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Pooches party in Rio

February 16, 2014 / 9:34 PM EST / AP

RIO DE JANEIRO - About 100 dogs got their own day at a pre-Carnival bash in Rio de Janeiro.

A 10-man brass band and a singer belting out Rio's anthem song "Cidade Maravilhosa" (Marvelous City) kicked off the fest as dog owners gathered to party with pooches on Copacabana beach Sunday.

A dog dressed up for carnival is seen during the "Blocao" dog carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2014. Silvia Izquierdo, AP

Fabricio Gonsalves was wearing the same colorful Hawaiian lei as his black and white French bulldog, Belinha. "Dogs love Carnival, too!" was his explanation for the event.

Several canines wore tiny tutus, a few were dolled up like Snow White and one mutt had a forehead full of Indian bindis. A lone cat rode safely atop his owner's shoulders, wearing blue angel wings.

Rio has hundreds of "bloco" street parties in the weeks leading up to Carnival, which this year opens Feb. 28.

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