Costumed doggies welcomed in Doylestown By Peg Quann Staff writer Four-footed ghosts and goblins are most welcome in both Doylestown and Doylestown Township this Halloween season as both municipalities plan to host dog-friendly parades and costume contests. For the 10th year, the township is giving dogs their own day — Oct. 25 — to show off their owners’ creativity in costuming them at the annual “Howl-O-Ween Canine Celebration.” Then on Nov. 1, the borough will host its “Spooktacular Doylestown Halloween Parade.” Doylestown Township’s “Howl-O-Ween” celebration is a free event, open to the public from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Doylestown Dog Park, also known as Turk Park III, on Almshouse Road. Membership in the dog park is not required. Dogs and their owners can try to win best in show as they compete in several costume categories: funniest, scariest, most creative, homemade and family or group costumes. Then there are the free “paw”dicures, being offered courtesy of Pet Supplies Plus. Dog sports will include demonstrations of agility, K9 and lure coursing. A microchipping clinic will be sponsored by the Doylestown Animal Medical Clinic. And there will be a Parade of Champions, showcasing “all rescued dogs and dogs looking for a forever home,” said Kaitlyn Finley, program coordinator for the township’s Parks & Recreation Department. Doggie raffles will offer prizes to please any pooch. On Nov. 1, the borough’s “Spooktacular Doylestown Halloween Parade” will begin at 11 a.m. for children ages 2 to 10 and “friendly, well socialized dogs of all ages.” The parade will assemble in the Pine Street parking lot at Pine and State streets and then proceed down State Street, turning left onto Main Street and ending at the Doylestown Historical Society Park for costume judging. To participate, donations of two boxes of character adhesive bandages are requested for donation to The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. Prizes will be given for the funniest looking child, the funniest looking dog, the most creative child, the most creative dog and the best child and dog costume combination. Judges will be Doylestown Mayor Ron Strouse as well as Ron Martin, Discover Doylestown chairperson; Larry Browne, prevention officer for the Doylestown Fire Co.; and Doyle Walton, a Doylestown cardiologist. Children are welcome to trick or treat in town after the parade and dogs can visit dog-friendly shops for goodies as well. Don’t have a doggie costume and aren’t sure how to make one? Check out costume websites. Wonderdog now has competition from furry Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, floppy eared princesses and some genuine hot dogs. PetSmart spokeswoman Natalie DeGrandis said the store offers 300 different items for Halloween, including costumes for cats, gerbils and even bearded dragons. Americans are expected to spend $350 million on Halloween costumes for pets this year, according to the National Retail Federation. While Halloween is becoming a more pet-friendly holiday, Doylestown Veterinary Hospital and PennVet in Philadelphia caution pet owners to be sure to dress their animal in a costume that moves freely, that the pet enjoys wearing and that doesn’t obstruct vision. Also make sure the costume doesn’t contain “anything dangly” that they could swallow, added Caroline Wolff, a veterinary technician at the Doylestown facility. Be sure to keep Halloween candy and wrappers away from pets. It’s especially important not to allow pets to eat chocolate, particularly dark chocolate since it contains theobromine, a caffeine-like substance that pets cannot metabolize as easily as people and can become very ill from eating. “They shouldn’t have any chocolate,” Wolff said. On Halloween, PennVet also advises that pets — both dogs and cats, especially black cats — should be kept inside and safely away from doors where young trick-or-treaters may come calling. It protects the pet from getting loose and keeps young costumed visitors safe from a pet who may become agitated by a scary looking trick-or-treater.
Posted on: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 15:33:34 +0000
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