Vintage clothing to help vintage dogs

Scutte uses vintage clothes with proceeds going to vintage homeless dogs.
Flo a 10-year-old Basset hound mix pictured on the left.

When Kira Stackhouse adopted her Boston terrier, named Harley on New Year’s Day 2009 she wanted the little guy to be warm during the chilly San Francisco winter so she scoured the town looking for “cool clothes” for him to wear. She wanted to find simple every day clothes, but the only items on the store shelves were novelty shirts with sayings like “stud” or over the top decorated outfits.

That’s when Scutte (pronounced “scoot”) was developed. Kira decided if she wanted a simple style of casual wear for Harley she would have to start her own line of doggie wear.

Kira also decided to recycle vintage clothing from thrift stores to make the dog clothes. It gave her a new appreciation for things that are old and when she heard about an animal rescue group for old dogs she knew she had to partner with them.

The group is called Muttville and it was founded in 2007 by longtime animal activist, Sherri Franklin. From her years of experience Franklin knew that the prospects are pretty grim for unwanted senior dogs that end up in public animal shelters.

Every year thousands of older dogs with wonderful dispositions are abandoned in shelters. And once they get to an overcrowded facility with limited resources they are “practically written off” as un-adoptable.

The majority end up there because of situations, like the one that happened to Flo. She is a doe-eyed 10-year-old Basset hound mix, who was sent to the shelter after her owner got sick and wasn’t going to be able return home again. When family members and friends couldn’t take the dog she was relinquished to the shelter.

The other common reasons senior canines are turned-in is because their owner has passed away or the dog has developed a medical condition and the owners either can’t afford or won’t pay to get the dog veterinary care.

Unfortunately senior dogs left in a shelter have special health risks. They’re more susceptible to kennel cough, their arthritic bones get worse as they sit on concrete floors and the overall stress of living in a shelter environment can worsen their pre-existing illnesses.

For many old dogs the shelter is where they spend their last days before being euthanized.

Thankfully, organizations like Muttville have rescued and found homes for hundreds of senior dogs. Their website says this about their objective:

“Muttville’s mission is to change the way the world thinks about and treats older dogs and to create better lives for them through rescue, foster and hospice. We reach out to senior and special needs rescue dogs; find suitable homes for those dogs that are adoptable; and offer end of life care for those that are not.”

Stackhouse has established a program that donates a portion of the sales from Scutte to the rescue group. And as a photographer by profession, Kira decided to use the senior dogs from Muttville as models for the clothing line. She hopes this further promotes the adorable senior canines who are still looking for new homes.

The Senior Dogs Project also rescues old dogs. They list these 10 reasons why people should consider adopting a senior canine:

• 1. Most are housetrained.
• 2. They are past chewing inappropriate items.
• 3. They are focused so they quick learners.
• 4. Old dog know the meaning of “No.”
• 5. Settle in with a pack easier.
• 6. Give lots of love.
• 7. WYSIWYG – What you see is what you get in personality and behavior.
• 8. Instant companionship.
• 9. Owners get more time for themselves because seniors are less demanding.
• 10. A good night’s sleep – old dogs need their rest.

Sure, brand new puppies are adorable, but it's a heartwarming experience when an older dog looks you in the eye and crawls into your lap and falls asleep.