100 pooches celebrate Howl-O-Ween at Trumbull County dog park

By VIRGINIA ROSS SHANK

BAZETTA — Just short of 4 months old, Lady McVicker didn’t seem to mind dressing as a bug for a few hours Sunday afternoon.

Along with the other canines that showed up for the first Howl-O-Ween Dog Walk and Costume Parade, Lady sported her costume proudly, prancing and pacing around at the new Mosquito Lake Dog Park.

“She didn’t like the ladybug ears, but other than that, she did OK,” said owner Emily McVicker, 32, of Bristolville. “I was pleased. It was a lot of fun.”

Lady, a charcoal labrador, was one of at least 100 dogs to participate in Sunday’s festivities at the new facility, which opened officially in July. The event, sponsored by Mosquito Lake Dog Park Friends, was a fundraiser for the park. Pet owners were asked to make a $10 donation to participate. All breeds were welcome, and many breeds were represented.

“A lot of the work here at the park, and specifically at the dog park, has been possible because of volunteers and donations from different individuals, groups and organizations,” said Cathy Abruzzo, president of the dog friends group. “We just wanted to do something to keep the work going, to continue adding to what’s here and improving it. It’s a work in progress.”

Officials have said Mosquito is one of the few state parks in Ohio with a dog park, and it is the first dog park of its kind in the Mahoning Valley.

Read the full story with photos Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.