Clover the cat was a frog and a Westie wore a bridesmaid's dress for Animal Protectors Halloween

Not surprisingly, a 6-foot-long inflatable black cat greeted visitors at Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley’s Halloween open house Saturday.

But it was a real tabby in a frog costume that stole the show at the pet dress-up contest during the afternoon.

While Clover didn’t run the catwalk in front of the judges as the dogs could, the feline was personable, meeting other pet owners for the community event.

“This is great, and it’s for a great cause,” said Clover’s owner, Kait Sacherich of Murrysville. Her daughter, Lily, paraded Clover around the outside of the shelter during the pet contest.

“We love animals — especially when they’re dressed up,” Sacherich said.

The cast of costumed dogs included Bear the Bouvier des Flandres brought by Carol Mass of Brackenridge, and three dogs dressed like hot dogs. Two of them, rescue dogs, were handled by Chris Ashbaugh of Allegheny Township.

“It’s Halloween and I wanted to show off these hot dog costumes,” Ashbaugh said. Her beagle, Whitten, and terrier mix, Skinnie Minnie, who is anything but, attracted much attention.

However, Ashbaugh’s third dog, Lloyd, a shepherd mix, “doesn’t play dress-up” but was on hand for the festivities.

You can rewear a bridesmaid’s dress

The winner of the best-dressed dog was Sicily, a Westie dressed in a cream-colored satin bridesmaid dress replete with ribbon trim.

It wasn’t a costume but a handmade dog dress.

“She really was a bridesmaid in Kentucky three years ago,” said owner Rosetta Lecocq of Lower Burrell.

Earlier in the day, more than 35 kids in costume trick-or-treated through the new home of Animal Protectors, said Dr. Betsy Kennon, of Fawn, a retired veterinarian who volunteers her expertise to the no-kill shelter.

There was lots of fun and fundraising, she said.

For example, the son of one of the shelter’s workers, Joe Galvanek of Buffalo Township, donated the use of a handmade, life-size coffin with red satin lining for the public to pay $2 for a coffin photo-op.

Kennon brought in cases of decorations for the event from her home. Since the pandemic, Kennon has not held a Halloween party and wanted to spread the spookiness to Animal Protectors for the special event.

Rounding out the evening was a screening of the horror classic “Night of the Living Dead.”

“This event helps get the community involved with the shelter,” Kennon said, “so they know it’s their shelter.”