Seriously? Tod’s Models Sport Dead Sheep and Live Puppies on the Runway

Published by Katherine Sullivan.
2 min read

On Friday, models who walked the runway during Tod’s Milan Fashion Week show did so with some very uncool accessories—puppies. Apparently, the fashion company—which claimed the tasteless stunt was meant to honor dogs—missed the memo: Animals are not fashion accessories. 

Many of the puppies—including a boxer, a Shiba Inu, and a Cavalier King Charles spaniel—are reportedly purebred. Such dogs—with certain genetic traits or appearances—can inherit health conditions that can be painful and deadly. A quarter of the dogs who are admitted to animal shelters are purebred.

People online were outraged at the company’s exploitation of animals. On Instagram, @katouchaw wrote, “This is so stupid; dogs are not accessories!!!” Other comments included @thegforceny’s “Ugh. Such an unkind thing to do to a baby animal,” @deidraweiss’ “Dogs aren’t accessories. Shame on you,” and @issypullman’s “Not the environment for a puppy. Lights, cameras, music and hundreds of people. Animals are not props.”

Animals are not ours to use for entertainment.

Tod’s tasteless stunt garnered even more ill will from folks online, including @issypullman, who continued her comment by saying, “Ironic as well as she’s wearing dead cow and sheepskin so it’s ok to kill certain animals but not others?” Another comment made by @heygirlheygirlhey read, “How ironic. Issuing puppies while wearing leather. SHAME ON YOU!!” It’s true—models carried puppies down the catwalk while reportedly sporting sheepskin, suede, and leather.

Animals are not ours to wear.

Tod’s would do well to follow the example of Gucci—which has not only banned fur

… but also demonstrated creativity by sending only hyper-realistic props of mythical “animals” down the runway:

Now that is a fashion accessory.

8 Ways You Can Truly Honor Dogs This Year

If Tod’s had truly wanted to honor the Year of the Dog, it would have left cruelty off the catwalk. It’s baffling how some humans can treat dogs so cruelly. We owe it to our canine companions to protect them from harm, especially in a year that’s dedicated to them. Click the button below to discover a few things that you can do to help dogs in 2018:

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