By now, with Halloween only a few days away, you've probably got your costume ready for that Halloween party or for trick-or-treating. But how about man's best friend, have you picked out a Halloween costume for your pet?
According to the National Retail Federation, Americans will spend an estimated $6.9 billion for Halloween in 2011, with $2.5 billion for costumes. Of this total, nearly $300 million will go towards costumes for pets.
But why spend so much money on costumes for pets when your dog will most likely tear it to shreds within the first ten minutes? Here are some of the best do-it-yourself Halloween costume ideas for pets.
Dogs in Halloween-themed outfits are pictured during "Halloween Carnival" at the American School in Brasilia.ReutersA dog dressed in a bee costume sticks out its tongue during a Halloween costume parade for pets at a shopping mall in Quezon City.ReutersA dog in a Halloween costume takes part in a parade in Tokyo's Harajuku Omotesando district.ReutersA dog dressed in a spider costume takes part in a Halloween costume parade in Manila, Phiippines.ReutersA girl dressed as a fairy reaches for her dog's leash during a Halloween costume parade in Manila.ReutersAustin, a Boston terrier, appears in a football outfit at a Halloween party for dogs at Biscuits and Bath in New York.ReutersA Labrador is dressed as a lion during a Halloween party for dogs in Cajica, Colombia.ReutersPowder participates in the annual Halloween dog parade at Belle Meade neighborhood in Miami.ReutersHeilongjiang Province to Enforce One-Dog-Per-Household PolicyReutersA Pomeranian dressed as the Grim Reaper models its costume during the Scaredy Cats and Dogs Halloween fund-raising event on Oct. 23 at a mall in Quezon City, Philippines.REUTERS/Cheryl RaveloAn Aspin dog dressed in a clown costume performs with his owner during a Halloween fund-raising event at a mall in Quezon City.ReutersTwo Chow Chows dressed in clown costumes are seen during a Halloween fund-raising event in Quezon City.ReutersTontite, a Pomeranian dressed as "Zorro", the Spanish masked swordsman in the movie "The Mask of Zorro", models its costume during the "Scaredy Cats and Dogs" Halloween fund-raising event at a mall in Quezon City October 23, 2010. Some 70 pets participated in the event to raise funds for the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)'s Animal Rehabilitation Center, a temporary shelter for more than 100 dogs and cats which were either abandoned or rescued from cruelty or neglect.ReutersA dog wearing a pirate costume participates in a Halloween event for animals on Friday in Bogota, Colombia.REUTERS/John VizcainoA dog wearing a Harry Potter costume participates in a Halloween animal for animals on Friday in Bogota, Colombia.REUTERS/John VizcainoA dog wearing a dinosaur costume participates at a Halloween event for animals on Friday in Bogota, Colombia.REUTERS/John VizcainoA dog wearing a Minnie Mouse costume is carried by her owner during a Halloween event for animals on Friday in Bogota, Colombia.REUTERS/John Vizcaino
