It’s Not a Party Until the Wiener Comes Out

January 3, 2019

It’s Not a Party Until the Wiener Comes Out

One of the coolest Key West traditions is the annual Dachshund Walk which is held at the stroke of noon on New Year’s Eve. This is the 14^th annual dachshund walk and I have been there every year to take photos and document this mass gathering of the sausage shaped dogs and their friends and fans. This year an estimated 300 dachshunds of all varieties were on hand to participate and they were joined by an ever increasing crowd of their non-dachshund canine pals including the annual Chihuahua Flash Mob. 

 

The canines and their owners begin gathering about an hour or so before the walk on the courthouse lawn at the corner of Whitehead and Fleming. The parade route goes a block down Fleming to Duval Street then left for the short distance to Applerouth Lane where they turn and head back a block to Whitehead, it is short and sweet but perfect for the long, stubby-legged weiner dogs. 

 

Crowds line the path of the walk to watch and cheer on the little dogs as they parade past. The event has grown in to one of the favorite New Year’s events in Key West and now draws people and their pets from across the US. Of course every local, and there are many, who owns a dachshund is on hand to participate, so I always see a lot of familiar faces, both human and canine. 

 

All manner of dachshunds were on hand, shorthaired, longhaired, wirehaired and some mixed breed part dachshunds as well. It seemed that perhaps the total number of dachshunds was down a bit from some of the peak years, but it may just be that other breeds are starting to crowd in the event and it just seems like less. No matter though, there are plenty of weinerdogs to go around.

 

Dachshund owners seem to spoil their dogs as much or more than owners of just about any other breed. The number of dog carriages and hand carried dachshunds was evidence of that, some of the carriages were more elaborate than any baby carriage I have ever seen. There were also wagons, carts, and other modes of pet transportation on hand, but for most, simply walking was good enough.

 

The dogs were curious little critters and spent lots of time edging along the crowds lining the street, sniffing and enjoying the petting and adulation of the assembled throng. Surprisingly with so many dogs in such a confined space there was very little if any aggressive behavior on display other than maybe a few yipping outliers.

 

 

The Grand Marshall, Lola, had a fascinating story in that she was lost overboard while on a boating expedition and was missing for two days, thankfully she was wearing her tiny doggie life preserver, which dig its job and she was discovered alive and well after having washed up (or having swam over to) a mangrove island. A lucky dog indeed and one to be celebrated as Grand Marshall.

Lola

It was another just about perfect Key West event, wacky and fun and full of adorable dachshunds. Who but the most curmudgeonly, could not love a pack of loveable wieners roaming the streets, many dressed in their holiday finery and strutting along in front of thousands of happy spectators. There seems to be all sorts of stress and worry in the world around us, but if the happiness found at this event is any indication, there is still room to be hopeful for a happier and fun New Year ahead.