Clock's ticking 'til Halloween, and the weekend before is a prime time for holiday parties, costume competitions, and festivities galore. The Haute Dog Howl'oween Parade [1] and costume contest on October 28 in Long Beach, Calif. may just be the world's largest pet-specific Halloween event. Last year, they had 557(!) registered costumed dogs, and raised around $10,000 for various local charities through activities like the Bulldog Kissing Booth. Many dog parks host pet-friendly functions, contests, and parades so check with your local pet shop or newspaper for details.

I know the clothing on animals conversation [2] can be very polarizing, but will you be dressing a pet in (any sort of special) costume this year? If you're planning on dressing your pal up, or you have in the past, join the PetSugar Halloween Costume Extravaganza [3] group on Team. As soon as you do, upload your pet's Halloween costume photos to share with us!