While I was sitting in the white-walled (should be padded) doctor’s office waiting room, trying to forget the fact that I was about to be stabbed with a flu shot, I picked up the worn copy of Every Day with Rachael Ray Magazine (October issue, I think). In it, I found a snippet about Halloween parades. One specifically caught my eye, The Haute Dog Howl’oween Parade in Long Bach, California. Haute in this case is pronounced as "hot" (as in hot dog)!

Looking a little deeper I found out that this is the World’s Largest Halloween event for dogs! At this year’s event, on Saturday October 31st, they expect more than 700 dogs and their owners all dressed up in crazy, cool and cute costumes. Everyone donates $10 to participate in the parade and the money goes to youth and animal welfare charities. The event also boasts a pet adoption and vendor fair...sure wish the boss man would’ve flown me out to warm Cali for the weekend, eh hem, to cover the show first hand! Prizes are also given out for different categories including best dog costume, best float, best group, and best dog owner costume.

Check out the special that ran on TLC about the parade last year. It looks like a blast!

Even if you aren’t attending the largest Halloween dog parade, you might be attending a spooky soiree or ghoulish gala with your pup. We have a huge selection of dog costumes that will make you swoon! Maybe you are looking for a fun pet and owner costume combo. Check out our Halloween costumes for dogs and get some inspiration! I am thinking about dressing up as a prisoner and my dog will wear the K-9 Cop Dog Costume! The possibilities are cute and endless for a dog-gone fun Halloween!

If you are in or around Long Beach and going to the Haute Dog Howl’oween Parade (and you really have no excuse not to go), please let us know how it was and what your dog dressed up as!

Photo from Janis Harris atthe 2008 Haute Dog Howl'oween Dog Parade.