Dogs dressed up for New York Halloween parade: from canine Jeff Bezos to Cruella de Vil

Pooches and their owners donned their fanciest costumes for the annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade

Tasha Bella, a morkie dressed as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at the 2021 Met Gala, poses during the 31st annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade in New York on October 23, 2021. Reuters

A dog in a "Jeff Bezos going to space" costume attends the annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade at East River Park Amphitheater in New York on October 23, 2021. (Photo by KENA BETANCUR / AFP)

ZZ, a maltipoo, enjoys a treat dressed as a space tourist

Seira Soraya, dressed as Cruella, in a group costume with her Pomeranians Hang Hang and Paung Paung, dressed as Dalmatians. Reuters

A woman hugs a dog in a hot dog costume during the parade. AFP

Participants in costume as characters from the hit Netflix show 'Tiger King' are seen during the parade. Reuters

Gizzard, a chihuahua is dressed up as horror character Pinhead. Reuters

Tiffany Frasier as Belle from 'Beauty and the Beast', waits for a cab with friends after participating in the parade. Reuters

The winner of the New York first responders dog costume contest holds his dog in a medical coat. AFP

A man dressed up as the Joker holds his dog in a Wonder Woman costume. AFP

A dog dressed as a unicorn. AFP

An old English sheepdog with his family of sheep. AFP

An owner dressed up as Cruella De Vil holds her dog Ruby, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel in a Dalmatian coat. AFP

A man and a woman with their dogs in an Addams Family costume. AFP

A dog dressed as pumpkin pie during the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade. AFP

A family of people and dogs in costume as Winnie the Pooh characters, including Pooh Bear, Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore. Reuters

Dogs dressed as Dr Seuss characters. Reuters

Steve Sanders and his great Dane Shadow, dressed as Maleficent. Reuters

A family of hip-hop stars. Reuters

The 31st annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade took place at the weekend, and both pet pooches and their owners impressed when it came to dressing up for the occasion.

There were a crop of very timely costumes, including a morkie, which is a Maltese and Yorkshire terrier mix-breed, who was dressed as politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in her Met Gala "Tax the Rich" gown. Another owner inspired by current events dressed their West Highland white terrier as Jeff Bezos going to space in Blue Origin.

Naturally, there were a fair few costumes inspired by popular culture, including several Cruella de Vils with Dalmatian dogs, likely inspired by 2021 hit film Cruella, starring Emma Stone, and a superhero-inspired man, who dressed as the Joker, with his Wonder Woman pooch.

A dose of humour as also applied to the costume choices, particularly in the case of the pooch dressed up as a hot dog, and the old English sheepdog, a proud pup who was accompanied by a troop of family members all wearing sheep costumes.

The annual event made its return on Saturday, after being cancelled in 2020 owing to to the Covid-19 pandemic. The event takes place in Tompkins Square, with a costume competition held at the East River Park Amphitheatre.