howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
courtesy of kent online
They've given their pets their own wardrobe, put tutus on them - and spend a whopping £1,000 on them every month.
Now a barking mad family from Kennington say their pooch pampering has got so famous everyone knows them.
Karen Chamberlain, 49, partner Peter Dowling, 48, and their six British bulldogs have been stopped on the beach, asked to pose for photographs and even been asked for an autograph.
Karen, who runs a business selling dog ovulation pads, said: "We don't get far if we take them on the promenade at Hythe because we keep getting stopped by people wanting pictures taken."
Their dogs, or "fur kids" as she calls them, are: Lady Lola, aged eight, Princess Tia, six, Baby Gracie, three, and one-year-old puppies: Angel Star, Scarlet Sky and Lil Belle.
Karen, who estimates she spends up to £1,000 each month on her dogs, loves nothing more than to dress them in skirts, hats and tiaras.
They even have their own wardrobe full of clothes from special designer shops, baby stores and Ebay.
"Some people are quite shocked when they see them in tutus and tiaras," she said. "It's perfectly normal for me. I love dressing them up and making them look pretty.
"If we're going out to town we will just put a little tutu on them. It makes people smile. If they didn't like it I wouldn't do it and they love the attention.
"If someone doesn't look at them or give them attention they will give them a dirty look."
The dogs have appeared on TV, in photo shoots and featured in national magazines.
They have also won numerous rosettes at dog shows. Tia and Gracie have also been shown at Crufts.
"They love having their picture taken," said Karen. "To see them enjoy all the things we do with them puts a smile on my face."
Her love affair with bulldogs started in 2000 when she bought her first dog, Ricky.
Sadly he died after fire at Karen's former home in Dartford but her two others, Lola and Tia survived, and she was given Gracie by some friends.
The family has grown from there but the couple is not ruling out having any more puppies.
Peter, a self-employed painter and decorator, said: "Hopefully we're going to breed some more but we need to get a bigger place.
"They've got a lovely temperament but they're a bit like a bulldog in a china shop. They will have everything over."
"It's like having six teenage girls really," added Karen. "They can get a bit hyper but if any of them misbehave they get put in the sin bin."
Dog ovulation pads..........?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
new one on me too.
the main issue in my view is whether the owners should be locked away in a padded cell.
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
Dog ovulation pads is a new one on me too!
I know I love dogs but this is a bit extreme
Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,305
"Fur Kids"? Sad people!
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,835
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
i am in agreement with terry and bern on this one.
