The name's Bond, James OMGPLZGETTHISSHITOFFMENOW Bond

I read with some amusement the other day that despite the global financial crisis, dog fashion is a market on the rise. However instead of buying ridiculous over the top clothing for their dogs, owners had adjusted and were retraining themselves to buy “clothes in casual style – more comfortable, more day-to-day and less luxury.”

Because you know, the canine clothes market is on the verge of breaking out of the luxury market and all… I for one look forward to the day I can buy dog apparel from Aldi and the like.

Anyway I tossed the story onto the “stuff I might write about at some point” pile and forgot about it. The story primary dealt with canine fashion in Russia, a climate in which you’d have a much easier time convincing people your dog needed a James Bond tuxedo to uh.. keep warm from the uh.. ah…cold.

Surely putting an Australian spin on such a story was beyond difficult, I mean it’s not like people in Australia buy these ridiculous outfits for their pets right?

…Right??

Wrong.

Across my travels on the internet today I came across a BigW (for my American visitors think small scale Walmart) promotion where they get you to upload photos of your pets. I, like everybody else find browsing pet photos a perfectly acceptable way to waste some time on a cloudy Sunday afternoon.

That was until I saw the photo of the pet currently leading the competition.

Meet Milo.

For some unknown reason, a dog with a male name wearing a fairy princess outfit is leading an online competition of pet photos. Homosexuality has been a long debated topic amongst animal behavioural experts and no I don’t have anything against gay animals but come on, a red tutu on a dog named Milo… really? NOT HELPING, AUSTRALIA!

As I browsed the other entrants (of which thankfully no other animals on the top 10 are dressed) and more and more clothed dogs and cats started popping up it became apparent to me that Australian pet owners have clearly lost the plot.

I mean geez, I don’t know how many miscarriages it takes or whatever the hell else psychological trauma might explain animal “child” syndrome but I bloody well hope first prize is a trip for the winner straight to a psychologist.

Here are some other notable examples of animal torture from the competition:

Frankie: I'm gunna rip apart whoever put this stupid thing on me

Scruffie can't hold back the tears

Lucy: "he put this stupid sweater on me and... and...AND THEN HE TOUCHED ME!"

Sammy looks beyond ashamed. Almost like he has a horribly dirty secret.

I can’t believe Australian’s would subject their pets to this nonsense, and shame on BigW for promoting it!

You can see the rest of entries over at the BigW website (it’s a competition so apologies if the link has expired).

1. Why isn’t looking after a dog just common sense?
2. Aussie company Rising Sun Pictures behind 'Xmen Origins: Wolverine' leak?
3. Out of Control: Aussie Parents Drink Driving With Kids
4. How not to carry your dog when you’re on a bicycle
5. Aussie judges need to learn what a PUNISHment is again