For dogs, Halloween started on Sunday, Oct. 19, the day of the 35th Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade .

For the first time, the iconic New York City Halloween dog parade was hosted by New York Dog Parade, a nonprofit dedicated to spreading cheer and helping pets through dog-centric events.

"It's such a celebration of dog-human friendship in a very silly way. I also think the world can really feel very divided right now, and it's hard to find things to agree on. For me, dogs are such a global unifier," Fern Watt, the founder of New York Dog Parade , told PEOPLE about the importance of the event.

The 2025 parade, with help from sponsor Stella and Chewy's, included an activation block for the first time. The new feature had free treats and activities for pets and their owners

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