The Howl-O-Ween Dogtoberfest features a pig roast, a live DJ for entertainment, games, a costume parade and contest for both “Peeps & Petz!” and more.

Tickets are $25 per person or $40 for a family of four, plus $5 for each additional child in attendance.

Organizer Helen Fasano says, “The Bark Angels help people with physical, emotional and cognitive challenges. Working one-on-one with patients and physical therapists, the certified therapy dogs inspire communication, sensory processing, mobility and social skills of all ages. They also provide extensive programming with teens, youths and perform a lot of work with Autistic children.”

Each certified dog is handled by a trained volunteer, and programs are developed with health care professionals to create specific movements with the patients needs in mind. Organizers and clients all agree that it is exciting to see patients who once refused to take part in their physical therapy, light up knowing the dogs are coming and get up ready to go to work with them.

The Bark Angels provide the service to a wide variety of clientele including:

PACE
Pine Ridge Rehabilitation and Nursing Center
Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor Teen Center
Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor Youth Clubhouse
Lory’s Place
Harbor House
Spectrum Health Lakeland
Logan Sonya Ansari Autism Center
TEC — Therapeutic Equestrian Center
RESA Lighthouse Education Center