Halloween came early for some Coachella Valley pets and their owners at the second annual Howl-oween Pet Parade, held Saturday at the La Quinta Community Center.

The event, which successfully launched last year by the Desert Recreation District, included a parade, costume contests and games.

With the city of La Quinta on board, the event surpassed organizers' expectations and attracted animal lovers from as far west in the valley as Desert Hot Springs, said city recreation supervisor Tustin Larson.

This was the first year the city of La Quinta participated as a partner for the event.

“For a number of years, we had our own Halloween pet parade, but this time we decided that rather than duplicate the service, let's just have a big one,” Larson said.

And a big one it was — more than 500 people and their pets showed up for the Howl-oween Pet Parade.

From teacup puppies to pony-sized Great Danes — even a few cats and turtles — pets donned costumes that fit their personalities or even matched their owners.'

“There was a girl who dressed up as a princess, and her Chihuahua was a princess, too,” said event organizer Carina Rodriguez, a recreationist for the Desert Recreation District. “It was adorable.”

Organizers hope the event will continue to grow in numbers and in fun, with a possibility of making the event a benefit for a local charity.

“There's always room for improvement,” Rodriguez said.