Dogs dazzle in disguise at ‘Howl-O-Ween’ party in Bazetta

By JORDAN COHEN

news@vindy.com

BAZETTA

A Halloween party today at Mosquito Lake State Park brought out the usual menagerie of costumes with one obvious difference: most of the costumes were worn by dogs.

“Howl-O-Ween,’’ a colorful display featuring costumed dogs, attracted more than 100 owners and pets to the Mosquito Lake Dog Park. Creative owners dressed their beloved dogs in everything from a red lobster worn by a beagle to a semi-formal dress sported by a Great Dane, although pet costumes were optional.

“It’s just a fun thing to do,’ said Nancy Olds, of Bazetta, secretary of the Mosquito Lake Dog Park Friends who sponsored the event for the second consecutive year. “Dog owners know about our park, and they like to come here.”

One of them, John Parkinson, Warren, is the owner of Beeger, the five-year old beagle with the red lobster costume. “I figured the turnout would be good despite the Browns-Steelers game going on at the same time,” said Parkinson. “This gives the Browns fans something to do,” said the long-time Steelers fan, confident of his team’s eventual victory.

Lisa Martin of Liberty dressed her border collie Labrador mix, Radar, as a devil, while Rob and Stacey Hoy, Warren, put a tiger costume on their little Shih-Tzu Nixon Millhouse.

Ten-year old Haley Ketchum of Niles was dressed as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and her dog, Precious, a Pomeranian, was Toto.

“Precious doesn’t like the red bow on her head,” said Haley.

Read the full story with photographs Monday in The Vindicator and Vindy.com.