Medium and large dogs line up for Dogtoberfest costume judging. (Photos by Christine Such/Sun Day)
Dogtoberfest is the ultimate fall festival, uniting pets, Halloween, Oktoberfest, and the community with a dog costume contest.
Residents brought out their pets to strut their stuff in costume on October 20.
Barb and Ken Mach brought their Golden Retriever, Buddy, dressed as Darth Vader, to participate for the first time in the Sun City Yappy Event.
Barb said, “Buddy enjoys being with other dogs. We bring him to Doggy Care twice a week so he can be with other dogs. He’s a gentle soul, very kind, and a calming dog.”
Another Buddy, a 13-year-old Eskimo, was brought by Diane Maraviglia. She said, “Buddy is dressed as a warlock with a witch riding on his back.”
The American Eskimo Dog, or Eskie is a striking canine with a white coat, sweet expression, and black eyes. The breed was created by German immigrants in the upper Midwestern United States..
Dogs in attendance dressed in some of the cutest and most creative costumes you’ve ever seen. Dale and Mary Kay Monaghan accompanied Wrigley, a St. Bernard dressed as an Alps Rescue Dog.
Mary Kay said, “I took inspiration from their coronavirus pandemic when it came to dressing Wrigley for Halloween this year. I thought about what we were searching for the most this year and of course, it was toilet paper. So, I used a roll of toilet paper instead of the keg.”
Anyone who has ever watched cartoons knows that Saint Bernard dogs are thought to keep either brandy or whiskey in those little kegs around their necks. But those barrels were the brainstorm of a 17-year-old painter from England, Edwin Landseer. He painted a work entitled Alpine Mastiffs Reanimating a Distressed Traveler. The painting is of two Saint Bernards standing over a fallen traveler and one has a barrel strapped around its neck, which Landseer claimed contained brandy.
Other costumes included Tigger, a postal worker, a super dog, a spider, a pumpkin patch, some dressed for other holidays, a leprechaun or an elf, and of course, there was a hot dog.
Dr. Debra Junkins, owner of Pet Vet and their lead veterinarian, sponsored the event with prizes for the winners, goody bags for all participants, and something for the pets’ guests. As Dr. Deb passed goodies for the humans, Ken Mach said, “We get treats too!”, accepting the Chocolate Chip cookies and bottled water.
Prizes were awarded for first, second, and third place for two categories. Participants voted on the winners. Every pet received a doggy swag bag for participating. Small dog winners were awarded as follows:
First Prize: Missy as the Postal Worker
Second Prize: Sadie in the Pumpkin Patch
Third Prize: another Sadie in Christmas Plaid
Medium and Large Dog Winners were:
First Prize: Wrigley as Rescue Dog
Second Prize: Kingsley as Tigger
Third Prize: Sparky as a Taco
