Dog owners who dress up their pets could face prosecution

[CatWoman]

The RSPCA is threatening legal action against dog owners who 'over-dress' their pets.

Officials claim that putting on items such as boots, all-in-one trousers and hoodies, could be harmful to dogs and lead to prosecution for owners if they feel an animal's welfare is at risk.

Canine couture is big business and the increasing trend among owners to dress their pets fashionably has even led to top designers including Vivienne Westwood and Ben de Lisi creating dog outfits.



The luxury Harrods store in London also has an annual fashion show called Pet-a-Porter where canines take to a 'dog-walk' and parade in a variety of daring outfits.

Experts said there are a few occasions where dog clothing is acceptable, such as with small dogs and short-haired varieties.

Jess Bland, professional dog walker and pet sitter from My Pet Friend, said: 'Dog clothing certainly serves its purpose when it's cold and wet, but it has to fit properly.

'Although dogs would survive in the wild, they're generally used to being indoors.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1113962/Dog-owners-dress-pets-face-prosecution.html

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Just try that with cats.

The problem would solve itself after a little shredding of flesh...

[CatWoman]

3. heh

no comment :rofl:

[TZ]

11. I tried it ONCE

please note, she's really not eating my hand but she is very displeased...

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

13. Well, OK, I did this once...

... and lived...

[TZ]

15. HAHAAHAHAHA!

Thats great..:rofl:

[CatWoman]

17. awwwwwwwwwww

:)

:rofl:

[BlueJazz]

40. LOL!..He Looks like that Boxing Announcer...Here's ROOOOCKY BALLLL..BOA !!

:rofl:

[CatWoman]

18. look at that cutie pie

:)

:loveya:

[meow2u3]

30. Cat justice is swifter

Cats simply takes the law against dressing up pets into their own claws.

[bigwillq]

2. I agree.

Pets DO NOT want to be dressed. It's not natural.

If they're cold, their bodies will adjust as long as their is proper heating devices made available.

[malta blue]

4. I will admit to having coats for my dogs

Disclaimer: My dogs are up to their necks in snow so they each have a fleece coat, a boiled wool coat, and a sweater.

Otherwise, I won't do it.

[lukasahero]

48. When my Lab got old, his teeth used to chatter in the winter

Damn right he had a coat!

I tried putting reindeer antlers on him once. He ate them. ;)

[AlCzervik]

5. it's a living thing lady not a build a bear.

even the dog knows.

[LeftyMom]

6. The problem with dressing up dogs is that they know where you sleep.

This is my best friend's wolf hybrid, Dakota. I think he was plotting her violent death in this picture.

[AlCzervik]

7. no jury in the world would convict that dog in the op.

no they wouldn't.

[LeftyMom]

8. They might give little fifi a medal.

I mean, who puts pearls on a dog?

[AlCzervik]

9. it's ridiculous, lady get a doll.

[petronius]

10. I doubt that dog (dolf? wog?) has to wait until anyone is asleep

From the picture, I'm guessing the squeak-toy didn't have long to live...

[LeftyMom]

12. He's actually a sweetheart.

Right after we took that picture he and my son went trick or treating at a few friends' houses. My son got candy (we'd dropped off suitable stuff in advance due to his allergies) and Dakota got some leftover burgers to eat on the lawn while we visited inside.

[petronius]

14. He really is gorgeous. What kind of dog is in the mix?

[LeftyMom]

25. Malamute.

So he's a bit bigger than an full wolf.

[CatWoman]

19. he is absolutely gorgeous!!

:loveya:

[LeftyMom]

35. He is. He's grown a bit since that picture, he was still just a pup.

[WildEyedLiberal]

22. That is an amazingly gorgeous dog

My aunt has a wolf-husky hybrid, Luna - she's a great dog. I'd love a dog like that someday, but I'd have to have a home like my aunt does, on several acres of land.

[LeftyMom]

36. He's really smart too.

The cutest thing was when they had kittens in the house, and they kept getting away from their mother to explore and he'd pick them up in his mouth and carry them back. So here he is coming down the hallway gently carrying one kitten and you'd see three more make a run for it, it was so cute because he was trying to help and was so obviously exasperated.

[WildEyedLiberal]

43. Oh that's super adorable

How did she get him, if you don't mind my asking?

[Jamastiene]

32. What a gorgeous dog!

I'd be willing to bet that dog doesn't have a mean bone in his body. He's so sweet and loving looking. :loveya:

[LeftyMom]

38. He really doesn't.

He chases off prowlers like nobody's business though. He went through a closed window to get somebody who'd broken into his person's house while he was in the yard, and had to have surgery to fix his leg up afterward. Another time he went over a 6' fence to chase off somebody who had tried to break into her car. He isn't trained to do anything like that, but he knows who belongs and who doesn't.

[CreekDog]

16. As well they should!

with a big exception for sports related clothing.

[TZ]

20. .

Your cat has a 49's jersey? :D

[CreekDog]

23. No

but he was born in Philadelphia. might have to get him an Iggles jersey.

[XemaSab]

21. That's ridiculous

If the animal doesn't want to wear clothes, it won't.

Dressing up your dog or cat is no sillier than dressing up your baby.

[CreekDog]

24. anyone who dresses their baby up the way they dressed up THAT dog in the OP should be shot

:rant:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

28. Dogs and cats have fur; babies don't. At least I hope not...

Dogs and cats don't usually need clothes, except that maybe on a really cold day those little pocket dogs and dogs with thin coats could probably use a sweater. Unless your baby is really hairy, he/she probably will need clothes most of the time.

[Jamastiene]

34. I was born with a jet black fur stripe

down the middle of my back as thick as any animals' fur. It started at the base of my neck and ended at my tail bone. It was about an inch and a half wide. They still put clothes on me. The fur eventually lightened up in thickness AND color. It's BARELY visible now. :shrug:

[CatWoman]

39. LOL

Are you a Gremlin???

:rofl:

[Sultana]

41. Your post made me LOL

thanx, I needed that.

Hairy babies :rofl:

[jane_pippin]

26. Eh, when we have 20 below wind chill the dog's wearing a coat.

He's small and has short hair, so if it's in the teens or below he wears it. If I don't put it on him, I take him out and he just stands there for 2 seconds in shock and heads for the door. With the coat he can handle the quick trip around the corner to attend to his business.

[seemunkee]

27. I'm shocked, shocked that people would do such a thing.

[CatWoman]

31. what a ham!!!

:)

[LibertyLover]

45. What a lovely iggy

We have 2 whippets and a greyhound (a Siberian Husky too) and sighthounds rule! We have coats for the sighthounds but they are rarely outside long enough to warrent putting them on. And the minute they come in, they make a bee-line for the couch and the Scottish wool blankets, or human, whichever is closer.

[seemunkee]

46. Thanks

We have another iggy that is large for the breed but he just gets tshirts and a heavy coat, nothing fancy like Luna.
Ours are hating the weather right now too. Just getting to stay out long enough to do their business is tough.

[Lil Missy]

29. My groomer always puts a fancy bandana on my dog.

I take them off as soon as we get home. The pup told me all the other dogs say his mom dresses him funny, and they laugh at him.

[Critters2]

37. I had a cocker spaniel who was the toughest little dog around,

chased foxes out of our yard, ran in the cow pastures with the accompanying run-ins with bulls and steers, NOT a frou-frou dog. To avoid tick problems, she had to be groomed regularly in the spring and summer. And the groomer would always tie these pink ribbons in her hair. She would have them pulled out before we got home from the groomer!

[no name no slogan]

33. This is why we still have capital punishment on the books

The chair is too kind for those dog dresser-uppers.

[jobycom]

42. What about a VP who dresses up his puppet? nt

[TrogL]

44. Someone brings her dog to our church. It's better dressed than her kid.

[Deep13]

47. Dressing animals. Stupid? Yes. Crazy? Maybe.

A crime? You've GOT to be kidding!