Halloween dog costumes will have your four-legged fiend howling at the moon in style

Soon, Seattle will be crawling with little monsters dressed in ghoulish garb, as ghosts, goblins, witches and warlocks hit the streets for tricks and treats. And, Halloween isn't reserved just for humans anymore -- with costumes galore for canines, our furry, four-legged friends can now join in on the fun.

If you're like me, and the thought of crafting a costume from scratch makes you want to scream, then have no fear -- there are plenty of ready-made costumes for Rover to be found around town.

Railey's Leash & Treat, Fremont
Store proprietor Mark Smith is keeping things simple this year -- his costume collection for canines consists of bat wings. Yep, that's it -- bat wings. But boy, are they cute. Made by Seattle company Flights of Fancy, the bat wings are easy to put on, comfortable for dogs to wear and of course, adorable. Also at Railey's, you'll find an assortment of Frankenstein, skeleton, candy corn and "mummy bone" cookies as well as pumpkin- and skull-shaped plush toys.

Zak and Zoe, Phinney Ridge
At Zak and Zoe, your little devil will find exactly the right costume in exactly the right size, whether it's a dinosaur, hot dog, prisoner, police officer, pig or pumpkin. Before talking with store owner Nadja Chorba Wiese, I'd assumed that most costume purchasers are small-dog owners, but she set me straight. So far, she's sold mostly medium-sized costumes and even an extra-large skunk.

Three Dog Bakery, Downtown
Three Dog Bakery is gearing up for its annual Lil' Monster Costume Ball and the store is stocked with all of the accoutrements for your party hound, including an array of costumes with names like Pooch Pumpkin, Jester, Glow Bones and Little Stinker, plus loads of Halloween treats and toys. 

Urban Dogs, Bellevue
Eastside dogs can get in on the action with comfy skeleton and pumpkin tees as well as full-on get-ups including a lady bug, chicken, pirate, pumpkin and more. Even cats can have a howling good time with Halloween-themed catnip sticks.

Once you have your costume picked out and your dog is decked out, consider heading to one of these fun local celebrations with your Halloween hound.

• Lil' Monster Costume Ball, Thursday, Oct. 16, 6-8 p.m., at Three Dog Bakery. The event will feature a costume contest, games, prizes, plenty of play time and "ruff"reshments for all.
• Halloween Howl, Saturday, Oct. 18, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Edmonds Off-Leash Area. Enjoy a costume contest, reduced-fee micro-chipping, dog licensing, vendor booths, raffles and a silent auction.
• Howl-O-Ween Party, Oct. 24, 7 p.m., at Downtown Dog Lounge on Capitol Hill. The even will feature a costume contest, games, snacks and refreshments.
• Dog-O-Ween, Saturday, Oct. 25, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Genesee Park Off-Leash Area. Featuring a costume contest, food, prizes, vendor booths and a silent auction.

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