Happy Halloween!

Don't forget your four-legged friends at Halloween. Plain Brown Dog will be enjoying the Ghosts & Goblins with Paws event in Port Orange FL on Saturday, Oct. 31 8 a.m. to noon at City Center. There will be a pet parade, games, activities, vendors and entertainment. If you get a chance, come on out and join us.

Tips for Halloween. 

While your pet may beg for a tasty Halloween candy treat, remember that chocolate can be deadly to dogs and cats in any amount. 

Don't leave Jack-O-Lanterns or lighted candles within reach of pets - and remember the swinging tails of dogs count as being "within reach".

If you want to dress up your pet, keep in mind that any sort of mask is a bad idea. Not only will it be uncomfortable for your pet, it can restrict vision and breathing. In fact, unless your pet is really receptive to the costume, it can cause stress. 

Don't leave your pet outside at night on Halloween. With trick-or-treaters in the area, the risk that your pet could be harmed, snatched or that your pet could bite a stranger is just too great. If you have a party at home, keep your pet away from guests in a safe area. 

If you'll be providing treats to visiting ghosts and goblins, keep your pet in a safe and secure place. The constant opening of the door and the strangeness of the visitors could lead to your pet escaping or harming someone accidently. 

Barktoberfest

This weekend is Barktoberfest, Halifax Humane Society's annual Halloween Themed Pet Extravaganza. 

Plan to stop by. The event is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24. Admission is $3. There are games, entertainment, vendors, a doggy costume contest, fun for everyone! There's even a low-cost microchip for pets. A great way to stay safe!

Oreo and all her friends will be there, so if you get a chance, stop by and see her. She's still waiting for a home. You never know, you just might meet your perfect match at Barktoberfest!

A Little Publicity

The Plain Brown Dog blog was featured in an article in the Daytona Beach News Journal today. The article detailed the happy ending to Misty's story. Misty (above),  now called Mutzy by her forever family, is the dog this blog was founded on. A plain brown dog who'd been looking for a home for nearly a year. With the help of this blog, a foster family, and the power of the internet, she was united with a loving family in less than 2 weeks.

If Misty can find a home, so can Oreo (below). So please, pass this blog along to everyone you know. You never know who the next forever friend might be for a plain dog like Oreo. 

Oreo: Plain Black Dogs can be famous

Did you know that there are plenty of plain black dogs just like me who have been famous. Really. Here's just a few.

Fala, the beloved pet of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor, was a Scottish Terrier. Fala survived his master by seven years, yet was buried alongside him. A  statue of this plain black dog is prominently featured in Washington D.C.'s Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, the only presidential pet so honored.

Toto, Dorothy's dog in the Wizard of Oz, was played by Terry the Cairn Terrier. Toto was referred to as a "he" in the MGM classic film, but Toto was really played by a "she" named Terry. Terry's trainer Carl Spitz earned a salary of $125.00 per week for appearing in the film. 

Harry Potter star Fang is a large boarhound and one of Hagrid's beloved pets. Fang drools a lot and enjoys licking Harry, Ron and Hermione. Fang is actually played by a series of four different Neopolitan Mastiffs, really big plain black dogs. 

So, you see, I could be famous one day. Or just famous for making someone a really great and loyal pet.