During this 150th year of Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, there is a bittersweet tinge to the celebrations. The wounds of Hurricane Katrina are still fresh and the needs are still many. In honor of the spirit of NOLA, Baggins’ Best Biscuits, based in Doylestown, Pa, launches a healthy dog treat with a Mardi Gras theme and will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Louisiana SPCA.

$2 of every bag of Mardi Gras Biscuits sold will be donated to the LA/SPCA, a 117 year old organization that is operating out of temporary space and is having to start from scratch. They rescued 1000’s of pets and worked 16 + hour days in the days following Katrina to rescue as many pets as possible. http://www.la-spca.org/dedication/about.htm

Baggins’ Mardi Gras Biscuits are made with all-natural, human quality ingredients, all-natural applesauce, cinnamon, flour, oatmeal, egg and other wholesome ingredients. So make tails wag! Treat your dog to great healthy dog treats and help support the ongoing pet relief efforts in New Orleans. Baggins’ Mardi Gras Dog Biscuits can be ordered online at www.all-natural-dog-treat.com.

This all-natural dog treat is Apple Cinnamon flavored and has three different shaped biscuits. There’s a trumpet (to represent the music of the city), a crown (to represent Rex, King of Carnival) and a fleur de lis ( the symbol of French tradition in the city). These are BIG biscuits! The trumpet and crown are almost 6" across and approx. 2’’wide. The fleur de lis is 3" tall. Yeah, they’re big, but these biscuits are soft enough to break them into smaller pieces for your dog and maybe even share! All in the spirit of Mardi Gras.

Over 8,000 New Orleans pets were rescued by the LA/-SPCA in the days following Katrina. Over 1000 staff and volunteers from around the United States and the World worked 16 + hour days rescuing animals. The shelter lost its building and all its contents and many of the 60+ person staff lost their homes. Luckily, the animals had been evacuated to safety.

Groups like the LA/SPCA with dedicated staff and volunteers were able to save 1000s of animals and reunite many with their humans. But unfortunately, there is still plenty to be done and a lot of bills to be paid. It will cost an estimated $6 million dollars to build a new shelter. And then there’s the public veterinary clinic to be reopened, the spay/neuter initiative, and other projects that the LA/SPCA is focusing on for 2006.

“Hurricane Katrina was devastating for our community, for both animals and people, but as we rebuild and recover we have to move from that place of loss to a place that improves the lives of animals for years to come," says Laura Maloney, Executive Director of the LA/SPCA. “Support from individuals and organizations all over the country are instrumental in helping us recover and rebuild."

Hurricane or no hurricane, Carnival season is here and was officially kicked off on January 6 with Twelfth Night celebrations. Over the next few weeks, residents will come together to celebrate life. As a former resident of that great city, I understand a small fraction of the bittersweet celebrations that will occur this Carnival season but I also understand the need for continued recovery efforts. So, in honor of the city I love so much and the very real need that is still present throughout the pet community, I’m pleased to announce the launch of Baggins’ Mardi Gras Dog Biscuits by Baggins’ Best Biscuits.

Baggins’ Mardi Gras Dog Biscuits-

because it’s not just a party ya’ll!