Mardi Gras or Halloween?

This caterpillar looks like he's ready for Mardi Gras, although it looks like his range never gets to New Orleans.  He's a White-marked Tussock Moth caterpillar. here 

tussock moth caterpiller

My niece found this guy crawling along our deck.  She thought it was the same colors as our dog.  Turns out it's a Tussock Moth Caterpillar.  Turns out that those cute fuzzy hairs on it cause an itchy rash.  Luckily we let it crawl on it's way without playing with it.