A [Pet] Halloween to Remember

I just had the pleasure of the yearly ritual of taking the golf cart with my wife and two kids, each dressed up in their Halloween costumes, and heading on down to Grandma and Grandpa’s house for Gradnma’s home cooked food and trick-or-treating.  Here on the east/central coast of Florida, the weather is so agreeable this time of year, that most people are set up outside in golf chairs with coolers full of adult beverages for the grown-ups, ample candy for the kids, adults and kids alike costumed for the occasion, and creative, delightfully creepy Halloween landscaping.

What makes our neighborhood really fun as well, as that we are a really varied mix of young and middle aged couples with children of all ages, mixed with baby boomer aged retirees with no children…empty nesters who now poor their love and doting into their pets.

Since cats typically do not tolerate costumes and typically do not enjoy greeting young, strange children in costumes time and again for an entire evening – and as such, I have not seen one cat participate in Halloween festivities in the 7 years I have lived in this neighborhood – this post primarily deals with canine Halloween fun.

As much as the focus is on our adorable and festive children enjoying this delightful holiday, I must say that part of the joy in our community of unique demographics, is seeing the dogs on the driveways, dressed in amazingly creative and in their own right, adorable costumes to greet parents and children alike; to play a big role in the enjoyment of Halloween.

The canine costumes varied from two little Shih Tzus dressed as little elves, to a yellow lab dressed as a pumpkin, a Chihuahua dressed as a ballerina and countless canines of all breeds simply decked out in college football attire (mostly Florida Gators, Florida State Seminoles, and the occasional University of Miami).

My kids loved it, we loved it, and it was an affirmation of what my wife and I have endeavored to dedicate our career lives to: the wellbeing of these furry little creatures who not only are cherished family members, but integral and vital components of the human community.

Between my little 3 year old girl dressed as a batterina (a bat with wings, bat ears, with tights and a tutu), my 5 year old son decked out as a ninja with [plastic] sword, a community that came together for one another’s mutual comradery and enjoyment, and the pets being a front and center component to that joy, it was yet another Halloween to remember.

Dr. Roger Welton is the President of Maybeck Animal Hospital and CEO/Chief Editor of the veterinary information and blog online community, Web-DVM.