Dexter Farmers Market Goes to the Dogs

Donning their best costumes, several of Dexter's four-legged friends paid a visit to the Dexter Farmers Market on Saturday for the second annual Halloween pet contest.

The contest, which is sponsored by the Dexter Area Fire Department, helped close out this year's seasonal market.

"The costume contest is always a lot of fun," Brenda Tuscano, market manager said. "We get a lot of unique entries."

This year, roughly 10 dogs and their owners entered the contest.

Jo Bertoni, who brought her father's shitzu, Buddy, said she was excited to show off Buddy's hotdog costume.

"I was walking him around the neighborhood and someone told me I should enter the costume contest," she said. "A lot of people have told me that they like the costume."

Dotie Dootz, whose chihuahua, Buddy, was adopted from the Humane Society of Huron Valley in Ann Arbor, won third place in this year's competition.

"This is his first appearance with a lot of other dogs," she said. "He seems a little scared, but overall I think it was fun."

This year's top prize went to Deanna Steffey and her dog, Flick, who was dressed as a bull, complete with a stuffed rider on his back. Steffey herself showed up dressed as a cowboy to share in the fun.

"This our first year competing," she said. "I didn't even have a costume, so I borrowed my outfit from some friends."

Second prize went to Emma, Lydia and Ava Hall for their dog, Keifer, who was dressed as a dragon.

"It's really funny to see all the dogs in costume," Emma Hall said.

Prizes for first, second and third place winners were donated by , the and .

Tuscano said the market is now in its 16th season and interest has been steadily growing. The market will reopen the first weekend in May.