Dozens of West Hempstead residents celebrated Halloween early by dressing up their pets for an animal costume contest at Somerset Brewing Company on Oct. 25.
The event was co-hosted by Manuel Fajardo, owner of Somerset Brewing Co., and Angela DeVito, veterinarian and owner of West Hempstead Animal Hospital. The two met when Fajardo began taking Wookie, his three-year-old Rottweiler to the vet.
But the business owners are also neighbors, with the vet’s office and the brewery just steps apart.
Bringing together brewery regulars and veterinary patients for a pet-friendly celebration, 13 furry friends dressed up to compete for a prize.
“We decided to tag team for a little costume party,” Fajardo said.
“It’s a really nice way for us to get our people together, the community together, and have some fun,” DeVito said.
The festive event included live music, craft beers on tap, and pizzas cooked in a pop-up pizza oven. Somerset Brewing Co., open Thursday through Sunday, is known for being a dog-friendly establishment — all pets are welcome, as long as they’re leashed.
“We’ve always been extremely dog friendly,” Fajardo said. “It’s a great place to bring your kids, your dogs and hang out, which we don’t have enough of in Nassau County.”
There were two gift baskets for the first- and second- place winners of the costume contest. The baskets included canisters, picture frames, dog treats, and coupons for a free exam at the animal hospital. All participants received Somerset Brewing glassware as a thank you for taking part in the event.
Fajardo and DeVito said they plan on continuing to host more joint events in the future.
DeVito also shared a reminder for residents to have their animals vaccinated. “Rabies is here in Nassau County,” she said. “Vaccines are absolutely imperative.”
