Does it annoy anyone else that people like Paris Hilton have dogs that they carry around like a piece of jewelry but probably don't really care about?

Maybe that's judgmental on my part, but think about it, Britney Spears had that dog and took it everywhere for awhile, but now apparently the baby has replaced it as her accessory?!

Here ya go...awesome article on it by Beth Landmen

The most fashionable women in New York seem to be in a race to have the smallest dog possible. The trendiness is inescapable: Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Simpson, and Britney Spears are rarely seen without their bonsai canines. Star Jones rushed out of a benefit in the Hamptons, saying she simply had to get home to her new Maltese. Even $600-a-cut rock-star hairdresser Sally Hershberger, who seems more of a Rhodesian Ridgeback type, is followed at the heels by a mini pinscher named Cherry.

“These girls show me their Birkin bags and say, ‘It has to live in here,’ ’’ says Edward Alava, manager of Le Chien in Trump Plaza, who sold a two-pound Yorkie to Kelly Rowland of Destiny’s Child. Buyers better call ahead. “The teacups are preordered, and they remain with the breeders until they’re sure they will stay small enough. And the smaller, the more expensive.’’

“I’m just waiting for one of those girls to stick a handle on one of them,’’ says Dale Van Pamelan, owner of the New York Dog Spa and Hotel, which counts a one-pound chihuahua among its guests.

It’s not easy being mini. “My clients are even complaining that the smallest fall coats are all gone,” says Dr. Cindy Bressler, who cares for Kate Hudson’s petite Pomeranian. “Some of these dogs can’t fit into the smallest sizes anyway.’’

Vets are having to go to special pharmacies for baby-size pills. “It’s hard to get your hands on the small needles for injections—they’re sold out,’’ says Bressler. Tiny dogs tend to have liver and bone problems, too, she adds, as well as low blood sugar. They are also very needy.

And pity the pooch who grows up. If there’s a poster girl for lilliputian pets, it’s Paris Hilton, who just handed off her teacup chihuahua Tinkerbell to mom Kathy, in favor of an even bittier dog, Bambi. Paris “only likes them when they’re very small, and Tinkerbell got too big,” says someone who knows her. “Tinkerbell is at the larger end of the teacups,” says Dana Miller of Texas Teacups in Garland, Texas, the breeder that sold Tinkerbell to Paris. “Usually, they won’t go over three and a half pounds, but if you fix them or feed them junk . . .”

The public, though, is still clamoring for some of Tinkerbell’s gene pool. Miller says these dogs normally cost between $2,000 and $3,000. But if they come from Tinkerbell’s bloodline, they’re about $10,000 (and there’s a list). “One woman insisted on this dog from Tinkerbell’s dad, Chester, and her mother Tutu’s sister,” says Shelley Redmon of Texas Teacups. “She paid $13,875. They send us flowers, invitations to restaurants.” New York teacup-seekers include “lawyers, execs from Sony.” And while the breeder isn’t averse to intrafamily mating, it draws the line at incest: “Some breeders mate fathers with daughters to get small dogs, but we would never do that.”

“Teacup is a nice new name” for these pets, notes Van Pamelan. “They used to be called runts.”

It’s a very sad thing using animal as an accessory to their celebrity stardom. It is okay if they truly love their pets and just wants them to be with them but walk with them in an appropriate place like park not on a concert. However I thought this is their case. Just imagine how frightened these dogs are with all the flashing lights and noise. Poor animals, wish this celebrities could feel how the pets feel when going to celebrity events.

Yeah, it's so sad, especially when you think about a few months from now when they get bored with the dogs.

The only thing that bothers me, is the celebrities that are doing this. Its only people like Paris Hilton, who will do just about anything for attention. They are obviously just using the dog to establish a look.

It’s disappointing to hear about Paris replacing Tinkerbell because he got too big for her. I used to think Paris just got a bad rap from the press, being a model, heiress and a reality show star (in other words, an easy target) but now she’s got one less redeeming quality in my book. Poor Tinkerbell! I hope he’s better off with Paris’ mom.

Personally I think that dogs owned by Paris Hilton and Britney Spears are probably more intelligent than their owners.

I will agree with Ricardo. Poor Tinkerbell. As much as I have always wanted a small dog too, I just know it takes a lot more to keep them safe, happy and healthy. My dog Spike tries to rip small dogs apart when he sees them.. I have heard small dogs get scared easily and shake a lot. I'd hate to see one go into shock with a heartattack or something. =/

It really is just a fad. Just like the fad 101 Dalmatians started. Next thing you know, demand prompted backyard breeders all over to overproduce the poor things, and health and temperament suffered.... Just a thought.

Kathy Najimy is a marvelous dog lover! She's also a proud member of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)

I think celebrities should use their status to elevate animal loving to a higher level. Not just them making dogs (and other animals as accessories) as arm candy (accessories) but also, to be fair, let the dogs (animals) "use" their humans too.

Originally Posted by righteousdub

It’s disappointing to hear about Paris replacing Tinkerbell because he got too big for her. I used to think Paris just got a bad rap from the press, being a model, heiress and a reality show star (in other words, an easy target) but now she’s got one less redeeming quality in my book. Poor Tinkerbell! I hope he’s better off with Paris’ mom.

I know, it's really sad. Poor Tinkerbell! I just would never ever have that mindset! So she went out and replaced Tinkerbell. She must miss being carried around all the time, even though fame and money don't guarantee a good dog owner!

Its very sad that some people use animal as an accessory but LOL I wonder if their accessory ever uses the bathroom on them LOL.

I don't think Paris Hilton is using her dogs as accessories. I know someone who knows her from way way way before. She is a real dog lover. When she was younger, she already adores dogs…and pets in general. Her dogs are pretty lucky. That’s only my opinion though. We have to agree to disagree.

I find it disgusting! They only have them as a commodity to improve the media coverage they get. I bet being the scenes they (the celebrities) hardly pay them a second glance and only take hold of them when the cameras are on them.
What makes me mad is that these people are in a position to give their dogs a really good quality of life and that doesnt include using them to get attention.

Over breeding them in backyard breeders and compromising health and temperament? I thought they were already doing that?!?! lol
I have not been impressed by anything Paris Hilton has done or said, and has in fact made me go "what the heck....?!" on multiple occasions with the things she does or says. Her personality and intelligence questioned aside.... someone with low intelligence can love pets alot, but still not be capable of taking proper care of them unfortunately that's all there is to it.

I can't say that they don't love them...but I do wonder when they would have time for them????

Originally Posted by doggerbank

I don't think Paris Hilton is using her dogs as accessories. I know someone who knows her from way way way before. She is a real dog lover. When she was younger, she already adores dogs…and pets in general. Her dogs are pretty lucky. That’s only my opinion though. We have to agree to disagree.

If that was true then I have to wonder why she doesn't keep her dogs once they start to get bigger. If she was a real dog lover then why don't we continue to see her with "tinkerbell" or whatever that Chihuahua's name was?

(on that note, I find it interesting that the only dogs "loved" by these female celebrities are often the ones that will fit in your purse)