Raise the Woof

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara went to the dogs at the weekend!

As part of a Pawsitively Fashionable event for Therapy Dogs of Santa Barbara, more than 62 entries of owners and their pets (presumably trying out for the cover of Dogue), dressed in striking colorful outfits representing stores from Santa Barbara to Solvang, including the Loom Boutique, Cashy’s Playpen, HundNKat, Dylan Star, J.McLaughlin, Lovebird, Parts Unknown, Rowan Leigh, Sainte Marie, and the Bacara spa and boutique shop.

Jody Williams, development coordinator, emceed the canine capers for the barking bash, which included founder Karen Stevens with her chihuahua Buffy, and executive director Carey Bradshaw and her golden retriever Dandelion, walking down the “catwalk” appropriately enough to the music of Madonna’s “Vogue.”

Among the programs organized by the doggie denizens are ARF (Animals + Reading = Fun!) to help youngsters to read, and Wag Well, launched in 2019, which helps teachers and students deal with stress, anxiety, and depression.

Clayton Van Hooijdonk, the tony hostelry’s manager, described the event as “a doggone success!”

“I’ve absolutely no doubt it will be back next year. It couldn’t have been a nicer day and all monies raised went to the charity.”