When the green No. 4 Brett Favre jersey came out of the closet, she headed under the house.

She knew. It’s Halloween time. Spooky Pooch contest.

Never again, read the mutt’s body language.

The last time she “dressed” for Halloween she wore that green jersey sewn together to fit this writer’s body, not hers. And even though she can tip the scales as a canine heavyweight — the George Foreman of prize-fighting mutts — three of her could have fit into that Favre jersey.

I wanted it that way, too loose allowing her back paws to get hung up in the fabric to signify the history of the team she represented — stumbling, stammering and miserable.

She fell up stairs and down them. She face-planted into a porch swing when her front and back paws got hung up in that jersey. She tumped down the back stairs. It was pitiful.

If ever a dog could have wept, it was she. But she is a tough one with a M*A*S*H unit full of medical ailments.

She did not, but she also knows that jersey. When it appears, she disappears.

Each October when Paws Rescue’s annual event at the Outlets at Vicksburg — Saturday at 10 a.m. — dogs of all shapes, sizes and breeds are on display in myriad costumes. From princesses to bumble bees to last year’s Chick-fil-A dog — a hands-down best costume winner if ever these eyes have seen one — participants will see it all.

Paws Rescue, a no-kill animal shelter run exclusively out of volunteers’ homes, hosts many yearly events, but few can compare to Spooky Pooch. It’s a dog-lovers paradise and certainly for a good cause. Categories are most creative, best owner/pet duo, spookiest and silliest. Having never won, I offer this advice:

• Be original. Bees and princesses will be everywhere, but to get the judge’s attention, be creative and unique.

• Have fun. This is not a serious event. Laugh a lot and study the competition. It wouldn’t hurt to introduce the pup to the judges.

• Be there. Paws is a tremendous organization with no facility and limited budget. Volunteers scrape and claw to care for those who have been abandoned. Support their efforts. For every family, there is a suitable pet.

Who knows, maybe even Caliber will show up in costume this year.

If I can coax her from under the house, of course.

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Sean P. Murphy can be reached at smurphy@vicksburgpost.com