Aaron Welch holds up his dog, Rocky, before taking part in the competition. Dogs and owners competed for best costume, cutest, shiniest coat, best smile, best tail wag, best trick, friendliest, most look alike, best in show, smallest, largest, and furthest travelled at "Bark in the Park." Forty-five dogs and their owners turned out Saturday, June 20, for "Bark in the Park" contests at American Legion Park in St. Ignace, an increase from last year's 37 entries.

More than $500 in prizes were awarded at the event, hosted by the Mackinac Animal Aid Association. All proceeds from Bark in the Park benefit animals at the Mackinac County Animal Shelter.

Judges were St. Ignace Mayor Paul Grondin, Mary Maurer, Kayla Nixon, and Tom Hollister.

The winners, their owners, and their home towns are as follows:

Best in Show

Cooper, Jayne Lamoreaux, Traverse City

Best Costume

a. Chewy, Jayme Couchene, St. Ignace

b. Daisy, Hannah and Summer Sposito, St. Ignace

Owner Jayme Couchene of St. Ignace shows off "Chewy" in a tiny tuxedo during the judged competition for "cutest dog." Chewy didn't take away the prize for cutest, but did win first place in the costume contest as "Captain Chewy," with his pirate outfit. Cutest

a. Alice, Abbey Ostman, St. Ignace

b. Cooper, Jayne Lamoreaux, Traverse City

Shiniest Coat

a. Rocky, Aaron Welch, St. Ignace

b. Mingo, Diane Blair, St. Ignace

Best Smile

a. Penny, Ginger Valentine, St. Ignace

b. Pounder, James and Danielle Huffman, Hessel

Best Tail Wag

a. Bowser, Bev Fraser, St. Ignace

b. Sassy, Sara Berger, St. Ignace

Best Trick

a. Daisy Mae, Tammy Weston, Pickford

b. Chester, Rose Cartwright, Goetzville

Friendliest

a. Roxy, Alyssa Pechta, St. Ignace

b. Cassie, Coralee and Jim Lamoreaux, St. Ignace

Most Look-alike

a. Moose, Troy Huskey, St. Ignace

Tom and Debbie Frantz hold their dogs, Toto and Maverick, before the contests get underway at "Bark in the Park" at American Legion Park Saturday, June 20. b. Alice, Rose Cartwright, Goetzville

Smallest

Chloe, Rose Cartwright, Goetzville

Largest

Porter, DeAnna Dutcher, Hessel

Furthest Travelled Maggie and Gigi, Mike Mahon, Birmingham, Alabama

Jayne Lamoreaux of Traverse City shows off golden retriever Cooper to judges at "Bark in the Park" in St. Ignace Saturday, June 20. Cooper won "Best in Show" during the competition portion of the event, which also included a walk around the park and plenty of sniffing and wagging. Forty-five dogs entered this year, and more than $500 in prizes was awarded. Bev Fraser of St. Ignace and her dog, Bowser, lead the way for a long line of dogs and their owners as they go for a walk around American Legion Park before the competition begins Saturday.