It's election season for the dogs – literally! The race for New York City's honorary canine mayor is heating up, with passionate dog advocates vying for the top spot.
The biannual dog-bark battle will determine who will be the dog date to succeed basset hound Sally Long Dog as the first honorary dog mayor and golden retriever Riley as deputy dog mayor. The 16 candidates chosen include two Hell's Kitchen pups, Puccini the Yorkie-poo and Ruby the Hug Dog.
The event was organized by former Huffington Post polling reporter Steven Calabria and aims to inject a bit of fun into politics. Steven, a New Yorker for over a decade, explained to W42ST, “This is my way of commenting on politics, escaping politics, and putting a positive spin on something in a time when almost nothing is fun or appealing.”
When Sally won her first election of 2022, a small crowd gathered in front of City Hall for her roar-worthy inauguration. Many people expressed how much they needed something positive in politics. “Anything related to politics gives people a sense of fun. I don't think that's diminished in the past few years. If anything, I think it's heightened it,” Stephen added, reflecting on the current political climate.
Being New York City's honorary canine mayor may not come with official responsibilities, but it did come with some notable moments. During her term, Sully visited City Hall twice, was guest of honor at a Parks Department employee party, and dedicated her time to advocating for all pets in New York City. After leaving office, Sully continued her work as a therapy dog and regularly visits advocacy groups around the city.
For this year's Dog Date, Stephen took to social media to recruit popular dogs from the city. The main criteria were that they live in one of the five boroughs and have at least 10,000 followers on social media. There was one exception: an adoptable dog named Will O'Wisp from a New York City animal shelter. As the event gains more attention, he hopes to use it as a platform to help empty shelters and give all the animals the care and family they need.
We met with Puccini, Ruby and their owners and asked them the tough questions…
Puccini and Leslie Riddle
Campaign slogan: “Pawsitively Puccini”
talent: Give a high five
What's your favorite dog-friendly place in Hell's Kitchen?
We love going to Scott's at 44&X on 10th Ave. Every Easter, our dogs go there for brunch after the parade. Puccini's has gorgeously decorated strollers. Little Pie Company is also a favorite store. We all love Puccini's!
How did Puccini get his name?
When I moved to New York, I met and started working with Italian designers. [Emilio] Pucci. I started working in a shoe factory in Italy and danced around the world with the Rockettes. During my travels in Italy, I fell in love with the opera composer Giacomo Puccini. These two great Italians were the inspiration for his name.
Tell us more about your passion…
Puccini is a bona fide celebrity. Last year she walked the runway at Paris Fashion Week and has appeared in other fashion shows throughout her career. Aside from fashion, Puccini won the Barking beauty pageant in 2018 and has not one, two, but a whopping three talent agents on her staff. Most recently, she played Ellen Barkin's dog in the Peacock series. poker face Starring Natasha Lyonne.
Louvier and Cesar Fernandez-Chavez
Campaign slogan: “One Hug at a Time”
talent: Give a hug
What's your favorite dog-friendly place in Hell's Kitchen?
We used to go to House of Brews a lot before it closed. One year they even had Ruby's birthday party on the patio. Ruby is a big dog, and there aren't many dog-friendly places in Hell's Kitchen (even though she's a certified service dog), but we enjoy going for walks and meeting friends from the neighborhood.
How did you get the name Ruby (Rubutina)?
I had dogs all my life in Peru, but by the time I moved and settled in the US, it had been almost 10 years since I last had a dog. Louboutina was actually a gift from my best friend. The night I met my friend for the first time, we were at the Gansevoort Hotel. As the elevator doors opened, she and her friend caught my eye. They were very elegant and she was wearing Louboutins. So I told her I was naming her Louboutina after the day we first met.
Tell us more about your passion…
Ruby and I are passionate supporters of PAWS NY, an incredible organization dedicated to helping New York City residents who face challenges keeping their beloved pets due to physical and financial hardships. We want to make a positive impact by highlighting and raising awareness of their valuable work. Ruby also enjoys being a therapy dog. When I worked at the hospital, she would often accompany me to the office and brighten everyone's day with her visits.
City Council Member Eric Bottcher has officially co-endorsed the two pups, telling W42ST in a statement: “I'm proud to endorse Puccini and Ruby as they embark on their campaign to become New York City's Canine Mayor. Their unwavering dedication to our community, boundless energy, and ability to bring joy to everyone they meet make them the perfect candidates for this prestigious position. I am confident they will represent our city with grace, charm, and a never-ending wagging tail. I support Puccini and Ruby in their quest to pave the way for a more positive future for all New Yorkers!”
The first round of voting begins on Wednesday, July 24, with weekly matchups running through September 11. Puccini will face off on July 31 and Ruby will face off on August 28. Voting will run for 24 hours each day, from 12:01am to 11:59pm. All voting will take place on Dog Mayor NYC's Instagram, Facebook and X-Page.
- Wednesday, July 24th—Zyra vs. Pepper
- Wednesday, July 31st—Mello vs. Puccini
- Wednesday, August 7—Shayna vs. Ziggy
- Wednesday, August 14—Enzo vs. Silas
- Wednesday, August 21st—Tobi vs. Louis
- Wednesday, August 28th—Ruby vs. Simon
- Wednesday, September 4th—Lucy v. Bertram
- Wednesday, September 11th—Will O'Wisp vs. Kaido
