She doesn't like to admit it, but Shay Mitchell has a secret past: She used to dress her 3-year-old Pomeranian, Foxy, in little outfits. "I'm not gonna lie, when I first got her I definitely had a bigger wardrobe for Foxy than I did for myself," the Pretty Little Liars star tells PEOPLEPets.com. "It was kind of crazy, but I was just so excited – she was a little puppy and she was so cute!"
Though Mitchell's dog-dressing days are behind her – save for the occasional PJ party – she is happy to have a canine companion around as her hit ABC Family show continues to make her a household name. "I wanted little dog to come with me when I traveled ... somebody that I could keep in front of me on the airplane, but had a big dog attitude," she shares.
Luckily, she found that in Foxy. "I was living on my own from the time I was 18, so I was able to take care of myself and manage a whole lot more responsibilities," she says. "I was working later shifts at night, going to auditions during the day, but I was home a lot, and able to look after the dog."
The Toronto native admits she misses home, but appreciates the pet-friendly benefits of L.A. "There are so many great dog parks," she says, "and the weather is always so nice."
Those factors prove especially important since the 4.5-lb. Foxy happens to be a huge bundle of energy! "I have a Chuckit, and even though it uses a normal size tennis ball, she loves it," Mitchell laughs. "She runs and runs – like the length of a football field – with the ball in her mouth. She never gets tired!"
She also has the unique ability to stand up to big dogs; something Mitchell hopes will help them both in the future. "I would love to get another dog, a huge dog," she shares. "I feel that as soon as I move into a bigger place with a yard, I'll maybe get a Rhodesian ridgeback. I'd like to have five dogs if I could." We'll see what Foxy has to say about that!
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