We're Moving!

The time has come, the walrus said.

I'm moving this blog to Tumblr. Eventually I'll take the time to move the muttropolitandiary.com URL too, but for the meantime, this blog will be at muttropolitandiary.tumblr.com

See you there.

xx

Black and white and furry all over

This trim little Boston Terrier works at a boutique on Orchard Street, peddling trendy clothing and—during his downtime—snuffling up stray bits of loose concrete and patrolling the sidewalk.

Saucisson en visor

It's technically spring, but it's been pretty chilly recently. It absolutely makes sense to pull on your rugged fur-trimmed parka and camouflage visor before heading out, especially if you're of a certain age.

some dogs like snow

Buzz, who probably weighs about 160 pounds, really likes snow. Thanks to zealous shoveling there wasn't much left on the sidewalk. But a tree pit, filled with snow, was just the right size for his big, chunky self. Ooh, so refreshing!

Thank you for riding the MTA

I love this fellow's hairstyle and the way he has so carefully coordinated his own palette with that of his owner's. Nice work, guys.

I'll just wait here

animals with animals

Cuter than babies pushing baby carriages containing babies is animals carrying stuffed animals. This senior citizen was not about to let go of her soiled, well-loved plush charge.

true love waits

Four month-old particolored Schnauzer Sophie has big shoes to fill, say her owners. Their much-beloved previous dog, also a Schnauzer, died this past February 13 at age 14. The next day, Valentine's Day, they passed by a pet store on Christopher Street and saw five Schnauzer puppies in the window. But it was too soon. Six weeks later, they went back to the pet store and only one puppy remained: Sophie. "She was there and she was waiting for us." They took her home.

teeny tiny tyson

"Put me down! Put me down! Put me down!" Brindle pitbull Tyson did not much like being scooped up as if he were a teensy Malteser and tried to wheedle his way back onto a dignified all-fours stance by kissing the faces of his owner Anthony (left) and Anthony's best friend Louis.

wallflowers of a feather

Perhaps you have seen this fellow around. No? No, probably not. You probably just walked by him, busy txting. OK, how can I decribe him. So he likes stripes. I think he's got a beard, maybe a moustache. Dog looks a lot like him. Has a thing for accessories. Do you know the guy I mean? Fond of greenery, also flowers. Brights! He likes brights! Like, combinations of brights. And flowers, and greenery, and accessories. Like, all at the same time. Has a dog, in the same palette. No? OK. Um...his name is Ms. Colombia, Queen of the Supremes. Did I mention he has unusual hair? It's sort of...well, I don't think it's natural. I think he dyes it or maybe it's a wig. I can't believe you don't know who I'm talking about. Whatever, I guess it makes sense; I mean, there are just so many people in the city and sometimes you're distracted and also some people just don't stand out.

p.s. Did I mention he carries a dog? Named Cariño. And Ms. Colombia stresses that the dog's hair is dyed with food color, and that it washes out easily, every time the little guy gets washed, which is approximately every two weeks.

p.p.s. Happy Spring from the Muttropolitan Diarist. And Cariño.

border terrier to go

This is Chico, a frisky border terrier (is that redundant?) of six or seven years. His owner, Lourdes, says he's "a character. He sings when I sing. He loves to ride. When he gets tired of walking he just climbs right up on you." Freedom and security. The best of both worlds.

the song of the hairy whale

Not another bulldog named Bella -- please say it ain't so! Luckily, this Bella's full name is Beluga, like the whale, and from certain angles (as below) it must be said the resemblance to her namesake is uncanny.

dog used for laughs

The owner of this PBGV -- an acronym denoting not an STD, sandwich, or sports association but the breed also known as Petit Basset Griffin Vendeen -- named her dog Chowder because she wanted "a name that would make people laugh". Chowder, outgoing and a bit hyped up, did not seem to give a hoot but then possibly only speaks French.

samson, shopping

Twelve year-old chocolate lab Samson was spotted returning a pair of pants at Paragon sporting goods (or was that her owner? sometimes the Muttropolitan Diarist gets confused).

bonnie

This ice blue-eyed Louisiana Catahoula Leopard dog named Bonnie started off her life in New York being offered for sale out of a cardboard box on the sidewalk. Her now-owner's girlfriend saw her and swept her up; Bonnie occasionally encounters her brother, who is as mellow as she is high-energy, and lives in the West Village while she lives in the East Village.

gidget

This stiff-legged yet spunky and social Pom (aptly) named Gidget sparked an argument about her age between her two owners: one (in black coat) claimed she was 12, which caused the other (in gray coat)to roll her eyes and exclaim "Twelve!? She's about to turn 14. Everytime someone asks you how old she is she gets younger and younger!". Gray coat then turned to the Muttropolitan Diarist to say "the next time you come by here she'll be six."

Note to Hollywood: The Muttropolitan Diarist would much rather watch Gidget get younger and younger (imagine her as a tiny puffball puppy!) than watch Brad Pitt in "Benjamin Button" do the same.

two jack russells

young li

Not really so young anymore (sorry, Li!) this feisty l'il Norwich terrier named Liberace is still known by his intimates as Young Li. Like his owners, he appreciates the power of a colorful wintry accessory (or two).

G.B.

Westie G.B. was kind enough to park himself by a splotch of orange paint that nearly matched his quilted winter coat (kitted out with a slimming self-belt). Thanks, G.B.!

Reba and Romy

With heads that look as if they've been carved out of ebony, sisters Reba (left) and Romy are intense, gorgeous, aggressive creatures (they growled and lunged at the Muttropolitan Diarist, who was approaching them just as one of their owners said "they're not particularly friendly"). Pointy ears up, they were tracking a squirrel in a nearby tree as their owners explained they were adopted from a shelter in St. Croix, and added something else the M.D. did not know: pups in a litter don't necessarily have the same father. Likely Reba is a mix of lab and chow, and Romy a mix of lab and doberman pinscher. Clearly the dads are to blame for their daughters' aggressive streak: chows are notorious biters; dobermans are simply notorious.