THE PET-DOGS OF DIVES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5656, 29 August 1896, Page 2

THE PET-DOGS OF DIVES.

The Strand Magazine for June contains an article on " Dandy Dogs " by William G. Fitzgerald, which is fitted to amuse the cynic and madden the philanthropist. There is something forbidding to the sense of the least austere moralist in the cases instanced by the writer of lavish expenditure of wealth and service on the fourlegged pets of the rich. Ib seems there is a Dogs' Toilet Club in New Bond Street, of the daintiest and most sumptuous order, where dogs are left by their mistresses out shopping, and where the little creatures are shampooed, combed and clipped. Canine dressmakers in Paris and London fit fashionable dogs with morning, afternoon and evening coats, mourning outfits, travelling costumes and bridal-dresses, as well as night-shirts, handkerchiefs, and boots. When the animals are washed, yolks of eggs are used instead of soap, since soap irritates their tender skin. THE CLIPPING OF PET POODLES has become almost an art. By dexterous cutting designs are executed on the dog's back, as, for example, a prize fight, a Derby winner (which secured the sale of the dog for .£100), a pelican crest, a lion rampant, lace patterns. A black-and-tan terrier weighing 20oz changed hands recently for .£10 ; a Yorkshire terrier of 2-Jlb for 80gs. A dog's coat is mentioned, of yellow satin, trimmed with Honiton lace, and priced at lOgs. Wedding coats for dogs run about £& each ; fur coats lined with sableand seal often cost lOgs to 15gs. Collars cost from a sovereign to w£GO, " some being of 18-carat gold fastened with a diamond brooch." Muzzles have been made in gold and silver. THE DIET OP THESE PETTED PARASITES is of a piece with their dress. A West End poodle has a prime leg of mutton cooked for him every day and eats it all. Sick dogs are "constantly fed with the

breast of pheasants served on silver," oi are tempted with whole roast partridges; hares' tongues, sweetbreads or even ptar« migan. " One of the leading canine specialists was sent for by a titled lady to see her poodle, who was in a bad way. The moment the animal came into the drawingroom, the dog-doctor knew it was a case of over-feeding ; so Jacko was sent with tremendous pomp to the surgeon's 'house to be treated. His anxious mistress did not neglect him, though. Twice a day a splendid carriage drove up, and a footman brought round to the surgeon's man a massive silver dish, whereon reposed some succulent bird. 'How is Jacko to-day ?' the ■ footman would ask, according to instructions. 'Well, a little better, James; but still poorly/ the other would reply. The surgeon's man would then take the tempting meal round to the stables, eat it with immense relish, and then clean and polish the silver ready for the exchange dish, which he knew would be brought along in a few hours. For many days this went on, till at last the surgeon remarked to his man: 'I shall have to be sending Jako home soon/ ' Don't do it yet, sir/ was the earnest and unexpected reply : ' I never lived so well in my life/ "

A mistress whose dog had broken its leg, insisted by telegraph on her specialist coming up from Oxford by special train to attend it, at a cost of When the brutes die they are honoured with expensive funerals. One is mentioned which cost from £30 to £4/0. An enormously rich, lady had her dead pet cremated and his ashes deposited in a cinerary urn which cost 600 guineas— all inlaid and encrusted with jewels.