CAAWS Special Events – Have Fun and Help Animals

Our signature annual fundraisers are the Krewe of Mutts Festival (which includes Bark in the Park, vendors, food trucks, pet contest, and the Mystic Krewe of Mutts Mardi Gras Parade), Santa CAAWS Pet Photos, and Smooch Your Pooch Pet Photos. CAAWS is fully supported by our yearly public fundraising events and private donations. We rely on caring and helpful unpaid volunteers to run CAAWS and all of our special events, so volunteer today! All funds raised during each event goes solely toward helping animals. Help support a great cause while having a ton of fun by participating in our events!

Mystic Krewe of Mutts Festival

The CAAWS Mystic Krewe of Mutts Bark in the Park and Mardi Gras Parade is CAAWS’ largest annual fundraiser. It’s a dog-gone good day filled with family friendly fun activities, food, shopping, a doggy costume contest, and the main event – an entertaining and adorable walking parade where families can dress up their dogs, decorate floats, and strut through downtown Baton Rouge.
Join the Mystic Krewe of Mutts Festival
  • All proceeds from this festival benefit the CAAWS Spay/Neuter program, which allows us to spay/neuter hundreds of cats and dogs in the Baton Rouge community each year.

This program keeps the stray pet population down and decreases euthanization numbers, so more animals end up in loving homes instead of on the street.

You can get involved in the fun and help animals in the Baton Rouge community by registering to walk or have a float in the parade, volunteering to help work the parade, or becoming a parade sponsor.

Learn More About Our Spay/Neuter Program

Get Into the Holiday Spirit with the Santa CAAWS Special Event

Our Santa CAAWS special event is our second largest fundraiser. This Christmas-themed pet photoshoot event is filled with cute critters and holiday cheer. Furry friends of all kinds, along with their owners, come to pose with Santa for professional photos. Dogs, cats, goats, and all friendly pets are welcome. Participants can choose from several different packages of photos and holiday cards. This event is the perfect way to get a holiday card you’ll always remember.
Learn More About Santa CAAWS
  • All proceeds from this event go to running the shelter and helping homeless animals.
Sign Up to Volunteer

Show Your Pet Some Love at Smooch Your Pooch

Smooch Your Pooch is our annual fundraiser event where you and your pet can sit in our “kissing booth” and have a professional photoshoot. This adorable event lets you have fun with your pet while contributing to a great cause.
Learn More About Smooch Your Pooch
  • 100 percent of the proceeds go to the CAAWS Heartworm Treatment Fund.

This fund was created specifically to treat heartworm positive dogs that are pulled from kill shelters and to provide preventive medicine for our dogs that don’t have the disease. Help us protect helpless animals from this fatal disease.

CAAWS Thrives Thanks to Your Donations and Involvement in Our Special Events

Help CAAWS continue to protect animals in need and bring fun, pet-friendly special events to the Baton Rouge community. We receive no government funding, and our team is made up entirely of unpaid volunteers. We count on the support of our community to keep us going. Please donate to help us stand up for animals in the Baton Rouge community and help provide them with a better life.

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