Recent years have seen a boom in pet clothing. No matter how silly it looks, a dog might enjoy the added warmth of a layer of clothing in winter; and on rainy days, a little doggy raincoat and galoshes at least serve some purpose. But the other day, with the temperature at 33 C, I was dismayed to see someone walking her little dog in a T-shirt. The dog was plodding along, panting desperately, with its tongue practically dragging on the sidewalk, to which the fashion-conscious owner seemed oblivious.
Picture yourself wearing a fur coat in a Tokyo summer -- a coat you can't take off no matter how hot it gets. Now imagine your master adding an extra layer of clothing -- just because it's so cute -- before taking you out of the air conditioning to trudge the sweltering Tokyo streets. Pet owners should think about the unnecessary suffering, or even death, they may be inflicting on the poor dumb animal they claim to love.
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