Cool water was the beverage of choice among participants in the 17th annual Dogs for Life Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Pawrade and Pet Expo last Saturday afternoon at the four-acre DFL Off-Leash Dog Park and Training Facility. Human volunteers kept the many water bowls continually filled during the popular, free event; the nonprofit’s signature fundraiser, which draws hundreds of humans and their pets.

For 364 days a year, the facility serves a serious, important purpose – training certified service dogs for the hearing- and mobility-impaired, including veterans with PTSD and other challenges. Instructors also teach veterans how to train other service dog teams.

But Saturday it was all about fun – and a whole lot of creativity.

Pawrade participants ranged from retrievers and greyhounds to handy, portable pooches like Yorkies and chi-weenies (guess the mix). And the costumes were equally diverse, colorful and clever examples of the owners’ creativity – and the pooches’ patience and good nature.

There were pirates and witches, superheroes and cowboys, a princess, lifeguard, hotdog (with catchup), an elephant and even a Tootsie Roll. Introduced by Shelly Ferger, DFL founder and CEO, each and every pup had his or her moment in the spotlight, parading around a curving path to the cheers and laughter of the crowd.

The afternoon began with always-impressive demonstrations by the K-9 teams of the Indian River Sheriff’s Office, featuring K-9 Falko, a German Shepherd-Malinois mix.

The Sheriff’s Office also provided a color guard for the military recognition ceremony. Again this year, live music by Hobo Jim kept the energy up, Boy Scout volunteers skillfully and politely directed the parking, and bountiful Doggie Baskets were raffled off to a few lucky dogs.

The Dogs for Life mission is twofold. Abandoned dogs are rescued, trained and given a purpose. The service dogs, in turn, assist veterans and others with a variety of tasks, from providing ears to hear smoke alarms, to paws that can tap a 911 button in an emergency, or legs to help with mobility.

For more information, visit dogsforlifevb.org.