Published: October 18, 2009 12:25 am      

Something to 'bark' about

GREENVILLE — This year’s Barktoberfest, staged in the L-3 Communications parking lot Saturday, offered more in regard to vendors and contests than last year’s event.

According to Diane Neal, K-9 Club secretary, the purpose of Barktoberfest is to meet and socialize with other animals in the Greenville area, and socialize they did, both owners and their pets.

Carey Moreno was one such owner, who brought her dog Jazz, dressed as Chewbacca, to join in the fun.

“This is our first Barktoberfest,” she said. “I dressed Jazz up in my son’s Halloween costume he wore when he was 1 year old. I can’t believe he fit into it. I keep telling him he needs to go on a diet. My dog that is, not my son.”

Jazz so impressed the judges with his Star Wars costume that he walked away with the Funniest Pet Costume category.

Michael and Marguerite Callahan were newbies to Barktoberfest this year, too. Their dog, Vivian, who is fairly well known in Greenville won the Patriotic category.

“This is our first year here and I think it’s fantastic,” said Marguerite. “We’re having a lot of fun. Vivian is the Friends of the W. Walworth Harrison Public Library mascot. We go around and do a lot of things for the library. Everyone knows Vivian.”

Aside from the contests for various costumes, the K-9 Club also held a series of games for dogs and their owners, including a relay race, a contest for the highest jumper and the fastest sitter.

With the first 150 dogs through the gate receiving a free toy and all the costume categories and games, it would be a rare thing if any dog left this year’s Barktoberfest empty-handed.