Howl-O-Ween contest winners
- Best Costume, Small Dog: Missy, a Chihuahua, was dressed as a pirate. Owned by Gemma Flesh of Seaman, Ohio.
- Best Costume, Large Dog: Gruffy, a bulldog dressed as a frog laying on a lily pad. Owned by Ruthie and Tony Schultz of Fairfield.
- Best Theme, Multiple Dogs: Lexi, Charm and Flurry, dressed as fairies. Owners wearing matching colors are Cindy, Mary and Amy (last names not provided) of Loveland.
- Best Costumes, Dog and Owner: Maggie the dog was dressed as a sheep and owner Phyllis Zettler of West Chester Twp. was dressed as Little Bo Peep.
- Judge's Special Selection: Jack (the dog) and Pam Blauvelt and family from Hamilton were dressed in full Ohio State University gear.
WEST CHESTER TWP. — Halloween-costumed dogs competed Sunday, Oct. 17 at the Voice of America Park to take home top honors in the Howl-O-Ween Parade.
Rumba, a black and tan coonhound, was one of more than 150 dogs who with an estimated 500 people attended the event. Rumba made a statement with his outfit, wearing a green jersey with Michael Vick’s No. 7 and “dog killer” written in place of the last name. A Vick doll tied to a string and attached to the dog’s collar dragged between its paws.
“What he (Michael Vick) is all about, I’m against,” said Rumba’s owner, Kelly Graham of Milford.
Fashion statements, rather than political, were the focus of others.
Karen Asher and her daughters, Graceann Gavigan and Sydney Asher and their two golden-doodles Lily and Blizzard, used Dr. Seuss’s “The Cat in the Hat” as the theme for their costumes. Gavigan and Sydney wore painted whiskers on their faces and tall hats, while the blue-headed dogs wore Thing 1 and Thing 2 costumes.
“It’s just Halloween hair spray,” said Karen of West Chester Twp. “They are very laid back.”
Neither Rumba nor the Dr. Seuss group won in their categories, but Gruffy, an English bulldog dressed as a frog who was riding in a wagon, won for best large dog costume, to the surprise of his owner, Ruthie Schulz.
“There were some other cute dogs,” she said. “It was fun and exciting.”
Event chair Tanya Zerkle said turnout was “tremendous” for the first-ever event.
Rep. Bill Coley was on hand, but not to take part in judging or show off his own furry friends, but to scoop poop throughout the afternoon.
“Politics is not the dirtiest job in town,” Zerkle said
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