There was a full-page, color ad in the Style section of thispast Sunday's New York Times highlighting some of designer Ralph Lauren's productline for the holidays. The ad featured two gorgeous models, one looking somewhat boredand distant while the other, a perkier model, sat open-mouthed as though readyto speak. The models were positioned in front of a backdrop of fallen snow andblue sky with an evergreen tree just slightly out of focus. The showcasedproduct worn by the pouting model – a bright green vest, emblazoned with thefamous Ralph Lauren insignia – immediately captured your attention. This wasRalph Lauren doing what Ralph Lauren does best: selling a sexy, exclusive, andexpensive lifestyle. As any reader of the Times or almost any magazine knows,there is nothing unique about a full-page Ralph Lauren ad – especially duringthe holidays. But the models in this ad were dogs – as in the canine kind –advertising Ralph Lauren's line of high-end attire for pets. Now I'm sure Ralph Lauren has run ads for its pet line inthe past and I probably didn't pay any attention to them. But there issomething about advertising "Polo Dog Alto Vests" during this time of economicconcern/crisis (concern if you have a job/crisis if you don't) that I found, wellquite frankly, offensive. Don't get me wrong, I love pets – especially dogs. Our housestill isn't the same after putting our ailing 13-year-old Norwegian elkhound down.And, I completely understand that there are some dogs – not a Norwegianelkhound – that need vests, coats or little doggie boots to endure harshwinters. But doggie couture? Really? I

was curious to see what items in Polo's canine line wereselling for so I visited ralphlauren.com where I discovered good news forbargain-hungry shoppers. The "Dog Alto Vest", prominently featured in the ad, hasbeen reduced from $125 to a mere $79. Other items are even less expensive. Thehoodie for your pooch is only $44 – a significant savings from the usual retailprice of $75. Of course, if your pet has been especially nice this holidayseason you might want to consider something a bit more extravagant. The"Holiday Plaid Cashmere Sweater", usually priced at $195, can be yours for$119. Perhaps the best bargain, however, is the "Holiday Riding Dog Coat" thathas been slashed from a retail of $225 to a sale price of only $114. At priceslike these, why not update your dog's entire wardrobe? Earlier this year I was in Ethiopia meeting with healthofficials to try to determine ways to get nutritious food to people living withHIV/AIDS in a country plagued with malnutrition and famine. I didn't think ofit on my visit, but I don't recall meeting a single person who had a pet. Idid, however, spend considerable time with a community worker who told me thatin her previous job in Addis Ababa,she worked ten hour days, six days a week, for an annual salary that totaledabout $325. You read that correctly, $325 for approximately 3,100 hours of worka year. That's the equivalent of a Ralph Lauren dog vest, a cashmere dogsweater, and a holiday riding dog coat – on sale. I find this offensive. I suspect myEthiopian friend would find it unfathomable.