Photos courtesy of Wondercide
Gora, Norfolk’s very own celebrity Great Dane, just cleaned up in a national costume contest, and she did it dressed as a roll of paper towels.
Meet Gora, a 4½-year-old Great Dane (@gorathedane) who just took one of three grand prizes in Wondercide’s fifth annual Wonderween pet costume contest. Her winning look, “Bow-wow-nty Paper Towels,” beat out a record 517 entries from across the country.
See more of Gora’s amazing costumes and keep up with what she’s doing by following her on Instagram at Gora the Dane.
Wondercide, an Austin-based, woman-founded company, has been making plant-powered protection from bugs for pets, family and home since 2009. Wonderween, its October celebration, brings pet lovers together for costumes, festivities and giving back to animal rescues, and this year’s 517 entries made it the biggest yet. The month wrapped up with a virtual Halloween pet parade.
Each winner received a $250 Amazon gift card and a Wondercide product bundle, but the best part of the prize is the $500 donation to an animal rescue group.
ABOVE: The other two winners were Randy, a Dachshund from New Orleans in an “I Dream of Weenie” costume, and Rally Roo, a three-legged rescue and certified therapy dog from Clearwater, Florida, who won with his “Busted Piñata” costume.
Supporting a New Hampton Roads Rescue
For Gora’s human mom, Brittany Sorrentini, choosing where the donation should go was a chance to support an organization close to home. She picked Frankie’s Friends Rescue, founded by Jordan Wallace, whom Brittany admires for her years of fostering and dedication to helping animals.
The rescue is brand new, incorporated earlier this year, and Brittany knows how hard it is to keep a rescue running. “I wanted to show her support,” she said.
A Favor That Turned Into a Family Member
Gora wasn’t supposed to stay with Brittany and her family. What began as a temporary arrangement quickly turned into something more.
“I watched her for a friend who was overwhelmed with puppies, and we bonded.”
She found her forever home, and today Gora is the baby of a four-dog household that also includes Brittany, her husband, and their three kids. Brittany fosters cats and dogs for various rescues on top of all that, so “full house” is an understatement.
Gora once trained as a service dog and has since retired, though she’s hardly idle. Her Instagram following has made her a genuine local celebrity. Out and about, Brittany regularly hears, “Is that Gora?” before the photo requests start. Gora can be a little timid, but she’ll happily wander over to meet her fans, especially if snacks are involved.
Costume Season Never Ends
Brittany plans Gora’s costumes months in advance, sometimes with ideas and help from her kids. Other times she looks to pop culture for inspiration.
“I go with what will tick people off or make people smile depending on my mood,” Brittany said.
Halloween is just one stop on the calendar. Gora has suited up for a Stranger Things-themed event and for other events and competitions all year. One of Brittany’s favorite creations was an OceanGate-inspired costume that took serious work and even had working lights.
How does Gora feel about all this? Brittany says she mostly tolerates the costumes, but she’s a good sport about it.
Using the Spotlight to Help Animals in Need
For Brittany, the Instagram following and the costumes are about more than cute photos. The more support Gora gets, the more Brittany can help local rescues.
“I try to use my platforms for good,” she said.
Want to see what Gora wears next? Follow her on Instagram at Gora the Dane. To learn how you can support a new local rescue, visit Frankie’s Friends Rescue.
