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Date: 10/26/2023
LUDLOW — October is not only for people to dress up but is also a time for pets to show off their costumes.
On Sunday, Oct. 29, a pet costume contest and basket raffle will take place at Iron Duke Brewing, 100 State St. Stockhouse 122, from 3-5 p.m.
Check-in and registration will take place from 3-4 p.m.
The event is sponsored by Ludlow Animal Control and acts as a fundraiser to support Ludlow’s stray, abandoned and injured animals and all the proceeds will directly provide emergency vet care, trap-neuter-return feral cat programs, food and supplies for shelter pets, and behavior programs to help keep pets in their forever homes.
Animal Control Officer Octavia Anderson added that the money from this event helps pay for the animals she has sheltered now, including four dogs and five cats.
“The money is incredibly helpful. One of the many reasons for putting on this event is to raise money. My budget cannot account for say a $500 medical pet fee and obviously the town doesn’t have a budget for that whatsoever so that is what the money goes to. It helps the animals that are either lost, stolen or discarded and try to give them a better life,” she said.
Anderson said last year’s event included 20-25 contestants and she is looking forward to hosting the event again.
“Last year was shocking and we were incredibly busy. It was like the anticipation when you throw a house party and you think no one will show up and that is how I felt going into last year, but we had a lot of people show up and the place was packed,” Anderson added.
Anderson said all pets are welcome to participate if they are in a costume and their owners are welcome to dress up as well if they want to do a theme.
She added, “The event will be a lot of fun. We have tons of baskets to be raffled and it is for a good cause. I dress up as a lion tamer and I love dressing my dogs up as lions. It is good to see people care for their animals and dress them up. Hopefully we will keep building on this event each year.”
Tickets cost $10 per animal and includes five raffle tickets. There will be people going around at the event selling additional raffle tickets.
Tickets are only available at the door.
Baskets will be provided by local restaurants and businesses.
The first place prize is a $50 gift card, second place will get a $25 gift card and third place will receive a $15 gift card.