Sonny Borey and co-escort
Derek Franklin, with Queen Puffer, descending
the gangplank
The SPCA adoptee—poised
and resplendent—is an accomplished
Thespian. |
A Royal DisemBARKation
Following a Mardi Gras tradition historically
reserved only for human royalty, Puffer,
Queen Barkus X, arrived via riverboat
at 9:15 a.m. last Thursday morning at
the Aquarium of the Americas wharf, drawing
bemused, admiring looks from everyone
present. Foremost among her welcoming
party: Barkus X, Jake, who was meeting
his consort for the first time.
Apropos
of the 2002 Mystic Krewe of Barkus theme,
"Freedom’s Best Friend: Saluting
Canine Heroes," Jake, a handsome,
full-blooded Golden Retriever, was attired
in a stars-and-stripes cape. After the
gangplank was lowered from the John James
Audubon, her resplendent Highness, a Westhighland
Terrier mix, was triumphantly carried
ashore by one of her human escorts, Derek
Franklin, amid cries of "Hail Puffer!"
The gold sequins on her ermine-trimmed
red velvet cape sparkled in the morning
sun. |
Tugging
on his leach, a clearly excited Jake could barley
wait to lay a royal kiss on his diminutive queen.
Robert Ripley, one of the founders of Barkus,
then proceeded to read from a proclamation,
elaborating on the theme of the highly anticipated
parade.
"Whereas,
our captain seeks to honor our fearless canine
heroes for serving the general good of humanity,
police, fire and rescue departments nationwide
will be celebrated by parading through the French
Quarter totally clad in red, white and blue...."
Ending with a call to all krewe members and
their human escorts to "assemble
with mirth in Louis Armstrong Park,"
Ripley presented a gift to Puffer’s
proud owner, Sonny Borey. Jake barked
approvingly, and Puffer shook off her
tiara. The royal couple exchanged yet
another smooch.
By virtue of the fact that she is
always an SPCA adoptee, the queen of Barkus
is traditionally a rags-to-riches story.
And indeed, as recently as the spring
of 2001 Puffer was homeless, having been
adopted twice and returned to the SPCA
twice because of a medical condition that
required her to undergo surgery to remove
her spleen.
"She
sat in the cage for months," according
to her official biography, "hoping
someone would give her the care and the
chance she needed in life. Finally, she
found salvation when she met her adoptive
father, Sonny, who provided her with everything
she needed." |
The royal kiss
King Jake barked his approval |
Including,
as it turned out, a career as a canine thespian.
As executive director of the Le Petite Theatre
du Vieux Carré in New Orleans, Borey, who also
serves as captain of the Krewe of Orpheus, last
fall cast Puffer in a production of George
M. "She loved it from start to finish,"
he recalled in an interview. "In fact,
when the show was over she was very disappointed.
She thought every night she should be going
back to the theater."
The royal
sniff
Puffer, no wallflower she,
checks out
the crown jewels |
Her inspirational story, which she dreams
she might one day retell on stage, no
doubt played a big part in her selection,
from among a group of nominees, as Queen
Barkus. According to Ripley, her royal
fate was decided in a "secret ceremony
very similar to the way the Pope is elevated
in the Vatican."
King Jake was born on December 7, 1999 at
Huntington Farms Kennel in Covington,
Louisiana. In His Majesty’s biography,
John Russell, general manager of the Ritz-Carlton
New Orleans, recalls having "picked
Jake out of a beautiful litter of puppies.
We put each puppy on the ground and walked
away. Jake was the only one who came running
after me." |
In
his first Barkus parade last year (theme: "Saturday
Bite Fever"), Jake had the honor of serving
as Grand Marshal. For Barkus 2002, he will appear
in a genuine canine rescue vest, which Russell
purchased via the Internet. "We’re
real proud of him this year," says Russell,
since he’ll "represent all the rescue
dogs in America that are so famous now, unfortunately."
"Watching those dogs at Ground Zero—they
were so tireless," notes Russell,
referring to the September 11th tragedy
at the World Trade Center. "And they
went in, some of them got trapped and
had to be pulled out. They got cut up,
but they never stopped working."
While admitting that Barkus is "a
lot of fun," Russell is quick to
point out that it serves a noble purpose,
which includes providing financial support
for the SPCA. "I think it’s
important that we recognize what dogs
have done for us," he says. "They
give you their love without any hesitation,
no matter what."
"Dogs
bring us an awful lot," he adds,
"and it’s good that we can give
a little back. And Barkus does that." |
|
More on Barkus |
