Mattoon – October 12, 2026 -- Rural King is inviting shoppers to dress up their dogs, cats and farm animals for Pet-O-Ween, a free in-store costume contest on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at participating stores. Two grand prize winners will each receive a $500 Rural King gift card.
Two categories, judged starting at 1 p.m.
Entrants compete in either a Pet or a Livestock category. Rural King associates begin judging costumes at 1 p.m., and giveaways and special offers run throughout the day.
Cody Kay, Rural King's interim vice president of marketing, described the event as a fun way to celebrate Halloween with animals that are part of customers' families, farms and daily lives.
Every store winner gets a plush goat and feed coupons
Each participating store will pick first-, second- and third-place winners in both categories. All winners receive a 15-inch XL Billie Goat plush, plus coupons for eligible Purina pet food (Pet category) or Nutrena livestock feed (Livestock category).
- First place: six coupons
- Second place: four coupons
- Third place: two coupons
This year's plush honors Billie Jean Lawyer, mother of Rural King Pet Buyer Blayne Lawyer. She was a lifelong animal lover whose family farm housed goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, ducks, dogs, cats and a donkey, with goats holding a special place in her heart.
Grand prize winners will be announced on Facebook
One Pet winner and one Livestock winner will be chosen from the pool of store-level winners across participating locations. Each receives a $500 Rural King gift card, and Rural King will announce them on its Facebook page.
Early arrivals get extra deals at 10 a.m.
Festivities start at 10 a.m. with limited-quantity offers:
- A free Mini Billie Goat plush for the first 50 customers
- 50% off eligible Purina pet treats that fit inside a limited-edition "Trick or Treat" bag for the first 100 customers
- Buy eight, get four free on select 5.5-ounce Friskies single cans of wet cat food, while supplies last
Pet-O-Ween excludes Ohio locations. Offers are valid in stores only while supplies last, and additional exclusions and restrictions may apply, so customers should check with their local Rural King for details.