Doggie bag

FIRST CAME THE DOGS. Teeny-weeny little things, smaller than a cat or even a rat, so little they could fit in your purse. Convenient, sort of. But consider the mayhem that a dog, no matter how tiny, can cause inside your pocketbook. It doesn't take a lot of imagination to figure out that you do not want all that mixing it up with your cell phone and lip gloss. This totally off-label use of the venerable handbag led to the next development in the world of mini-canine transportation, doggie carriers. These closely resemble a purse but come equipped with special flaps and openings to cater to the needs of the creature within (and the dog lover who carries the thing). Namely, unlike your typical purse, these have washable interiors. A major development on the timeline of dog accessories. It didn't take long for dog-hauling to morph into a fashion statement with Louis Vuitton, Gucci and other high-end designer labels creating carriers that cost a lot more than a lifetime supply of flea powder and heart-worm pills. We're talking thousands. An intriguing variation on this theme is the designer logo fanny pack that Gucci fashioned for dogs themselves. This creates the possibility of a dog lover, wearing head-to-toe Gucci, hoisting a Gucci dog carrier inside of which is nestled a dog wearing a Gucci fanny pack. The mind boggles. That brings us to the present and the latest chapter in the annals of hound-hauling. In this contraption the dog actually becomes the purse. The $89.95 Twinkletoes Traveler from inthecompanyofdogs.com has adjustable straps to convert your dog from handbag to shoulder bag and back again.