From cows to skeletons, and everything in between, four-legged contestants at Barkfest were dressed to impress — or maybe just to fetch treats — at the East Meadow Stew Leonard’s on Oct. 19. Pups from near and far came dressed in their best outfits, and competed in front of a panel of judges, for a chance to win a gift basket valued at $100, with fresh dog treats made in-house at Stew Leonard’s.
There was no fee to participate in Barkfest, although shoppers were asked to bring a small bag or can of dog food, a new toy, or gently used blankets. The collected items were donated to Last Hope Animal Rescue, based in Wantagh.
Last Hope was established in 1981, and is a nonprofit organization, headquartered on Beltagh Avenue in Wantagh. It is committed to rescuing and rehabilitating rescue animals. The organization places over 600 cats and more than 100 dogs annually into carefully screened, loving homes. Through educational workshops, low-cost vaccination clinics, and financial assistance for veterinary care, Last Hope actively engages with the community to promote animal welfare and responsible pet ownership.
Over the years, Last Hope has evolved into a robust network of over 600 volunteers and supporters, all working towards reducing animal overpopulation on Long Island and promoting responsible pet ownership.
This year’s winner was Oakly, from Deer Park, who came in a rodeo inspired-cow outfit. Stew Leonard’s most iconic character, synonymous with the grocery chain and known by many shoppers across the northeast, is “Wow the Cow.”
If you missed Barkfest, there’s plenty of Halloween Happenings coming up at Stew Leonard’s throughout the rest of the fall, including a Spooktacular Costume Breakfast on Oct. 26 and a Trick-or-Treat with Stew Leonard’s Characters on Oct. 29.
This Saturday, children and families are invited to enjoy a buffet-style breakfast, hosted by Wow the Cow. Children will receive a goodie bag and Halloween craft at the end of the event to take home. Costumes are encouraged. The breakfast begins at 10 a.m., and will cost $14.99 for children ages 11 and younger, and $16.99 for children ages 12 and older.
And next week, just before Halloween, youngsters are invited to come collect candy from stations around the store on Oct. 29, beginning at 4 p.m. Costumers are once again encouraged, and the event is free to attend.
To register for either event, and to learn more, visit EventBrite.com, and search “Stew Leonard’s,” or visit StewLeonards.com. The store is at 1897 Front Street, East Meadow.
Whether in cowboy hats or capes, the pups at Barkfest showed off their Halloween spirit, leaving everyone with wagging tails and full hearts. With Halloween festivities continuing at Stew Leonard’s, there are still plenty of chances to join the fun — costumes and candy bags in tow.