
If you are prowling around for a nifty deal on luxury fashion at the Galleria’s Neiman Marcus this holiday season, don’t be startled to find an extra fuzzy discount on unconditional love. Housing its 35th annual “Homes for the Holidays” pet adoption event, Neiman Marcus is mixing plush toys with real paws as pooches and kitties from the Houston SPCA take their poised positions in the store’s famed window displays. Every weekend through Dec. 10, then switching to the daily grind from December 15–23, this high-end haven is playing guardian angel to the city’s four-legged orphans, as per the Houston Chronicle.
Mirroring a scene straight out of a Norman Rockwell canvas, these four-legged aspirants to domestic life are doing more than just eliciting coos and awws from shoppers. They’re part of a deliberate strategy by both Neiman Marcus and the Houston SPCA to nudge the needle on pet homelessness. With homes found annually for around 90 to 120 animals through this event, per details by the Houston Chronicle, it’s no small wonder Dallas’ luxury retailer is dining out on the goodwill this initiative fosters.
Now, for the Joneses with both taste and heart, it’s not just the upper-crust threads at cut-rate prices that are drawing crowds. According to a FOX 26 Houston report, these pet adoption packages, ringing up at an approximate value of $500, include the full shebang: microchips, neutering or spaying, vaccinations, and a complimentary amuse-bouche of Hill’s Science Diet to tie the bow on this perfect starter kit for an enduring companionship.
“It’s not only a place where you can come and adopt a pet, but it also helps us raise awareness about the importance of pet adoption,” Julie Kuenstle, a spokesperson for the Houston SPCA, told the Houston Chronicle. True to form, Neiman Marcus isn’t just pulling the heartstrings but is also letting these adorable snuggle bundles strut their stuff inside the premises. Shoppers might catch volunteers taking small dogs out for a jaunt among the haute couture racks—a ploy that’s certainly one way to get tails wagging over the latest trends, as mentioned by the Houston Chronicle.
So while you’re out there making your list and checking it twice, don’t forget that the best things in life may not come wrapped in designer paper. If you’re looking to expand your brood this yuletide season, a hop down the bunny trail to Neiman Marcus might just land you with the cuddly co-pilot you never knew you needed. The gift of a pet’s unwavering companionship might just be the most luxurious indulgence of all.