LINCOLN SQUARE — A corgi dressed as Chance the Snapper didn’t win at this weekend’s Apple Fest pet costume contest — but he did take first place in our hearts.
The pup, a 1-year-old Pembroke Welsh corgi named Nugget, was a a hit at the festival on Saturday and has proven just as popular online with his costume honoring the Humboldt Park lagoon’s beloved alligator.
Nugget’s owner, Ed Murphy of Lincoln Square, said his girlfriend came up with the idea when they were at a pet store and they spied a gator costume that would perfectly fit Nugget. There and then, she said, “We should make him Chance the Snapper!”
Of course, Murphy contributed, too: The following day he suggested they add a Chance the Rapper hat to perfect Nugget’s competition look. The two ordered a baby hat online, stuffed it and sewed it to the top of the gator costume.
The outfit was a hit as soon as they took Nugget to the festival. The pup could barely go 5 feet without someone stopping to comment or take a photo, Murphy said.
Nugget “didn’t like it at first, but he got used to it and then he enjoyed the attention,” Murphy said.
Nugget’s gotten attention online, too. Murphy posted to Nugget’s Instagram account and dozens of people liked the photos of the costumed pup. Another photo of Murphy on Reddit garnered more than 1,200 upvotes.
“Cutest dog there for sure,” one person wrote on Reddit.
Unfortunately, Nugget didn’t win the festival’s pet costume contest. The top prize went to a tiny dog dressed to look like it was carrying a can of PBR, Murphy said.
Those hoping to recreate Nugget’s look on their own dogs should be sure not to “skimp on the hat,” Murphy advised. And he suggested pet owners stuff the hat or else it will collapse and won’t look as good.
Nugget will “almost certainly don the costume again” for Halloween, Murphy said.
And, yes, Murphy is a “big fan” of Chance the Snapper. He vacations in South Carolina every year and regularly sees alligators there, he said, so when he heard about a gator living in the Humboldt Park lagoon he went over to see it.
Chance was first spotted at the lagoon in July, making national headlines as thousands of Chicagoans flocked to Humboldt Park to see the unusual animal. He was captured and is now living in Florida.
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