Even Man's Best Friend Bellies Up to the Bar in New Orleans

If you decide to take a stroll in the historic French Quarter of New Orleans while you're visiting the magical and beautiful city, it certainly won't take long to notice that a very special 'breed' of patrons frequent the bars, pool halls and night clubs in the area. When I say breed, I mean to tell you all that dogs of all shapes and sizes proudly accompany their owners throughout the Quarter as they go about their errand filled days, and socialize right along side them at the many venues that welcome pets.

We ducked into a famous establishment called Johnny White's Sports Bar on the corner of Bourbon Street and Orleans to be greeted by a lovely bartender named Marita, as well as a handful of wagging tails and friendly faces. We soon discovered that Johnny White's was the home of the "B-Drinkers Canine Calendar", a wonderful publication done by Marita herself, which featured photographs of many of the well loved dogs that frequented the local hotspots, as well as their unique stories.

She explained to us that all of the proceeds from the calendar were used to aid rescued dogs and cats in the French Quarter, as well as the surrounding neighborhoods. In fact, many of the dogs shown inside the publication were rescued by Marita and her network, and then placed in good homes around the city or beyond. I opened the copy she had at the bar and immediately noticed a picture of a beautiful little Shitsu, snuggled inside a basket next to some cases of beer behind the counter. His story was sad at first as they told us how he was found tied to a stoop, along with a little food and a letter explaining that his previous owners had been evicted and could no longer care for him. He had a happy ending, however, thanks to Marita and her friends, because it didn't take long for a regular patron of Johnny White's to spot the little fellow and adopt him on the spot.

The strength and spirit of the people of New Orleans never cease to amaze me as they work to overcome hardship after hardship. Marita is just one example of an entire collective who not only survive disaster, but thrive and grow in the face of it. They would simply tell you that they're taking care of their own, doing what they can...And that's true. But what a person can do turns out to be a whole lot when you have a heart as big as the bartender at Johnny White's on Bourbon Street.

If you'd like to read more about the bar or get your own copy of the 2010 Canine calendar, please visit www.johnnywhitesneverclosed.com