This year, some people have expanded their October fun beyond buying bags of candy for trick-or-treaters and are now including their pets in the celebration.

Sutton Studios, along with Evanston’s Community Animal Rescue Effort (CARE) and the Chicago Canine Rescue, will hold its first-ever “Howl-O-Ween” pet costume party on Oct. 28 at Sutton Studios, 3417 Church St., in Evanston, Ill.

David Sutton, a pet photographer and owner of Sutton Studios, said this free event will include a costume contest with a prize for the most creative pet costumes to raise awareness about rescuing animals.

The winner of the contest will win a portrait sitting where Sutton will take pictures of the person and their pet, and will receive a signed photo by Sutton, which has been shown at one of his exhibitions.

Sutton has a pet photography-themed blog called Pith and Vinegar at SuttonStudios.com/Pith centered around his studio that features pet photography. He said that although his studio has been open for 15 years, he hasn’t really focused on public relations and marketing in the past five years, but has instead grown and developed from the inside.

“I thought it was time to open our doors and have some direct contact with the public,” Sutton said.

Pet owner Renauld Cooper said he would definitely dress up his dog for Halloween, and possibly attend a costume party for pets. He said he doesn’t put his dog in full costumes, but instead opts for orange or black sweaters.

Cooper said he has seen more people dressing up their dogs recently, and while some people take the idea more seriously than others, he thinks people should dress up their dogs however they want.

“Any idea is great as long as it’s positive,” he said.

Krysten Sane, an employee of a local pet store, The Barking Lot, 2442 W. Irving Park Road, said more people this year are dressing their pets for Halloween than last year.

She said people have been special ordering costumes from The Barking Lot during the weeks leading up to Halloween, but she has been receiving more orders for pet costumes this Halloween than she has before. Although the costumes are mostly for dogs, Sane said she noted an increase in people wanting to extend the traditions of Halloween to other pets.

Sane thinks the animal costume party could be exactly what some of her customers would enjoy.

“Dogs are part of the family,” Sane said.

Sane also noticed people have been buying costumes for larger dogs like great danes and German shepherds, whereas last year most of the costumes were for smaller dogs, such as Chihuahuas or terriers. She said she thinks the idea of dressing uppets is becoming more widespread.

Columbia junior radio major d’Andre Alexander, a dog owner, said he thinks people dress their dogs because they want to make their animals feel more like equals. He said he noticed that people sometimes match their dog’s outfit to their own.

Alexander said he believes dressing up dogs has become commonplace in our society and sees it as a custom, even though he said he would not dress up his own dog.

Sane said she likes the idea of dressing her dog up in a costume. She said she has seen a lot of Halloween costumes on pets and finds the idea a good way to make a pet a more important member of the family.

Sutton said he has seen and photographed all sorts of dog costumes. They range from bunny ears or a top hat strapped to the head to full-on costumes like Zorro or princesses. He also said there are Halloween-themed costumes to make dogs look like pumpkins or witches.

Several more Chicagoland organizations have been hosting similar events. The Barrington Dog Bakery, 110 Barrington Commons Conn., hosted a Dog Halloween Parade on Oct. 25, with proceeds going to pet rescue. The Roscoe Village Animal Hospital teamed up with Chicago Canine Rescue for a pet Halloween party at the Chi-Town Dog House, 2231 W. Belmont Ave., on Oct. 26 and offered pet photography, as well.

The “Howl-O-Ween” event at Sutton Studios, which Sutton said will be more like an open house, gives pet owners the opportunity to dress up with their animals and have their picture taken.

Sutton said the pet aspect has become more prominent as people want their dogs’ personalities captured on film.

“I think people are doing more fun things with their dogs these days,” Sutton said.