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.