The earth is being invaded by a whole new species of animal- clothed pets. Nowadays, people aren’t the only ones wearing the latest fashions. Whether wearing Halloween costumes, pet pajamas, bathrobes or even top of the line “Pucci” fashions, animals everywhere are being caught in various outfits. The pet clothing fad began practically, with coats and sweaters for dogs who couldn’t stand cooler temperatures. Slowly this evolved into pet lifejackets for the aquatically challenged animal. And as time progressed pets received their own branches of fashion and seasonal outfits. Now ten minutes on Google can provide any viewer with images of dressed up pets from “ladypugs” to “hotdogs” and even “teenage mutant ninja poodles.” But the real question is, is this morally alright? To some extent, dressing up pets is a ridiculous activity designed for bored humans with too much time and money. However, clothing on animals is appropriate on the condition that owners know where to draw the line. Clothing for pets should be worn only when it is comfortable- not necessarily fashionable, when the pet has no objection, and when it is safe. After all, the animal itself should always be the top priority.
No matter what, safety should always come first when dressing an animal. First of all, most animals are like babies. They will chew on nearly anything they can find. Unfortunately, some pet clothes and Halloween costumes contain dyes and fabrics that can be poisonous to pets. Owners should never allow their pets to wear clothes that are poisonous. Even if they aren’t poisonous, clothes that pets can tear pieces off of are a major choking hazard. Also, any outfit can pose risks to an animal’s safety if it obstructs their vision. The animal may not be able to see where he or she is going or may become frightened. A frightened pet is dangerous and is a risk to itself and others because it is unpredictable. Another hazard of pet clothes is outfits that don’t fit properly. If an...