Piercing and Dyeing: Dog Lady Don'ts

As the year begins, Dog Lady gives a shout-out to the seekers who've written "Ask Dog Lady" with their funny, touching, tough, or puffball queries about dogs, life and love. Whether you've read the columns online, or in the newspapers; whether you've typed up askdoglady.com directly or stumbled upon "Ask Dog Lady" via search string, Dog Lady thanks all her readers. Without you, this lady would be just another dame looking for work.

Thank you for making "Ask Dog Lady" one of the "most popular" advice sites in the Yahoo! directory. And thank you for caring enough about the mysterious critters in your life -- both canine and human -- to bother asking "Ask Dog Lady."

Dog Lady wishes she could answer every query, but some inquiries leave her gasping for answers. To wit -- or witless, as the case may be -- there are those befogged bowser keepers who want to know whether to dye a Chinese crested's crest fuschia or hang hoops from Pomeranian ears. . .

Dear Dog Lady,

Can I pierce my Pom’s ears?

Sally, Chula Vista, CA

People, please understand that dogs are living creatures. They do not ask to be draped, dyed and decorated. Their ears are their most precious asset and dogs' fur and skin are extremely sensitive. To tamper with these natural gifts seems abusive, although some get-a-life folks on a Dogster message board disagree and chat happily about dog jewelry.

Persnickety Dog Lady doesn't dream of dressing her darling in studs or chandeliers. She advises not to pierce skin or dye hair on your pet. Final answer.

Posted by Dog Lady at December 30, 2006 03:09 PM