Little dogs have been used as fashion accessories for hundreds of years. When Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s second wife and a fashion icon of early 16^th century England, wasn’t out hunting with her greyhound she could often be found cavorting with her lapdog Purkoy. Paris Hilton dresses her Chihuahua Tinkerbell better than some moms dress their kids. Despite the fact that this trend is coming under fire it’s not likely to fade, especially now that Mickey Rourke has thanked his dogs when he accepted a Golden Globe for his performance in the comeback movie The Wrestler. "Sometimes when a man's alone, that's all you've got is your dog. They've meant the world to me."

Mickey Rourke with Loki
The Wrestler Premier, Venice Film Festival

   The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is threatening legal action against Brit dog owners who “over-dress” their pets. Officials claim that forcing dogs to wear items such as boots, all-in-one trousers and hoodies, could be harmful and lead to prosecution for owners if the RSPCA feels an animal's welfare is at risk.

Paris Hilton and Tinkerbell

   Canine couture is big business and the increasing trend among owners to dress their pets fashionably has led to top designers including Vivienne Westwood and Ben de Lisi creating dog outfits.

Lily, a Vivienne Westwood Bride

   Experts said there are a few occasions where dog clothing is acceptable, such as with small dogs and shorthaired varieties. Dog clothing serves its purpose when it's cold and wet, but it has to fit properly. However, Lynn Williams, founder of the dog charity Happy Dogs said: 'To see a little dog dressed up in boots, I think, is a little over the top.” The RSPCA believes dressing dogs as people is “humiliating and sends out the wrong message about pet care. We've seen trends in recent years brought about by the rise in celebrities with  ‘handbag dogs’. This usually leads to people taking on pets because they are ‘fashionable’ and sadly that means many are neglected."

A Pirate-themed Pooch Struts the Dogwalk

Harrod’s Pet-a-Porter Show

   According to Sean Woods, who interviewed Rourke for Rolling Stone magazine, “It's impossible to watch The Wrestler and not see it as an allegory for Rourke's career: on top in the Eighties, AWOL in the Nineties and looking for redemption in the new century. The more Rourke talks, the more agitated he becomes. On cue, his manager arrives with a white pill and one of his pet Chihuahuas, Taco Bell, to soothe him. Rourke swallows the medication. "I have panic attacks when I talk about this stuff," he says. At his lowest, he says he was sitting in a closet with his favorite dog, Beau Jack, "doing some crazy shit, but I saw a look in Beau Jack's eyes, and I put the shit down. That dog saved my life. There's still a little man inside me with an ax — but I keep that little fucker quiet." We at Angelina’s Wings doubt Mickey will ever neglect his dogs.

Mickey and Friend at LAX

Posted by Alexandra, courtesy of Angelina