Canine Costume Contests, Ruff Mudder Obstacle Course, Live Music, Games, Activities, Food Vendors and more will Highlight Festival
Celebrate the joys of autumn—with or without your canine companion—and help raise funds for senior dogs at Marty’s Place Howl-o-Ween Family Fest.
The third annual dog-friendly festival will be celebrated at Marty’s Place, located at 118 Route 526 in Upper Freehold on Saturday, October 19 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Rain date is Sunday, October 20.) Highlights of the event will include the Ruff Mudder obstacle course for dogs, canine costume contests, hay rides, k-9 police dog demonstrations, Kid Zone, live music by Buntopia, vendors, food trucks, and other fall-inspired games and activities for adults and children.
Attendees are encouraged to participate in the fast-paced Ruff Mudder Canine Obstacle Challenge, which runs from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Guide your dog through 12 obstacles spread over a half-mile of grass and gravel that has several potentially muddy areas. Dogs must be leashed throughout and handlers must be 18 years or older. Kids of all ages can follow along and offer encouragement. Entry fee for the Ruff Mudder is $10.
Adults, children and dogs are welcome to dress in costume (if your pooch enjoys dressing up) and participate in a variety of fun costume contests. Prizes will be awarded in many different categories including: best and scariest costumes, dog / owner duo costume, and best overall.
Admission for the event is $5 for adults; children under six are free. All proceeds will benefit the senior dogs cared for by Marty’s Place.
Howl-o-Ween Family Fest sponsors for 2019 include: Northstar Vets, Golden Grange Kennels, Sandra Iam- matteo, Esq., and Sentinel Wealth Management.
About Marty’s Place Senior Dog Sanctuary
Inspired by a senior dog adoptee named Marty and the plight of other aging canines with nowhere to safely and comfortably live out their “golden” years, Marty’s Place Senior Dog Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organiza- tion that provides a permanent, loving, protected environment for dogs age seven and older when their owners or other animal rescue/shelters can no longer care for them.
Situated on 25 acres, the 8,000-square-foot facility in Upper Freehold, N.J., opened its doors in the fall of 2015, with the first residents arriving at the end of October. In the months that followed, with the help of a small staff and an amazing group of volunteers, Marty’s Place has created a caring community for senior dogs. They come to the sanctuary from different backgrounds and for different reasons.
While adoption may be an option for some residents, when it isn’t, Marty’s Place provides senior dogs a forever home in a family-like environment with full, personalized attention given to their needs for the rest of their lives.
Marty’s Place also offers a swim program for its residents and non-resident dogs of all ages in its indoor, salt water pool. For more information visit: www.martysplace.org or call 609-259-1278.