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  • Some Bunny Loves Me
    Many pooches were dressed as other animals including lions, sharks, and tigers. This little bunny shih tzu felt safer watching the wildlife from his owner's arms. The competition for top dog was fierce but friendly. "All these doggies are winners because they are loved!" said fan Rosa Margarita.
  • Heating up the Competition
    "Best in Show" went to a pair of Chihuahuas named Yum Yum and Lollipop for their lobster bake extravaganza. The tasty twosome also took home an iPad Mini for their winning costumes. This year the competition attracted a record number of entrants and spectators to the East Side park. The Dog Parade has become an annual tradition for Halloween in the Big Apple, with two-legged and four-legged fans alike.
  • Bee Good, Doggie
    Some say owners and pets tend to look alike, and the resemblance between this little bumble bee terrier and her owner is clear. More than 5,000 humans and 300 dogs attended the contest at the park's dog run, known as the "first run" because it was the first of the more than 55 dog parks to open in NYC.
  • Memoirs of a Geisha
    A pretty pomeranian steps out in a Japanese kimono. "The event is a way to share hilarious moments with pets and their owners," Garrett Rosso, volunteer manager of the dog park, told USA Today. "One year all the pugs came as Chinese take-out. Martha Stewart liked the costumes so much that she made them for her dogs."
  • The Force Is Strong with This One
    Princess Leia and a Jack Russel terrier dressed as Yoda work the crowd. There were at least three "Yodas" spotted at the parade, along with other Star Wars characters like Chewbacca and Darth Vadar. Entry to the event was a suggested $5 donation to support the park's dog run.
  • 'Pup-Kin' Spice Latte
    A huge crowd favorite was this little pomeranian "pup-kin" spice latte complete with Starbuck's cup and cute pumpkin hat. Someone should tell him that too much caffine can stunt your growth.
  • Can We Go Home Now?
    This little tortoise is all tuckered out. The Boston Terrier feels a little safer in his owner's arms
  • All Dressed Up
    All suited up in satin and a bowtie, this Yorkshire terrier is ready for the cameras. Despite the hundreds of dogs and thousands of humans underfoot, everybody was remarkably well behaved and enjoyed the crisp fall weather.
  • It's a Bird! It's a Plane!
    It's Superdog! Evildoers beware, this year all of the best superheros were in attendance including Batdog, The Incredible Hulk and Wonder Pooch. Pet owners got into the spirit as well with matching costumers for the whole family.
  • Rise of the Phoenix
    Eli the chihuahua and his owner Karen Biehl wow the crowd in elaborate, feathered matching costumes. The pair star in the reality series "Doggie Moms" on NYUC Live. The two also raise money for the American Cancer Society and for animal shelters around the city. Eli, a rescue dog himself, also won a 2007 contest to appear on the cover of a Milk-Bone box.
  • King Kong Canine
    What's more New York than King Kong, the Empire State Building and a giant gorilla? Here, King Kong makes off with the lovely blond Ann Darrow to scale the city's most iconic skyscraper.

By Corrie Dosh, photos by Eric Wong

Halloween has literally gone to the dogs. This year, Americans will spend an estimated $330 million on Halloween outfits for their pets according to the National Retail Federation, up from $110 million in 2010. New Yorkers got into the spirit of the holiday with the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade on October 26, now in its 23rd year.

The event is sponsored by dog treat maker Purina's Beggin and is the largest Halloween pet event in the United States—drawing thousands of spectators and hundreds of costumed canines.

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