As Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival celebrations kicked off on Saturday, dozens of dogs dressed as mermaids, superheroes, butterflies and clowns paraded alongside their homeowners in one of many metropolis’s most beloved canine avenue events.
The Blocão — a play on phrases that joins “bloco,” which refers to Carnival avenue events and “cão,” or canine in Portuguese — gathered over 200 individuals in Rio’s beachside Barra de Tijuca neighbourhood 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. Organisers 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.
A canine named Alana rests throughout the “Blocao” canine Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, February 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Paçoca, a 2-year-old dachshund with 100,000 followers on Instagram, paraded as a sizzling canine – stuffed in a bun and topped with ketchup and mustard.
“He’s an influencer,” stated his proprietor Helena Ribeiro, 32, who wore a purple shirt emblazoned with a Heinz ketchup label. Paçoca’s costume, she stated, was impressed by his breed. “It fits 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 gown impressed by Pebbles Flintstone.
“Amora is our daughter; we’re a household. We go in every single place collectively,” Myrele informed the Associated Press. “Here, all people is loopy in love with dogs.”
Carolina Eduardo, 27, dressed her 13-year-old sand-coloured mutt Rebeca in a Snow White costume, pinning a shiny darkish wig between her ears as “the cherry on high.”
Channeling Rio’s ubiquitous ice tea hawkers — a staple of 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 like Carnival, I like events,” stated her proprietor, Veronica Beck, 47, as fellow canine lovers snapped footage of Charlotte. “It’s this second of pleasure. And it is a solution to rejoice this with our dogs. Because additionally they deliver such pleasure to our lives.”
The pups and their homeowners braved searing temperatures to participate within the bloco. Organisers distributed water and goodie baggage with treats, as canine members panted within the shade, their tongues hanging out.
“This yr, the warmth will not be making it simple for us,” stated organiser Marco Antonio Veira, generally known as “Toto.” He famous a serious concern was the overheating asphalt, which may scald paws. “We need to protect 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 group. They have been collaborating 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 canine mother and father, it is a means for us to have enjoyable,” stated Daniely Mendes. “It brings our group collectively.”
By ANA IONOVA
