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DYE YOUR DOG-but some pet lovers object

The Young Reporter (2005, November), 38(02), pp. 8.
Author: Cher Wang Xue. Editor: Iris Chung Ka-yin.
Permanent URL - https://sys01.lib.hkbu.edu.hk/bujspa/purl.php?&did=bujspa0015536

Cher Wang Xue

A pink poodle is an astonishing sight to many. Dyeing one's dog is apparently the latest pet-beauty fad, but there is opposition within and without the industry.

Mr Hui, a pet groomer for 10 years, was concerned about the effect of highlight on pets. “Chemical highlights would harm human hair, not to mention animals'. Pets wouldn't feel comfortable, to say the least.”

Tiffany Wong, staff member at Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said unnatural colours made pets look weird and ugly, “I won't consider doing this to my own pet.”

But there were dog owners who loved this idea. Trendsetter of highlight for pets, Danny Tam Wai-hung, who owns Uncle Toby pet grooming center, brought this fashion to Hong Kong about two years ago. “It has been popular in Japan and the West for a time. But in Hong Kong, this fashion hasn't flourished yet because of limited market and lack of skillful beauticians.”

Mr Tam has been a pet beautician for eight years. According to him, white pets were most suitable for highlights because glowing colours like pink and green would match them best. A white poodle could end up with an orange head, pink ears, and a purple tail.

And there was more than mere colour. Cartoon characters like Hello Kitty and Mickey Mouse could also be drawn on a dog's back. Pet groomers would produce a variety of patterns.

“The design also depends on the natural colour and quantity of the dog's fur. I won't dye a black dog white and then highlight other colours on it. It is not healthy for pets,”the 45-year-old pet love said, “after all, the natural colour of a pet is most beautiful.”

The dye used was specially made for pets and different from those used on humans. “The dye I used doesn't contain azoth, so it wouldn't give any terrible odor or harm the pets'fur,” Mr Tam said, “there are nine main colours, and you get much more nice colours if you mixed them.”

A Hello Kitty pattern would usually take four hours and a whole body dye for much longer. Mr Tam said he once dyed a poodle bright pink from head to foot and it took him nine hours. “Cute cartoon patterns are more popular now.”

Edited by Iris Chung Ka-yin

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