At the 2025 Pet Gala, Maltipoos and Pomeranians Dressed Like Your Favorite Fashion Stars

It’s an hour before the Pet Gala begins, and backstage, things have gone to the dogs. A rat terrier named Bastian is missing his Bad Bunny-inspired jacket. Lala, a Pomeranian, needs to relieve herself on the pee pad in the corner—which is easier said than done, as she’s wearing a silver sequin dress. Then there’s Superman, a giant Leonberger, who is still in the hair department as his owner brushes his thick, lion-like mane over and over.

Just as the Met Gala happens every May, so does its animal iteration, where pet courtier Anthony Rubio creates custom outfits based on the looks from fashion’s biggest night. And just like the First Monday in May, the Pet Gala is for a good cause: all the money raised goes to the AKC Museum of the Dog.

This year saw 15 pups descend on a Bryant Park events space wearing canine-sized recreations of Cynthia Erivo’s custom Givenchy beaded and tulle set, Colman Domingo’s black and white Valentino jacket, and Whoopi Goldberg’s Thom Browne top hat ensemble. (Gamely donned by a maltipoo named Hersey.)

Rubio has a short lead time to put it together: this year, the Pet Gala happened just two weeks after the famous fundraiser at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As a result, he sews outfits right up until they go on stage—like Doja Cat’s leopard jacket, which will be that night worn by a Morkie.

He watches the red carpet with dogs in mind, identifying which outfits can be realistically translated from humans to canines. “You have to know the physiology of the animal and whether it's going to work or not,” he says. “Like Janelle Monáe—she wears these great outfits, but there's always a gimmick to it. She had an outfit that looked like a box. I'm not going to put a dog in that.”

Then, it’s what makes him “gag.”

“There are garments that speak to me,” Rubio says. “I’m like, this is so fabulous.”

It’s easier to design for large dogs, Rubio admits, as for small dogs, the details are incredibly intricate. He finds his animal models through his own network on Instagram, where he’s built up a loyal, dog loving following. “My dogs, they come from all walks of life,” he adds. “We have a Leonberger that competes in Westminster and we have all sorts of dogs that come from shelters.”

Below, see the dogs of the Pet Gala.