Dolce & Gabbana Releases Perfume for Dogs
Fashion house Dolce & Gabbana has launched a new alcohol-free perfume for dogs called "Fefé" but not all vets and pet owners agree it's safe or appropriate.
Domenico Dolce, the co-founder of the fashion house, has a poodle named Fefé and the perfume has been made in honor of his pet.
The perfume costs $108 for 100 milliliters and has been certified as suitable for animal use. It follows a Safe Pet Cosmetics protocol designed to ensure a degree of safety of cosmetic products for animals comparable to that required for humans, Dolce & Gabbana said.
All of the dog owners consulted agree that the fragrance is "gentle and well accepted by their pets," and veterinarians approve of the product, according to the company's website.
But not all veterinarians agree on the use of perfumes for dogs, as they may interfere with the animal's sense of smell and cover up bad odors that could be a symptom of diseases.
"Dogs recognize themselves by smells, they recognize a person by a smell," said Federico Coccía, a veterinarian in Rome.
"When the dog arrives, he sees you, wags his tail, but first smells you and then recognizes you," Coccía said. "Therefore, this world of smells should not be changed."
He said that it could also affect the work that veterinarians do: they often smell a dog's breath or ears when they're examining an animal. If the dog is wearing a perfume, this could make it more difficult for vets to do their job.
However, some animal lovers like the idea.
"Our dogs live with us, so a little dog at home on the couch next to us with a perfume is always pleasant," said one dog groomer.
Others say that dogs shouldn't be wearing perfume because it's almost as if we're trying to turn them into little humans.
The perfume comes in a green bottle with a gold paw on the front and it has been reported that pet owners will get a free dog collar if they buy a bottle.
