Dear Urbanhounders,

You never know how a dog is going to react to being dressed up for Halloween.

Some seem pretty unhappy. Others are puzzled. Still others seem to take the whole thing in stride.

Whatever our dogs think about it, there's no question that we love a dog in costume. And nothing seems to bring out New Yorkers' creativity like dressing up their hounds.

Which probably explains why there are so many Halloween events all over the five boroughs -- so many that we don't have room to list them all.

To keep the list manageable, we've eliminated the events that are limited to a single breed. You can find them at meetup.com. (We do list Dachtoberfest, an annual celebration of the Dachshund that is not technically a Halloween event.)

Most Halloween shindigs are fundraisers for a good cause, like your local dog run or shelter, so be sure to stop by.

With creepy crawly wishes to you and your hounds,

Nadia Zonis
Editor, urbanhound New York

Sammy and Beyond
Through December 18
Mid-Manhattan Library, 455 Fifth Ave., 3rd Fl., Manhattan
Photographer Donna Ruskin's portraits of her rescue dog Sammy and other hounds she has encountered.

Blessing of the Animals
Saturday, October 13, 11 AM
Grace Church, 802 Broadway, Manhattan
All pets great and small are welcome at this special service in honor of Saint Francis.

5th Annual My Dog Loves Central Park Country Fair
Saturday, October 13, 11 AM to 4 PM
Central Park, 72nd St. between the Bandshell and the Sheep Meadow, Manhattan
Hosted by Central Park Paws and the Central Park Conservancy, this wonderful free festival celebrates Central Park's dog community and features tons of games, contests, booths, and events.

Dachtoberfest
Saturday, October 13, noon (Rain Date: October 14)
Washington Square Park, Manhattan
Calling all Doxies! This event is one of our favorites. Each year, hundreds of long hounds and their humans gather under the arch in Washington Square, march around the fountain, and sing the famous Dachs Song, which begins simply, "There's no other dog like a Dachshund" (complete lyrics at the Dachs Song site). Hosted by the Dachshund Friendship Club.

Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition Dog Show & Parade
Sunday, October 14, noon to 5 PM (marchers line up at 11:30)
Starts at the corner of Wythe Ave. at North 1st St., and ends at McCarren Park (corner of Lorimer St. and Driggs Ave.), Williamsburg, Brooklyn
A beloved Billyburg tradition, this dog show celebrates and supports a great local institution, the Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition (a.k.a. BARC). Each year hundreds of hounds and their human companions march accompanied by floats, children, and bands. At parade's end there's a dog show and contest. Pups and people are encouraged to attend in costume. Dogs from BARC and other shelters will be available for adoption. Visit BARC to learn more.

Animal Care & Control Volunteer Orientation -- Manhattan
Wednesday, October 17, 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
326 E. 110th St., Manhattan
Learn how you can help out at the city shelter's Manhattan Care Center.

Comics for Canines: Unleashed
Thursday, October 18, 8:30 PM
Broadway Comedy Club, 318 W. 53rd St., Manhattan
Comedians Jill Twiss, Jessica Kirson, and Joe DeVito, among others, will perform to raise funds for the dog run in Riverside Park at 72nd Street. Tickets cost $25 and are tax deductible. For more information and reservations, contact organizer Harris Bloom, a regular at the run with his dog Stewie.

It's My Park Day
Saturday, October 20, starting at 9 AM
Citywide
In parks and dog runs all over in the city, volunteers are being called on to help clean, weed, plant, spread wood chips and mulch, and paint. To offer a helping hand, contact your local dog run, or get the full schedule by borough from Partnerships for Parks.

FLORAL 12th Annual Halloween Party
Saturday, October 20, noon to 3 PM, costume judging at 2 (Rain date: October 21)
West 72nd St. Dog Run, Riverside Park at 72nd St., Manhattan
Friends and Lovers of Riverside Area Life, more commonly known as FLORAL, is sponsoring this event, which features refreshments, free gifts, and a costume contest. This is among the oldest canine costume contests in town, and people really go all out.

Animal Care & Control Volunteer Orientation -- Brooklyn
Saturday, October 20, 2 PM to 4 PM
2336 Linden Blvd., Brooklyn
Learn how you can help out at the city shelter's Brooklyn Care Center.

Bark in the Park
Sunday, October 21, 11 AM to 3 PM
South field, Liberty State Park, Jersey City, NJ
A fund-raising walk and festival for the Liberty Humane Society. There will be contests, games, and a special event in honor of a misunderstood breed: The Pit Parade. More information here.

Mayor's Alliance/Maddie's Pet Adoption Festival -- Manhattan
Sunday, October 21, noon to 5 PM
Union Square Park, North Plaza (Broadway and 17th St.), Manhattan
Thinking about adopting a(nother) dog? Along with hounds seeking homes, this adoption festival will include tables manned by a veterinarian, a groomer, and a trainer, all of whom will gladly answer your questions. As well, microchipping will be available for all dogs and cats (not just those adopted at the festival) for $25. For more information, call 212- 252-2350, email info@animalalliancenyc.org or visit the Mayor's Alliance.

The Halloween Howl
Sunday, October 21, 1 PM to 4 PM (Rain date: October 28)
Carl Schurz Park, East End Ave. and East 86th St., Manhattan
The annual costume contest at this lovely Upper East Side run has become a neighborhood tradition.

Times Square Dog Day Masquerade
Sunday, October 21, 1 PM to 3 PM
Times Square btwn. 43rd and 44th Sts., Manhattan
Broadway- or Times Square-themed costumes are requested at this contest, brought to you by the Times Square Alliance and Animal Haven. More info and a registration form here.

Playwrights for Pets "In Transit" Reading
Monday, October 22, 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Ave., Manhattan
Actors will read plays by emerging playwrights to benefit Animal Haven. Requested donation is $10. For reservations and more information, call 718-768-4213, or email gracomal@pipeline.com.

Animal Care & Control Volunteer Orientation -- Staten Island
Wednesday, October 24, 6 PM
3139 Veterans Rd. West, Staten Island
Learn how you can help out at the city shelter's Staten Island Care Center.

Bobbi & the Strays Halloween Masquerade Ball
Thursday, October 25, 7 PM
Russo's on the Bay, 162-45 Cross Bay Boulevard, Howard Beach, Queens
Bobbi & the Strays is a small non-profit animal rescue group based in Ozone Park. Their annual Halloween fundraiser features a three-course dinner, dancing, and raffle prizes. For tickets, which are $85 and go entirely to help the animals, contact Bobbi herself at 718-845-0779 or 917-213-9840.

Bow Wow Pow Wow Special Halloween Edition
Saturday, October 27, 9 AM to noon (Rain date: October 28)
Leroy Street Dog Run, Manhattan
Free coffee, doughnuts, and doggie biscuits. Prize for best dog in costume.

8th Annual Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest
Saturday, October 27, noon (Rain date: October 28)
Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn
One of our favorite Halloween events, the Great PUPkin Contest, organized by Fort Greene PUPS, draws a big crowd of canine competitors, one more outlandishly costumed than the next. The contest takes place in the park, at the top of the hill near the visitor's station.

17th Annual Tompkins Square Dog Run Halloween Parade
Saturday, October 27, noon (Rain date: October 28)
Tompkins Square Park First Run, E. 9th St. (btwn. Aves. A and B), Manhattan
The original and, some say, still the best New York canine Halloween event, this is one fabulous parade and costume contest. Top winners in each category get an iPod Nano.

ARF-ARF Kanine Kostume Karnival
Sunday, October 28, noon to 2 PM
Rockaway Freeway between Beach 80th and Beach 83rd Streets, Queens
The Allied Rockaway Foundation for Animal Recreation and Fitness (ARF-ARF), invites one and all their new run for this Halloween celebration.

Doggie Halloween Costume Parade
Sunday, October 28, 1 PM
Remsen St. entrance of the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, Brooklyn
Folks from the Hillside Park dog run are behind this annual neighborhood event. Pre-register at Perfect Paws, 102 Hicks St., or call 718 852 6200. It costs $25 to enter, and all proceeds go to benefit animal welfare agencies.

Washington Square Dog Run Halloween Party
Sunday, October 28, 1 PM
Washington Square Park, W. 4th St. at Thomson St., Manhattan
This Village run has a very active community, and this annual party is one of the times that they gather. There will be a parade, prizes, a raffle. Please bring used towels to donate to Animal Care & Control.

Dog's Den Howl-O-Ween Fest
Sunday, October 28, 4 PM to 6 PM
501 5th Ave., Park Slope, Brooklyn
Free portraits by one of urbanhound's Best Pet Portraitists Ixiana Hernandez will be the highlight of this neighborhood costume contest.

Coffee Bark
Saturday, November 3, 7 AM to 9 AM
Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Held in rain or in shine, in the park's Long Meadow, behind the Picnic House (enter at Prospect Park West and 4th Street, then go left around the Picnic House), the monthly Coffee Bark includes muffins for humans and dog biscuits for hounds. The long standing social is sponsored by Brooklyn's FIDO, officially known as the Fellowship In the Interest of Dogs and Their Owners.

St. Nick's Dog Park Coffee Bark
Saturday, November 3, 9 AM to 11 PM
Mid-park between the 135th St. staircase and 136th St., Manhattan
Coffee and other refreshments are served at this gathering, which happens on the first Saturday of every month in St. Nicholas Park. For more information or if you'd like to volunteer, write dogpark@stnicholaspark.org.

Sir William's Dog Run Coffee Bark
Sunday, November 4, 8 AM to 10 AM
Sir William's Dog Run, Fort Tryon Park, 190th St. and Fort Washington Ave., Manhattan
The Fort Tryon Dog Owner's Group invites everyone to this gathering the first Sunday of each month at their beautiful run. Free coffee and donuts. If you'd like to help out with maintenance of the run, stick around after the event.

Protecting the Whole Family: People with Pets Facing Domestic Violence
Wednesday, November 7, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
New York City Bar Association, 42 W. 44th St., Manhattan
This seminar will look at how violence against pets can be a sign of impending violence against human family members. It will also explore how the shelter system can be changed so that victims can leave an abusive home without leaving a beloved pet behind. On a realated topic, Connecticut has just passed a bill that allows courts to provide orders of protection for pets.

League of Humane Voters of New York City 6th Anniversary Gala
Saturday, November 10, 8 PM to midnight
Jivamukti Yoga School, 841 Broadway, 2nd fl., Manhattan
Enjoy vegan hors d'oeuvres and organic wine and beer at this celebration of local political action for animals. Shoes must be removed at the door, so wear your most festive socks. No furs, please! Tickets range from $35 to $500 each. More information from LOHV-NYC.

3rd Annual Gimme Shelter: Rock & Rescue NYC
Wednesday, November 13, 8 PM to midnight
Hiro Ballroom at the Maritime Hotel, 363 W. 16th St. at 9th Ave., Manhattan
Past editions of this blow-out concert to raise funds for shelters and rescue groups have included performances by the Beastie Boys, Marshall Crenshaw, Blue Oyster Cult, and The Choke. Sponsored by the ASPCA, Rational Animal, and the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals. Lineup and ticket prices will be announced soon at the Gimme Shelter: Rock & Rescue NYC site.


If there's an event you'd like us to mention in the next NewsHound, please email us.

Three-legged dogs have inspired a design trend. First, Tripod Charity Gear was created to raise funds for cancer treatment for Lulu, who lost a leg to osteosarcoma. Now designer John Bartlett has created a logo for his West Village store in homage to his "tripod" Tiny Tim. (Thanks to PupStyle blog for giving us the heads up.)

If you are interested in donating items your dog no longer uses, good samaritan Victoria Booth will be happy to pick them up and take them to Animal Care & Control. Just email her at vtbooth@yahoo.com. Meanwhile, the Manhattan branch of AC&C has put out a call for used towels. If you have any to donate, they can be dropped off at the shelter at 326 E. 110th St. Call 212-788-4000 for more information.

Dog detective sniffs out invaders. Dogs have long been used to sniff out bombs and drugs, and lately they've had a nose for counterfeit money and pirated DVDs. Now it appears they can also detect invasive plant species. Montana State University grad student Kim Goodwin has taught Camas, a nine-year-old German shepherd, to find dyer's woad, a weed from Russia that displaces native vegetation. Efforts to eradicate the plant rely on finding every last sprout, and Camas can do that faster and more consistently than any human. Goodwin had previously studied dogs' ability to find spotted knapweed, another European invader.

Considering buying a car? If you'd like hound-friendly features like metal safety gates, low-rise doors that make it easier to get in and out, and canine seat belts, consult DogCars.com, a website that reviews cars with your dog in mind. According to the American Kennel Club, half of all dog owners consider their pet when selecting a car.

What's On. On Sunday, October 14. Animal Planet takes on the problem of canine obesity with a special airing of It's Me or the Dog, in which UK Trainer Victoria Stillwell puts three dogs through a weight-loss regimen. The episode is followed by Fat Pets, a documentary covering how England became the "fat pets capital of Europe." On Saturday, November 10, the cable network airs the Animal Planet Dog Championships from Houston.