By Paul Flotron — Founder, Owner & Director, Creature Comforts Great & Small, LLC

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Stop what you are doing.

Look at your pet.

Now look at that Halloween costume hanging in your closet — the one you bought three weeks ago and have been waiting for the perfect moment to debut.

This is that moment.

Creature Comforts Great & Small is hosting our very first online Spooktacular Pet Halloween Costume Contest, and I want to see every dapper doggie Dracula, every feline fairy princess, every bearded dragon dressed as a pumpkin, and every parrot in a pirate hat that St. Louis has to offer. Whether your companion is furry, feathered, scaled, or somewhere gloriously in between — if they are wearing a costume, they belong in this contest.

And the prizes? They are not candy corn and a pat on the back. We are talking real, high-value pet care packages that will make your companion feel like the royalty they absolutely are.

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The Grand Prizes

Three winners. Three extraordinary packages. You choose which one fits your family best.

🏆 The Ultimate Stayvacay Package

A complimentary premium weekend overnight pet-sitting or boarding package — the full Creature Comforts white-glove experience. Your pet stays in a loving, attentive environment with 24/7 care, a detailed daily activity diary, and more affection than they will know what to do with. This is the prize that lets you take a weekend for yourself without a single moment of worry.

🐾 The Happy Paws Pack

A free full week of professional dog walking services — our elite, nature-driven pack adventures that go far beyond a lap around the block. We track weather and trail conditions, plan high-energy outings, and deliver the kind of deep socialization and physical enrichment that transforms a restless dog into a genuinely fulfilled one.

🎃 The Creature Comforts Monster Basket

A massive gift basket overflowing with premium, expert-approved toys and gourmet treats — hand-selected by someone who has spent 17 years learning exactly what animals love most. This basket is the kind of thing your pet will remember. (In their own way. You know what I mean.)

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How to Enter — It Could Not Be Simpler

Step 1: Snap the Photo. Get your pet into their costume and capture the magic. High-quality photos tend to perform better in the public voting phase, so good lighting and a clear shot of the costume go a long way. Natural light, a clean background, and your pet's full personality on display — that is the formula.

Step 2: Head to Facebook. Visit the official Paul Flotron Facebook Page at facebook.com/paul.flotron.

Step 3: Drop Your Entry. Find the pinned Contest Announcement post and submit your photo directly in the comments. That is it. You are in.

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How the Winner Is Crowned

We designed this to be genuinely fair, genuinely fun, and genuinely competitive — so we built a two-phase hybrid system.

Phase 1 — The Public Vote

Every photo entered is eligible for public likes. Share your entry with your friends, your family, your neighbors, your coworkers, your book club, your dog's Instagram followers — anyone and everyone. The Top 5 photos with the most likes automatically advance to the finals.

This phase rewards community, creativity, and the kind of enthusiastic pet-parent energy that makes St. Louis such a remarkable city for animals.

Phase 2 — The Expert Panel

Our founder, Paul Flotron — with 17 years of professional animal care experience and a lifelong passion for every species imaginable — will personally review the five finalists and judge on three criteria:

• Creativity: How original and inventive is the concept?
• Personality: Does the costume capture something true about this specific animal?
• Execution: How well does the whole look come together?

The finalist who scores highest across all three criteria is crowned the Grand Prize Winner.

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Mark Your Calendar

Milestone	Date & Time
Submissions & Public Voting Close	Friday, October 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM CDT
Grand Prize Winner Announced	Monday, November 2, 2026 — Facebook & Blog

Five days. That is all you have. Do not wait until October 30th to dig out the costume.

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Paul's Expert Pet Safety Guidelines 🐾

I have been caring for animals professionally for 17 years — and in that time, I have seen exactly what happens when a costume prioritizes the photo over the pet's comfort. So before you dress up your companion, please run their costume through these non-negotiable checks.

Unrestricted Breathing & Movement. Your pet must be able to breathe, walk, bark, meow, and see clearly in every direction. If the costume restricts any of these — even slightly — it comes off. No photo is worth your pet's distress.

No Choking Hazards. Inspect every inch of the costume for small dangling pieces, decorative buttons, strings, or beads. Stressed or bored animals will chew these off instantly, and a swallowed button becomes a veterinary emergency. When in doubt, remove it.

Stress-Free Styling. Watch your pet's body language. A tucked tail, a hunched posture, frozen stillness, or pinned ears are not signs of mild discomfort — they are your pet telling you, as clearly as they are able, that they are not okay. Honor that communication. A festive Halloween bandana or a simple photo prop works beautifully and causes exactly zero stress. The best costume is one your pet wears with confidence.

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St. Louis, Let's See What You've Got

Seventeen years of caring for this city's animals has taught me one thing above all else: St. Louis pet parents are extraordinary. The love, the creativity, the dedication you bring to your companions every single day is genuinely remarkable.

Now I want to see that love in costume form.

Head to the Paul Flotron Facebook Page, find the pinned contest post, and drop your entry. Share it with everyone you know. Vote for your favorites. And check back on November 2nd to see who takes home the crown.

Your pet has been waiting their whole life for this moment.

Don't let them down. 🎃

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📸 Submit your entry: facebook.com/paul.flotron

📞 Questions? Call Paul directly: 314-775-7107

✉️ Or email: PaulFFlotron@yahoo.com

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Paul Flotron is the founder, owner, and director of Creature Comforts Great & Small, LLC — St. Louis's premier in-home pet care service since 2009. Serving the St. Louis metro area with 17 years of zero incidents, zero illnesses, and an unwavering commitment to the animals and families who trust him.