On October 13, the Empire State Building hosted its inaugural dog parade on the 86th-floor observation deck, showcasing dogs available for adoption. Moopi, Grover, Willow, Selene, and Sailor participated in costumes inspired by iconic characters associated with the building, including King Kong and Spider-Man. The event aimed to promote pet adoption through local organizations and will feature these dogs as grand marshals at the annual Tompkins Square Park Halloween parade on October 16.
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Fern Watt, founder of New York Dog Parade, the nonprofit behind the event, emphasized the need for homes for dogs in New York City, stating, "I think there’s a lot of dogs in New York City who need homes." She noted that October is also recognized as “Adopt a Shelter Dog Month.” The Tompkins Square Halloween Parade, which has been running since 1990, is celebrated as the largest dog parade in the world. This year’s parade will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 17, starting at East 13th Street and moving to East 7th Street.
Before the parade, dogs and their handlers gathered for a group photo in the Second-Floor Observatory Experience, featuring a modern mural of the historic “Lunch atop a Skyscraper” photo. After some lively antics, the dogs settled down for pictures. They then took part in a mini-parade around the observation deck, led by Jason Moore, an NYU researcher and musician who was recruited the night before the event.
An ASPCA representative attended to further raise awareness about pet adoption. Jess MacLeod, Senior Manager of Adoption Promotions at the ASPCA, mentioned that three of the grand marshals—Moopi, Selene, and Grover—are currently shelter residents, highlighting the urgency of pet adoption amidst crowded shelters across the country. Following the mini-parade, the dogs received plenty of affection from attendees.
Fern Watt, a dog owner herself, shared her thoughts on companionship in New York City, stating, “Loneliness is such a big thing here. Like, we all want companionship and friendship, and you can find it in the shelter. You can find a friend.”
She and her dog Oscar, a giant Labradoodle, will participate dressed as a marching band duo during the parade at Tompkins Square Park.