OkcPets Magazine January 2022

44 OKC Pets • January/February 2022 Treats & Tails Costume Contest Benefits Midtown Mutts Dog Park Story and photographs by Michael Bell T he streets of the Oklahoma City Midtown area came to life on Octo- ber 16, 2021, as three special events drew more than 1,500 people from all over the city. The sun gently smiled on the area and helped to add vitality to the Midtown Walkabout, sponsored by the Downtown OKC Partnership; the fifth annual Trunk or Treat, sponsored by Palomar; and the first Treats & Tails Dog Halloween Costume Contest, sponsored by Friends of Midtown Mutts Dog Park Foundation. Because all three events occurred at the same time, this was the perfect opportu- nity for families to explore the Midtown area. They provided ample opportunities for children to collect candy and for fur babies to acquire dog treats, culminating with the Treats & Tails Costume Contest. The contest helped to support needs and improvements in Midtown Mutts Dog Park. It showcased more than 20 of the area’s best dogcentric businesses such as OKC Vet Campus, Solo’s Park & Pub, Dogs & Dannas, Three Dog Bakery, Evolved Dog Training, and Dogs Poop We Scoop yard service. Before the contest kicked off, Rick Jawnsen and Justin Pruitt played live music to increase the vibrant atmosphere of the events. Dog-friendly prizes were given away before the costume contest. A centrally located beverage tent sponsored by COOP Ale Works was well stocked. The costume contest featured 20 dogs vying for one of nine prize baskets valued at more than $100, with items for humans and dogs. Many of the businesses at the event sponsored the baskets, as did others such as Hollywood Feed, Café do Brasil, and Indian Motorcycles. Costume entrants sported creative cos- tumes including Captain Crunch; the U.S. gymnastics team; a bumblebee, beehive, and beekeeper; Tigger, Piglet, and Winnie the Pooh; a scarecrow; and a bank robber. One of the judges said she will not be a judge again because it was so difficult to choose a winner when all the contestants did such a great job. Top honors went to Charlie, a two-year-old Great Pyrenees dressed as Carole Baskin and owned by Susan Edwards. Anyone hear a buzz at the Treats & Tails Dog Halloween Costume Contest? Mowgli the Bandit and his sidekicks are ready for a bank-robbing spree at the Treats & Tails Dog Halloween Costume Contest.