Hello- I just wanted to bring to your attention that our organization has a Federal Trademark on "Mardi Paws" since 1999. We are a volunteer group trying to make a difference in our community and we have found the licensing of our event to be a very effective fundraiser. We certainly mean no ill will, but your trademark is only good if you protect it. Please contact us for clarification. Thank you.

Thanks for the information. Who'd of thunk it but one can never, well rarely, go wrong by including Google(TM) in all aspects of decision-making. I sense a another meeting!

I like HoundDog Day.
~m.

Thanks Tess, for the suggestions, but as it turns out we were pretty impressed with Cafkia's thinking on this one. DNB just put it over the top. Mardi Growl has indeed been used by a lot of folks, and, as that might imply, has not been trademarked. So "Mardi Growl" it is! You are hearing it first right here. It will be the Mardi Growl Dog Parade. Thanks for your patience and creativity. I hope this is a fun event that helps the Young-Williams Animal Center with their very important work.

I think you would be better off grabbing HoundDog Day.com

Much less negative than that growl day thingy.

Get what you can, then.

I'm SEVEN years behind the curve?

Hmmm and Damn!

The Dog costume parade is in the theme of Mardi Gras, which takes place that week. And dogs do have fur coats and can dress up in warm shirts for the event without embarrassment. Funny about the reaction to "Growl." I immediately liked it, as did some other, as a neat play on words and sounds at the intersection of dogs and Mardi Gras.

Some people in our informal poll yesterday agreed with you that it was negative.. growling rather than smiling,drooling, whatever. I guess our thinking was that anyone who has a dog and who might consider coming is aware of dog personalities; some dogs, like humans, tend to find their comfort zone in growl mode, or, even if otherwise quite pleasant, occasionally give in to the snarling angels of their nature. In short, the thought is that the name should not dissuade potential participants and their owners, but rather will help provide a unique identity to the event. On the other hand, cold rainy weather might so we can keep our fingers and claws crossed.

Why have a dog walk (costume parade) in the middle of winter?Why give it a name, Mardi Growl, with a negative connotation?

Well, guys, for the second time it has made it to the interwebs and I think we had better stick with Mardi Growl. Just to go out on a limb, I don't think the use of "Mardi Growl Parade" will adversely affect the image of canines in these parts.

(link...)

, let's just hope that this fetches a lot of support.

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It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument.
  - William G. McAdoo