HICC Pet joined Microsoft’s 2026 Barktober event in Redmond, Washington, bringing pet lovers together for a day of community, connection, and giving back. From sharing our favorite pet care essentials to meeting some special furry guests, discover the highlights of this memorable event!
There's just something magical about October in the Pacific Northwest. Maybe it's the changing colors of the leaves, the crisp chill in the air, or the promise of the holidays over the horizon. Whatever it is, most people can't deny October is a special month.
Here at HICC Pet, October is special because it offers us a unique chance to reconnect with the local community around Seattle. And what better way to do so than by collaborating with the fine folks at the Redmond Microsoft campus for the annual Microsoft #Barktober event?
HICC Pet x Microsoft
This was the scene on October 1st, when members of our HICC Pet staff descended on the Redmond, Washington campus to offer support and connect with local Microsoft pets, pet parents, and other pet-based businesses.
In addition to friendly faces, samples of our best-selling glove wipes were on-hand at our booth to give away to visitors, as well as stickers, totes, and other HICC Pet swag. We also showcased several of our other products, including our dual-headed pet toothbrush, silicone finger toothbrush, and gentle ear-cleaning finger wipes. Together, these products form a portion of our Protocol, a complete system designed to make oral, ear, eye, and coat care easier and more sustainable for you and your pet.
A few special guests also made an appearance at our booth, including the University of Washington's husky mascot, Dubs II. Likewise, Sammy the Sounder and Seattle Mariner's, Mortimer "Mariner" Moose also popped by to say hello. Dubs even enjoyed a quick wipe-down from our Global Head of Marketing with one of our own HICC Pet glove wipes.
What is #Barktober?
For those unfamiliar, Barktober is the pet-focused event that kicks off Microsoft's annual Giving Campaign. (Nicknamed Give Month) Every October during Give Month, Microsoft employees volunteer their time and effort to benefit local nonprofits and volunteer organizations in Washington state. It's the tech giant's way of giving back, and efforts have been wildly successful for over four decades. The program, which started in 1983, has since become a storied tradition, with Microsoft matching a portion of employee contributions.
Give Month demonstrates the staggering impact a focused community of caring individuals can create. To date, Microsoft employees have raised upwards of $3.47 billion for local nonprofits and donated 6.15 million volunteer hours since the program's inception.
Here at HICC Pet, we share Microsoft's enthusiasm for giving back. While we haven't quite reached the tech company's level of hours or dollars, we're proud to have been a part of such a large-scale philanthropic effort.
Big Thanks to Microsoft
We'd like to extend a huge thank you to Microsoft for the opportunity to be part of this year's Barktober event. We're delighted to have met so many interesting pet owners, pets, advocates, and people who recognize the importance of supporting their local community.
A short video of the event can be viewed on our Facebook page. For more information about Give Month, see Microsoft's official website.
