Picking the best canine costumes at the annual Humane Society of Westmoreland County Whisker Walk is no easy task, given the “ruff” competition — but judges Margo Donati and Barb Nichols are equal to it.
They’ve been doing it for a long time, most recently at this year’s event, held Oct. 26 at Twin Lakes Park in Unity.
Categories include funniest, most unique, best team, best overall, along with lots of honorable mentions.
If “most heartwarming story” won a prize, it could have gone to Auggie, a Scottish deerhound owned by Jerry, Heather and Reese Capo of Greensburg. Auggie and his best buddy, Murphy the Irish wolfhound, came dressed as Ninja Turtles.
Heather read Auggie’s story online and knew “he was the one for us,” so the family drove to Kansas to adopt him.
Auggie was rescued from the streets, 35 pounds underweight, suffering from mange. What makes his story even more poignant is that he is blind.
No doubt there were other stories just as touching amidst what HSWC Executive Director Kathy Burkley labeled “a huge turnout.”
Seen in the park, as Victoria Goldsworthy led off the parade around the lakes: Kris Samloff with rescue papillon Little Pinky, Denise Smolinski with shi tzu Barley, Jennifer Purkiss with Cairn terrier Toto, Cody and Victoria Zimmerman with chocolate lab Daisy and blue heeler Willow, Jennifer Monstrola with toy poodle Diego and Josh and Katie Bianco with Great Danes Sullivan, Theo and Harley.
