Fame Dogs Winners of Howl-O-Ween Costume Contest

Tricks – lots of tricks – and furry visual treats greeted spectators who quickly learned to watch where they stepped during the 17th Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade held in New York City’s East Village on October 28. The paw-pular event claims to be the largest of its breed in a country where an estimated 7 million pets get dressed for the ghoulish holiday.

More than 1,200 humans watched on a blustery Sunday afternoon in the venerable First Run dog park as some 220 canines competed in rounds to win prizes like pet store gift certificates, video iPods, and barking, er, bragging rights for their most creative guardians.

Needless to say, whole kennels of gay sensibility were on display throughout the contest, which featured audience favorites like Elvis, an award-winning giant African millipede, and, yes, a four-legged Britney Spears – from Queens!

Gimme gimme paw …

Unleash more photos of festooned hounds after the sit, no, jump!