11th Annual Crawfish Festival Benefits Therapetics

Hebert’s owner Ed Richard, a Louisiana native, will once again host this celebration of the crawfish harvest with authentic Cajun food.

Hebert’s owner Ed Richard tempts Casey, a Therapetics service dog trainee, with a sampling of authentic Cajun crawfish featured during Crawfish Festival 2011.

Tulsa’s biggest party on May 14 will be at the parking lot of Hebert’s Specialty Meats, 2101 E. 71st St., just west of Lewis in the big red house. It’s Hebert’s 11th annual Crawfish Festival benefitting Therapetics.  

Hebert’s owner Ed Richard, a Louisiana native, will once again host this celebration of the crawfish harvest with authentic Cajun food. Menu items include boiled crawfish, crawfish etouffee, crawfish boudin, red beans and rice, smoked sausage sandwiches, corn maque choux, shrimp kabobs and bread pudding. You might get a sample of fried Louisiana alligator. More than a ton and a half of crawfish will be boiled, fried, sold raw or maybe even stuffed into tacos.

Part of the festival’s food and beverage proceeds will be donated to Tulsa-based Therapetics, a nonprofit organization that trains dogs to serve Oklahomans with disabilities. In training that takes up to two years, the dogs learn to open and close doors, pull a wheelchair, turn lights on and off, transfer laundry from washer to dryer, and lots more. They are on the job 24/7 to assist people with spinal cord injuries, fibromyalgia, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, paraplegia, arthritis and many other physical disabilities.  

It costs approximately $15,000 to train each dog for its eight-to-ten year service career. Through the generosity of donations, Therapetics offers the dogs free of charge to qualified applicants.

Therapetics and Hebert’s have set a goal to raise $15,000 to support one dog through training. The star of last year’s festival was a young pup named Saint. Now a year and a half old, Saint is partnered with a lady whose balance is severely impaired. Casey, a seven month old golden retriever, will be on hand this year to meet and greet guests. Therapetics volunteers will show other dogs as well, and will be available to answer questions.

Public support during the past year has enabled the new Therapetics breeding program to get under way with four new lab puppies and five golden retriever puppies. Another litter is due on Crawfish Festival weekend. Could the pups possibly arrive on the 14th? Cajun Ed says the festival always has lots of surprises.  

The Crawfish Festival is a family-friendly event with a Jupiter Jump, face painting and crawfish races to keep the kids entertained. The crawfish eating contest, a perennial favorite, always draws laughter and applause.

Those who cannot attend the festival can still get crawfish to go, ready to eat or to boil at home with authentic mixes such as Louisiana Fish Fry Products, Swamp Dust, Zatarain’s and Ball’s Cajun Seasoning. Shipments of fresh crawfish arrive from Louisiana every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. “People can get them live, boiled or cooked. Any way they want them, we’ll have them,” says Cajun Ed. That includes crawfish to eat, to wear, or to decorate a kitchen.

Come as early as 11 a.m., stay as late as 7 p.m. No matter what the weather brings, Crawfish Festival 2011 will go on – inside or outside. Enjoy good food, a good time and support a good cause. And get the latest updates on the newest Therapetics Crawfish Festival puppies. Live music, including the toe-tapping sounds of the Jambalaya Jazz Band, as well as the Lost Bayou Ramblers from Broussard, Louisiana, will lead the way to the big red house just west of 71st and Lewis.  

On regular business days, Hebert’s opens at 10. Lunch specials are served Monday through Friday, with café au lait on Saturdays and dinner each day.

For more information, contact

Hebert’s Specialty Meats

www.cajuned.com

About Author Deanna Rebro

Deanna Rebro has worked in the publishing industry 30+ years, including eight years writing for Value News. She has also worked in real estate for the past six years. Deanna graduated from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio with a B.A. in Journalism. Outside of work, she serves as Vice President on the Board of Directors for Pet Adoption League. “Every story I write is a learning experience,” she said.