It was all about animals Sunday when hundreds of people from the region and their canine friends gathered at Get Togethers Picnic Grounds in Kings Creek for the second annual Bark in the Park event.
Included in the day-long festivities were a wide variety of vendors, musical entertainment, and canines and felines available for adoption from the Hancock County Animal Shelter, for which the special event was held.
A long list of contests was held, including best costume, breed, tricks, and look-a-like, and winners were judged by Hancock County Commissioner Danny Greathouse, Hancock County Commissioner Mike Swartzmiller and Weirton Ward 2 Councilman Harold “Bubba” Miller.
Trophies were awarded to the winners and ribbons were presented to the participants.
“We are very happy with the turnout today,” said Jennifer Tokash, organizer of the event. “It’s double from last year, and we are very pleased about that.”
Tokash’s mother, Sharon Dragisich, Hancock County Animal Shelter Foundation representative, assisted her daughter with the plans.
“I helped her some, but she really did it,” Dragisich said. “She worked day and night for the past two months for this.”
(Azzarello can be contacted at
sazzarello@weirtondailytimes.com)
Article Photos
SHOWTIME – Pookie Petals, owned by Ray Inghram of Youngstown, Ohio, last year’s first-place winner of the best costume contest, came in second place this year for her girl’s play day ensemble, complete with a portable pink vanity. -- Sue Azzarello
Bob Burns, of Wintersville, Ohio, visited the second annual Bark in the Park event with his Dalmatian, Audrey. -- Sue Azzarello
COSTUME?CONTEST – One of the many categories Sunday at the Bark in the Park event to benefit the Hancock County Animal Shelter was the best costume contest, an event favorite. Rhett the pirate, center, won first prize. He is owned by JoAnn Dhanse of Burgettstown Canine College. Standing next to Rhett, at left, is Chubbs, who was dressed as a cowboy and is owned by Monica Beatty of Weirton. Pookie Petals, owned by Ray Inghram of Youngstown, Ohio, was dressed in a girl’s play day costume, complete with a pink vanity and pink feather boa, and she won second place; and Chelsea Elizabeth, owned by Rick and Patti Nixon of Weirton, won third prize for her fussy pink dress, right of Rhett. -- Sue Azzarello
NEED HOMES? – These are just two of the young cats also on display and available for adoption at the second-annual Bark at the Park all-day event to benefit the Hancock County Animal Shelter. -- Sue Azzarello
AVAILABLE?FOR?ADOPTION – Beagle pups were on display and available for adoption during Sunday’s Bark in the Park event to benefit the Hancock County Animal Shelter. The event was held at Get Togethers Picnic Grounds in Kings Creek. -- Sue Azzarello
