Whether they are hanging around some bars, lighting up local parades, or in the baskets of cyclists, everywhere you turn, there is a dog on the island.
“They are almost like an extension. They are family, and so they are just an extension of the love that everyone feels for Key West,” Florida Keys SPCA director of development Jennifer Rockford said. “So, anytime we have anything animal related, people can’t get enough.”
The annual Wienerpalooza offers a gathering for dog owners and lovers to openly show their enthusiasm and costume chops. You can always count on a few master pooches of disguise to sport comical signs that trumpet their self-identification as wieners and numerous hot dog ensembles. The event is not exclusive to dachshunds so you can also see dressed-up golden retrievers, labradors, and the likes.
The man behind Wienerpalooza is Ben Hennington, who has participated and organized fun animal-related events for years.
“People love their animals, and I know how to throw a good event,” Hennington said. “So put the two together, throw in some pageantry and a brand. And boom, you’ve got Wienerpalooza.”
On the day of, crowds can start gathering for cocktails at 10 a.m. in front of the old Custom House. A group portrait with all the animals will follow shortly before everyone takes their positions to commence the parade to Hank’s Hair of the Dog Saloon. A chihuahua flash mob will once again bring up the rear of the march.
The event organizer does like to add the occasional fun and new element to the day’s proceedings, all of which benefit nonprofits, with a surprise or two planned for this edition. A couple of years ago, Hennington orchestrated an entire round of speed dating for his dog, Alvin (nicknamed the “King of the Lowriders”), who was then married to his partner pooch, but not before some amusing moments.
“We did a doggy speed-dating,” Hennington recalled. “And it’s funny because my dog, Alvin, went after every dog and showed his teeth on stage. The crowd roared when he turned down all the other suitors. So, I had a problem. And the problem was, who’s going to marry Alvin?”
“I called my buddy and I said, will your dog marry my dog. And it said yes.”
The Annual Dachshund Parade will surround participants with adorable canine friends on an island that continues to host more dog-friendly gatherings. Tuxedo-clad black and white pooches, dogs with glittering mermaid tails, a new krewe in the procession the Boston Terrier Boston Tea Party, and “wiener dog wannabes” will make their way through the short but festive distance from Front Street to Greene Street, led by a grand marshal, for this four-legged assembly.
Wienerpalooza
JAN 11 | 10 a.m. | Old Custom House
DoggieParade.com
