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-oween

Barktoberfest lets dogs, their people play dress-up for day of fun, games

The Columbian
Published: November 2, 2009, 12:00am

Think it’s hard squeezing your toddler into a Winnie the Pooh or Eeyore costume?

Try getting your pug to stop wriggling while he’s being strapped into a homemade foam Gary the sea snail costume.

“It was kind of challenging,” admitted 12-year-old Sydney Wallace of Vancouver, who was also decked out in foam Saturday, as a very convincing SpongeBob SquarePants. “It took a couple of people.”

It was all worth it. A few minutes later, Sydney and 1-year-old Apollo the pug tied for “best pair” in a costume contest at the Animal Enrichment Center’s first Barktoberfest.

The Halloween party for dogs and their people was a scene of merry chaos. There was bowling for kids and adults with odd-shaped squash. There were treats both human and canine. There were dogs of all shapes and sizes, from a 120-pound Great Dane named Brooke dressed in black and pink ruffles to a talented Chihuahua named Theory who balanced on a big rubber ball. There were dogs dressed as bumblebees, French maids and devils.

Zion, a 1-year-old Rottweiler, came as Jimi Hendrix in an Afro wig. He and his companion, 3-year-old Omari Owens, a diminutive Spider-Man, also tied for “best pair.”

Stacy Walters dressed up his 10-month-old son, Spencer, in puppy pajamas and carried him out into the judging circle to delighted claps from the other contestants. Spencer and Mandy the Princess, a 2½-year-old sheltie, took the award for “cutest” contestants.

The Animal Enrichment Center, at 2613 NE 114th Ave., opened in November 2007 and expanded last December. It offers dog obedience classes, a self-service “pet wash and day spa,” a skin and allergy clinic and even weekly play dates for small dogs under 25 pounds.

The center’s trainers thought up the idea of throwing a Halloween party after a highly successful “Bark-be-que” last summer, said co-owner Greg Fishback. Many of the clients are rescue dogs. Some, like Martha Blodgett’s 2½-year-old golden retriever, Jules, regularly visit assisted-living centers.

Blodgett went all the way to Iowa to get Jules after connecting with his breeder on the Internet.

Like many of the owners who dressed up their pets Saturday, she’s a member of the Animal Enrichment Center family. “He’s had all of his training here,” she said.

Kathie Durbin: 360-735-4523 or kathie.durbin@columbian.com.

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