By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Biscuit the terrier was pretty tolerant of her straw hat. But Piper the Welsh Corgi had just about enough of her frilly tutu.
“You keep wiggling out of your gown,” owner Penny Parker said as she tried to stuff Piper back into her outfit. Dressing up is not the norm for either dog.
“Just the pet show and Halloween,” Parker said with a smile.
The pups were two of many pets dolled up for the annual pet show in City Park on Wednesday evening. The competition was tough in some categories – like prettiest girl cat and dog, best behaved, largest ears, shaggiest and best groomed. But the selection was slim in others – like slimiest reptile, biggest rodent (thank goodness that category had few competitors), loudest bird tweet, and pet that looks most like the owner.
There were lots of the more traditional dogs, plus some less common chickens, a turtle, rat, hedgehog, hamsters and chameleon.
Holly Spencer brought four of her many chickens to the pet show. They calmly sat on her lap as they awaited their turn on the stage. These were no typical chicks. Ricky is a Millie Fluer Duccle, and Gigi is a Serama.
With dogs surrounding them, the chickens sat on Spencer’s lap with barely one ruffled feather. How were they trained to do that?
“I feed them and talk with them every day,” Spencer said.
As for costumed canines, Biscuit and Piper weren’t alone. In some cases, the humans joined in the contest.
“My son and his dog are both dressed like baseball players,” said Kelsie Salyers, about her son, Blake and a puppy named Lucy. Both wore baseball jerseys and caps, while Blake carried a mitt and bat.
They were joined by the Salyers’ other dog, Hunter, who was wearing a flannel shirt, cowboy hat and bandanna.
“They’re good sports – sometimes,” Salyers said about the dogs.
The biggest dog looked to be a Great Pyrenees, appropriately named after the mountain peak Denali.
At 1 year old and 100 pounds, Denali is still a puppy, his owner, Jillian Harris said.
“His dad was 150 pounds. So he’s still got some growing to do,” she said.
Sadie Roberts, 11, brought her chameleon named Chamel to the pet show. She bought the lizard herself.
“I’ve been saving up for a long time,” she said, as she held him for others to see. “He loves people.”
Reagan Otley brought her dwarf hamster named Jasmine, which she adopted from Petco. And Lily Parker showed off Blossom the Russian tortoise – though he was more comfortable to stay inside his shell.
