Dogs as Accessories
By breepeace
@breepeace (3014)
Canada
April 29, 2007 6:01pm CST
It drives me nuts when I see people carrying around their pint-sized dog in a purse. They bring them everywhere. I've seen women in restaurants heft their malti-poo laden pink purse onto a chair and proceed to have lunch blatantly disregarding health ordinances about animals not being in establishments that make or distribute food items.
They treat them like accessories -- like the hottest new must-have cell phone or pair of shoes, they buy tiny little dogs from breeders who SPECIALIZE in breeding them small (opening them up to a wide range of health conditions and genetic diseases -- after all, the gene pool is much smaller with less dogs to work with) for thousands of dollars so that they can dress them up, stuff them in a purse and act like Paris Hilton, as if she's any sort of role-model?
I read article like this one http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,133590,00.html or http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/07/fashion/07dogs.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5088&en=49f3164ed8342fe2&ex=1323147600&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss and it makes me sick, because just like Paris Hilton, I realize there will be hundreds of 'accessory-dog' owners getting rid of their pets because they got too large or they grew out of them.
Dog fads are a dangerous thing for dogs as a whole.
What are your thoughts on this?
2 people like this
6 responses
@k1tten (2315)
• United States
30 Apr 07
I'm definitely not fond of the toy dog craze. Dogs are not ment to be used like that. Even in the 1800 and before they had a purpose. Now they are just pampered and coddled. It's not healthy mentally for the dogs to be allowed to be pampered like that. I've seen it happen. Not a good thing.
2 people like this
@iiartisanii (254)
• United States
30 Apr 07
Toy dogs have been around for hundred of years. Just look at paintings from the Renaissance era. . ladies of court are often pictured with a Pug or Cavalier on their lap. These paintings are literally hundreds of years old.
Toys DO have a purpose, to provide companionship. That's what they have been bred for and that's what they do best.
1 person likes this
@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
1 May 07
I overheard a very fat woman in a restaurant talking to her husband about how much she would love to have "one of those little dogs that you can carry around in a purse" because she thought she would look cute with one. I was horrified, thinking how bad that would be for a dog. I'm glad that Paris Hilton got tired of her dog,and its not the hot fasion accessory anymore to carry a little dog around like that. I hope her dog has a better home now.
@breepeace (3014)
• Canada
1 May 07
She gave Tinkerbell to her mom, Kathy when she 'got too big', and bought a smaller chi (ie. often commonly referred to as a 'teacup chihuahua', although there is NO such breed) named Bambi. Apparently the novelty of even Bambi wore out because she bought a ferret, a cat and a monkey shortly after. She still brings Tink out to various events, but as far as I know, she's now Kathy's dog.
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
30 Apr 07
These tiny dogs have been around for a very long time. My cousin had one way back in the 60s. She treated it like a baby. But she didn't take it every where she went. My daughter was given a tea cup poodle when it was quite old. It loved her. When she was home it followed here every where. They are nice if you don't have a lot of room. but I don't believe they should be taken every where. I believe that pets belong at home. And if I were eating in a restaurant that allowed them I would complain to the health board. Some people think they can get away with any thing if they have enough money.
1 person likes this
@munhozmib (3836)
• Sao Paulo, Brazil
30 Apr 07
I don't like this kind of people, that literaly uses their dogs as accessories. It drives me nut too. Sometimes, the dogs hate this kind of life, but the ladies doesn't even care. I say ladies because almost always it's ladies who do that.
They use the dogs as if they were toys! Come on, this is non-sense! Dogs have feelings too, you know? If you purchase or get yourself a dog, it doesn't mean you can use the way you like.
You must threat them with respect, not as if they were your toys.
1 person likes this
