A DOG BY ANY NAME IS STILL REX

Lillie

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The quality I like best about dogs is their trusting nature. Strolling past the Barking Dog Luncheonette on York Avenue, they will be found lying patiently while their owners have the breakfast special. There is an understanding that food and drink in the bowls marked Fido are the next stop in the day's program. Late in the night at some point the reassuring sound of a leash clicking onto a collar means a constitutional is nigh. The City That Never Sleeps could be renamed Dog Heaven. I haven't checked but I can well imagine Bark Place open 24 hours. I first became interested in the why's of dog names when I met Vanna. She belonged to a former Canadian mountie. I asked, "You don't mean Vanna White?" He laughed, "Yes! She of  'Give Me a Vowel' fame on Wheel of Fortune." A big black dog named White. I began to wonder about other names. Interestingly, I knew most of the dog names but few of their people's names. They all had stories.

Lillie--after Lillie Langtry (often spelled Lily in the U.S.) the beauty who hobnobbed with royalty. As you can see from the photo above, royalty is right up our East 64th Street Lillie's alley. 

Jack--who has his own Facebook page where he proudly professes his political and religious views. Rachel, his lovely personal photographer, of course, is God.

Rosie--who originally was supposed to be Ellie May but when chosen by a West Virginian, was instantly changed to Rosie because of her sweet personality.

Louie--not "Louie, Louie" the song (nor a tip o' the hat to Satchmo). Louie has a similar history to Rosie's. "I don't know. When I saw him, he just looked like a Louie."

Laser--the light, not the operation.

Lion--who barrels ahead on his wee front legs while his hind legs stay encased in a handicap cart, sort of like a dog wheelchair. King of leprechaun dogs.

Gina (Lollobrigida), Ossie (Osbourne), and Bella--this small trio is a walked by a dog walker with two dogs of her own: Bonnie (Scottish for pretty) and Eli. These two were rescued dogs who kept their names. The walker said she particularly liked Bonnie's name because, "She is anything but bonnie."

Pocket--who got a preemie start. He  was so small he fit in a pocket. 

Prince--"Not king?" I asked. "No. He's little so he's The Little Prince."One of my favorite books!

Bogart--an Old(e) English Sheepdog who looks more sheep than dog. What a coat! His predecessor was named Humphrey. 

Look! There's Sheba and Shelby, Luke (I'm guessing Luke Skywalker)and Pageant (after the high-fashion runway event). These cheerful, hopeful dogs know nothing of war or food stamps or gender intolerance. If they come down with a human disease such as leukemia, they trust all concerned will release them from misery mercifully.


I can hear the debaters chafing at the bit, "What about guard dogs and vicious dogs? They don't trust anyone." Oh, but they do! A guard dog trusts that he or she will keep evil away from those they protect. Most vicious dogs are basically guarders; they don't turn vicious on their own unless they have rabies or have been treated criminally. These will not be seen on excursions past Furry Paws. 

Jack

The dogs I have met on my Out and Abouts know "New York city is a great place to visit"  but disagree with the rest of the famous phrase. They certainly want to live here.