The Haunted Hound Hangout is scheduled from noon to 2 p.m. Oct. 17 at 631 Brady Ave., at Decker Dog Park in Barberton.
The City of Barberton has referred to the gathering as the Haunted Hound Hangout. Barberton Area Community Ministries operates a pet food pantry out of its 939 Norton Ave. facility, distributing free dog and cat food twice monthly to low-income residents of Barberton, Norton, Doylestown, and surrounding communities, according to Barberton Area Community Ministries.
Rescue330's Regional Work
Rescue330 Pet Rescue, an Akron-based volunteer-run nonprofit founded in 2024, provides foster care, medical rehabilitation, adoption placement, and Trap-Neuter-Return services. It serves Northeast Ohio, and its TNR program operates in Summit County, per Rescue330 Pet Rescue.
Lucie's Legacy focuses on reducing shelter euthanasia through rescue placements, rehoming, and family retention support like medical assistance and pet food, as described on its Petfinder profile.
A Quiet Memorial Among the Festivities
The event includes a Rainbow Bridge dog bone memorial for attendees remembering pets they've lost.
Pet Safety Before Halloween
The Haunted Hound Hangout is dated October 17, 2026—two Saturdays before Halloween on October 31, not the weekend before it. PetSafe advises choosing costumes that don't restrict pets and warns that small decorative props can pose choking hazards. It also lists chocolate, xylitol, raisins, and glow-stick fluid as potential hazards, while noting that glow-stick liquid is rarely dangerous.
Dog licensing adds a less festive bit of bureaucracy: Ohio law and Summit County regulations require all dogs three months or older to be licensed annually through the Summit County Fiscal Office and DocuPet, with a standard $18 yearly fee that funds county animal control operations and helps reunite lost pets with their owners, per the Summit County Fiscal Office.
Decker Park's Growing Role in City Pet Life
Decker Park has hosted the city's Purple Paw Party, according to the DogPack App. A $284,100 skate-park equipment contract was listed, while the restrooms were expected to open in spring 2024, as reported by Akron.com.
The Haunted Hound Hangout is scheduled in Barberton. The event's Magic City branding nods to Barberton.
