Willow was having a very good day.
For the friendly three-year-old Labradoodle from Walnut Grove, the Saturday, Oct. 21 鈥淗alloweener鈥� trick-or-treat for dogs event, at the Uplands off leash dog park near the George Preston rec centre, was everything she loved 鈥� many treats, plenty of other dogs to play with, and lots of attention.
And not just from her humans, Dana and Kim Sturn, but from the many admirers of Willow鈥檚 horse costume, complete with a stuffed rider on the saddle.
鈥淪he鈥檚 having the time of her life,鈥� Dana laughed.
鈥淪he is super motivated by treats, and she loves to play with dogs, so this is doggy heaven for her.鈥�
Halloweener Dogs, the first dog costume event happened Saturday at Uplands Dog Park in 91原创 with treat stations along the walking path.
鈥� 91原创 Advance Times (@91原创Times)
Brookswood resident Ric LaFollette had the idea for the event during a visit to the 91原创 park, 鈥渢hinking hey, nobody ever does trick or treats for dogs. It鈥檚 always for kids. How about some dogs?鈥�
鈥淚 wanted everybody to have great fun at a community event, and see lots of cute dogs and costumes and just enjoy the atmosphere of Halloween,鈥� he explained.
Thanks to donations by generous suppliers and hard-working volunteers, the first-time event featured giveaways at treat stations along the path, along with a photo station with Halloween decorations.
鈥淰olunteers that have been helping out are amazing,鈥� LaFollete remarked. 鈥淭hey helped this come to life for me. I can鈥檛 be thankful enough to them and hopefully next year, we鈥檒l be able to expand even more and do more things.鈥�
Halloweener Dogs, the first dog costume event happened Saturday at Uplands Dog Park in 91原创 with treat stations along the walking path.
鈥� 91原创 Advance Times (@91原创Times)
Dozens and dozens of dogs and their humans filled the park, with many canines dressed up as everything from a spider costume to angel wings.
Daryl and Chris Ginter had their Goldendoodles, siblings Shelby and Sky, done up in snug-fitting Minions t-shirts picked up south of the border.
鈥淲e were just in Florida last month and we saw them, and we thought they were perfect, we鈥檒l get them for them for Halloween,鈥� Chfris explained.
鈥淎nd because they鈥檙e so fluffy, they鈥檙e a little bit tight. They would fit them if they were shaved down but we鈥檙e going to make do for this year.鈥�
READ ALSO: Pugs dress up for Halloween
Halloween, with its noisy firecrackers, can be a stressful time for dogs, something LaFollette acknowledged while saying it wasn鈥檛 something he gave a lot of thought to in organizing the event.
鈥滿aybe because my dog doesn鈥檛 really get scared of the fireworks on Halloween,鈥� LaFollette suggested.
鈥淥ne of the volunteers brought it up when we were talking about doing this [and I said] , well, we鈥檙e not gong to have fireworks, so I think they鈥檒l be okay.鈥�
LaFollette described how his wife spoke a first-time visitor to the park, when 鈥渋t just happened to be the day we were doing this. And of course her dog was super happy, but now she鈥檚 talking about how she was worried because now she thinks her dog is going to expect that to be happening every time.鈥�
He is 鈥渇or sure鈥� going to organize another Halloweener next year.
READ ALSO: Halloween haunts around 91原创
