Harry Potter actress Emma Watson was criticized by many for photos showing her walking with a pink one year old Bichon Frise. Emma reportedly defended herself by stating she had walked the dog for a friend and that that dog was dyed pink with beet vegetable dye and that it was done to raise awareness for breast cancer.

Regardless of that fact, there is a big trend in designer dogs that are accessories and the trend is increasing in popularity. Beyond carrying little dogs in purses and putting fancy clothing and jewelry on them, some people take it further and dye the dog’s fur so that it is pink, purple, multi-colored, with animal print patterns, and so on.  Many say this fad started with the Chow Chow breed, who were dyed to look like panda bears. The result was a startling similarity but it didn’t stop there and the practice is becoming increasingly creative as people use their dogs to make fashion statements about themselves.

Dyeing a dog’s fur is illegal in many places in the USA and people can be fined or even jailed for it. But in other places, such as the UK, it’s merely a fashion statement.  So, is it harmful to a pet’s health?

Some are concerned about a pet licking the chemicals and about it seeping into their skin. There are concerns about hair dyes being linked to some Cancers. Some people defend their position by stating that thy only use non-toxic and temporary hair dyes and claim that it’s fine as they are not using human hair dye. People against the practice argue that it’s cruel to treat animals like an accessory.  PETA was up in arms over the issue of several Jersey Star reality TV show actresses dyeing their dogs, too.

Whether or not you agree with dyeing your dog, it’s definitely wise to look at any and all products to ensure they are pet-friendly. Some people use accessories that aren’t made for dogs and a piece of dog jewelry could wind up being ingested by your pet, making him or her very ill.

Do you think the UK should ban pet dyeing, too?