Paws on parade: Nairobi's dogs dazzle at 'Pawchella'

Nairobi (AFP) — Nairobi dog lovers showed off their four-legged friends in an array of quirky, colourful outfits Sunday as the Kenyan capital’s annual dog show returned with the theme of “Pawchella”.

From Mexican-style sombreros to East Africa’s Maasai-inspired shukas — and even coordinated owner-pet outfits — the fashion spectrum was as bold as it was adorable.

Dubbed the Shaggy Dog Show, the annual event is organised by the Kenya Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (KSPCA) for pups rescued from abuse or the street.

“We get 6,000 calls a year for immediate, urgent help,” KSPCA’s chief Emma Ngugi told AFP, adding that the emergencies arise from car accidents, human cruelty or sickness.

With the theme “Adopt, don’t shop!”, many of the rescued dogs stealing the spotlight in fu