New orleans.

Gerald Herbert, AP You're probably just beginning to enjoy Fat Tuesday, but a bunch of party animals already hit the streets of New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras early: Dogs dressed as everything from "South Park" characters to American Indian chiefs traipsed through the French Quarter as part of the annual Mystic Krewe of Barkus parade. Gerald Herbert, AP Started in 1993 as a canine ode to the city's legendary Krewe of Bacchus, proceeds from the event's registration fees and merchandise sales are donated to various animal welfare organizations. This year, four-legged revelers got to show off their festive (and, at times, feather-covered) costumes along the 15-block route -- and ...

Stephan Soleas (on the unicycle), his wife Gemma (holding the accordion) and daughter Namané Amorea (on the horse) are thrilled to have their dog, Charlie, home with the family. Photo: Stephan Soleas Those stories about dogs traveling hundreds of miles to be reunited with their owners are always pretty unbelievable, but this one takes the cake. Just a few days after 26-year-old musician Stephan Soleas hitched a ride from his home in Taos, N.M. to New Orleans, his 6-year-old Lab mix went missing. On Feb. 5, Soleas heard that his dog, Charlie, had reappeared about 50 blocks from where Soleas was staying, over 1,200 miles from their home. Turns out Charlie really, really, really didn't want to ...