Bubba, being held by Elk Grove resident Robin Cherry, wears his finest tuxedo during Sunday's Pug-O-Ween contest in Lodi. "Normally he goes naked," Cherry said. (Ross Farrow/News-Sentinel)

Dracula, Elvis, Easter Bunny and more; pugs make the scene

Pugs and pug mixes donned their finest attire on the day before Halloween and socialized with others of their species during a day of fun during Pug-O-Ween in Lodi. Pugs were dressed as Dracula, a dog diva, the Easter Bunny, Hawaiian hula dancers, a farmer, bumble bee, a pirate, Napoleon and Josephine, Superman and Batman. There was even a dog dressed up as a, well, a hot dog. And yes, there was an Elvis sighting.

Carmichael resident Beth Hassett went all out to create the hot dog costume for her pug. Demetrius had hot dog buns on each side and cloth that resembled mustard, catsup and relish on his back.

Fair Oaks resident Virginia Herte admitted that she brazenly stole four of her sister's curlers Saturday to dress up Herte's dog, Tenshi, who was draped in a white towel, red trim, red bunny slippers a yellow bonnet and a copy of the Sacramento Bee's business section.

Herte also dressed up her male dog, Soba, in Dracula-style bat wings and a black cape.

Most participants came to Sycamore Lane Farm on Ray Road from the Sacramento area, but at least one Lodi resident participated.

But this dog didn't look like a pug, although she wore a bright red outfit resembling a ballerina.

"Turn around Sophie," her owner, Lodi resident Barbara Vietmeier said.

Sophie, a pug/beagle mix, was a "dog diva," not a ballerina, Vietmeier said. She was dressed in a red sequin and tulle gown with baby rosettes around her neck.

Yoda, a Chihuahua/pug mix, dressed up as a farmer during Sunday's Pug-O-Ween competition by PugSavers in Lodi. Yoda's owner, Jean Ruby of Sacramento, holds him on her lap. (Ross Farrow/News-Sentinel)

Not only did pugs dress in costume, they got to meet with Sacramento psychic Linda Schooler, who spent several hours with pugs and their masters.

"I don't predict their future," Schooler explained. "When you are a psychic, time is not an element. I can do it by e-mail. I don't have to be present."

When she notices something about a person or critter, Schooler said it could be in their future or their past.

"Everyone is psychic," Schooler said. "It's like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets."

Schooler said most pet owners want to know if their animal is happy, if they like their food or if they're stressed out if something about the family is changing.

A psychic since 1987, Schooler was a pet psychic for Petco for four years in Sacramento.

"For grand openings, they call me back," she said.

Linda Schooler, right, a psychic who works with people and animals, consults with visitor during Sunday's Pug-O-Ween on Sunday in Lodi. (Ross Farrow/News-Sentinel)

In addition to costume contests in several categories, dogs competed for curliest tale, longest nose and longest tongue ("I'm talking about the pugs, guys," the emcee said).

Dog owners participated in an auction. One item was a calendar called "The Tao of Pug," which says on the cover, "Pugs are known for their terrific sense of humor." It referred to Wilson the pug as "a Zen master and is more than happy to share his spiritual insights and humor with you."

Pug-O-Ween was sponsored by PugSavers, a nonprofit organization that tries to find homes for pugs and pug mixes.

Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.