Dog owner who spends 40 minutes applying her Chihuahua’s fake nails is flooded with requests from other owners to do the same – but critics argue it’s ‘animal abuse’
- Maritza Rubalcava, 25, from California, is the owner of Coco the chihuahua, five
- She has gone viral on TikTok for sharing Coco wearing fake nails on her paws
- Many responses have praised the idea, but others argue it could harm Coco
A woman who spends almost an hour applying false nails to her pampered pooch’s paws has divided social media.
Maritza Rubalcava, 25, from California, spends up to 40 minutes carefully crafting false claws for her Chihuahua Coco, five.
Since posting cute videos of Coco modelling her twinkle toes on TikTok, the nail technician has gone viral with over three million views.
Maritza Rubalcava, 25, from California, has gone viral on TikTok after sharing clips of her chihuahua Coco wearing fake nails (pictured)
Maritza who spends up to 40 minutes making Coco’s fake nails, said the pampered paws are just for show. Pictured: Maritza and Coco
Maritza who insists the fake nails are only for show has divided viewers with just as many loving the idea as those slating the pampered paws.
Maritza said: ‘Coco is my baby and one night my husband and I were talking and we thought it would be so cute to make her some tiny fake nails.
‘I just did it for fun and it felt so random but it turned out well.
‘She loves being pampered so she really enjoys the process of me sticking the nails onto her claws with adhesive pads.
‘Coco just models them for pictures because they’re obviously really not practical for a dog to wear all of the time.
‘It’s just a little bit of bonding time with my dog and I really enjoy it.’
Maritza had already made four different sets of nails for Coco, since starting her own nail business in October last year.
Maritza said she and her husband were talking when they decided it would be ‘cute’ to make fake nails for Coco. Pictured: Maritza making Coco’s nails
Maritza said Coco enjoys the process of having the nails stuck to her claws (pictured) and it gives them an opportunity to bond
Maritza said she didn’t expect her videos of Coco (pictured) wearing fake nails to go viral on TikTok
She decided to post cute edits of her quirky nail creations on TikTok, some of which have gained over three million views – bringing both praise and criticism.
Maritza said: ‘It’s crazy that my videos of Coco and her nails go viral and I never expected them to.
‘A lot of people love the idea but some people didn’t.
‘I had some people who were so shocked at what I was doing but it’s just for fun. I would never actually do anything to harm Coco.
‘I’ve never seen anything like it before so maybe that’s why it shocked some people.’
Maritza said some social media users were shocked by her videos, but she would never do anything to harm Coco (pictured)
Maritza is now launching a collection of fake nails for dogs in response to the demand from social media users. Pictured: Maritza and Coco with matching pink nails
Responses to Maritza’s videos have been divided with many worrying how Coco is able to walk while wearing the fake nails
Maritza adopted Coco after she was abandoned in a box outside of her mother’s shop, and so enjoys giving her pup the best life possible.
The dog-lover is launching a collection of false nails for dogs, which cost $15, after overwhelming demand from other pampered pooch owners.
She added: ‘Coco was a rescue so when she first came to me she was really shy, but very attached to me.
‘So many people were requesting them so I decided to create a collection that other people and dogs can enjoy, but I’ve stressed that they’re just a prop.
‘I’ve always loved animals and I decided to donate a portion of the sales to an animal rescue organisation, in ode to Coco.’
Maritza who has always loved animals, said she’s donating a portion from the sales of her fake nails to an animal rescue organisation. Pictured: Coco