We love accessories here at Bella Figura USA - jewelry - scarves - wraps - handbags - they're some of our favorite things.

But it seems that those accessories are just not enough for some women, so they add one other: a little dog. 

ARGH!!  On a This Makes Me Crazy Monday - using defenseless little dogs as fashion accessories makes me crazy!

I LOVE my dog.  And yes, I would love to take him everywhere with me; but besides the fact that he's a thirty pounder (definitely not some little teacup size) I would never drag him around for one simple reason: he would hate it.  As much as he loves being with me, the moment I want him to break his doggy routine; he gives me the big stink-eye.

And rightfully so.  Why would he want to come to a grocery store with me?  Unless he's going to get treats from all the workers - there's absolutely no reason for him being there.  And I felt awful the other day, for the little dog stuck in her stupid owner's purse - looking none too pleased.

Or how about dragging a dog to a concert?  You think I'm kidding, right?  No, I heard Bonnie Hunt on TV, talking about going to a concert where some moronic woman brought in a little guy stuffed inside her handbag.  And not a fancy dog carrier, with air holes etc.; no, a regular purse!  Bonnie said after she realized what exactly was happening, it was too late for her to do or say anything to the woman. 

Well, I'll say something now, "Lady (and I use that term loosely) you're an idiot.  What were you thinking?  Oh, that's right - you weren't!"

I live in northern Virginia, and it is honest to goodness dog country.  People are crazy about their dogs; and you constantly see them out and about with them.  But when I say out and about, I mean walking them, running with them, visiting the doggie bakery, or when the weather's nice - doggie Happy Hour! - all activities where the dogs get to act like dogs.  They're not confined to a little bag, or constantly  carried as though they were a child's blankie or favorite toy.

Several times in posts here on Savvy Style, I've quoted from Madame Dariaux'  A Guide to Elegance.  I get such a kick out the book, and at the very end (right after the sections on Yachting and Zippers!) Madame gives us her take on Zoology: making a public appearance with one's dog.

Now she is a bona fide dog lover, as she writes:  Sometimes I think that dogs must have been created especially in order to improve our morale and to give us a good opinion of ourselves when we are most in need of encouragement.

But does she write about stuffing dogs in Hermes handbags and carrying them around for all to see?  Or festooning them with all manner of goofy costumes, bows, etc. to  match the owner's ensemble?  Horrors!  No, she says to simply make sure they are brushed, eyes wiped, ears and paws checked - in other words, let them be dogs and not  fashion accessories.

I'm all for accessorizing.  You need some great accessories?  Come see us!  But please, no live animals as accessories.

(And the cute little Basenji with the great, big ears: Frodo - Prince of the Casa, when he was a little guy.)