Dogs have a howl on Halloween

Photo by Ken Cashman The Cornwall Bark Park observed Halloween on Oct. 26. Kerri Ryan got these dogs to sit still by giving them a treat.
Photo by Ken Cashman The Cornwall Bark Park observed Halloween on Oct. 26. Kerri Ryan got these dogs to sit still by giving them a treat.
Photo by Ken Cashman
The Cornwall Bark Park observed Halloween on Oct. 26. Kerri Ryan got these dogs to sit still by giving them a treat.

Americans were expected to spend more than $300 million this year on Halloween costumes for their pets. Some of those get-ups could be seen at the Cornwall Bark Park on Saturday afternoon.

About 20 dogs romped around the enclosure. Most were dressed for the occasion. One owner brought a dog in a Mets uniform, while another canine represented the Yankees. Surprisingly, neither animal was interested in the ball that a human was throwing to his pet.

Kerri Ryan went a step further than the other participants by dressing herself and her dog in matching costumes. She was wearing a hose and her dog was dressed like a fireman. One observer warned her about the danger of being mistaken for a hydrant.

But the dogs didn’t bother Mrs. Ryan; they jumped on top of each other and tried to rip off one another’s costumes. Without thumbs, they didn’t have much success.

Taking pictures, however, was close to impossible. The dogs were in a holiday mood and didn’t stand still until an owner bribed them with a hand full of treats.

The pets didn’t know it, but there were more treats waiting for them when they left the park.

Annie Mooradian, the owner of Puppy Paws, donated 75 small goodie bags to be enjoyed by the canines that came to the park on Oct. 26. Carly Revis was responsible for distributing them. She’s new to Cornwall, but she got to know lots of people at the Bark Park. She thinks it’s a great addition to the Town.