Photos: See the entries in The Gazette Halloween pet costume contest

Good dogs, cute cats and more are ready for Halloween in The Gazette’s inaugural pet costume photo contest. We put out a call for photos of furry friends in their Halloween best, and readers responded with enthusiasm. We had more than 100 entries from all over the country and couldn’t include them all, so we’ve just shared the ones from Iowa. The winner: Golden retriever Fred and his human Lauren Galliart carrying out a sock heist. Runner-up: Maltipoo Louie in a UPS outfit.

Click to view the entire gallery of photos.

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Golden Retriever Fred and his owner, Lauren Galliart of Cedar Rapids. Lauren says, “I dressed Fred up as burglar this year because he loves to steal socks! The laundromat seemed liked a perfect place for a sock heist.” (Photo courtesy of Lauren Galliart, submitted in The Gazette's 2020 pet costume contest)

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Louie, a Maltipoo, dressed up as a UPS driver, which owner Laurel Dusek of Cedar Rapids says is one of his favorite people. “Our UPS driver always stops to bring him a treat and a give him a hug. Plus, his humans love getting packages!” (Photo courtesy of Laurel Dusek, submitted in The Gazette’s 2020 pet costume contest)

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Eggs models a fried egg costume made by owner Brooke Dearborn Huston of Iowa City. Dearborn Huston says that tabby cat Eggs “didn’t seem to appreciate the gesture.” (Photo courtesy of Brooke Dearborn Huston, submitted in The Gazette’s 2020 pet costume contest)

Calypso the hamster dressed as the Easter bunny. Owner Michael Huang of Cedar Rapids says, #x201c;Ms. Calypso enjoys han — X Close

Calypso the hamster dressed as the Easter bunny. Owner Michael Huang of Cedar Rapids says, “Ms. Calypso enjoys hanging out with her human and cat friends.” (Photo courtesy of Michael Huang, submitted in The Gazette’s 2020 pet costume contest)

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Nutmeg wears a dress made by Brittany Havran from fabric scraps from costumes created for Follies, in the former Studio Reserved space in Cedar Rapids. (Photo courtesy of Michael Huang, submitted in The Gazette’s 2020 pet costume contest)

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Willow, an Aussiedoodle, is dressed as the Magic School Bus. Owner Sandra Fischer says Willow is the resident therapy dog at Pediatric Counseling Center. (Photo courtesy of Sandra Fischer, submitted in The Gazette’s 2020 pet costume contest)

Oliver, a Yorkipoo, models a USPS costume. Owner Christopher Michael of Cedar Rapids says, #x201c;Oliver supports the US — X Close

Oliver, a Yorkipoo, models a USPS costume. Owner Christopher Michael of Cedar Rapids says, “Oliver supports the USPS and wants to deliver everyone a smile.” (Photo courtesy of Christopher Michael, submitted in The Gazette’s 2020 pet costume contest)

#x201c;Meowser is the proud owner of multiple sea creature costumes, but this one is his favorite!#x201d; Says owner Art — X Close

“Meowser is the proud owner of multiple sea creature costumes, but this one is his favorite!” Says owner Arti Misra of Cedar Rapids. (Photo courtesy of Arti Misra, submitted in The Gazette’s 2020 pet costume contest)

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Lily, a Cockapoo, models a tiara and pink skirt for her Halloween costume. (Photo courtesy of Mary Kaspar, submitted in The Gazette’s 2020 pet costume contest)

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Young cat Anakin dressed as Yoda alongside chocolate lab Lady, dressed as Luke Skywalker, and his elder sister Sassy donned Princess Leia buns. (Photo courtesy of Julia Smith and Josh Webb, submitted in The Gazette’s 2020 pet costume contest)

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Early in quarantine I picked up the video game Animal Crossing, where my favorite bug was the orchid mantis. I adopted Lanky the retired greyhound in June, so naturally I made her an Orchid Mantis costume for Halloween as a full-circle celebration of 2020. (Photo courtesy of Sarah Anderson of Ames, submitted in The Gazette’s 2020 pet costume contest)

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Tommie is a chocolate labradoodle training to become a future service dog through Retrieving Freedom. (Photo courtesy of Sara Shadid of Waverly, submitted in The Gazette’s 2020 pet costume contest)

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Miko & Princess, Cockapoo & Lachon. When we first adopted Miko from Last Hope his smile always reminded us of an Ewok, so this seemed to be the perfect costume for him! And it was only fitting to put his sister Princess in a Princess Leia costume! (Photo courtesy of Kimberly & Jacob Cowger of Marion, submitted in The Gazette’s 2020 pet costume contest)

Levi, a Wire Haired Dachshund, loves dressing as Elvis!!! He ain't nothing but a Hound dog, and sure struts his stuff!! — X Close

Levi, a Wire Haired Dachshund, loves dressing as Elvis!!! He ain’t nothing but a Hound dog, and sure struts his stuff!! His costume was hand made from onesies glued together. The legs were flared out like Elvis’s and decorated with sequins and beads!! He’s the life of the party everywhere we go!!! (Photo courtesy of Lisa Rockey of Altoona, submitted in The Gazette’s 2020 pet costume contest)

Cookie, a Netherland Dwarf rabbit, is the sassiest bunny you'll find around town. For her first Halloween, she's rocking — X Close

Cookie, a Netherland Dwarf rabbit, is the sassiest bunny you’ll find around town. For her first Halloween, she’s rocking it as a strawberry. She will do anything — including begrudgingly getting into a costume — for pets and treats. (Photo courtesy of Ashley Duong of Mount Pleasant, submitted in The Gazette’s 2020 pet costume contest)

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Dali is part of The Essentials 2020 team. He is the Doctor. Geno is toilet paper, and Mona is the Lysol wipes. (Photo courtesy of Julie Sigwarth of Cedar Rapids, submitted in The Gazette’s 2020 pet costume contest)

Lola the Golden Retriver wears a costume based on one of Lady Gaga's outfits that I found online. (Photo courtesy of Sha — X Close

Lola the Golden Retriver wears a costume based on one of Lady Gaga’s outfits that I found online. (Photo courtesy of Sharon Wendel of Solon, submitted in The Gazette’s 2020 pet costume contest)

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Elroy the Labradoddle spent the day prancing around like he ruled the world. But actually we got a bigger kick out of seeing him and then eventually trying to escape the costume. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Miller of Solon, submitted in The Gazette’s 2020 pet costume contest)

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You could say wearing this costume makes Woodward a little crabby. (Photo courtesy of Chelsea Keenan of Cedar Rapids, submitted in The Gazette’s 2020 pet costume contest)

Ruby Tuesday is a lovable mutt celebrating her first birthday and Halloween this October. She is a rescue from Noah's Ar — X Close

Ruby Tuesday is a lovable mutt celebrating her first birthday and Halloween this October. She is a rescue from Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter in Fairfield, Iowa. (Photo courtesy of Elsabeth Hepworth of Cedar Rapids, submitted in The Gazette’s 2020 pet costume contest)

Maisie the Golden Doodle dressed as Yoda! (Photo courtesy of Grandma Weno of Iowa City, submitted in The Gazette's 2020 — X Close

Maisie the Golden Doodle dressed as Yoda! (Photo courtesy of Grandma Weno of Iowa City, submitted in The Gazette’s 2020 pet costume contest)

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All the buzz in the neighborhood was about Cockapoo Lily the year she wore this costume. (Photo courtesy of Mary Kaspar of Cedar Rapids, submitted in The Gazette’s 2020 pet costume contest)

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Koji is a Siberian husky rescue from Cedar Rapids Animal Care and Control, and we think that he is about two years old. He loves to yell at us when it’s time for breakfast and dinner. (Photo courtesy of Sam Lindwall of Cedar Rapids, submitted in The Gazette’s 2020 pet costume contest)

Fuji, an American Shorthair cat. We went to Trader Joe's to pick up a pumpkin, but when we got home we weren't sure whic — X Close

Fuji, an American Shorthair cat. We went to Trader Joe’s to pick up a pumpkin, but when we got home we weren’t sure which one we just bought! Fuji insisted that his photo shoot be on the Trader Joe’s bag next to the pumpkin. (Photo courtesy of Izabela Zaluska of Iowa City, submitted in The Gazette’s 2020 pet costume contest)

Finn's breed, Rhodesian Ridgeback, was bred to hunt lions. But Finn is a tender hearted giant who has no interest in the — X Close

Finn’s breed, Rhodesian Ridgeback, was bred to hunt lions. But Finn is a tender hearted giant who has no interest in the hunt. He actually runs from chihuahuas. (Photo courtesy of Michelle Cook of Iowa City, submitted in The Gazette’s 2020 pet costume contest)

Loki, a Lab/corgi mix as a butterfly. (Photo courtesy of Brook Wilderman of Cedar Rapids, submitted in The Gazette's 202 — X Close

Loki, a Lab/corgi mix as a butterfly. (Photo courtesy of Brook Wilderman of Cedar Rapids, submitted in The Gazette’s 2020 pet costume contest)

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