LONG ISLAND HOUND TO LEAD BASSET
WADDLE DURING DOO DAH PARADE

OCEAN CITY, N.J.  --- Over 500 floppy eared basset hounds will parade through the downtown and over the boardwalk as part of the City’s annual Doo Dah Parade on April 21.

The impressive, basset brigade will include waddlers from 25 states, Canada and Ireland. They will be led by grand marshal, Brie Sherwin, a spunky 12 year-old pooch that mooches treats in Long Island, New York.

Brie was selected by the Tri-State Basset Hound Rescue League because of her “looks, bassetude and fund raising prowess.” She has raised over $7500 in the past few years for the League that finds best friends for homeless bassets.

Brie is a tad taller and longer than most of her breed and notes that her height gives her an edge in counter cruising for snacks. She enjoys two mile walks on the Long Island beach every morning and trips to the pet store to select delicacies. Brie shares her home with three other bassets, a beagle and a Yorkshire Terrier.

Now in its ninth year at Ocean City, Basset activities begin 1 p.m., Fri., April 20, the day before the Parade, with the rollicking Basset Hound Olympics. This intensively competitive event starts 1 p.m. at the Tabernacle grounds, 6th and Asbury Avenue. It features a 10 meter dash, the arduous six inch hurdle leap, the challenging 10 inch high jump with obstacle course and bassets wandering off in the middle of the competition to take a nap.

Entrants also compete for prizes in original costume, pledge getting and longest ears.

The Doo Dah Parade begins at noon on Sat., April 21 at sixth and Asbury Avenue, meanders through the center of town to 12th and Asbury, then turns east to the Boardwalk ending at the Music Pier between 8th and 9th Sts. There will be a Pieasco in front of the Music Pier following the Parade. When special guest Soupy Sales gives the signal, folks sitting in grandstands will smoosh each other in the face with shaving cream pies. To be a Pieasco participant, call Doo Dah Central, 609-525-9300.

Other special guests include F Troop star, Larry Storch and Joe Franklin, a legendary New York TV and radio personality known as the King of Nostalgia. Franklin presided over the longest running late night TV show in the history of New York City and is also a stand-up comic who has appeared in Woody Allen movies and other films. He will be grand marshal of the Parade.

Another special guest will by John Zacherle, legendary host of Shock Theatre and other TV scare shows in Philadelphia and New York.

Franklin, Storch and Zacherle will star in the Doo Dah Comedy show held at the Music Pier, 8 p.m. on Sat., April 21. Tickets are $15, available at City Hall Annex, 901 Asbury Ave., call 609-525-9300 or email msoifer@hotmail.com

For photos of Brie the Basset Hound email msoifer@hotmail.com or call 609-525-9300