Riverview's Pugapalooza sure packs a punch
The windy weather didn't deter 63 pugs and their loved ones who gathered at the Biggs Drive bark park for the second annual Pugapalooza.
Since it is the Halloween season, some pugs came dressed in costumes ranging from a unicorn to a chicken. Pugsley the pug took first place for wearing a Mexican costume - sombrero and everything. Runner up was Cooper the pug who sported a mailman costume.
Julie McCabe and her husband, from Dieppe are one of three couple who organized the event. Last year, the inaugural event saw 30 pugs come out, but this year, they more than double the attendance, said McCabe.
"We had 55 RSVP on Facebook, so that's going to be great."
Celebrity pug, Nate, even stopped by with his buddy Pudge. Nate's pug-a-licious face is on the label of Picaroons Feels Good pilsner and fame hasn't changed him one bit, he was just as excited and playful as every other pug Saturday afternoon.
Pug paraphernalia, such as buttons and t-shirts were on sale and all money went towards next year's Pug-a-Palooza. Organizers want the group to grow so they can raise more money to donate to a worthy cause, said McCabe.
Dog doesn't like Halloween costume? Accessorize!
LOS ANGELES (AP) Pet owners love dressing up their dogs for Halloween. Only problem is, dogs don't always love wearing costumes. But there are some tricks you can use for those pets that don't think it's a treat to wear hats, boots, masks and coats for their owners' amusement.
If a dog is used to wearing clothes, costumes may not be a problem, said veterinarian Terry Marie Curtis, a clinical behaviorist for the Department of Small Animal Clinical Services at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.
Dogs accustomed to wearing snug items designed to calm anxiety like Thundershirts, Anxiety Wraps or Storm Defender Capes should be able to adjust to other types of clothing, she said.
But every pet is different. "Many dogs hate things on their feet," she said. "This is true because it can alter how they perceive where they're walking."
Some dogs are used to booties, though, either because they live where the ground gets very hot or cold, or they are carried most of the time. "The smaller pocket pups are more likely to have "dress up' in their experience because that's what mom has done since puppyhood," Curtis said.
But it seems Queen Elizabeth is not alone in her fondness for the short-legged, happy-looking dogs - the internet has gone corgi crazy! There are cute corgi videos, corgi t-shirts, corgi games, corgi blogs and, of course, corgi Facebook pages.
Pet owners will dress up millions of dogs this month for Halloween parades, parties, pictures, contests or candy hunts. / AP Photo / PetSmart This file photo shows Hercules, a pug, dressed up like a pig waits to take the stage during the Halloween Pet
