One thing is for sure. People love their pets and want to show them off. So owners did just that with about 100 that were carried, carted, or led by leash down Main Street to Rotary Park during the Sayville Rotary Pet Parade Saturday.

And they all came with stories.

The first-place costume winner, Cooper, showed off his Australian sheepdog magnificence. His owner Rosemarie Chierichella, from Great River, was the first to register. “We were looking for a rescue and found him in a pet store,” she said. His costume? A snazzy fire truck costume with firefighter hat. The No. 2 best costume went to Stanley, dressed as a hot dog, and Baby Mucca, who wore hamburger attire. They were with sisters Michelle and Amanda Eremita. “Mucca means cow in Italian,” Amanda informed us. Talk about posing for their closeups! These were stars.

The majestic rooster Mister Roo, the No.3 winner (his hat kept falling off), with owners Alexandria and Christina Bonomo, had been dumped on Pilgrim State grounds. “Residents were feeding him and he lived on top of a garbage can,” said Alexandria.

Now he’s a gamer chicken. Also, a security guard.

Really!

“He plays Roblox,” said Alexandria of the online gaming platform. “He turns it on because he wants to play. He also protects the wild ducks near a creek where we live from hawks.”

Here comes the next “America’s Got Talent” contestant!

Elaine Whitehouse’s dog Blondie chewed up her tutu before the parade, but hadn’t got to the fluffy bow adorning her neck. 

There was Matt Goldfarb’s Taiwanese beauty rat snake that drew a lot of youngsters and guinea pig, Leo, with owner Lisa Famiglietti.

The free event has been sponsored by the Sayville Rotary Club for over three decades just as a feel-good gathering the community can enjoy. They also invite rescue groups. Several dogs for adoption strolled Rotary Park with their handlers, including Carol’s Grooming Salon and Senior Pet Sanctuary and Last Chance Animal Rescue.