Brazilian pets parade in their own 4-footed Carnival
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Brazilian canines allowed their people to dress them in masks and costumes Sunday for a four-legged Carnival just days before the humans will hold their own party.
A white-haired lap dog was dressed as a court jester for the gathering of dozens of pets in Rio de Janeiro. A medium-sized pooch was the superhero Flash with yellow wings on the side of its head. A tiny black dog wore insect-like antennas. Two beauties with long white hair sported the Olympic rings on their heads.
The celebration started with the Banda Vira-lata, which means "Street Dog Band" in Portuguese, announcing the beginning of the festivities. People gathered with their dressed-up dogs at the edge of Copacabana beach for the annual "blocao," or block party, for pets.
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While the band played a samba, the four-legged carnival celebrants paraded under Rio's blazing sun.
"Always by their owner's side, always a loyal friend .... arf, arf, arf," a band member sang.
"The 'blocao' is animal!" the singer added in the song describing how great the party was.
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People strutted by with dogs costumed as heroes such as Zorro as well as wizards and bees.
During the two-hour pet parade, the pooches had the chance to play with their canine friends while the samba band members sang: "It's carnival and the party is animal!"