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Which dog has what it takes to win Wag!’s 2018 Howl-o-ween Costume Contest?

Oct 13, 2018 | Lifestyles

(Welcome to the weekly pet column of Pet Connection Programs Inc. of Marilla, N.Y. A new article is posted each week, so be sure to check back on a regular basis!)

More than half of pet parents plan to dress their dogs for Halloween this year according to an independent survey of 2,000 pet parents commissioned by Wag! Clearly, tricks (and treats) aren’t just for kids!

To showcase the dogs who go the extra mile with their costumes, Wag!, the on-demand mobile dog walking app, is teaming up with actress and dog mom, Olivia Munn, for its inaugural Howl-o-ween Costume Contest. Munn will choose the grand prize winner after the public selects the top costume contenders.

Wag! will accept photo entries from through Oct. 16 in three categories: Pop Culture, Scary and Funny. Following the entry period, the public will decide who wears it best by voting from Oct. 19-26. The top vote-getters in each category will each receive $500 in Wag! credits for walking and sitting services, a $250 dog gift bag and a $100 Wag! swag bag full of fun stuff for people and dogs.

Munn, who is a mom to her rescue pups Chance and Frankie, will choose the grand prize winner from the public’s chosen finalists. The winner will receive the wickedly pawsome prize of $1,000 cash and a $1,000 donation to the dog charity of their choice.

Costume Fun & Safety 

There’s nothing more adorable than a poodle in a tutu, but to help pet parents avoid any hair-raising turns, Dr. Diane Levitan, veterinarian and Wag! Advisory Board member, shares these tips to keep pets safe when dressing them to the nines:

• Don’t cover your dog’s eyes, ears or nose. When planning your pet’s award-winning costume, don’t inhibit their top senses. This can cause your dog to become anxious and potentially act out of character.

• Never leave a dog in costume unsupervised. Keep a close eye on pets when they are dressed for their photo shoot to ensure nothing unexpected happens.

• Avoid costumes with choking hazards like buttons. Dogs can chew through nearly anything so be aware of any adornments on a costume.

• Don’t restrict movement. Make sure dogs can move easily while in their costume to ensure their general comfort level and to help keep them calm while taking that grand prize picture. Also, you should do a test run with your dog in costume to see how they respond.

To enter the Wag! Howl-o-ween Costume Contest, please visit: https://wagwalking.com/contest/howloween-costume-contest.
— PRNewswire

(For more information on pets and animal adoption, please visit www.petconnectionprogramsinc.com. Or, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PetConnectionProgramsinc. Located in Marilla, N.Y., Pet Connection Programs Inc. is a nonprofit maternity and special care shelter founded in 1984.)

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