Puppy Love, Tinsley Mortimer Style

It's easy to have a lot of preconceptions about someone like Tinsley Mortimer. After all, she's beautiful, wealthy and usually described with the epithet "New York socialite." But Tinsley's actually got a thriving career as a handbag designer, courtesy of a deal with the Japanese company Samantha Thavasa, and also a charitable spirit.

Tuesday night spotlighted both, at a glamorous cocktail party at the New York Thavasa boutique that raised money for NYC Shiba Rescue, a nonprofit that finds homes for Shiba Inus that have been abused or abandoned by their owners.

What's a Shibu Inu? It's a type of dog that was originally raised for hunting. The breed can be bossy, intense, and loud ... so sometimes these dynamic creatures are just too much for their owners to handle. NYC Shiba Rescue provides foster homes for Shiba Inus in need, giving them love and medical attention while finding each pooch a safe and responsible new home.

Every bag that was purchased at Tuesday night's event — including these snazzy, summery bags (above left) — resulted in a donation to NYCSR.

What's Tinsley's connection to Shiba Inus? None, except that she's a huge dog lover and has supported several pet-related causes in the past. "I love my dogs," said Tinsley at the event. "I call them my babies." If you see a designer pet carrier in her next Thavasa collection, don't be surprised if it comes in a size that's big enough to fit a dog from this beautiful breed.