Emma Watson & the pink bichon frise Darcy

**Novice** · June 24th, 2012, 08:10 AM

I thought that there was a "celebrity & their pets" thread but I can't find it

Emma Watson's wizard wheeze as she dyes her puppy PINK

Harry Potter actress paid £90 to have her one-year-old bichon frise Darcy coloured bubblegum pink
Dye made from beetroot is harmless, dog-grooming salon owner says
But TV vet Emma Milne warns that putting chemicals on a dog's fur could cause it problems

By Emily Hill
PUBLISHED: 23:35, 23 June 2012 | UPDATED: 23:35, 23 June 2012

A look to dye for: Emma Watson turns heads as she takes Darcy for a walk after the treatment

Picasso had his rose period – and now so too does Emma Watson’s dog Darcy, after the Harry Potter actress dyed her a shocking shade of bubblegum pink.

Thanks to a fashionable £90 treatment, the one-year-old bichon frise now has a look that might go down well with pink-loving Hogwarts professor Dolores Umbridge – even if it has raised eyebrows among some animal-lovers.

Ms Watson was spotted with the pink pooch on the streets of Bethnal Green, East London, on Friday, after having the dye treatment at Groom Dog City.

Owner Stuart Simons said: ‘Emma has dyed Darcy twice. Pink is our biggest colour, but I do look after another bichon called Casper who comes in for a blue mohican.’

He said the beetroot-based semi-permanent dye is harmless. ‘All the dyes I use are completely animal-friendly. They are made from vegetable dye.
'I wet the dog, rub it on like a shampoo, leave it for five minutes and then wash it off. Because Darcy is white, it takes really well.
'She is a very calm dog, absolutely lovely, and she enjoys her groom.’

But TV vet Emma Milne said: ‘Dogs are not playthings; they are not dolls. If you are putting a chemical on a dog’s fur, you could cause that dog problems.

‘Even if the dye is completely safe – and the dye that Emma Watson has used should be absolutely fine – you are still altering the way the dog looks and smells to other animals. Potentially, it could have an effect on the way that dog interacts with other dogs.

‘A dog is still a living object that hasn’t had any say on whether it wants to be pink.’

Unsurprisingly, Mr Simons – whose own dyed dogs have featured in campaigns for fashion house Mulberry – disagrees.‘Lots of people say it’s cruel to dye a dog but I say, it takes no time, it doesn’t affect their skin and they don’t look in the mirror and go, “Oh, I’m so embarrassed.”

Before and after: How Darcy looked prior to the treatment (left) and while walking in Bethnal Green, London, on Friday (right)

‘Rather, they get so much attention in public and all the strokes and interaction, it can’t be a bad thing.’

He also believes his salon will see a sharp increase in ‘doggy dyes’ during the Olympics. ‘Oh yes,’ he said. ‘I expect to get a lot of requests for red, white and blue. And I may be able to do the Olympic circles on poodles.’

Ms Watson, 22, is not the only celebrity to use their dog as a fashion statement.

Amber Heard, the actress romantically linked to Johnny Depp, has dip-dyed her Yorkshire terrier cerise, while Victoria Beckham often has her bulldog’s toenails painted a shocking pink

Read more: Emma Watson's wizard wheeze as she dyes her puppy PINK | Mail Online

**Brookie** · June 24th, 2012, 08:12 AM

Stupid.

**McJag** · June 24th, 2012, 10:13 AM

Poor doggy! His natural coat was so pretty. Hope this grows out fast.

**angelais** · June 24th, 2012, 10:35 AM

Wtf is wrong with people? I am sure if the poor doggy looks int the mirror she will be humiliated.

**Laurent** · June 24th, 2012, 12:42 PM

I like her, so maybe I'm just being forgiving, but I don't see the hurt if the dye truly is harmless.

**sputnik** · June 24th, 2012, 01:06 PM

stupid but harmless.

**OrangeSlice** · June 24th, 2012, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by Laurent

I like her, so maybe I'm just being forgiving, but I don't see the hurt if the dye truly is harmless.

Yeah, ditto here. If the dye really is harmless, then who cares.

**Honey** · June 24th, 2012, 04:09 PM

It looks really daft, I don't like when people do this to their pets. I so want a bichon, they are gorgeous

**Novice** · June 24th, 2012, 05:18 PM

Its a beetroot based dye so it should be harmless, but, if I'm honest, I don't see the point. I don't see the point dressing up animals in stuff either though.

**angileek42** · June 28th, 2012, 04:03 AM

Dumby

**roslyntaberfan** · June 28th, 2012, 02:09 PM

Silly bitch. I hope Darcy leaves pink stains on her carpets (if she has them) and/or her walls.

**Laurent** · July 2nd, 2012, 08:38 PM

Did Emma Watson Dye Her Dog Pink?!

Mon., Jun. 25, 2012 1:44 PM PDT by Peter Gicas

Twitter; Andy Kropa/WireImage

The sight of Emma Watson walking a precious pink-dyed pooch in London over the weekend had some seeing red.

It was initially reported that the dog belonged to the Harry Potter star, with many animal lovers questioning how she could do such a thing.

However, the 23-year-old actress has since taken to Twitter to clarify the situation.

Namely, that the brightly colored canine isn't even hers!

"@PinkDarcyDog is pink because her owner is raising money for breast cancer," Watson tweeted. "I wish Darcy was my dog but she isn't. Was just walking her."

Watson was also sure to note that she doesn't even have a dog, along with a hashtag that pretty much says it all.

#factcheckingtakesfiveminutes."

Read more: Did Emma Watson Dye Her Dog Pink?! - E! Online

**choozen1ne** · July 2nd, 2012, 08:43 PM

I think that is a good cause to raise funds for Breast Cancer and the dog probably has no idea he is walking around pink instead of white
If I could I would dye my little morkie purple but his fur is too dark

**Waterslide** · July 2nd, 2012, 11:39 PM

Well, that explained that. I didn't think beetroot was so bad, I guess I'm team dumb but harmless. People have been putting nailpolish on dogs since forever though. I'd be more worried about the toxins in that. And I agree, mcjag, the doggy has a beautiful coat! Love that color.