Thomas Barnes of the town of Herndon and his dog Tyco, a 5-year-old Shih Tzu, won first place in the costume contest as a “bad to the bone” inmate; a “Wizard of Oz” contingent of three rescue dogs won second place, Dian Rosen-Cornwell of the town of Herndon with her mixed-breed Bailey as Dorothy and Stacey Tignor of the town of Herndon with her dachshund Mimi dressed as the Scarecrow and her Chihuahua Baxter dressed as a flying monkey; and Kristen Gardner of Sterling won third place with her 8-year-old Labrador-Border Collie mixed-breed Bentley dressed as a toy fairy. Photo by Fallon Forbush.
A parade of pooches circled town square on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 1.
They and their pet parents were competing in the Herndon Parks and Recreation Department’s costume contest and “Pooch Parade” during the town’s “Bark Bash.”
Before and after the parade, dog vendors and pet resource providers set up booths on the town square green. Companies selling products and handing out treats and information were:
Fairfax County Animal Shelter
Banfield Pet Hospital
PEGASAT
All Friends Pet Care
Sit Means Sit Dog Training
Pooch Pros Care Services, LLC
Herndon Animal Medical Center
EJ’s Meats & Treats
Representatives from Aperture, a new apartment building in Reston, and Station on Silver, a new apartment building in Herndon, also had booths at the event.
Goodies from the vendors were contributed to fill gift baskets for the first-, second- and third-place winners of the costume contest, according to John Walsh, a town employee. The costumes were voted on by the vendors and volunteers who helped put on the event.
The fun for Herndon dog lovers is not over.
Walsh and volunteers had 150 red, “Town of Herndon” bandanas to hand out during the event. If people post photos on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with their dogs wearing the bandanas with the hashtag “#HerndonDogs,” they will be entered to win a fourth prize basket.
The winner of the fourth basket will be announced on the town’s social media accounts on Monday, Oct. 2, according to Walsh.