As you can see by the accompanying photos, the Pug Parade is on the verge of getting out of hand, cute-wise. This year there were well over 100 entries and the costumes boggled the mind.

Best in parade went to Pudge as Donald Trump. He is owned by Mike and Crissy Smith of Brandon and came complete with hairpiece (the dog, not the owners.) "You're fired!" yelled the crowd in approval.

A special honorable mention for costume went to Ally (owned by Wendy Lemoine of Sarasota) as tennis star Venus Williams, and the special Sarasota Magazine 25th Anniversary Over the Top Award went to a pug-ette named Mable Ringling. Mable is owned by Isabella Orsini Brophy of Sarasota and was a vision of 1920s' loveliness.

Study the winners carefully; these costumes illustrate brilliantly what can happen when pug owners have too much time on their hands.

Also taking home trophies were Rachett and owner Myrna Collier (Best Curled Tail), Harley and owner Nydza Santana (Most Physically Fit), and Sissy and owner Tammy Porter (Miss Congeniality). And a special thanks to judges Chris Browne, Regan Dunnick and Jeree Amodio, to Schroeder-Manatee Ranch promotions manager Barbara Kreuser, and to sponsors Lakewood Ranch and Whitehall Homes.

Next year we'll be back with even more pug mayhem, so mark your calendars with the date, to be announced as soon as we stop laughing.