Dogs Hit the Catwalk for Charity

An Atlanta high school teacher comes up with the perfect way to challenge his students: A four-legged fashion show

By Sharon L. Peters
CTW Features

The models aren't really into self-deprivation and calorie counting, so the fashions will be constructed with a greater instant-expandability quotient than is customary.

And when they hit the runway, there will be no heavy eyeliner or Harry Winston jewels, but there may be a mid-show puddle cleanup.

No question about it. It'll be a chi-chi, celeb-studded fashion show of a decidedly different sort.

When the senior fashion design students from Atlanta's Grady High School present their satin, silk and damask creations at the Jan. 17 fashion show, the models will be four-legged.

Most of the fashionably-attired cocker spaniels, greyhounds, a Newfoundland, miniature schnauzer, German shepherd, mixed breeds and -- get ready for this -- a hulking English mastiff are real-life monthly beneficiaries of the P.A.L.S. (Pets Are Loving Support) Atlanta program. The non-profit, www.palsatlanta.org, provides free dog or cat food, annual check ups and other services to local pets who are chronically or terminally ill, disabled or elderly.

All of the thousands of dollars raised at the $35-a-ticket fashion extravaganza - called Doggies on the Cat Walk - will go to the program.

"There's no guarantee these dogs will keep these outfits on," laughs fashion teacher Vincent Martinez, who conceived and organized the event. "And there may be little accidents here and there on the runway, or some dog that decides to have its own little show of some sort."

No big deal. "We'll try to be prepared, and I'm sure everyone will have a good time," says Martinez.

The doggie fashions have been weeks in the making. "My students are fearless," says Martinez, who strives to create challenging assignments his pupils. After some nervous gulping and giggling upon receiving this assignment, they forged ahead with conceptualizing and creating the outfits.

Not all dogs were available for fittings, so photos and measurements had to suffice. "The easy way would be to use a lot of Velcro, but I was insistent that they use other means to make the outfits adjust, such as straps with bows," says Martinez.

Each designer also received a profile of the dog for which he or she was designing. "These will not be hokey," says Martinez. "We will not humiliate the pet."

Although the specific design is left to each student, Martinez says they will all be sophisticated. "We're a design program," he says. "These are not costumes."

Once Martinez concluded several months ago that he wanted the students to do some canine fashions, he knew he wanted it to be a fund-raiser for P.A.L.S. Atlanta. The program was thrilled to get the call and work with Martinez. "We rely on contributions and fund-raisers and this is a particularly lean time of year for us," says Kevin Bryant, operations director of P.A.L.S. Atlanta. "This is a wonderful way to introduce our program to more people in the community, and, of course, it's a very big deal when there's a chance for us to get thousands of dollars."

P.A.L.S was started more than a decade ago primarily to assist HIV/AIDS patients who, after months of being sick, often gave up their pets because they couldn't afford them. "That is heartbreaking, because we know the human-animal bond is so strong, and having a pet can make all the difference to someone who's ill," says Bryant.

In short order, the program morphed into one that helps housebound people with all manner of illnesses and disabilities.

Once plans started moving forward for Doggies on the Catwalk, Martinez contacted several local celebrities to ask their participation, including TV and radio personalities, Miss Georgia USA and a couple of Atlanta Silverbacks soccer players. They will lend some additional glitz and glamour to the event while essentially serving as dog walkers for the real stars: the canines who'll strut their stuff.

What’s your question? Sharon Peters would like to hear about what’s on your mind when it comes to caring for, training and loving your pet. E-mail Sharon@Pets2008.com.

Copyright © CTW Features

Comments	Date
By Steven Igarashi	2008-01-11 08:58:21
Kudos to Mr. Martinez and his wonderful students! I am pleased to see a teacher using creativity and true ingenuity to inspire our students! Additionally, Mr. Martinez's unique program allows the students to be involved in their community and get a taste of true philanthropy! This is a fine example of what public schools are doing right - I hope the show is another huge success for Mr. Martinez and his students!

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