In the Brazilian metropolis of Rio de Janeiro, dozens of dogs have taken half in a costumed procession as Carnival celebrations kick off
February 10, 2024, 1:50 PM ET
3 min learn
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — As Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival celebrations kicked off on Saturday, dozens of dogs dressed as mermaids, superheroes, butterflies and clowns paraded alongside their house owners in one of many metropolis’s most beloved canine road events.
The Blocão — a play on phrases that joins “bloco,” which refers to Carnival road events and “cão,” or canine in Portuguese — gathered over 200 folks in Rio’s beachside Barra de Tijuca neighborhood on Saturday morning. Clad in tulle and sequins, fluffy fashionistas took half in a contest to decide on the day’s high costumes.
On a small stage in the midst of a leafy sq., pups of all sizes and breeds strutted and wagged their tails. Organizers introduced the contestants over a microphone, as confetti rained down.
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. Scooby Doo, a large pit monster, was a crowd-pleaser as a lion with an unruly golden mane.
Paçoca, a 2-year-old dachshund with 100,000 followers on Instagram, paraded as a scorching canine – stuffed in a bun and topped with ketchup and mustard.
“He’s an influencer,” mentioned his proprietor Helena Ribeiro, 32, who wore a pink shirt emblazoned with a Heinz ketchup label. Paçoca’s costume, she mentioned, was impressed by his breed. “It suits him!”
Rodrigo Pirola and Cecilia Myrele, each 39, got here dressed as Fred and Wilma Flintstone, matching their 4-year-old basset hound Amora, who wore an orange costume impressed by Pebbles Flintstone.
“Amora is our daughter; we are a family. We go everywhere together,” Myrele advised the Associated Press. “Here, everybody is crazy in love with dogs.”
Carolina Eduardo, 27, dressed her 13-year-old sand-colored mutt Rebeca in a Snow White costume, pinning a shiny darkish wig between her ears as “the cherry on top.”
Channeling Rio’s ubiquitous ice tea hawkers — a staple of the town’s seashores — Charlotte, a 3-year-old border collie combine, wore an orange outfit and carried two miniature tin kegs on her again.
“I love Carnival, I love parties,” mentioned her proprietor, Veronica Beck, 47, as fellow canine lovers snapped footage 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.”
The pups and their house owners braved searing temperatures to participate within the bloco. Organizers distributed water and goodie luggage with treats, as canine members panted within the shade, their tongues hanging out.
“This year, the heat is not making it easy for us,” mentioned organizer Marco Antonio Veira, generally known as “Toto.” He famous a serious concern was the overheating asphalt, which may scald paws. “We have to preserve the well-being of the animals.”
Following the costume competitors, the bloco started to weave across the sq. as canine lovers and their pets swayed and shimmied to the rhythm of Brazilian pop classics.
Twin sisters Daniely and Flavia Mendes, each 43, have been among the many revelers, singing together with the gang. They have been participating within the bloco almost yearly for the previous decade and, on Saturday, they introduced their equivalent Shih-tzus, one dressed as Superman and the opposite clad in a colourful, hand-made clown costume.
“For dog parents, it’s a way for us to have fun,” mentioned Daniely Mendes. “It brings our community together.”
