Woman dresses and pampers pet poodle like her own child

Toy poodle puppies tug at the dog lover's heartstrings, as was the case with Shiga. So far, she's had only toy poodles for pets. Photo: 123rf.com

Researcher, bestselling author and cooking instructor Daniela Shiga, 49, pampers her toy poodle Chiki like her own child. A Romanian married to a Japanese, she moved to Tokyo at the end of 1991. With no children of her own, Shiga showers Chiki with a lot of love and attention, to the point of creating a wardrobe for her. She loves to dress Chiki up in funny costumes and take pictures of her.

She says: “The costumes are really easy to put on – usually just the front legs are dressed. I have dressed her up as a nurse, doctor, pirate, cowboy, Peter Pan, policeman, schoolgirl and ninja. I also love to dress her up like a princess in gorgeous dresses and kimonos.”