A Newtown Middle School student is hoping to single-handedly raise some funds this month for one of her favorite places in town.

Ava Lombardo is hoping to receive photos of pets in costumes from fellow pet lovers. On October 31, one grand prize winner will be announced, and the donations received as contest entries will all be donated to the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary.

Through October 30, the public is invited to share photos via e-mail to bestdressedpet@yahoo.com.

“You dress up any pet you have — a dog, a cat, whatever — and then you donate some money to join the contest, and then whoever wins the best costume will be announced,” Ava told The Newtown Bee this week.

A donation of $10 is requested per entry. When the photo is received, Ava will respond with the mailing address a check should then be sent to.

Ava’s family is putting up a $100 gift certificate to Your Healthy Pet as the contest prize. Additional prizes may be announced closer to Halloween.

While the final decision on the winner will be left up to Ava, her mom says public comments and likes shared on the @bestdressedpet2020 Instagram page will also help.

“We’re asking people to help us,” Deb Lombardo also said, October 14.

Ava, whose family has a Rottweiler-Newfoundland mix named Bella and a Havanese dog named Chip, decided to do the fun event because she loves the sanctuary on Old Farm Road.

“I just really enjoy being there, and I also love animals,” she said. “It’s a great group of people there, and an amazing area.”