Dog Day Afternoon

Avalon and owner Jaime Stankevicius at a liquor store in Chelsea; Photo: Andrea Mohin - NY Times

Gothamist didn't know what was best in the Times article about enormous dogs living in NYC apartments - knowing that one owner share a four-poster bed with his Great Dane or that a Bull Mastiff can pee "with considerable force and stamina" for 15 minutes or that someone actually rented an $1,800 one-bedroom apartment for the Bull Mastiff. While we're frightened of teeny, tiny rat dogs (yes, we get that it's because some apartments don't allow big dogs), we're just as amazed at people who can manage to keep dogs over 100 pounds in their apartments. We've heard that the key is to make sure they are super exercised, with many walks around the the neighborhood, so they are fairly docile at home.

Times photographer Andrea Mohin also gets some great shots of the dogs, too (check out the Slide Show linked from the article0. Gothamist liked the one above, of Great Dane Avalon at a wine store in Chelsea; owner Jaime Stankevicius told reporter Andrea Elliott that all the treats Avalon gets from owners who know him is "indecent. Every day is Halloween for him." Also, Stankevicius' comment about how it takes him forever to walk the dog, since people are mesmerized by Avalon ("If I hear 'Scooby Doo!', 'Marmaduke!' or 'It's a horse not a dog' one more time I will jump out of my skin.") makes Gothamist rethink saying that. Maybe we'll say "Stankevicius!" which sounds like it could be an Outkast album.

Apply for a dog license through the city. And facts from the NYC dog census.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in Arts and Events on May 25, 2004 3:09 PM

Comments [rss]

Richard

Only in NYC would some idiot pay $1800 rent for his dog.

Jen

I love how you say "larger dog," rachelle, like he's fat or something. I would dogsit two pretty big dogs but no Great Danes, one 80 pounds, the other 70 pounds, so the combined 150 pounds going in two directions was a little overwhelming.

rachelleb

i used to dogsit for a larger dog in nyc-shepard/black lab mix named henry. he was manageable in his apartment.. he just needed more exercise than a smaller dog. luckily his owners were runners and would take him out along the hudson. he was probably going insane the weekends i was with him.. i would never run and i would take him to the washington square dog run where he would get humped by rat dogs and stuff.

BytchInNY

I love big dogs and find it heart-warming that people are able to care for them in the city... I just couldn't do it because I think it would be cruel as it would require way more devotion than I am able to provide :(

Jake of 8bitjoystick.com

So you need a license for a dog but not have a kid? I just don't understand the logic.

Jen

Yes! I love the idea of Ego Lebow sitting in therapy with patients...I would be so much more calm if my therapist had a dog in the office. I'll have to suggest that during the next session.

lia

This is the second time I've read a NYT article about dogs and known one of the dogs from my dog run! Ego Lebow is a darling. His dad is an old math professor who proudly wears a Great Pyreenes baseball cap around town. They are super cute.