(Featured photo: Paula Basher poses with Maxx, a seven year old Chiweenie she rescued from Team Stinkykiss in the CSRA. Ron Baxley Jr./Augusta Good News)
AIKEN –— Downtown Dog, a treat bakery and pet supply store in downtown Aiken, “let the good times roll“ during the Feb. 24 Mardi Gras festivities with a parade that let dogs roll in wagons or walk for a good cause.
The canines of the community and their owners participated in a Mardi Gras Kazoo Dog Parade and competed for prizes such as best costume, best float, stroller and wagon.
The entry fee included a grab bag with a kazoo for the parade and some treats. Proceeds went to Friends of the Aiken Shelter.
Sheri and Vic Scarborough, the owners of Downtown Dog, 150 Laurens St., SW will be celebrating their 10th anniversary with the store in September. This was their first Mardi Gras Kazoo Dog Parade.
Adding kazoos to the fun just made sense to Mrs. Scarborough.
“Why not? It won’t be as loud for the dogs yet allows the humans to participate with music,” she said.
After the parade, the Scarboroughs’ awarded best costume to Shiva Aiken and her many Bracco Italianos. She donned Mardi Gras-inspired make-up and attire, while her dogs wore flamboyant tutus.
Aiken said she started putting her and her dogs’ costumes together on Friday and finished them up Saturday.
Mrs. Scarborough said Shiva Aiken gets creative when it comes to costumes and that they love it when she comes to events. She said Shiva Aiken once dressed as Col. Sanders and dressed her dogs as chickens at a Halloween event.
Downtown Dog also hosts a July 4th event and an Ugly Christmas Sweater Stroll in addition to a Halloween event and the inaugural Mardi Gras dog parade.
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Shiva Aiken has supported many of the events held at the store and said they are good for socializing her dogs who love the attention from children and others.
“I just love supporting the community. Downtown Dog has been wonderful,” she said.
And she likes that not only is she supporting a local business, but she’s also helping the animal shelter.
“I am big time into rescuing,” she said.
The Scarboroughs’ awarded best float to Bobby Ard, owner of Beyond Bijoux, and Ard’s dog Bruce Wayne.
The Mardi Gras event isn’t the first time Downtown Dog has supported FOTAS. Scarborough said they have been supporting local shelters since they opened and have many fundraisers throughout the year.
“We firmly believe that ‘community’ is everything and a key to our success. Our Downtown Dog community never fails to show up and support our local business.” Mrs. Scarborough said.
The Scarboroughs’ have lived in the CSRA for approximately 30 years but were particularly drawn to Aiken where they have lived for 12 years.
“We love this small town,” Mrs. Scarborough said.
People who frequent Downtown Dog with their pets or alone encounter pet supplies such as collars, beds and toys, premium dog and cat foods, gifts for pet lovers, and fresh-baked dog treats, including 10 treat flavors, and birthday cakes. Downtown Dog also offers dog grooming.
In keeping with the theme of the day, scarves decorated with fleur de lis in the Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold were added to the inventory for the Mardi Gras Kazoo Dog Parade. Also, the sweet smell that permeated the back of the store was not a King Cake for humans but homemade dog treats.
The canine festivities were only part of the fun. A second parade was held in the early evening as part of the continuing Mardi Gras Celebration which was put on by the Aiken Downtown Development Association.
Correspondent Ron Baxley Jr. is a veteran journalist who has worked with multiple news organizations in his career. Subscribe to the Augusta Good News’ newsletter here.
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