Baton Rouge residents and their canine companions gathered Sunday, February 22, 2026, for the 27th annual Mystic Krewe of Mutts parade, a key fundraising event for the Capital Area Animal Welfare Society (CAAWS). The parade, which featured adoptable dogs, music, and themed throws, aims to support CAAWS’s critical spay and neuter programs.
All proceeds from the Mystic Krewe of Mutts and the accompanying Bark in the Park event directly benefit CAAWS’s spay and neuter initiatives, according to CAAWS Vice President and parade organizer Libby Haydel. These programs extend beyond the shelter itself, providing assistance and discounted services to Baton Rouge residents seeking to control pet overpopulation. “We really are saving their lives and spaying and neutering them in order to preserve the pet overpopulation down,” Haydel stated. “And that’s been CAAWS’ mission since it was started in 1979.”
This year’s parade featured a “Harry Pawter” theme, a change implemented as part of ongoing efforts to expand the event and increase fundraising, Haydel explained. The parade route began on St. Ferdinand Street, led by the Florida Street Blowhards and Grand Marshall Cane III, representing event sponsor Raising Cane’s. The parade itself rolled along North Boulevard.
Beyond the parade, Bark in the Park, held at Galvez Plaza, offered a variety of attractions, including a Baton Rouge Police Department K-9 demonstration and a dog costume contest. The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine also participated, hosting a booth to educate the community about its resources for pet owners and its role in training future veterinarians. Sara Hamilton, Marketing Coordinator for the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, emphasized that Baton Rouge is home to the only veterinary school in Louisiana, serving as both an animal hospital and a training ground for the next generation of veterinary professionals.
CAAWS volunteer Cori Mendoza highlighted the broad community support for the event. “I do believe it’s good for Baton Rouge’s community,” Mendoza said. “Look at the different walks of life that you see here today, it’s absolutely amazing. And everybody is here for one purpose and that’s for the animals.”
Individuals interested in donating to or volunteering with CAAWS can find more information on the organization’s website at CAAWS.org. Businesses interested in sponsoring future events are encouraged to contact Libby Haydel at caawsparadesponsors@yahoo.com.
