Local Judges Decide Who's a Good Boy

Once again Sunday, I sat in judgment over a broad field of competitors hungry for glory, and maybe some kibble.

My fellow judges and I sized up the contenders carefully, but in the end, there could be only one champion.

It's like the BCS, except it's for pets in costume.

It is "Pet-O-Ween."

The Cedar Valley Humane Society asked me to help judge Pet-O-Ween for the second year in a row. My kids love the event, so I gladly accepted. And having one contest under my belt, I was not wowed by the glitz and glamour swirling all around us at the epicenter of  Theisen's Home, Farm and Auto store, next to the fertilizer.

We watched 74 entries get walked, dragged or carried across the stage. I saw a cat dressed as a doctor, a Doberman dressed as Michael Jackson, a Yorkie dressed as a skunk and a domesticated skunk dressed up as Santa Claus.

Yes Virgina, there is a Santa Skunk.

I saw dogs named Puddles, Lupe, Snowcone, Gizmo, Sassy, Zeus, Muppet, Glacier, Gladys, Linus, Mabel and McDuff.

The judging, which took place in a shopper-free aisle where a guy could buy equipment to make his own jerky, was tough. But consensus came quickly.

We swiftly answered the critical question at hand -- "Who's a good boy?"

In the end, the title went to Oscar (pictured proudly above), a dachsund dressed up as an ostrich. He was a crowd favorite and an easy choice for No. 1. He carried himself like a champion.

The Humane Society raised $926 from the contest, and that ain't bad. Congratulatons to Oscar, Linus, Mabel, McDuff and all the competitors.

There are

more great photos here.