CHICAGO — Just after 9 a.m. in Lincoln Square Saturday, a crocodile ate the bottom half of a dog.
Onlookers cheered.
The half-eaten labradoodle took home the prize for scariest costume at Pooch Parade, part of Lincoln Square's annual fall-themed Apple Fest.
The labradoodle's owner sported a Crocodile Dundee-inspired outfit as the stuffed crocodile trailed from his dog's back-end.
In addition to the costume contest sponsored by Urban Pooch Canine Life Center, Apple Fest featured live music, kid-friendly events and local shopping.
After the 20 contestants paraded for the crowd, the big prize of Pooch Parade — best costume overall — went to beagle/bulldog mix Molly, who was dressed as a spider along with her owners Erin Moore, 11, and Megan Moore, 9, of Lincoln Square.
The homemade costume took "two days and a lot of toilet paper rolls," to create, Erin said.
"She doesn't, like, hate to wear it," Erin said about Molly, who was rescued from Animal Care and Control just weeks before. "She thinks, 'I'm just gonna have to deal with it.' Every now and then she shakes. We just have given her a bunch of treats."
Other costumes were a mail carrier, a dog donning beads for Mardi Gras, a dragon, a Whoopie Cushion and several Bears super fans.
By the end of the parade, around 10 a.m., a lot of pooches had shed their wigs, capes and hats.
Winston, a terrier who won best owner/pet costume combo, would stay in his "Toy Story" Buzz Lightyear outfit for the remainder of Apple Fest, which runs until 5 p.m., his owners said.
"He loves clothes," said Amanda Doran, 23, of Lakeview, who was dressed as cowboy Woody. "If we take it off, he'll be upset."
"He'll wear anything," said Mark Eggert, 27, dressed as Mr. Potato Head, adding that Winston was prepared to wear his Bears jersey for game day Sunday.
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