A Tailwaggers’ Howl-O-Ween!

By Dan Guarino

It was the Day of the Dogs as the Tailwaggers Task Force held their second annual Howl-O-Ween Costume Pawty at the Rockaway Freeway Dog Run at Beach 83rd St and Beach Channel Drive. The event on Saturday, October 25, brought out pups and their people in all shapes, sizes and costumed guises.

The dog park was decorated with pumpkins, black and orange balloons and signs like “Come To The Bark Side,” welcoming the large crowd of canine and human guests. Inside, dogs large and small chased across the park’s wide expanse, played, sniffed and socialized. The non-profit Tailwaggers noted, “Approximately 65 humans attended the event and about 70 dogs. Sixty pups were signed up for the costume contest and at least 20 dogs took part in the various games and competitions.”

Costumes ran the gamut from FDNY and police outfits, mad chefs, Santas, and terrifying Chucky dolls to lions, tigers and bats, Barbie, dragons, Dracula, fairy/ butterflies, Heidi, Harley Quinn, delivery dogs, tacos, lobsters, princesses, sheep and more.

Many people got into the spirit with their pets with ensemble costumes such as the Mad Hatter and Queen of Hearts, Toto, complete with basket, and Dorothy, a fido Freddie Kruger and family, cotton candy-colored “tiger” and companion in orange/black stripes, Eeyore and Winnie the Pooh, Batman and Robin, and diminutive Gorton’s of Gloucester fisher-pup with yellow hat and raincoat and woman dressed in bright yellow dress, wig and shoes.

“For this occasion, we thought of making the experience more exciting for pets and their people by running several fun games and competitions,” Tailwaggers’ spokesperson stated. There was a pet tricks competition, whipped cream pie eating contest, and agility competition. Prizes were awarded for large and small breeds in each category.

“Everyone attending got an instant framed snapshot of their costumed pet in front of a Halloween-themed backdrop,” Tailwaggers said. Plus “no one left empty-handed as all guests received a jam-packed trick-or-treat doggy swag bag, whether they came in costume or not.” There were also special member-made doggie cupcakes and other treats for all.

A highlight of the day were the pet prizes for scariest, cutest, most creative, best ensemble etc. To start, all furry contests and their people lined up for a grand parade walk around the dog park, stopping before the judges halfway around. Each got to be announced individually, delightedly getting their moment to shine.

Leading the prize-winning pack for Most Creative Costume was Katana the multi-colored Painted Tiger, with the Wizard of Oz inspired Rez as Toto, along with Dorothy, winning for Best Celebrity Costume. Best Ensemble went to Oliver the Gorton’s Fisherman and his yellow clad companion, while Funniest was a dual special delivery shared win for pint-sized Prynce as Mr. UPS and USPS Mailman Teddy. The prize for Scariest went to Goldie’s little Freddie Kruger, while Best Overall Costume, small dog division, went to Baby as a pretty-in-pink Princess in her royal carriage. Best Overall for large dogs went to Konrad as Freddie Kruger with his Friday the 13th costumed family.

Winners received a variety of donated prizes, including large doggie gift baskets and tickets to the Rockaway Theatre Company. Drawings were also held for several raffle prizes.

All activities were the brainchildren Tailwaggers Task Force members Fred Rodriguez, Latanya Blessingham-Hall, Orisha Jordan, Susan Jasper, Cassandra Williams, Jocelyn Matos and Tjamal Noni. Partnering with NYC Parks, the group is responsible for stewardship of the Freeway Dog Run, one of the largest in New York City.

The Task Force gave thanks to “everyone involved in Saturday’s event” including Parks, their many sponsors and donors “and all of the pet owners who attended with their costumed canines, making our Second Annual Howl-O-Ween Dog Pawty a howling success!”

Proceeds from entry fees, raffle sales and donations will go towards upkeep and improvement of the park, including purchasing new agility equipment.

The Tailwaggers are already discussing new ways to make next year’s October event even more entertaining, agreeing that this year “A howlingly good time was had by all!”

However, they say, they’re now “busy at work planning this year’s ‘Christmas in The Dog Park.’ Rockaway pups, get ready! Our holiday doggy soiree will definitely give you something to bark about!”

For more information, find Tailwaggers Task Force on Facebook or go to www.tailwaggerstaskforce.org.

Photos by Dan Guarino.