Meet the canine king and queen of the St. Paul Winter Carnival
The competition was ruff, but Lucy and Rio came out as top dogs in an online competition for the titles of canine king and queen of the St. Paul Winter Carnival.
Lucy, a Husky mix, and Rio, a Shih Tzu, will be the first winners ever to walk in the King Boreas Grande Day Parade.
The parade kicks off at 2 p.m. Saturday at West Seventh Street and Smith Avenue, with the fun processional winding its way to Rice Park. Lucy and Rio will walk with volunteers from Adopt A Husky Minnesota and are No. 51 in the parade lineup.
Their royal highnesses, Canine King Boreas and Canine Queen of the Snows, will officially be crowned by their human counterparts a week later — about 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, during Doggie Depot, a dog-centered event at Union Depot at 214 Fourth St. E. in Lowertown (the dogs also hold the titles of Doggie Depot King and Queen).
Doggie Depot, which will include pet vendors, experts, rescue groups and animals available for adoption, will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a yoga session for dogs and owners at 9 a.m., and is free to attend; dogs are also welcome. More info at uniondepot.org/doggiedepot.
The royal titles for these events date back to 2013; in this year’s online campaign, which ran from Jan. 11 through Jan. 22, people could vote once a day. Each candidate’s campaign included a photo and a sentence or two about why they deserved the crown.
Lucy, Canine Queen of the Snows
“Lucy is a smart, affectionate girl who loves people and dogs,” wrote the owners of the 3-year-old Husky mix. “We believe the force is with her (yoda ears). She is a fabulous singer and listens to commands!”
In Lucy’s photo, she was dressed up for Halloween as the wolf-grandma in “Little Red Riding Hood.”
The costume didn’t scare anyone away, though: Of the 93 queen nominees, Lucy won with 345 votes.
Lucy is a rescue, originally from Missouri, brought to Minnesota to a foster home with Midwest Animal Rescue & Services (MARS) in 2020. She found her forever home with Beth Michaud and Dean Sherwood of Circle Pines.
“We adopted her during the pandemic,” says Michaud.
With a big personality and a willingness to wear dog costumes purchased on Etsy, this dog was clearly born to be queen.
Her fans include her “kid cousins,” 13-year-old Brayden and 7-year-old Aubrey, and her “dog cousin,” Ruby.
Rio, Canine King Boreas
As for the new king’s candidacy, his owners posed the Shih Tzu next to a glass of beer, writing: “Rio — 20s something, Freelancer/content creator. Brews his own beer. Hair is always perfect. Could use more social media followers by winning the Canine crown.”
The voters raised their glasses: Of the 110 king nominees, Rio won with 326 votes.
Rio was also adopted during the pandemic.
“During lockdown, we needed something to keep us sane,” says Sheena Nakahira.
Rio, now 3, and his dog sister, 6-year-old Sydney, also help keep Nakahira and their dad, Darin Tenbruggencate, warm as they have recently relocated from Texas to St. Paul.
While Tenbruggencate is from Madison, Wis., this is Nakahira’s first Minnesota winter.
It’s also her first St. Paul Winter Carnival.
Nakahira says she’s still adjusting to our weather, but the king has acclimated.
“Rio loves the snow,” Nakahira says.
Both dogs have their own Instagram accounts: Follow the king at Instagram.com/rio_theepicwildshihtzu; the canine queen is at Instagram.com/lucy.ycul2020.
