A chilly Wednesday evening on the MT Cup patio was filled with the sounds of barking dogs and Halloween music such as the "Monster Mash."
Dogs dressed in costumes, including a lobster in a pot, a hockey player and a bagel with cream cheese, walked one-by-one in front of four judges, audience members and their owners.
The display was part of MT Cup's inaugural "Howl-oween" Dog Costume Contest. Approximately 25 people and 12 dogs participated in the competition.
The winning dog, a 3-year-old Labrador named Darby, was dressed as a hula girl.
Senior urban planning major Allie Antico said she was walking Darby in the show for fun and to help support Animal Rescue Fund.
"I think it was a fun event," Antico said. "[ARF] is a good program, and I am happy that I got to support it."
Howl-oween, organized by MT Cup Manager Aron Fenton, was created to help support ARF, a no-kill animal shelter in Muncie.
"We chose a dog costume contest because we thought it would be a fun way to celebrate the holiday season with a twist, as well as help support a local charitable organization in ARF," Fenton said.
ARF founder Terri Panszi said the organization works to relieve animal cruelty, abuse, neglect and overpopulation.
The contest was able to raise $78 for ARF. The cost to participate was $5 per household (up to two dogs) in advance and $5 per dog at the door.
ARF staff member Melissa Blair said in addition to the Howl-oween Dog Costume Contest, ARF does many fundraisers with the community. It holds events such as "Mutt Strut," a walk on the Cardinal Greenway, and "Bow-Wow Boogie," a doggie dance, she said.
Fenton said he hopes to continue Howl-oween in the future.
"Given the response this year and the time we threw it together, I would definitely anticipate this to happen in the future and hopefully similar events for other organizations as well," he said.
Read More
IPR: Arts funding stripped from numerous Indiana organizations
13 hours agoFederal funding that supports artists across Indiana has been terminated by the Trump Administration. The National Endowment for the Arts has pulled funding from art organizations across the country, including in Indiana. The NEA awarded $265,000 to 13 art organizations in the state for the 2025 fiscal year.
Capital Chronicle: ACLU sues governor’s office over change to IU board of trustees
By Indiana Capital Chronicle / YesterdayJust one day after Gov. Mike Braun signed the state’s next two-year budget into law, the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana filed a lawsuit to halt a provision slipped last-minute into the must-pass legislation last month.
IPR: Ball State gives land to Muncie for new neighborhood park
By Indiana Public Radio / 2 days agoBall State University and Muncie officials say they’ll create a neighborhood park with land surrounding a former school building that’s now Ball State-owned. IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports.
