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Pet Fashion Week or Pets As Fashion Week
Wednesday, March 29, 2006 
Terry
My guess, though, is that they do intend to imply that pets are a fashion statement, as I'm pretty sure you can expect the fashion show to feature pets as fashion just as they're shown in the photographs. Am I wrong in thinking this? Is anybody reading this who thinks I'm over-reacting? Under-reacting? Making a mountain out of a dog-hill?
Then I remember that you used to be able to buy chameleon pins at the Puyallup fair... featuring, of course, live chameleons. I'm guessing they had to stop that practice due to the inhumanity of pinning a chameleon to a plaid Eddie Bauer button-down.
Please. Your animal companion deserves to be treated as such. A dog, for instance, is a dog. Your dog wants to be a dog. If you try to make it into something besides a dog, you will cause it nothing but anxiety and misery. It is a dog. Let it be a dog. Same with a cat. Or any other pet. Rather than dress it up and wear it around your neck, find out what that animal is and how it lives and what might actually be good for it.
I'm on the verge of a full-blown hissy fit here. Sorry if I've bored you.
Here's an antidote:
I'm listening to “I Can Feel Your Heartbeat” by The Partridge Family from the album Come On Get Happy! The Very Best Of The Partridge Family on 
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At June 30, 2006 11:24 AM, said “In regard to Pet Fashion Week, I have a few comments. First of all, I completely agree that pets should not be viewed as fashion accessories, however, being that I am actually peripherally involved with this event I can assure you that really isn't their intent. Unfortunately folks like Paris Hilton have suddenly made the notion of carrying around a pint sized dog dripping in jewels very appealing to a certain part of the population...and companies are responding to the demand, hense the birth of Pet Fashion Week. However annoying this may seem to some people, keep in mind that often the thought behind this indulgence is simply to pamper your pet and treat them as a member of the family, however vain and spoiled that family may be. Secondly most "fashion" is made for small dogs. Big dogs won't wear hats and booties and usually people who own bigger dogs aren't interested in dressing them up. Therefore, many dogs in these shows and ads are tiny and have to be carried down the runway by a model or surrogate "owner". It literally takes a chihuhua about 10 minutes to walk down a runway- if they'll do it all. My final comment is about awareness. All of the events I've witnessed in this vein, including NY Pet Fashion Week always incorporate at least one event to raise money and awareness for shelters and homeless animals. In summation, I guess what I am saying is that as silly and misguided as this trend may seem, it may not be as insidious as you think.”
At July 24, 2006 10:48 AM, said “I understand that you are annoyed by this, but I agree with the other comment. At least these people who dress up their little dogs are pampering them! AND if you had read the site you would see that they are fundraising for animal causes. I have two dogs (both large so I would never dress them up)but I still feel the little tiny dogs dressed in cute outfits are at least being cared for. I get the a hell of a lot more angry when I see the opposite...people abusing or neglecting their pets! I hope you can just look to Pet Fashion week as something you just think is silly...but remember these little dogs are living it up in their silk organza outfits!”
At July 24, 2006 11:34 AM, Terry said “I guess I would have to say that maybe they are "living it up" and maybe they aren't. How do we know the dogs enjoy Organza? Are you sure they wouldn't prefer to be chasing mice in a field?
I'm not saying (I don't think) that we need to put an end to this... I'm saying (I think) that we need to think about what exactly it is we're doing to our pets when we think we are "pampering" them. I make the claim here (and elsewhere) that too often our pampering does as much harm as good, and if we're not paying attention, we're doing just that.”
At August 19, 2007 9:55 AM, G.G. said “Nice little rant Terry. The buzz is that little dogs get more of the pampering because they trigger the same reaction humans give to young babies. I see the current trends paralleling the child industry--except I don't see toddlers on the runway yet...”
At August 20, 2007 9:39 AM, Terry said “No toddlers on the runway? Really?”
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