SCRAPS showcases new building at pets’ Halloween party

Dogs big and small herded into the community room at the new county animal shelter Saturday, tolerating Halloween costumes while they munched on homemade dog treats.

Billed as the “Yappy Howl-a-ween Pawty,” the event featured a costume contest, bobbing for tennis balls and timed dog biscuit digging. Dogs came and went. At its busiest there were about 20 costumed dogs in the room.

“One of the reasons we’re having this party is to get people to come into the new building,” development manager Janet Dixon said.

The brightly lit and spacious new Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service shelter at 6815 E. Trent Ave. is a far cry from what people often imagine, especially compared with the cramped former facility on Flora Road. The dogs and owners who attended Saturday’s event got a tour during a costumed pet parade.

There was a vampire, a strawberry and several pumpkins. A black poodle was dressed as a witch with a pointy hat. At one point there were three dogs of various sizes wearing the same alligator outfit and their owners posed for pictures together. The biggest dog was a 140-pound Saint Bernard named Monty. The fact that Monty was wearing a saddle seemed appropriate – he was bigger than a Shetland pony.

Karen Frogner’s small Boston terrier named Trouble sported orange cuff links and an orange bow tie along with a top hat adorned with feathers.

“Boston terriers are a gentleman’s dog,” Frogner said. “Their natural markings are like a tuxedo.”

Brytany Vansant brought her pit bull mix Zephyr dressed as a bat, and lab mix Starla wore a lion’s mane that perfectly matched her tawny fur. Zephyr enthusiastically bobbed for tennis balls, wading into the oversized bucket to fetch one and going back for more.

Vansant said the visit was her first to the new shelter.

“I think it looks nice,” she said. “It’s a lot better than the old building.”