Liz, left, and Waz Schultz, of Lookout Mountain, are devoted pet owners to five dogs – four Yorkshire terriers and one Labrador retriever.
Debbie Downs says her Chihuahua, Mirabelle, is like a child to her and husband Craig Downs.
Mirabelle uses a red velvet-covered ramp to get on and off the bed that she sleeps on with her owners, Debbie and Craig Downs.
Craig, left, and Debbie Downs brush the teeth of
their Chihuahua, Mirabelle, at their Ooltewah home.
Ronnie and Karen Roach, co-directors of DOGood
Chattanooga, have three toy poodles, Tilly, Jett and
Ginger, above from left, and one Goldendoodle.Mirabelle Downs is a local celebrity. Of sorts. Even local paparazzi follow her.
“Wherever we go, people take pictures of her,” says her “mom,” Debbie Downs of Ooltewah. “She loves people and will pose.”
Mirabelle is a two-pound Chihuahua owned by Downs and her husband, Craig.
As “Spokesdog” for the Bark in the Park community event held every fall at Heritage Park, Mirabelle also holds the title of Scenic City’s Next Top Dog, bestowed at a Goodwill fundraising event. She makes guest appearances at other canine-related events around town, too. Though the Downses are not empty nesters – they have no children – Mirabelle is like a child to them.
“We used to laugh about women carrying their little dogs everywhere, and now I’m one of them,” Debbie Downs says. “Mirabelle has a wonderful life with us.”