Mardi Paws

Parade-goers in Louisiana and Missouri had a howl celebrating Mardi Gras over the weekend.

Pooches draped with beads strutted their stuff in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and St. Louis, in what has become an annual tradition.

The Krewe Of Barkus parade has been running for 8 years, or 56 dog years, and drew 1,500 canines to the French Quarter in New Orleans.

Hundreds of pooches marched in a rival Mardi Paws parade in St. Louis Mardi Gras that has been running for 7 years.

Baton Rouge joined the doggie doings for the first time this year with its Mystic Krewe of Mutts. The event attracted 500 dogs and their owners.

Entrance fees from the parades help local animal shelters.