Dog-Friendly Barkoween Event Returns for the Fourth YearPhotography by Danette
CLEARWATER - It's that time of the year when ghosts, goblins, and dogs come out dressed in their spookiest costumes. That's right, it's Fluffy Puppies' 4th Annual Barkoween Celebration and Doggie Costume Contest! Plans are to surpass the previous years' expectations already in the works. For the second year in a row, Barkoween will be held at O'Keefe's Family Tavern & Grill in Clearwater on Thursday, October 28. Registration for the Costume Contest will be from 5:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. The Costume Contest will begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. First, Second, and Third Place trophies will be awarded for costumes in the following categories: Dog and Child; Dog Team (two or more dogs); Dog/Owner Look-Alike; Scariest; and Most Original. Proceeds for this year's event will benefit Dunedin Dog Rescue, a 501c group that rescues dogs from rural kill shelters. "We bring them to Dunedin, get them fully vetted, up-to-date on their shots and all medical treatment, socialize them with our foster families and get them adopted out," said Ken Koenig, one of the co-founders of the all volunteer staffed group. "The Barkoween event is fun for our volunteers and a great way for our foster dogs to get some more socialization in." The event has always been a crowd pleaser, growing every year since 2007. In addition to some really great prizes for the winners, there will be raffle items and goodie bags while supplies last. There will be giveaways from some of Fluffy Puppies top selling food lines including Merrick, Natura, Natural Balance, Zuke's, Dogswell and The Honest Kitchen. A Kissing Booth created and donated by Durable Coatings Paint Stores will surely be a big draw once again. Complimentary copies of The New Barker, Florida's top dog lifestyle magazine will be handed out to the first 100 guests to arrive at O'Keefe's. O'Keefe's will be serving up delicious appetizer and drink specials created especially for the Barkoween event. A panel of celebrity judges is being finalized. Television personality and Pet Lifestyle Expert for Fetching Communications, Kristen Levine, will be the evening's emcee. Two more new and notable sponsors who are helping to make the event a success this year are the Clearwater Gazette newspaper and Pinch Penny Press printers. Contestants may go online to print out the registration form at www.barkoween.com. Fluffy Puppies and O'Keefe's will also have forms available for pre-registration. Contestants who pre-register at Fluffy Puppies will receive 20% off their dog costumes. Fluffy Puppies, a 2500+ square foot dog boutique and grooming facility, celebrated its five-year anniversary earlier this year. The store, housed in what was formerly an old firehouse, is located at 1447 S. Ft. Harrison Avenue in Clearwater. O'Keefe's Family Tavern & Grill has been family-owned and operated since 1961. They are most famous for their annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration, one of the largest private parties in the country. They are located at 1291 S. Ft. Harrison in Clearwater. For more information, call Fluffy Puppies at (727) 446-7999.
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