Dogs in costumes parade in Rio de Janeiro as pet lovers kick off Carnival

As Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival celebrations kicked off on Saturday, dozens of dogs dressed as mermaids, superheroes, butterflies and clowns paraded alongside their owners in one of the city’s most beloved canine street parties.

Clad in tulle and sequins, fluffy fashionistas took part in a contest to choose the day’s top costumes.

On a small stage in the middle of a leafy square, pups of all sizes and breeds strutted and wagged their tails.

Alana the chihuahua was dressed as a glittery mermaid, Trinde the cocker spaniel as a cape-wearing Hermione, and Bidu the Shih-tzu as a furry Superman.

Pacoca, a two-year-old dachshund with 100,000 followers on Instagram, paraded as a hot dog – stuffed in a bun and topped with ketchup and mustard.

Rodrigo Pirola and Cecilia Myrele, both 39, came dressed as Fred and Wilma Flintstone, matching their four-year-old basset hound Amora, who wore an orange dress inspired by Pebbles Flintstone.

Carolina Eduardo, 27, dressed her 13-year-old sandy-coloured dog Rebeca in a Snow White costume, pinning a glossy dark wig between her ears as “the cherry on top”.

“I love Carnival, I love parties,” said her owner, Veronica Beck, 47, as fellow dog lovers snapped pictures of Charlotte. “It’s this moment of joy. And it’s a way to celebrate this with our dogs. Because they also bring such joy to our lives.”

“This year, the heat is not making it easy for us,” said organiser Marco Antonio Veira, known as Toto. He noted a major concern was the hot tarmac, which could scald paws. “We have to preserve the well-being of the animals.”

Twin sisters Daniely and Flavia Mendes, both 43, were among the revellers, singing along with the crowd. They have been taking part in the bloco nearly every year for the past decade and, on Saturday, they brought their identical Shih-tzus, one dressed as Superman and the other clad in a colourful, hand-made clown costume.

“For dog parents, it’s a way for us to have fun,” said Daniely Mendes. “It brings our community together.”