Animal House

New York City has pigeons which base their sleep patterns upon those of its human inhabitants.

It has scores of Animal Day Care Centers. I pass the "Animal Play Care" center on 60th Street every morning on my way to work. It has rats that travel on the public transport system.

And then there's the very large rat outside the building site a block from our apartment. This particular rat is helping out the local building workers union, by informing commuters that there is non-union labour employed on the site. Even coyotes have been sited in New York City (NYS Department of Environmental Conservation).

Contrary to what many non-New Yorkers might think, New York City is alive with animals.

The breeds of dogs most fashionable among New Yorkers this century are - mixed breeds, Rottweilers, Pit Bulls, German Shepherds and Shih Tzus. But although many of the breeds preferred by inhabitants of the Apple may be exotic, the dogs' names are pedestrian to say the least. The ten most popular names are reported to be Max, Lucky, Rocky, Princess, Lady, Buddy, Shadow, Coco, Brandy and Sandy.

The dogs of New York may have ordinary names, but they are far from ordinary as far as their talents are concerned.

Take Tilly for example. Tilly an aspiring artist, is said to be the "bitch of the art world". At the tender age of three, Tilly has already had eleven exhibitions. Her latest, "Collaborations" can be seen at National Arts Club , Gramercy Park South, until May 10. The exhibition includes paintings and photos. These creative efforts sell for upwards of $200, and are apparently selling like hot dogs.



As well as being an artist, Tilly, according to her owner Bowman Hastie (Time Out New York May 2-9), is responsible for raising such philosophical questions, as "What is art?"

There appears to be no end to her talents.

What next? Dog opera stars? Dog writers (almost done by New York writer Paul Auster in Timbuktu). Perhaps dog pop stars?

Check out Gringo and you may see a chance for clergy dogs. Or Bessie for the possibility of dog sex-workers. The possibilities are as endless as Tilly's talents.

Actually, I'm not much interested in dogs. Certainly not city dogs. If they want to become skilled, they can in my opinion, concentrate on toilet-training. I find it quite revolting to watch New Yorkers put their hands in plastic bags to scoop up what my daughter used to call Barkers' Eggs.

I mightn't know much about art, but I know what spoils my breakfast.

Kate Juliff
New York
May 2002