Dogs welcome for Howloween Parade

DOVER — As the Halloween season quickly approaches, people are starting to buy their costumes and are getting ready for trick-or-treating in their communities, and dogs are invited to be part of at least one holiday event.

The inaugural Dover Dog Howloween Parade, created by Sit.Stay.Smile Pet Photography in collaboration with It Takes a Village Pet Care, is being billed as the first of its kind in the city.

The event will start at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 at the Sit.Stay.Smile studio on First Street and move onto Central Avenue. During the parade, judges with float around in the crowd and announce costume contest winners after the parade. Following the parade there will be prizes for best in show, best dog team costumes, scariest costume, and the funniest costume. All contest winners will receive a cash prize. In addition, there will be a raffle with prizes that include gift baskets with various dog goodies, gift cards for the humans for places like Smuttynose, La Festa, Ross Furniture, and travel gear donated by Kurgo as featured on the Dover Dog Howloween Facebook page.

Owners and their pups are encouraged to “trick-or-treat” at local businesses participating in the #dogfriendlydover initiative after the event ends at 3 p.m.

Kelly Glennon, owner of the Jewelry Creation Nation, said they are “happy to increase awareness about dog friendly Dover.” The businesses, including the newly opened Cocheco Café, say they allow dogs on their patio. Just the Thing, My Country Story Alie Jewelers and many more will be handing out dog treats.

As the dogs trick-or-treat, the humans are encouraged to take out their phones and take pictures of their dog and the businesses they visit using the new hashtag. The initiative is a way to “shine a light on Dover business that allow dogs” in their stores or on their premises, according to Delise West, one of the organizers of the parade. She says this a way for dogs to get out and socialize and shop around with their owners. “You wouldn’t want to leave your kid at home,” she said.

After the parade, dogs and their humans can enjoy some vendors in the courtyard outside Blue Latitudes restaurant. There will be a dog treat food truck and other goodies for the humans. According to West, the event will be held rain or shine and all proceeds raised will go to benefit the Pope Memorial Humane Society.