Tricks for Treats!

My neighbor has two dogs. One of them says to the other, "Woof!"
The other replies, "Moo!"
The dog is perplexed. "Moo? Why did you say, 'Moo'?"
The other dog says, "I'm trying to learn a foreign language."—Morey Amsterdam

Everywhere I look on the city streets there are hints of what I think is one of the most fun autumn holidays. Witches, ghosts, goblins, skeletons and a variety of character costumes fill the store windows.

Flashes of orange, black, gold and other fall colors conjure up falling leaves, pumpkins, apple picking and families getting ready to buy or make costumes for their children’s trick-or-treat adventure. “I’d like to be a ballerina” or “princess” or “witch,” some young girls say. Boys like the more macho characters like Superman, Spider Man or a swashbuckling pirate.

Dogs and cats have no choice in the matter. Their humans dress them up according to whim. Some dogs are so embarrassed; they just turn their backs and blush or think, “What did I do to deserve this? My humans are so strange!”

Did you know that 3.5 Americans will dress up their dogs for Halloween this year? I think it’s great. And children love to see their dogs and cats become part of the fun.

Other dogs are pure unadulterated show-offs. A while back, my dog Ginger, a Retriever/Border Collie was invited to a doggie Halloween party. I couldn’t make my mind up about a costume, although I knew it had to be something very feminine since she was such a beautiful girlie girl.

A few weeks before the party, I happened to find a lavender boa on a park bench one morning on the dog walk. “Who would leave a lavender boa on a bench?” I wondered. Maybe it belonged to a party girl. Ginger’s Halloween costume, I thought.

Ginger had a keen sense of humor, always willing to make people laugh. On the day of the party, I placed the lavender boa around her neck, her dress was a white satin, low-cut chemise, necklaces of diamonds, pearls and rubies hung from her neck along with the boa, and I sewed rhinestones on little purple socks for her ankles. She wore lipstick on her cheeks and toes flashed hot pink nail polish.

Well, that little Jezebel fit right into her role. As soon as we got to the party, Ginger began giving all the boy dogs long looks, running up to them planting kisses right on their lips and sashaying around the room.

The party hostess awarded prizes for the prettiest, scariest, and most creative costumes. There was a Pug ballerina, a Pit Bull pirate, a Poodle witch and many other interesting and funny get-ups. Ginger won for the most creative. Sadly, I’ve lost the photos so you’ll have to use your imagination.

Check out this funny YouTube video of an ‘alligator’ menacing a Dachshund.
 
Some dogs don’t even need a costume!
 
Have a fun, safe and happy Halloween. WOOF!
 

Send in a photo and prayer for your pet!
 
Sharon Azar is an assistant to the editorial staff at GUIDEPOSTS. In her spare time, she rescues dogs and does portraits of furry, feathered and scaled companion animals. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.

• Print This Post
• Email This Post
• Log in to Save this Article