The Problem With Spending a Fortune on Dog Costumes

I’m pretty sure dogs just want to be dogs, not Instagram props.

First of all, I get it at Halloween time. It’s fun and usually hilarious to drop a sheet over your dog with some eye holes cut out. Or to put them in a dinosaur or Elvis costume.

I also get it if you want your dog to sport a Santa hat and beard for Instagram at Christmas. After all, ’tis the season when it’s the season.

Unpopular (and judgey) opinion ALERT!

The problem — or rather, MY problem begins with dog owners who go overboard. The ones who spend a fortune building out a walk-in closet and wardrobe for their dog like it’s a Hollywood set. The ones who do this to their dogs.

Take all the time you need to scroll through each image at that link because there are many. And they’re all ridiculous.

Absolutely useless (and ridiculous looking) dog outfit

So, what’s the problem, you’re asking?

For every Chanel and Tiffany accessory, every pair of sunglasses, and every gaudy piece of jewellery those dogs wear, all I can see are desperately needed dollars that COULD be used to support actual dog causes.

Starving dogs, neglected dogs, and unloved dogs who NEED the aid of rescue and shelter organizations in order to survive.

Is it just me or does anyone else feel horrible that they can’t donate more, foster more (if at all), and give back more to important animal causes?

Is it just me whose heart drops to the floor when I scroll through Instagram and see how overwhelmed dog rescue and shelter industries are?

Meanwhile, ‘designer dogs’ have closets FULL of useless costumes that serve zero purpose after the Instagram shoot is done.

It just doesn’t sit right.

Don’t get me wrong; everyone is free to do as they please. I just don’t get how people who love the idea of having posh Instagram dogs don’t think the money could be better used to SAVE dogs.

To me, it reeks of Hollywood. Celebrities are wearing eight million dollar diamond studded necklaces at the Oscars, and families in the hood aren’t eating that day.

It just feels off.

I’m pretty sure those costume dogs don’t care what they’re wearing tomorrow. Do they even like being primped, prodded, and decked out to death for a photo shoot or a walk in the park?

I was under the impression that people get dogs for companionship and love, not for props and status symbols.

Maybe dogs just want to be dogs.

I’m positive this could hit the wrong way or offend at least a handful of people. Those are the people I’d actually like to hear from most.

How do you feel about overwhelmed rescue and shelter causes versus a closet full of useless dog attire? Can we have a constructive conversation about it?