High Fashion and SC Pets Collide at New York Fashion Week

Dogs from Spartanburg Humane Society Take to the Runway

At this year’s New York Fashion Week, five lucky dogs from the Spartanburg Humane Society will be gracing the runway and potentially finding new homes among fashion-forward attendees. Spartanburg Humane Society is joining 20 other non-profit organizations in participating in CatWalk FurBaby, a philanthropic fashion event hosted by women’s lifestyle magazine Elysian. This event teams non-profits with fashion designers who design coordinating outfits for models and dogs to strut down the catwalk, vying for a trio of $25,000 prizes, including the People’s Choice Award, the Judge’s Award, and the Publisher’s Award.

Aiming for Pet Adoption and Organizational Exposure

For CEO of Spartanburg Humane Society, Angel Cox, the event offers an opportunity to tell the organization’s story on a national stage, by getting more pets in homes and potentially winning funding. In addition to the event, a documentary is being shot, further spotlighting the organizations and pets involved. This year marks Spartanburg Humane Society’s second attendance but their first time partaking in a team with a model and designer. In the previous event, they managed to get two dogs adopted.

Meet the Canine Models

The five chosen dogs left Spartanburg for New York earlier this week. These included Louie, a five-month-old Border Collie mix, who will be the main model for the Spartanburg Humane Society team whilst his friends, terrier mix Percy, Chester, six-year-old Ziggy, and two-year-old Kirk, will replace other dogs who could not attend. The dogs were selected due to their small size, friendly temperament, and leash training. Cox hopes that all dogs will be adopted by the event’s end.

Designer Outfits Repurpose Leashes and Tags

Designer Christina Strayer crafted a special dog harness for Louie and a corresponding skirt and top for the team’s human model, Tatum Mogck, using repurposed leashes and dog tags. Mogck, a 20-year-old employee at Spartanburg Humane Society and neuroscience major at Wofford College, is set to walk her first high-fashion runway, citing the experience as “a dream”. Prior to this, she has modeled for artists and Western clothing brands.

Non-profit Representation till in Full Swing

CatWalk FurBaby showcases the work of non-profits from five sectors: animals, children, the environment, public service, and women. This year, Spartanburg Humane Society joins seven other South Carolina-based non-profits on stage. Up for grabs is the People’s Choice award which relies on public donations. Currently, the Spartanburg Humane Society leads the pack due to their tireless pet advocacy work.

The Event Details and Beyond

CatWalk FurBaby will take place at Sony Hall in New York City from 11 a.m. Thursday, with a live stream available on the ELYSIAN Connect app. A mix of adoptable pets and pet influencers, including Charlie the Love Chug, will take the runway, aiming to shine a light on animal causes and encourage pet adoption.