Greg Bryan / Arizona Daily STar

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When do they allow alligators, lobsters, cows and chickens to roam freely at the small-dog park at Brandi Fenton Memorial Park?

It typically happens about a week before Halloween, just as it did Sunday, when dog owners who regularly visit the park got together for the annual Howl-O-Ween Costume Party for Small Dogs.

"Two years ago they started it, and I didn't come to that one because I was really new to the dog park and I was kind of shy, believe it or not," said this year's organizer, Cindy Hayden, whose dog Milo won last year as a Rastafarian.

Now Hayden is a regular part of the community.

"We're really close and we know a lot of the people that come," said Hayden.

This year her three dogs were dressed as a fine gentleman wearing a tuxedo and top hat, Strawberry Shortcake and rapper Flavor Flav.

About 50 dogs turned out in a wide variety of costumes. In addition to animal get-ups, there were ballerinas, clowns, a gypsy, a mermaid, an angel and devil duo, and of course, some hot dogs, just to name a few.

Owners took the chance to mingle with their neighbors and their neighbors' pets.

"There's a whole different group that comes in the morning, but they've seen the signs, and so tonight we'll be meeting some of the morning crowd that we don't normally see. It's just fun," Hayden said.

Near the end of the event, prizes were awarded in multiple categories including most creative, best duo, best owner-and-dog costume — even most sexy.

The event comes together mostly by word of mouth, with a few signs around the park to let regular visitors know about it.

"We don't advertise it because we don't want a whole bunch of people we don't know. We kind of want it to be the regulars that come here all the time. The dogs know each other," Hayden said. "We just really care about our dogs. They're our furry children!"