Dogs on catwalk strut in Bangor

Bangor had a dog-gone great day Saturday during its Downtown Dog Day celebration. That day canines had a starring role. The highlight of the event was the doggie fashion show, which drew 35 pooches and their owners.

It was clear that dog owners put a great deal of thought, effort and imagination into “putting on the dog” for the fashion show.

For example, there was the honey-colored Saint Bernard wearing a pink tutu, silver tiara and ballet slippers on her front feet – she won the best handmade costume award.

There were the four dogs and their two owners who showed up as the Red Hat Society, complete with red hats and purple dresses – they won the award for best presentation.

There was the border collie in sheep’s clothing, its owner in Highland kilt and other garb. They drew audible exclamations of appreciation from the crowd and won the best costume award.

A dachshund with long hair won the best tail award, and a tiny Chihuahua got the award for best ears.

If there had been a category for the classiest-looking dog it would have gone to the black Labrador retriever clad in a black satin tango dress with a magenta satin flower at the waist. The dog also sported magenta lace ribbons at her wrists and her owners were equally elegant dressed in black.

Several dogs and their owners appeared in Hawaiian shirts. A Boston terrier wore a jailbird outfit of black-and-white striped shirt and little round hat.

A corgi looked tough in a denim jacket and leather Harley-Davidson cap. A Doberman wearing a pale blue Oxford cloth shirt and silk tie looked ready for action in the courtroom or the corporate office.

And who could resist the fluffy little dog dressed as a sunflower? Or the two sisters and their dog dressed as court jesters? Or the little girl wearing an apron and a cook’s cap who showed her dog dressed as a hot dog, complete with bun and condiments?

A few dogs not wearing costumes participated in the event, including an elegant, tall black poodle, a handsome red-nosed pit bull and a playful black Labrador retriever named Mozart.

Let me confess. I was one of the judges. If it had been within my power, I would have handed out a prize to each participant, that’s how impressed I was with the creativity and cleverness everyone put into costuming their dogs and themselves.

The fashion show proved at least one thing – dogs know how to have fashion fun.