October 31, 2009

Belmont Shores, CA-  The area around Livingston Park in Long Beach’s Belmont Shores district was lined with literally hundreds of attendees donning some of the most elaborate and creative Halloween costumes I have ever seen in one place at one time.

And that was just in the four-legged category!

The Howl’oween Costume Parade is hosted by Justin Rudd’s Haute Dog Organization, a group founded around love between canine critters, their owners, and the surrounding community.  In addition to the hundreds of attendees, a plethora of vendors specializing in dog-friendly gear, gadgets, and services were on hand to talk to members of the human persuasion about their leashed best friends.

I was amazed at the number of people catering customized tack for doggies, everything from Swarovski-encrusted leather collars and leashes to apartment and bio friendly synthetic grass for a dog’s more private duties.

Some of the more notable outfits I saw at the event?  A chocolate labrador as a campfire smore, Michael Jackson with an entourage, a Domino’s Pizza delivery dawg, and several “zombie dogs” with a half dozen two-legged zombies performing to a recording of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” every few minutes.

All in all, I’ll say that this being my first ever Howl’oween parade experience?  Its left me anticipating for next year already!

Enjoy some of the images from the parade…

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