Paws 4 You Rescue’s Howl-O-Ween Festival

Halloween Dog Costume Parade

This past Sunday I had the honor and pleasure of acting as a judge in Paws 4 You Rescue’s seventh annual Howl-O-Ween Festival costume parade. Dozens and dozens of dogs and their owners participated!

Paws 4 You Rescue's Howl-O-Ween Festival — Paws 4 You Rescue’s Howl-O-Ween Festival

Paws 4 You Rescue, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit, volunteer, donor-subsidized animal rescue organization based in Miami, Florida. Its top priority is to save dogs from euthanasia at Miami-Dade Animal Services, where more than 27,000 unwanted pets end up each year. Proceeds from the event at Pinecrest Gardens are being earmarked to support Paws 4 You Rescue’s efforts. For more info about Paws 4 You Rescue, click here. To donate, click here.

After a rainy Saturday, the skies cleared and we had gorgeous fall Florida sunshine and temperatures for the event. Huge crowds showed up to enjoy the day.

There were activities for kids, like this face-painting booth.

And there was plenty for dogs to do, like this cool obstacle course!

Halloween definitely brings out people’s creativity. Here are those meddling kids and their dog: Scooby Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma.

These kids from Hogwarts posed for a selfie.

The evil Loki from Marvel Comics had her archenemy Thor on a short leash.

As much fun as the festival grounds were, the highlight of the afternoon was the costume contest. The judges were Palmetto Bay Mayor Eugene Flinn, Pinecrest Mayor Joseph Corradino, Tracy Mourning, Time Out Magazine’s Virginia Gil, Artist LEBO, Norma Jean Abraham, and yours truly, me!

People started streaming in early to make sure they got good seats.