dogs thrive—love and companionship.” This little dog hit the jackpot when she was adopted by Barry Cooper and his partner, Stewart Smith, attorneys who own homes in Miami, Paris and the New Orleans French Quarter. Cooper noted that when Athena set- tled into their family and came into her own, he realized the dog was a doer. According to Cooper, Athena loves riding around Paris in
Cooper’s bicycle basket, taking dog obedience and agility class- es in Miami and socializing around the French Quarter in New Orleans. Although Cooper is her designated caregiver and Athena spends more time with him, her most notable activity is comforting Smith, who was diagnosed with cancer. “Instinctively, after a treatment, Athena hops on the bed and provides Stewart with love and support,” says Cooper.
www.TheNewBarker.com
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