Local residents can watch their costumed pets perform a few tricks for the camera in order to provide a treat for some of their four-legged friends in need.
Pets West is holding a Halloween party for their furry friends Sunday, Oct. 29 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at their Broadmead Village location.
“We’re hoping the weather will be good, in which case it will be out in the breezeway of the mall,” said Pets West owner Lisa Nitkin, adding the celebration will move into the store if it’s raining cats and dogs.
The event is a fundraiser for the Pacific Animal Therapy Society, a Victoria-based group that sends volunteers and their dogs to local hospitals, schools and nursing homes to provide comfort and stress relief.
Thrifty Foods is helping the cause by providing a barbecue, while visitors can get a photo of their pets taken for a minimum $10 donation. While most of the pets will be in costume, they are welcome to come dressed up as a dog.
There will also be prizes for the best costume and scariest costume, while Avid Agility will be on hand to put on an agility demonstration and allowing people to try their own dogs on the agility equipment.
“And you can’t have Halloween without trick or treat bags, so we have trick or treat bags for the pets,” said Nitkin, adding there will also be goodie bags for the kids. “We’re expecting primarily dogs, but sometimes we’ve had people show up with birds and cats and other things.”
Broadmead Village shops will be offering treats for ghosts, goblins and other scary visitors between 3 and 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 31.
