Rio Carnival dogs parade with owners to call attention to cruelty
Dozens of dogs, dressed in costumes for Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival street festivities, paraded through a Blocao event in Barra da Tijuca on Saturday as their owners protested violence against pets, organizers said. About 300 people and their animals gathered at a square for a two-hour celebration that included music, dancing and a focus on keeping dogs safe during the heat.
Organizer Marco Antonio Marinho, 72, described the event as something families bring their dogs to for both joy and protection. He said dogs are part of families and said owners should ensure their pets are comfortable during the festivities.
The group also set up a hydration station to help keep dogs’ energy up during the street party. Organizers said many cariocas—Rio residents—showed support by honking their cars as the owners protested violence against pets. The AP reported that in previous years, dogs paraded through the streets, but their paws were often scorched by hot pavement.
The Blocao name reflects the event’s role in Carnival culture, blending “bloco,” meaning street party, with “cao,” or dog in Portuguese. The AP reported that the street party has taken place for more than 20 years.
The protest emphasis also connected the weekend event to a national controversy from earlier this year: the killing of a dog named Orelha in southern Brazil in January. Organizers and partygoers waved white ribbons and sang a tribute song to Orelha.
In the Orelha case, Santa Catarina state police charged a 15-year-old who authorities said allegedly spanked the dog to death. The AP reported that authorities have recommended the teenager be tried under the juvenile corrections system, and that the judge in the case has yet to rule. The AP reported that the teenager’s lawyer denied wrongdoing.
Natalia Reis, 28, attended the Blocao for the first time with her 11-year-old dog Theo, and she said part of her motivation was Orelha’s killing. Reis told the AP that “This was so unfortunate,” and she said perpetrators of the dog’s death should be punished while people raise awareness about cruelty.