Gallery Of Travel

Bad Dog Hats is a pet accessories company in Seattle, Washington, that has a huge secret under its Tiny Top Hats: they are created specially for dogs! Tiny Top Hats are one of the hottest new fashion accessories: and not just for dogs, but for people, too.

I came across the Bad Dog Hats website while preparing for a Love on a Leash special event and I instantly ordered a gorgeous little number for my own dog, Casey (shown at left).

Casey, my Bichon Frise, looked particularly chic when she sported her Bad Dog Hat. Casey’s hat was a size medium, red crushed velvet top hat decorated with a simple, elegant black bow. As you can see from the photo, it was truly unique and adorable!

You can choose from a wide variety of hat colors and add-ons, such as bows, flowers, veils or Ace of Spades tucked in the brim. Owner Rischa says her hats are made in sizes that fit all dogs well, from teeny tiny to extra large berets or top hats in small, medium and large and I know from experience that when your dog wears one of these magnificent hats people smile!

This is the time of year when antifreeze appears in abundance and dogs are attracted to its sweet, syrupy aroma and the taste of ethylene glycol, the highly toxic chemical component of antifreeze. Although antifreeze is not a “food” that your dog can ingest, I thought it prudent to mention how fast and furious small amounts of ingested antifreeze can kill your beloved dog.

Each year more than 10,000 dogs and cats in North America are killed by licking up antifreeze. Death occurs in 88 percent of antifreeze cases, according to the BC SPCA. Early symptoms include staggering and disorientation: trouble keeping their balance, like a bit of a drunken sailor. Besides staggering and lack of coordination, disorientation and vomiting are common. Chances of survival increase with immediate veterinary treatment. Emergency vet clinics can provide the antidote. Keep antifreeze up and out of harm’s way -- for your dog’s sake!