Two things:

1) Even though cats are great, this right here is why I will always prefer dogs.

2) There is a fine line between “hobby” and “mental illness” and these people are dancing all over it.

Phillip and Sue Lauer are a California couple* who own three pug dogs. And they’ve spent the last six years dressing them in elaborate costumes and taking pictures of them. As you do.

They apparently started by making unique holiday cards and also competing in “local dog-dressing competitions” which…I did not know were a thing. (Why are they a thing? And are there also, y’know, international dog-dressing competitions? So many questions.) Eventually it grew into a full-time hobby. To the point where they had a custom photo studio built in their home so they could take really good pictures of their dogs dressed in costumes.

I…got nothing.

But! As ridiculous as this whole thing sounds, the photos are hilariously awesome. There are pictures of preternaturally patient pugs dressed as characters from Lord of the Rings, as rock stars, as bathing beauties, and many more. The Guardian and The Daily Mail have galleries for your delectation.

Dogs are splendid.

(via Geyser of Awesome)

*Of course they’re in California. Author Calvin Trillin once remarked after seeing a man blowing enormous bubbles on Venice Beach that people in California tend to become very, very good at completely pointless things.