The Real Models of Cassandra Shaw Jewelry

Walk into Cassandra Shaw Jewelry on #276 Basilio Badillo and you’ll notice something immediately. The models at Cassandra Shaw Jewelry aren’t your typical industry professionals. These creators offer a more soulful kind of presence: they nap through meetings, observe the craftsmanship with quiet curiosity, and habitually steal the spotlight from the jewelry. Frequently they are the reason people stop in and say hello. For years, Cassandra Shaw Jewelry models are her rescue dogs turning her advertising into something more personal than just branding.

These dogs aren’t just mascots. They’re family. In a fashion jewelry store and studio rooted deeply in the Puerto Vallarta community, they’ve become a large part of the identity of Cassandra Shaw Jewelry.

Where Jewelry Is Living — and Has A Story

Cassandra Shaw’s work has always been about one-of-a-kind pieces — jewelry made by hand, designed as wearable art rather than trends. Using her dogs in her ads wasn’t a marketing strategy; it was simply a true reflection of the jewelry in her store, each unique, one of a kind with a story behind it. Her companions were always there, in the studio, at the bench, out in the neighborhood, and eventually in front of the camera.

Over time, those images resonated. Locals recognized the dogs. Visitors remembered them. And what began as an honest reflection of Cassandra’s daily life evolved into something uniquely hers.

A Creative Studio Where Dogs Are Family

Many of the dogs featured in Cassandra’s ads didn’t come from perfect beginnings. Many were rescued from the streets of Puerto Vallarta or taken in through rescue networks. Their journeys — from uncertainty to stability — mirror the kind of care and patience that defines Cassandra’s work. The store is not just a place of creation but a second chance for the dogs. We asked Cassandra to reflect on a few of her favorite memorable models.

Painting the Dogs Who Inspire the Work

Jewelry isn’t Cassandra Shaw’s only medium. She is also a painter, creating expressive dog portraits that reflect the same bold color sense and emotional simplicity found in her jewelry.

Some paintings feature rescue dogs. Others are commissioned by clients who bring photographs of their own beloved companions. Each piece is painted from the photo, capturing personality rather than realism — long necks, soulful eyes, confident stances. The result is deeply personal artwork that often means as much to clients as any piece of jewelry.

More Than a Jewelry Studio — A Cultural Connector

Beyond art and jewelry, Cassandra Shaw Jewelry has become a very integral part of the Puerto Vallarta community. The store regularly serves as a local ticket outlet for select live performances and cultural events in Puerto Vallarta, connecting visitors and residents to what’s happening beyond the storefront. This role feels natural in a space that has always blended creativity, conversation, and daily life.

MatchDog Puerto Vallarta — Finding the Right Match

Cassandra’s commitment to rescue extends beyond her own dogs. Her sister, Candace Shaw, founded MatchDog Puerto Vallarta — not a dating site, but a community-driven resource designed to help people find the right dog or cat for their lives.

MatchDog works closely with animal shelters and rescue organizations, uses social media to reunite lost pets with owners, and helps animals find permanent homes. It operates without funding or fees, relying entirely on community participation and shared compassion.

Meet the Models

 

M J Bean — The Original Model

Before there were ads featuring rescue dogs, there was M J Bean — also known as Mexican Jumping Bean. Cassandra and Bean spent 17 years together, working, traveling, and living life throughout Puerto Vallarta.

Bean was very social, fearless, and naturally photogenic. She was the reason Cassandra first began featuring her dogs in her creative work. Long-legged, chocolate-haired, and endlessly charismatic, Bean set the tone for everything that followed. Her presence is still felt in the studio today.

Zsa Zsa — Fearless, Curious, and Always by Cassandra’s Side

Zsa Zsa was found roaming the streets of Colonia Vista Hermosa when she was four and a half months old. She weighed  barely one kilogram and was dealing with ticks, fleas, and a painful tooth infection when a caring neighbor contacted MatchDog Puerto Vallarta. After time in foster care, she found her way home to Cassandra and her new career where she met Rocky Raccoon another Cassandra Shaw model.

Today, Zsa Zsa is fearless, curious, and rarely far from Cassandra’s side. She accompanies her mom daily to the jewelry store, art studio, and neighborhood restaurants throughout the Romantic Zone, a tiny presence with an outsized personality.

Rocky Raccoon — The Shy One Who Found His Match

Rocky Raccoon was found on the dirt streets on the outskirts of Puerto Vallarta, weighing just three pounds and terrified of nearly everything around him. Even after being brought indoors, shadows and sudden movements were enough to send him retreating.

Rocky never quite took to the idea of being a “busy shop dog,” and Cassandra had to remind store customers not to pet him. When Rocky met Zsa Zsa everything changed. The two became inseparable, proving that sometimes the right match makes all the difference.

Leonardo — The First Chihuahua, Always the Heart

Leonardo was Cassandra’s first chihuahua and, in many ways, the beginning of it all. For 13 years, he was her constant companion — walking beside her, riding wrapped around her neck, always close.

He wasn’t a model in the traditional sense, but he shaped the bond that would later define the store. Leonardo was a emotional cornerstone for Cassandra, a reminder that the deepest connections often come first.

Angelo — The Adventurous Socialite

Why Locals Call Cassandra Shaw Jewelry the “Chihuahua Jewelry Store”

Some nicknames can’t be manufactured — they’re earned. Over the years, Cassandra Shaw Jewelry has become affectionately known as “the Chihuahua jewelry store,” a reflection of the dogs who greet visitors, appear on store promotional postcards, and feature prominently in the studio’s visual world.

Those postcards seen below are illustrated with dogs and art tied to the jewelry — often travel home with visitors, carrying a piece of Puerto Vallarta with them.

In a town full of color, creativity, and character, Cassandra Shaw Jewelry stands out not just for what’s made at the bench, but for who curls up beneath it.