Cast Your Vote: Guiding Eyes Holds 5th Halloween Pet Costume Contest

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — There's still time for you to vote for your favorite dog and costume in this year's puppy costume contest hosted by Guiding Eyes for the Blind.

This year, the nonprofit's volunteers, clients and officials dressed up their adorable dogs in costumes ranging from Barbie to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.

"It's a great way for our amazing graduates and volunteers to show off their pups and for us to engage with our community during a festive season!" Zoe Bennett, Digital & Social Media Specialist at Guiding Eyes for the Blind, told Patch. "Although this is mainly for fun, some people do choose to donate after voting for their favorite costume, which is a nice bonus for our mission! Last year the campaign was so successful, and we're hoping to keep that momentum this Halloween!"

The contest ends at midnight Oct. 30.

Guiding Eyes for the Blind is worth supporting. The Hudson Valley-based organization provides all services free of charge. Since its founding in 1954, almost 10,000 teams have gone through the program and graduated, providing guides and companions to thousands.

Guiding Eyes has its headquarters and training center in Yorktown Heights and its canine development center in Patterson. There is also a field-training center in White Plains.

From the time they are puppies, Guiding Eyes dogs are prepared for wearing a guide dog harness. To that end, Halloween costumes can serve an important purpose. Their little pups wear miniature fabric harnesses and Pups-on-Program practice “getting dressed” with their volunteer raisers, as an introduction to wearing a harness. As a working guide, a dog’s comfort level in this regard is critical to their success.

Go here to see the costumed pups and cast your vote. Who knows, you might even get inspiration for your next Halloween costume! Here's a three-dog group costume that's good enough to eat, starring Brandy as squeeze bottle of ketchup, Heron as a hot dog in a bun and Fable as mustard.