Fritz-Burns Dog Park, La Quinta, Ca
October 25, 2008

Story by Allen Lawrence
Photos by Andrew Yelich

Dogs, dogs, dogs cute as bugs in rugs La Quina’s Dog-O-Ween Costume Contest has been an annual event for at least the past five years was once again a barking success. La Quinta’s Community Services Department has sponsored Dog-O-Ween for the fun and delight of the human and canine residents of La Quinta.

“Bringing the community together for family, children and pets is the goal of the annual Dog-O-Ween event,” says Robert Ambriz, Jr. Recreation Supervisor and person in charge of today’s events. “This is for the people of La Quinta and we are offering prizes for the Best Costumes, Best Tricks, Funniest Costume and Best of Show, continued Ambriz, who was himself obviously having a good time as he greeted pet owners, answered questions and acted as moderator. Ambriz kept the event moving and entertaining. Working with Ambriz signing up pets, answering questions and solving problems was Coley Heffner, La Quinta Recreation Leader. When I asked her what she liked most about working with this event she smiled and told me, “People love their dogs, they are part of the family and they want to show them off and have fun with them,”

The judges for today’s event , looked official but clearly they too were having a great time. Andrea Gassman is A La Quinta Community Services Commissioner and is instrumental in making today’s event a success.

The winners of each of the categories will be getting a $25.00 gift certificate from Walmart and everyone seemed to think this was great.

More than 25 dogs were singed up for the four categories and truthfully all were absolutely spectacular. There were small dogs, medium sized dogs and big dogs and they all got a long famously. A lot of sniffing and an occasional growl or bark, but all were well mannered and a well behaved.

As each event was called, owners of those dogs signed up for each category paraded their canine kids up to the judging area. It was not unusual to hear oohs and aahs from the audience as the costumed canines did their thing.

Participants included:

Nine year old Milo Gubler and his dog Max who was a perfect Hot Dog and we are not referring to a cooked dog here. His brother 12 year old Zachary Gubler took charge of Princess.

The Blue capped wonder, Oreo was entered by Jeffery McMannus.

Molly Burdett and Tristan Bluto entered a mean Pirate, Chinese Crested Powder Puff. Molly told us that no matter how mean this 8 year old looks in his pirate costume, he is really “my best friend.”

“Spider dog” Chester, a cocker, golden retriever mix was clearly a favorite of the crowd.
My personal favorite was Big Boy 100 plus pound Alaskan Malamute who was in a perfect costume as the Scare Crow from the Wizard of Oz. His owner Autumn Sarai was dressed as a perfect Dorothy and carried Todo in a basket. Big Boy was a perfect gentleman and allowed lots of photos and petting without a complaint. Big Boy took the Third Place honors for Best Costume.

Another crowd pleaser was Archie in his Red, White and Blue cap, tie, collar and leash.  Owned by Bob and Kimberly Klink of La Quinta this terrier was a as he fell to his side when his owner went “Bang!” Archie also took the Best in Show Third Prize .

Gizmo, a Lhasa Apso, owned by Lauren Pippo of La Quinta, wore a pink ballerina costume.

First timer, Chic Perry of La Quinta entered Sassy, a Bichon Frisé-Maltese Mix in a Princess costume and Pookie a Boston Terrier

Oliver(Ollie) the Pirate a Tea Cup Chihuahua was entered by Taylor Martinez. The two were supported by the rest of the Martinez family, Manny, Baylee, and Laurie. The costume was topped of as Oliver wore doll’s hair under his pirate hat to present a real and fur-ocious pirate presence. Ollie took Funniest Costume, Second Prize honors, and Third Prize honors in the Best Trick category for shaking hands.

Four year old Vida and 17 year old Cactus Australian Queensland Shepards were dressed up as two fur-ocious Ninja turtles. Their owners Emma   and Freddie Hegedusch, made the Papier-mâché turtle shells themselves. Vida and Cactus took home honors as the Best Costume Duo.

Taro and Inni owned by Diana and Kiyoko Kitagawa were costumed as the Tim Man and Dorothy. They were very cute and took home the top honors as Best In Show and Second Place honors in Best Costume Duo.

Debbie Loukatos dressed up Stuart as Chicken Little. Stuart took First Prize honors for Funniest Costume.

Chanti, the Pug Pirate took Best of Show, Second Prize honors making owner Karen Evans a very happy woman.

Every Halloween show must have a Devil, and of course today was no exception as, Junior a Chihuahua was dressed as the perfect Devil with his red cape and red horns. Owned by Cristina Lopez, Junior was a fur-ocious  Devil.

Lola a 2 year-old Chihuahua owned by Tina Burman of La Quinta was dressed as a school girl. Lola took Funniest Costume, Third Place honors.

Last, of all was possibly my favorite non-entree Diego Sanchez 1 year old who came to the Dog-O-Ween dressed of all things as a dog. He acted the part perfectly crawling for the audience and being tugged by his sister, Sherlyn while on a leash as Nadia Lopez, their mother carefully supervised that all was well. He as so cute I would have given first prize in EVERYTHING, if he had been a dog.
There were many other great pets and pets-in-costume, it was hard to not have a great time besides looking and watching a whole lot of petting was also going on.

brought their dogs out in force.  From Left to Right: Andrew Davis and Chester “Spider Dog”, Milo Gubler and Max the Pirate, Zachary Gubler and Princess, Jeffery McMannus and Oreo, Debbie Loucatos and Stuart, and Dean Loucatos and Rusty.

Thank you City of La Quinta Community Services Department, Judges Andrea and Alan Gassman, Coley Heffner and Robert Ambriz, Jr. For sponsoring and making this years Dog-O-Ween Costume Contest, a rememberable and enjoyable event. We are already looking forward to next years, 2009, Dog-O-Ween.

For more great Dog-O-Ween photos by Andrew Yelich, click here.

For more information about City of La Quinta Community Services Department and future events , click here.

By the way, if you and your family enjoyed today’s great Dog-O-Ween then you should go to the City of La Quinta’s Halloween Carnival, sponsored by the City of La Quinta and the President Gerald R. Ford Boys and Girls Club of La Quinta who are presenting the Annual Halloween Carnival. There will be games, activities, candy and prizes! Don’t forget the camera! It will be on Halloween Eve. October 31, 2008 3:30pm-6pm at the Gerald R. Ford Boys & Girls Club of La Quinta. Enjoy!