Please forgive my radio silence yesterday, Dogsters. I had to be up and out the door much earlier than usual to appear on NBC’s “Today,” as part of a makeover segment. Pretty good excuse, huh?

Here’s a photo of how I looked “After” my hair got dramatically darkened by master colorist Louis Licari (and shortened by brilliant stylist Arsen Gurgov). Licari’s goal was to impart some of Kim Kardashian’s dusky beauty to my mane. And I couldn’t be more grateful for my new look. (To view yesterday’s segment, go here. And trust me, Natalie Morales is even more beautiful in person!)

Receiving a makeover results in an instant lift. As the saying goes, when you look good, you feel good. It follows that when you look your best, you feel great. And let’s face it, we are all judged by our appearance – so if the exterior is well-cared-for, what’s inside can shine through.

I know that yesterday’s pampering session – which included receiving the full treatment from celebrity makeup artist Enid O, plus wearing a knockout Little Black Dress by designer Catherine Malandrino – was a totally empowering experience. So why shouldn’t dogs experience that same kind of lift? Especially homeless dogs whose appearancehas grown unkempt due to human negligence? Making adoptable dogs look their best is bound to increase their chances of finding a loving home.

“Today” proves the point; the show is makeover central. This morning, Louis Licari and his team were at it again, working their magic with “Ambush Makeovers,” in which unsuspecting pedestrians in the vicinity of NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza HQ are lasso’d and beautified, then revealed in all their glory to millions of TV viewers. But “Ambush” wasn’t the only makeover story on today’s “Today.”

Viewers were treated to a different breed of makeover segment – and it was all about homeless dogs. The show’s producers agree that down-and-out dogs deserve makeovers too, because looking good can improve their chances of adoption. So Kerry Sanders, NBC’s Miami correspondent,filed an excellent story on”Speed Dating for Dogs,” spotlighting homeless dogs in Orlando, Florida. (To view the segment, go here.)

“This is the Today Show, and we love those before-and-after photos,” Sanders said as the screen flashed before-and-after images of two sweet dogs: an English Springer Spaniel named Norville and a mutt named Kabob.

After Norville, Kabob, and their homeless canine friends all got groomed and glamorized, it was time for their date with destiny. They were ready to be introduced to potential adopters at a wine-and-cheese mixer. And sure enough, many of the dogs found forever homes.

Has your dog had a positive experience being “made over,” by you or by professionals? Please tell all in the comments!