Dogs in costumes parade in Rio de Janeiro as pet lovers kick off Carnival

The event is beloved among dog lovers in Rio de Janeiro (AP)

As Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival celebrations kicked off on Saturday, dozens of dogs dressed as mermaids, superheroes, butterflies and clowns paraded alongside their owners in one of the city’s most beloved canine street parties.

The Blocao – a play on words that joins “bloco”, which refers to Carnival street parties, and “cao”, or “dog” in Portuguese – gathered more than 200 people in Rio’s beachside Barra de Tijuca area on Saturday morning.