Can Dog Costumes Be Culturally Appropriative?

From PetCostumeCenter.com: Halloween is a holiday that many consider synonymous with fun activities like trick-or-treating and carving pumpkins. However, its hallmark is also one of its most controversial elements: wearing costumes. In recent years, costume companies and families alike have been criticized for cultural appropriation. People of different ethnicities, religions, and races have spoken out about costumes are insensitive, disrespectful, or outright racist.

It can be hard for parents to navigate which costumes are appropriate for their children to wear and what crosses from cultural appreciation to appropriation. Pet parents face the same dilemma: what costumes should they or shouldn’t they dress their pets in? Considering it’s an animal wearing a costume and not a person, can pet costumes even be culturally appropriative? The short answer is yes. However it’s not as hard as you might think to find a fun and respectful outfit for your best friend. Continue reading…