Too Much Time On Their Hands

Some people have way too much time on their hands. Some of those people must work for the RSPCA given this story.

The animal welfare charity claims that forcing pets to wear clothing could be harmful, and in some cases there may even be grounds to prosecute.

Now to be fair they are not going after blankets or coverings designed for service animals - they are going after the people who accessorize the "accessory" dogs - people like Paris Hilton for example.

Canine couture has become fashionable in recent years and there is a dizzying array of products on sale, from bootees, pyjamas, all-in-one trousers and even hoodies for dogs.

Top fashion designers, including Vivienne Westwood and Ben de Lisi, have also created dog designs, while the London store Harrods has an annual fashion show called Pet-a-Porter.

That kind of thing IS way over the top and totally unnecessary. That is not to say that there isn't some time when "clothing" isn't necessary. A great case in point is what is going on in the upper Midwest right now.

But the fashion for pet clothes angers Lynn Williams, founder of dog charity Happy Dogs. She said: "People love their pets and the retail trade has latched on to that.

"To see a little dog dressed up in boots, I think, is a little over the top.

Sorry Lynn, I have seen situations where boots are necessary. As I said - when you are dealing with the bitterest of bitter cold temps and your dog has to spend any time outside, you need to protect their pads. If you walk your dog along streets and sidewalks that are covered in de-icer need to have their feet covered as the chemicals in the de-icers can not only burn their pads, but if ingested it could burn their throats! In addition, search and rescue dogs need to wear very thick boots in order to protect their feet from cuts.

They do make a lot of good points about the accessory clothing, but is that really something that you need to be tying up the court system with? I susepct not.