Pets Show off for a Cause at the Howl-O-Ween Costume Contest

Halloween is coming up, and it’s time to start thinking about what costume you’ll be wearing and where you’ll be going. If you’re a pet-lover, you will want to mark October 28 on your calendar and get your furry friend and outfit, as well.

Gone to the Dogs Boutique will be having their 5th annual Howl-O-Ween Costume Contest on October 28 at Horan Park in St. Pete Beach.

In past years, the event was held in front of the store on Corey Avenue, but they’ve made a shift to accommodate for the growing crowds.

“Every year, our event gets bigger and bigger and we’ve run out of room in front of store,” said Greg Philips, owner of Gone to the Dogs Boutique.

They’ll be making use of the extra space, with pet massage, photographers, food vendors and even a pet psychic in attendance.

The whole event is done for a good cause and helps out the Pet Pals Animal Shelter in St. Petersburg.

“Halo, which is a Tampa-based pet food company, was so excited to be a part of it, that they donated 5,000 meals to Pet Pals,” Philips said.

All pets entered in the contest will register under one of five categories to be judged: best movie/tv theme, best pick your decade theme, best pet and owner theme, best traditional and best float.

“People get really elaborate with their costumes and some people make something for the pet to ride in. If that’s the case, that become a float,” Philips said.

One of the judges for the contest will be the Bay News 9 traffic reporter, Chuck Henson.

“It’s always exciting to see how creative people get,” Philips said.

For the people attending, there’ll be silent auctions that benefit Pet Pals. Prizes are still coming in, but some include vacation stays on the beaches.

If you’re interested in entering your pet, registration has to be completed by October 26. For more information, visit Gone to the Dogs Boutique's website or call (727) 363-3200.