Meet Splash the border collie, Old Town’s ‘best costume’ winner 

When Halloween comes around, people could dress up to celebrate, but a pet store gave dogs an opportunity to participate in their own costume contest.  

Saturday, as part of Old Town’s Halloween, 80 dogs competed at Preuss Pets’ annual event.

“There was a commonality among everyone, and it was the dogs that were in front of us and it was making everybody happy, everybody having a good time. And it kind of helped define a sense of community,” Rick Preuss, owner and store manager of Preuss Pets.

During the contest, the audience took pictures and cheered as the four-legged models strutted or wiggled past the table of judges. 

Many canine contestants not only had costumes but rode in customized mobiles or wagons to complete the look. However, the border collie trapped inside a claw vending machine got a ‘yes’ from all four judges.

Preuss was one of the four judges in the contest. He said the homemade costume and creativity are the two main aspects used to decide the winner.

Ann Williams, 54, a graphic designer, created the vending machine costume for her 7-year-old border collie named Splash.

“I thought it was something different that I haven’t seen before in a dog costume,” Williams said.  

Splash likes swimming, music with a beat and any type of dog snacks. 

Williams said this is Splash’s “seventh or eighth” time attending a dog costume contest but her first win. For her unmatched look, Splash won 90 pounds of dog food, a long gift basket and a $100 Preuss shopping spree.