Breaux Bridge is going to the dogs!

Some unusual pairings with Man’s Best Friend are on tap for next weekend, Nov. 9 and 10. On Saturday it’s dogs in boats, and on Sunday, dogs and wine!
Both the Great Bayou Teche Dog Paddle (Saturday) and Beaucoup des Chiens – Beaucoup des Vins (Sunday) are fund-raisers for St. Martin Parish Animal Services, which operates the animal shelter and provides animal control.
Registration for The Great Bayou Teche Dog Paddle, an eight-mile race for kayaks and canoes on Bayou Teche from Breaux Bridge to Parks, will be 6-8 a.m. with the starting gun at 9 a.m.
Bringing Bowser along for the ride is just a suggestion. Not bringing a cat, however, is a hard-and-fast rule.
Entry is $40 per paddler. Dogs get in free. Winners get trophies. Participants get T-shirts.
The event is a project of Tour du Teche, Inc., sponsored by Teche Federal Bank, Chevron, Cypress Bayou Casino and Shorty’s, Cargill Salt, Pellerin Funeral Homes, and Teche News.
Dogs will socialize and wine will flow in Veterans Park in Breaux Bridge Sunday, Nov. 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Michelle Brignac with Animal Services says the proceeds will go towards the establishment of a free spaying and neutering program for low income residents. The program, which will kick off in early 2014, will also provide transportation to and from participating veterinarians by way of a vehicle donated by Parish Government.
Sunday’s event will start with a blessing of the dogs followed by activities for children and pets, photos of pets and owners, “Yappy Hour” sessions with veterinarians, food and drink booths, a police dog demonstration and live music. A presentation of Le Krewe des Chiens Cajuns will cap the day’s event.
The Downtown Merchants Association is sponsoring the event. DMA president Coatney Raymond urges the public “to attend the event and contribute to this much needed, forward thinking project.”
For more information, contact Julie Olivier at (337) 789-6811 or healthypawsgroomandspa@gmail.com. Raymond can be contacted at (337) 344-7891.