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June 22, 2009

Dogs dress up in Danvers for a howling good time

By Chris Cassidy

DANVERS — Yesterday's Dog Party outside the Peabody Institute Library drew big dogs, little dogs, dogs wearing capes and even a dog with a tool belt.

The annual event, part of Danvers Family Festival, drew dozens of owners and their pets and was sponsored by Strays In Need, which strives to rescue stray animals.

It even included a fashion parade and a variety of pet contests.

He's all business

Sure, yesterday's event was a dog party, but Brody, a 2-year-old Australian shepherd, came dressed to go to work.

He wore an orange construction worker's vest, a pair of rolled up jeans shorts, a yellow hardhat and a tool belt with a tape measure, hammer and goggles.

"He's a huge part of the Town Hall reconstruction team," said Jenna Melvin.

Brody may have succeeded in the difficult task of topping last year's costume choice. He arrived to the 2008 contest dressed as a golfer, complete with plaid shorts, an argyle vest, a hat with a pompom and a tiny set of golf clubs.

Halloween is also a pretty big deal for Brody.

"Last year, he was a policeman," said Melvin.

The big kahuna

There are big dogs and then there is Kayla, a 5-year-old Newfoundland who weighed more than many of the humans at yesterday's dog party.

She tips the scale at 185 pounds, though her owner reports that she hardly ever actually throws her weight around.

"They're called gentle giants," said Carole McLaughlin.

Both dressed in purple yesterday with Kayla wearing a grass skirt, two leis and a purple bow.

"She's supposed to be a Hawaiian dog," said McLaughlin.

Kaptain America?

Kobe, a year-old Rottweiler, is not named after an NBA star or a Japanese style of beef.

He got the name from a speedy Red Sox outfielder.

Kind of.

"We wanted another K-name," said Janine Fuller of Danvers, who has a history of naming dogs beginning with the letter K. "... We were thinking Jacoby for Jacoby Ellsbury. It has nothing to do with Kobe Bryant."

Kobe wore a red, white and blue-themed costume, which included a cape and a tiny hat.

He was hoping to improve on last year's performance in which he was given a bit of a backhanded compliment.

"Last year, he won 'most easily distracted,'" said Fuller. "We will try to improve his attention span. He just actually got his Canine Good Citizen title."

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