Dapper Dogs
Teenager Sir Darius Brown helps dogs get adopted with his stylish bow ties.
By Cheryl Smyth
Doggies are looking dapper in bow ties all across America in an effort to appeal to prospective adopters. Thanks to 13-year-old Sir Darius Brown, who always looks dashing himself in these ties he creates, more of the animals have been finding homes.
As a youngster, Brown was diagnosed with several developmental issues, which included a fine motor skills delay—a condition that makes gripping and other hand manipulations difficult. By the time the New Jersey youth turned eight, in an effort to improve movement in them, he assisted in cutting and stitching the fabrics needed for the hair ribbons his sister, Dazhai Shearz fashioned. In time, he developed an interest in bow ties. That interest quickly turned into a passion and has become a regular finishing touch to his attire whenever he heads out.
Inspired by his sister’s hair accessory business, Brown established his own as people were taking notice and fancying the bow ties for themselves. After the devastations of the hurricanes Harvey and Irma his love for animals inspired him to help the numerous displaced pets—many of which were at risk of euthanasia. Some of those animals were moved to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in nearby New York. In hopes that dressing them in bow ties would increase their chances of finding homes, he donated a batch to the organization. Encouraged from the resulting success, he has since expanded his efforts to include other shelters in his region and beyond.
