The dog days of summer are here and for dogs in Aurora, the biggest day of the summer is less than three weeks away. 

Registration is open for the 2nd Annual Aurora Pooch Parade, which will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, September 8 at Phillips Park, 1000 Ray Moses Drive.  

Owners can register their pooch online at www.aurora-il.org/PoochParade until Friday, September 6 - or until the first 100 dogs are entered. All dogs must be current on vaccinations, socialized and standard-leashed.

The first 100 registrants are guaranteed a spot in the parade and are eligible to compete for the following awards: Fan Favorite, Biggest Dog, Smallest Dog, Best Aurora Pride, Best Costume, Best Tail, Most Beautiful Eyes, Most Energetic and Twinsies (owner and dog). A panel of community judges will cast the ballots, including special celebrity guest judges Little Miss Aurora Alaria Selmon and Little Mr. Aurora Benjamin Mendoza. 

This year’s Grand Marshal is Kovu, a four-year-old, 100-pound Italian Mastiff. Also called a Cane Corso, Kovu is the winner of the 2018 Crowd Favorite Award. He and his owner, Jessica Morales, also won the Best Costume Award during the inaugural parade last year.

Stationed at the historic Phillips Park Sunken Garden area, the Aurora Pooch Parade is fun for the entire family with music, pet demonstrations, puppy pools, pet supply vendors and food trucks. 

Dogs available for adoption from the Aurora Animal Care and Control (AACC) will be onsite for viewing during the parade and guests are encouraged to bring donations to support AACC, including grain-free canned food and treats, small beds, shampoo, brushes and combs, fleece blankets and squeaky toys of all sizes.