Stories4 min(s) read
Published 17:04 12 Apr 2021 GMT
A woman has gone viral on social media after giving her dog 40-minute manicures.
California-based beautician named Maritza Rubalcava, who also goes by the handle @bellamourbeauty, is the TikTok user in question.
The 25-year-old recently picked up a lot of attention on the platform when she uploaded a video in which she decorated the claws of her Chihuahua dog Coco with bright pink fake nails.
But, she stressed to her followers that her pet pooch just models the nails for pictures and doesn't actually wear them.
Take a look at one of the controversial dog nail videos below:The nail technician went on to explain that she spends up to 40 minutes carefully crafting the canine's fake nails and then shares the results on social media. One such video currently boasts over three million views as of the time of writing.
Rubalcava has now started selling bespoke fake doggy nails on her website, costing approximately $15 (£10) per pack, with 25% of the profits from sales going to the animal rescue organization Hope for Paws.
However, the scheme has proven to be divisive among viewers. As you can see in the comments below, some people have reacted positively to Coco's fake nails.
For instance, one person wrote: "Could you do more nails on the dog but make them giraffe-themed?! Like maybe some brown and yellow ones?!"
Another person wrote: "I could watch your videos for hours."
A third chimed in: "Just made my purchase for my fur baby."
However, other people expressed concern that putting fake nails on Coco could prove detrimental to the animal's health.
For instance, one person wrote: "I'm sorry, is this not animal abuse? This poor dog cannot walk properly in long nails which can lead to permanent damage."
Another person commented: "Omg do u not realize that her nails are [too] long it can damage her walking and when she's an old dog u will have to put her down early. [sic]"
Meanwhile, someone else wrote: "Please tell me you don't keep these on your dog. Your dog's nail length [in] the first video was too long and can cause issues. This will hurt your dog."
Another person added: "Please trim your dog's nails it doesn't need fake nails."
Finally, someone else stated: "No that must be very uncomfortable for her to walk in."
Rubalcava claims that she adopted Coco after she found the little dog abandoned in a box outside of her mother's shop and that Coco enjoys being pampered by her.
Rubalcava later uploaded this follow-up post:Despite the above comments, it appears that the fake doggy nails are purely decorative in nature.
Indeed, a disclaimer on Rubalcava's website clearly states: "Please remember, these nails are only for prop and not for actual wear."
