Reporting by Katelyn Alvarez and Regina Martinez
A New York City Halloween pet parade that has been going on for decades almost didn’t happen this year. Even though it was rerouted by construction on the Tompkins Square Parks’ Field House and suffered from a lack of funding, the 34th annual Tompkins Square Dog Run was held on Sunday, October 19.
There were no contests, judges, stages, or prizes, but they let the dogs out anyway.
As the fall sun bathed Avenue A, the parade showcased NYC’s fur babies in their fetching costumes. Participants walked from 14th to Seventh street — alongside their owners, of course.
“I love being in the spirit of dressing her up and making her feel like she is more than just a pet because she really is. She is my best friend, my child,” said Zuly Beltre, the Ursula to her princess Ariel.
Sixty-two percent of Americans own a pet and nearly all (97 percent) of them say their pets are part of their family.
The parade was also an opportunity for political commentary. Vice-presidential nominee JD Vance’s scorn of presidential candidate Kamala Harris as a “childless cat lady” generated one of the costumes.
One parader who declined to give his name dressed as Vance alongside his friend, who wore a ‘crazy cat lady shirt’, and their dog, who wore a cat costume.
Adorned in florals, wigs, and ball gowns, three small dogs took paraders back to the regency era in their Bridgerton-inspired costumes.
Bowl of cuteness! This pup was dressed as ramen, complete with handcrafted noodles, eggs, seaweed, and narutomaki.
A black chihuahua as Bob, the shrunken-headed character from Beetlejuice.
This costume referenced New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ bribery indictment.
Tattoos, black-painted nails, piercings and a choker: this dog was too cool for clothes.
A banana weiner split!
The dogs were not the only ones let out. Cats were also showing their charm.
Zoinks! Scooby-Doo in the Mystery Machine.
Tiktok star @ziggythemann as Olympic Medalist Stephen Nedoroscik.
Despite all the support in the parade and the public outcry to keep it going, this year may have been its last. The parade’s organizer since 2020, Joseph Borduin, quit a day after the parade, saying there is not enough community support and he is exhausted with bureaucratic obstacles.