Best Group Costume winners were Cotton, who was dressed as Captain Hook, and Tinkerbell. Cotton’s owner is Laken Dunaway. (Photo courtesy of Tara McKown)

The Putnam County Animal Shelter held its first ever costume contest for pets and their owners this past Saturday, October 15. The event, which also featured a craft and vendor fair and flea market, was organized as a fundraiser for the shelter.

Categories for the costume contest included Best Former Shelter Pet, Scariest, Funniest, Most Original, and Group Costume. The shelter also hosted two Halloweenie dog races. One was open to wiener dogs only, and the other, called “I Want To Be A Weiner,” was open to mixed breeds.

In addition to the costume contest and dog races, there were also fall-themed pet photographs, pumpkin decorating, animal pawprint artwork, homemade dog treats from Dog Barkery, and plenty of opportunities to interact with shelter pets.

A total of $753 was raised for the animal shelter, and all those funds went to sponsor the adoption fees of all the dogs and seven of the available cats. This increases their chances of adoption, as the animals are free to adopt. Four dogs were adopted during the event.
Contest winners included:

Most Original First Place – Bambi the Mexican Dog, Owner – Micah and Jaxson Jones; Best Former Shelter Pet First Place – Lakin Penelope, Owner – Colton Adkins; Scariest First Place – Kuro the Cat, who was dressed up as a dragon, Owner – Kayla Davis; Funniest First Place – Bella the Dog, who was dressed up as an old grandma, Owner – Katie Hackney; Best Group Costume First place – Cotton dressed as Captain Hook and Tinkerbell, Owner Laken Dunaway; Halloweenie (I Want To Be A Weiner Dog) – 1st place – Tilly, Owner – Kelli Moss; 2nd place winner – Winnie, Owner – Harleigh Casto.