Halloween is officially getting underway, and Heaven Can Wait Animal Society is giving local pets a chance to show off their best costumes.

The nonprofit has launched its HCWS Howl-o-ween 2026 Pet Costume Contest, and the entry process is about as easy as it gets: dress up your pet, snap a photo and comment it on Heaven Can Wait Animal Society’s contest post along with your name, your pet’s name and what they’re dressed as.

Spooky, silly, adorable or somewhere in between, all pets are welcome to enter.

Entries are open through October 15, after which Heaven Can Wait will select finalists and turn the decision over to its community for voting. One pet will ultimately be crowned the HCWS Howl-o-ween 2026 Champion and receive a prize basket.

The Winner Will Be Announced At Ales For Tails

The costume contest doesn’t end with an online vote.

Heaven Can Wait will announce the winner live during Ales for Tails on November 5th, giving the winning pet a moment in the spotlight during the animal welfare organization’s annual event.

The contest is open regardless of age, although Ales for Tails is a 21-and-over event. The prize winner must be local to Southern Nevada to claim the basket, and if they can’t attend the event, it can be picked up at the Heaven Can Wait Animal Society clinic.

There is also a little more incentive to get creative: by entering, participants give Heaven Can Wait permission to use their pet’s photo across its social media and other platforms.

Only one entry per person is allowed. Participants can enter through whichever Heaven Can Wait platform they prefer, but posting the same pet across Facebook, Instagram and TikTok does not count as multiple entries.

Time To Pick A Costume

With October already underway, there’s not much time to decide whether your dog is going to be a ghost, superhero, pumpkin, hot dog — or something considerably more creative.

Entries for the HCWS Howl-o-ween 2026 Pet Costume Contest must be submitted by October 15th. The finalists and community voting will follow, with the winner revealed at Ales for Tails on November 5th.

And if your pet isn’t quite sure what costume to choose yet, there’s still time. Halloween is only getting started.