Seattle pets howl for Halloween

Halloween is going to the dogs -- not to mention the cats, birds, ferrets and even horses. According to the American Pet Products Manufacturing Association, 7.4 million U.S. households plan to dress their pets in costumes this year. And that's not the only way they plan to celebrate. More and more pet parents plan to treat their animal companions with Halloween toys and goodies this month.

It's a trend that's easy to follow in Seattle, where pet boutiques offer a variety of ready-to-wear costumes for dogs and cats, plus mouthwatering treats for pets willing to show off their best tricks.

At Bark Natural Pet Care in Ballard, you can fit Fifi with an ooh-la-la French maid's outfit or unleash Rover's inner monster with a Dogzilla ensemble, complete with spiky tail fins.

If your dog is salty in nature, stop by Queen Anne's All The Best Pet Care and pick up a pirate number that includes a sword, vest, belt and collared shirt, topped off with a gold-trimmed black pirate's hat adorned with a skull-and-bones insignia and a jaunty red feather.

Dachshund devotees should head to Three Dog Bakery, where you'll find the adorable Hot Diggity Dog hot dog costume, which comes in a variety of sizes and with a choice of mustard or ketchup squiggle. The Pike Place Market pet-supply store also sells smaller costumes for cats that can double as disguises for puppies.

Given their reputation for aloofness and sharp claws, cats may prove less amenable to dress up, preferring instead to smack you silly. "It really depends on the cat's personality," says Janice Johnson of Purrfect Pals Cat Shelter. "There are very relaxed cats that have been handled from birth and are comfortable being dressed, but if it scares them or they fight you, it's obviously not a good idea."

Crafty types may prefer DIY to off-the-rack. Scrounge around the house for children's or doll-sized clothing, then glue, sew or paint on decorative touches. Just be sure that nothing you use can be choked on or tripped over.

Deborah Skorstad, lead costumer at the UW School of Drama, suggests cutting up a T-shirt. "One cuff becomes the collar and it should be comfortable, yet fit securely enough to hold the costume on," she says. "You can trim the shirt to a desired shape and play with the color and patterns, like turning a red and blue shirt into a superhero cape.

If you've set your sights higher than a cut-up T-shirt, visit Jo Ann Fabric and Crafts for pet costume patterns, fabric, notions and no-sew solutions like Liquid Stitch adhesive.

Once your dog is all dressed up and ready to go, take him to the social event of the season -- the Citizens for Off-Leash Areas (COLA) Dog-O-Ween party Saturday, Oct. 27, at the Genesee Park off-leash area. Seattle's most creatively dressed pooches will strut their stuff for celebrity judges while raising money for Seattle's off-leash parks.

Reward your pet's patience with the Halloween hoopla with treats from Three Dog Bakery. Choose from freshly baked delicacies like Layered Creep Cake, Pooch Spook Pet-It Fours or Itty Bitty Scary Kitty Cookies. The store will also hand out free goodies to any tricksters -- costumed or not -- who stop by through the end of the month.

Dressed-up dogs can reap their rewards in Fremont, too. According to Mark Smith, owner of Railey's Leash & Treat, many families out for Fremont's Halloween Trick or Treat event for kids bring along their decked-out dog and make a special stop at his store for a Halloween cookie. Be warned, though: Pooches without proper attire will have to perform a trick for their treat.

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