Costumed Dogs Take Over Carroll Creek for Canines on the Creek
More than 70 dogs joined the seventh annual parade and contest, raising support for guide dogs and other Lions Club charities.
HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW
More than 70 dogs participated in the seventh annual Canines on the Creek parade and costume contest. The Francis Scott Key Lions Club hosted the event to benefit Leader Dogs for the Blind and other Lions Club charities, with an $8,000 fundraising goal. Good Morning Frederick’s Dani Gurrie was among the judges. Alex Flannelly and Mel won the small-dog grand prize with garden-themed costumes.
Carroll Creek became a runway for Halloween’s four-legged stars Saturday as more than 70 dogs and their owners joined the seventh annual Canines on the Creek parade and costume contest.
The Francis Scott Key Lions Club hosted the downtown Frederick event to support Leader Dogs for the Blind and other Lions Club charities, according to The Frederick News-Post.
Behind the costumes was a practical purpose: helping people who are blind or have low vision connect with guide dogs, while supporting other charitable work.
Event Chair Gary Bennett told the newspaper that organizers hoped to raise $8,000 through parade and vendor registrations, sponsorships and a 50-50 raffle. That figure was the fundraising goal; the supplied report does not give a final total.
Businesses and organizations lined Carroll Creek Linear Park with tents and offered treats for both people and dogs, giving families an early taste of Halloween.
The costume competition brought together handmade outfits, coordinated owner-and-dog looks and plenty of canine personalities. Alex Flannelly and his three-legged dog Mel won the small-dog grand prize with garden-themed costumes, according to the report’s photo caption.
Frederick residents Kevin and Shannyn Jacobs arrived with their Rottweiler mix, Luis, in matching hot-dog-themed outfits. Shannyn Jacobs told the newspaper that Luis had become accustomed to costumes early after his adoption and handled the outfit well. She also described running into familiar people and dogs from his training class.
The judging panel included Good Morning Frederick’s Dani Gurrie, Lions Vice District Governor Wendy Drum and Ysela Bravo, community liaison for the Frederick County Executive’s Office.
Bravo said she was looking for imagination and handmade costumes. Before learning she would be a judge, she had considered entering her own two beagles.
For participants and spectators, the afternoon combined downtown Frederick’s dog-friendly atmosphere with a cause that extended beyond the costume contest. Owners could show off their pets, children could collect treats and the community could support the Lions Club’s service work.
The supplied coverage does not include a complete list of contest winners or a final fundraising result.
WHAT IT MEANS
The event turned a seasonal downtown outing into support for guide-dog services and other charitable work. The reported participation shows the scale of the parade, while the eventual fundraising total will determine how much money it generated.
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