Niwot's animal hospital puts on dog costume contest for Halloween

For all the dog lovers out there, Left Hand Animal Hospital in Niwot is putting on this year’s dog costume contest, after sponsoring it last year, following the Great Pumpkin Party parade on Saturday, Oct. 29.

“Pat Murphy started it and she invited us to work with her two years ago,” owner Nancy Bureau said. “She agreed that [the hospital] could take over the pet costume portion and she’s still putting on the children’s parade.”

The dog costume contest will begin after the parade, and in front of the hospital on 2nd Avenue, around 11:45 a.m. Bureau said last year’s parade and costume contest were a big success, “with hundreds of children, and we had over 25 pets entered in the pet judging competition (as well as over 20 other pets that did not enter the competition).”

All dogs are welcome to join the costume contest, but the hospital asks that the pups be kid-friendly, because there will be many excited children at the festivities.

“The pet costume contest is hilarious, and a lot of folks came in family-themed costumes with their animals,” Bureau said. “It was really entertaining. There was a lot of laughter, a lot of fun.”

This isn’t the only event the animal hospital is involved in. Bureau said the company makes of point of volunteering in the community to bring people together in a fun way.

“Part of our culture at Left Hand Animal Hospital is to be involved in the community we’re in,” she said. “We usually volunteer time at Rock & Rails and we donate time at 4th of July, and usually for a couple other festivals. [The dog costume contest] is a good way to bring family and the Niwot community together, and that’s something we really want to do.”

People can register their dogs that morning, or just enjoy seeing all the fun and unique costumes dogs come dressed as. Bureau said the contest is the work of many businesses coming together to donate their time and gifts for the prize baskets. There will be first, second and third place winners, with each receiving a gift basket with goodies donated by town businesses such as the Niwot Inn, the Niwot Historical Society and more.

“A lot of businesses last year and this year donated products, and townsfolk donated their time which was super nice,” Bureau said.

Along with the dog costume contest, humans can participate in the parade, which will begin at 11:30 a.m. in front of Niwot Liquor. They can also visit the petting zoo behind Niwot Real Estate, enjoy hay rides, and trick or treat at the local businesses from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in downtown Niwot and in Cottonwood Square.