Hounds of Howl-O-Ween

October 18, 2010 at 12:01a.m.

Dog park conjures up fun for pets and their owners

BAZETTA

A Halloween party Sunday 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 Mosquito Lake Dog Park. Creative owners dressed their beloved dogs in everything from a red- lobster costume worn by a beagle to a semiformal 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 of Warren, is the owner of Beeger, the 5-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,” added the longtime 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 of 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.

Several owners got into the spirit by displaying their own Halloween outfits. Sarah Lee Froton of Niles wore the traditional witch costume including pointed hat and green-painted face.

And her dog, Charlie? No costume for him.

“He’s coming as himself,” she said.

However, Tom Shepherd of Warren and Carol Zipay of Fowler attracted attention more for what they wore than how their dogs were dressed. Shepherd arrived in a tuxedo, and Zipay, a semiformal dress. Shepherd’s dog, Bonito, wore a minituxedo, while Zipay’s pet Bebe wore a white bridal gown.

“I’m dressed as a maid of honor, and Tom is best man for Bo and Bebe,” Zipay said. “We just thought it would be a cute thing to do.”

The dogs, of course, had no comment beyond an occasional bark.

“This is what people have in common, their love of dogs, and that’s why we are here,” said Jeanne Forepaugh of Bristolville, an active supporter of the dog park. Forepaugh, dressed in 1960s-style psychedelic clothing, said activities such as Howl-O-Ween help draw additional support for the park, which opened in summer 2009.

Many of the owners made voluntary donations of $10 each, but Olds said fundraising is not the purpose of Howl-O-Ween.

“We just want to promote the park,” she said. “It’s a wonderful place.”