Yappy New Year for Japan's worshipping pets

So we decided to make this the best place for pets to worship

It goes to show that there really is no understanding of the dogs and their needs. They are tiny substitute humans and are expected to make all the adaptations in the relationship even though they are the least capable of doing so. It's no wonder so many of them seem to have "adjustment disorders".

high demand from animal lovers

two miniature dachshunds that were proudly sporting tiny fur-trimmed kimonos.

Does not compute. What kind of animal lover uses fur?

Some might describe the idea as barking mad

Count me in with the some.

Cleo, Would be OK if the fur was made from dog hair collected from the hairbrush. I agree, what kind of fur and what animal (if it was not fake fur) had to donate its surface for this? Details missing, as usual, from JT.

Kimono for the mutt is silly, but to each their own...as long as that tiny doggie is not a yapper. The one in my area bothered me for years before expiring. Owners must have been deaf.

Just wondering if these are the same dogs left outside the houses, all year round, whatever the weather, tethered to a kennel, water bowl just out of reach (and it's not only "medium" and "big" dogs) and left to howl in despair... ? A visit to the shrine being the ONLY time they get to go out ?

When we bought our mansion, my wife invited a Catholic priest over to bless the place. But she even made him bless the little toilet room, I was so embarrassed.

Just wondering if these are the same dogs left outside the houses, all year round, whatever the weather, tethered to a kennel, water bowl just out of reach

Nah, the poor dogs that get treated that way (why bother having a dog at all if you're not going to look after it???) are in a different league to the indoor dogs, the ones that get fed gourmet stuff and dressed up in daft little coats. Though I understand a lot of the indoor dogs spend a lot of their time in a cage or circle - not much different from the outdoor dogs, except I suppose that they're not exposed to the elements.

When we bought our mansion, my wife invited a Catholic priest over to bless the place. But she even made him bless the little toilet room, I was so embarrassed

LOL!!!