Decked out pets on Halloween no more a scary sight

They've been dressed up as geisha girls, surfer girls and even pieces of sushi over the years. They may not understand the tradition, but "pugs understand positive energy," explains dog owner, partner and costume designer Lisa Woodruff of Huntington Beach, southeast of Los Angeles.

Ten years ago, it was hard to find a Halloween costume for a cat, dog or duck. Today they are everywhere, from the dollar stores to Beverly Hills boutiques. Offline or on, there are costumes galore.

A little bling or properly draped scrap of fabric can transform your pet into almost any animal, character or celebrity, says Steve Major with All the Same Wild and Tame, an animal sanctuary that sells pet accessories in Sherman Oaks, northwest of Los Angeles.

The most popular ready-made pet costumes so far this year are Superdog, bee, jockey rider, hot dog, pirate, devil, prisoner, Yoda, cowboy rider, Batman and groom, according to public relations manager Lori Samsoucie of buyseasons.com, the largest online costume retailer in the country, based in Wisconsin.

But the most unusual, most creative costumes — the ones that will win contests — are designed in the imaginations of pet owners, Woodruff says.

Olive and Mochi, stepsisters who are both 5, already have their outfits for the 9th annual Haute Dog Howl'oween Parade and Costume Contest on Oct. 31. The Long Beach event is the largest pet costume contest in the country, according to organizer Justin Rudd.

About 750 pets — mostly dogs — are expected for the hourlong parade, he says. When you add spectator dogs to the six-block parade and contest, there will be over 1,000 animals on hand. Last year, more than 700 pet owners paid the $15 entry fee.

There also will be a dog treat stacking contest, bobbing for howl-o-weenies, a pumpkin drop, a kissing booth staffed by Rudd's bulldogs Rosie and Riley, pet adoptions and a children's costume contest. For Rudd's group, it's a fundraiser.

Prizes are given in 13 categories, but four main trophy winners receive dog food for a year. For the first time this year, roads along the route will be closed because the parade has gotten so big.