Community fundraiser raises $160 for Hancock Hounds Dog Park as organizers celebrate local generosity and remember a beloved pet.
HANCOCK, NY — What began as a festive Halloween fundraiser for Hancock Hounds Dog Park has become a touching tribute to a beloved dog whose life was tragically cut short just days after the event.
Local photographer Andrew “Andy” Baker generously volunteered his time, photography services, and prizes to organize a Halloween Pet Costume Contest benefiting Hancock Hounds Dog Park, Inc., a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to maintaining and improving the community's dog park.
The fundraiser was formally approved by the organization's Board of Directors at its October 2026 meeting, with the goal of bringing pet lovers together while raising much-needed funds for the park's ongoing operations. The Dog Park Board President, Treasurer and Secretary all attended the event, participated (without being eligible for prizes) managed donations and thanked all participants to ensure transparency and deposited funds into the account following the event.
To ensure everyone could participate, the Board welcomed photographs of dogs and other pets, including cats, whether they attended the Halloween event in person or entered by submitting photographs online. Event organizers and volunteers who were themselves pet owners were also welcome to participate under the same rules.
NBT Bank employees generously served as impartial judges, selecting the winning entries based solely on photographs of the pets. The judges were not provided with the names of the owners, ensuring that entries could be evaluated without knowledge of who had submitted them.
The results brought an unexpected and deeply emotional moment for everyone involved.
Just days after the Halloween event, Andy Baker tragically lost his beloved dog, Bandit.
In a remarkable and bittersweet turn of events, Bandit was selected as the contest's first-place winner by the NBT Bank judges, who had no knowledge of the dog's owner or the heartbreaking circumstances surrounding his passing.
For the volunteers and Board members of Hancock Hounds Dog Park, the announcement was especially meaningful. Andy had been the person who originally proposed the fundraiser, giving his own time and talents to help the park and its community.
Now, the photograph of his beloved Bandit will forever represent a special moment of joy, generosity, and remembrance.
The Board extends its heartfelt condolences to Andy and his family on the loss of Bandit and hopes that this unexpected recognition brings some comfort during a difficult time.
Celebrating Our Halloween Contest Winners
The organization is pleased to recognize this year's winning entries:
First Place — Andrew Baker, with Bandit: $50 gift card
Second Place — Chrissy Cornell: Pet merchandise and trophy
Third Place — Jerry Kudelycz: Pet merchandise and trophy
The winners were selected through the anonymous photo-judging process conducted by NBT Bank employees, independent of the event organizers and the Dog Park Board.
Community Generosity Makes a Difference
The Halloween contest raised $160 through $15 entry fees and additional contributions from community members and passersby.
Funds raised will support the nonprofit's ongoing needs, including general liability insurance expenses, printing costs for the upcoming 2027 Hancock Hounds Dog Park Calendar, and routine park maintenance.
For a volunteer-supported community organization, even modest fundraising events make an important difference in keeping the park welcoming, maintained, and available for residents and visitors.
Geraldine Walsh, President of Hancock Hounds Dog Park, Inc., shared the Board's appreciation:
“We are so thankful to have such loving and generous members of our community who care enough about our dog park to come forward with wonderful fundraising ideas like this. Andy gave his time, his talents, and his heart to help our organization, and we are deeply grateful. Our hearts go out to Andy and his family over the loss of Bandit, and we hope this special recognition of his beloved companion brings them some comfort. We welcome anyone in our community who has an idea for a fundraiser or a way to help the park to reach out to us. Your efforts truly mean the world to us.”
Looking Ahead to 2027
Hancock Hounds Dog Park continues its mission of providing a safe, welcoming, and enjoyable community space for dogs, their owners, and visitors to Hancock.
The organization is currently preparing its 2027 Dog Park Calendar, another community fundraising initiative that will help support park operations and improvements in the coming year.
The Board extends its sincere appreciation to Andrew Baker, the participating pet owners, the staff of NBT Bank for their impartial judging, and everyone who contributed to making the Halloween fundraiser a success.
Most importantly, the organization celebrates the memory of Bandit, whose winning photograph now carries a meaning far beyond a Halloween costume contest.
Congratulations, Bandit. You will be remembered with love.
To learn more about Hancock Hounds Dog Park, upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, or ways to support the organization, visit www.hancockhounds.com.
Hancock Hounds Dog Park, Inc. is a New York nonprofit organization recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Some of the Photos Taken by Andrew Baker - Photographer for the event below.
