RIP Miss Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Miss Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street (2009-2023) 

Text by Jose Garcia 

The lovely Miss Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street took her earthly leave of us on the night of Aug. 1. While she remained happy and engaged until quite recently, she had been in declining health for several months.

A native of Tennessee, Kita came north as a puppy and somehow made it to Bide-a-Wee Manhattan from which she graduated as a three-and-a-half-year-old stunner with a winning personality to boot. She was clearly well-loved and cared for by her previous owner who had named her Kita — a name she recognized and responded to so we figured it was none of our business to go about changing it to Sugar, which may have been the original plan.

Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street made her EV Grieve debut on March 9, 2012. Over the years she became something of a local celebrity once removed through a combination of grit, good looks and a nose for news. In addition to her coverage in EV Grieve, Kita was named Bide-a-Wee "Pick of the Litter" for January 2012, and had a cameo appearance on the "Second Chances" episode of the Netflix series, "Dogs." 

She was frequently spotted around the neighborhood and seemed to genuinely enjoy meeting her neighbors, graciously accepting ear scritches (and the occasional illicit dog treat) while doling out her own sweet kisses to the lucky few. 

Kita enriched our lives immensely and we were every bit as lucky to have found her as she may have been to have landed with us. 

Thank you for the many kindnesses you showed her and us. 

We will miss her terribly. 

Jose Garcia & Family

A Spring Sunday with Miss Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

A dispatch from Second Street... 

Miss Kita the Wonder Dog availing herself of the warmish weather and the amazing crispy eggs at Supper. Happy Spring everyone.

Miss Kita by the sea

Postmarked Nov. 11, 2021:

Miss Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street took advantage of the last good beach day to head out to the Rockaways to catch some rays and waves. She remains on the lookout for the great influx of vaccinated European tourists everyone has been talking about but reports that if true they are definitely not coming in by sea.

Spring?

From the EVG inbox... 

"Miss Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street is aware of media reports that Spring is springing but in her estimation, these reports seem premature." 

Thanks Jose Gacia!

A much-needed beach day for Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

A dispatch from the Rockaways:

Like many of us perhaps, Miss Kita the Wonder Dog seems to be hitting a wall in terms of social distancing and pandemicness generally. She particularly misses our rich neighborhood nightlife. When we woke up this morning Miss Kita declared Tompkins Square Park insufficient for her needs and demanded a beach day. It's still a bit windy out here and she says it's not yet prime seagull chasing season but a quick trip out of town to catch some fresh sea air was just what the doctor ordered.

A sled-shaped bird feeder for Tompkins Square Park

EVG regular Jose Garcia shared these photos today from Tompkins Square Park while out for a walk with Miss Kita the Wonder Dog... the discovery of a homemade bird feeder along the south side of the Park between Avenue A and Avenue B....

"It was so nice to encounter on our voyage through the Park. There were still a few bird seeds but mostly melting snow by the time we came across it."

Primary Day with Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

😻

Previously

The dog days of Netflix

As you may know, the Netflix series "Dogs" — an acclaimed six-part documentary series — dropped on Nov. 16.

As Vulture noted, "Each roughly 50-minute piece uses the human-dog connection to illuminate social issues, cultural differences, personal suffering, and how our doggos help us understand and overcome them." (And it's possible the docuseries will bring you to tears.)

Episode six is titled "Second Chances," with a focus on dog adoption ... and featuring the East Village and Tompkins Square Park... there are many familiar dogs in the episode... including Miss Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street...



Kita's owners adopted her in early 2012. We asked them about Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street's Netflix debut.

It would be a generous overstatement to suggest that Miss Kita the Wonder Dog makes more than a cameo appearance, but she is beautiful and we love her and couldn't be more proud.

Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street is waiting for spring

Via the EVG inbox...

Miss Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street is ready for her day in the sun if only the sun will cooperate.

She's keeping her eyes peeled and will sound the alarm the moment she has news to report.

Meanwhile, she wishes everyone a lovely spring.

Previously.

Sunday's parting shot

Featuring Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street on Long Island Sound... per her owners: "She can report that rumors of this being one of the 10 best days of the year weather-wise are true!"

Saturday with Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Miss Kita's owners write in to say, "Taking advantage of the nice weather to renew her NYC dog license."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Meet Kita

The further adventures of Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

The further (often truly) amazing adventures of Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Happy holidays from Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street has her first ever annual checkup

Holiday greetings from Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Summer greetings from Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street is on the mend!

Fall greetings from Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Via the EVG inbox...

This unseasonably warm weather (last week anyway!) made us realize that it’s been quite a while since Miss Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street has checked in at EVG.

Miss Kita had a very busy summer doing her best to insinuate herself into as many swimming holes (concrete or otherwise) as possible.

She also spent some weekends sailing on Long Island Sound — one of her favorite ways to piss away a summer day.

Now that the days are growing shorter she’s back to spending more time in the neighborhood and most frequently in Tompkins Square Park.

Meanwhile, Miss Kita wishes everyone a marvelous Halloween, though she herself does not celebrate the holiday.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Meet Kita

The further adventures of Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

The further (often truly) amazing adventures of Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Happy holidays from Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street has her first ever annual checkup

Holiday greetings from Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Summer greetings from Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street is on the mend!

After attack, R'n'R for Miss Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

[Kita from earlier this year]

It has really been far too long since we've heard from Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street. (All the way back to November!)

Unfortunately, dear Miss Kita is having another tough summer — at least the last part of July. Last summer, she was recovering from a torn tendon.

Her owners provided us with an update this week:

On the evening of July 22 we were walking on 11th between B and C at around 11 when Miss Kita the Wonder Dog was rather brutally attacked by another dog — a Shar-pei/pit bull mix. The dog was with a young guy who wasn't in control of it.

Kita will be fine but her injuries are severe. She's got a ton of stitches and needed some sort of a tube in her throat. The dog attack was very traumatic for her and for us.

The vet did remove the tube a few days ago, and Kita continues to rest and recover.

"She is in much better spirits now."

Photo of Kita by Elias Weiss Friedman.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Meet Kita

The further adventures of Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

The further (often truly) amazing adventures of Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Happy holidays from Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street has her first ever annual checkup

Holiday greetings from Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Summer greetings from Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street is on the mend!

A call to action from Miss Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

From the EVG inbox...

As is her way, Miss Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street was recently browsing the headlines when she came across the following — "Dogs Now Banned From The Gate In Park Slope."

Because of the somewhat alarmist headline and the urgent nature of the subject matter, she pawed through to discover what is going down in Park Slope:

The Gate, on Fifth Avenue and Third Street, has welcomed dogs since it opened in 1997, but owner Bobby Gagnon says he's never run into trouble with the city over his pro-pups policy.

That changed last Tuesday night when a city inspector visited the bar to investigate a 311 complaint about dogs in the facility, Gagnon said. The inspector issued a fine for allowing animals into the bar for an unspecified dollar amount — Gagnon will find out how much at a Nov. 18 hearing.

The city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

City law prohibits pet dogs in "food service establishments," but Gagnon argues that The Gate shouldn't be lumped into the same category as restaurants because it doesn't have a kitchen and doesn't serve food.

Miss Kita learned that supporters have created an online petition asking the city to revise the health code to reclassify bars that do not serve food ... making this more than just an issue in a Brooklyn neighborhood. (After all, several East Village bars have been welcoming to Miss Kita and her friends through the years.)

Miss Kita encourages her East Village neighbors to sign the petition on the Park Slope for Pets site here.

Meanwhile, Miss Kita has reached out to some Park Slope pooches directly to coalition build, consciousness raise, etc.

EVG note: Park Slope Stoop first reported on this ban.

Miss Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street hits the polls today

Don't forget to vote today ... for somebody ... during primary day throughout New York State. Like Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street, torn tendon and all.

Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street is on the mend!

In recent days/weeks we've had several Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street sightings … while she is wearing some kind of protective paw thing. (Not the technical term!)

So we reached out to Kita's owners for a report.

"She is still recovering from a torn tendon that happened during the brutal icy winter. She's been treated by a variety of local and non-local vets to varying degrees of success. Now she travels to Long Island every Thursday morning with a fabulous vet who apparently has a national reputation for diagnosing the undiagnosible."

The poor dear! What is the prognosis?

"By all accounts, including hers, Kita is on the mend. She avoided having to need surgery. She's looking forward to being able to chase tennis balls in Tompkins Square Park and East River Park very soon."

On the next episode, Kita responds to the commenter who writes, 'If you don't like torn tendons, then move to … '"

Previously on EV Grieve:
Meet Kita

The further adventures of Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

The further (often truly) amazing adventures of Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Happy holidays from Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street has her first ever annual checkup

Holiday greetings from Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Summer greetings from Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Summer greetings from Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

From the EVG inbox...

Miss Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street spent her 4th of July weekend visiting friends in New Jersey and in Saugerties. She thoroughly enjoyed sampling the local fare in Kingston (Asian Fusion with a French/Mexican twist) and in Palenville (Roast Beef sandwiches!).

But by far the highlight of her weekend was on Sunday when she went “swimming hole hoppin’” at three different places in and around Saugerties.



She’s a real water dog and was exited she could actually jump in the water unlike the Hudson and the East Rivers where she’s kept leashed and dry by her designated humanoids.

Miss Kita wishes everyone a happy, fun-filled summer!

On the next episode: Kita learns the true meaning of "the dog days of summer."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Meet Kita

The further adventures of Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

The further (often truly) amazing adventures of Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Happy holidays from Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street has her first ever annual checkup

Holiday greetings from Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Holiday greetings from Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

An almost year-end message from the proud parents of Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street has been thoroughly enjoying her second holiday season in the neighborhood this year. Times are lean around these parts so less of Holiday Tree wonder but an intense focus on tennis balls and she LOVES, LOVES, LOVES the snow.

As much as the snow it seems she has intently focused on tennis balls. She is less into the Tompkins Square Park dog run these days (though she remains a frequent visitor there to do her business) but has developed a taste for the East River Park. She was recently busted there for being “off leash” but she remains a devoted fan. Mostly because she has developed an important collection of stray tennis balls she collects there voraciously.

She (and we) send all of her neighbors the warmest of holiday wishes. Xo

On the next episode: Kita is curious why only Grain-Free Chicken Meal Formula Dry Dog Food is available at this New Year's Eve buffet.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Meet Kita

The further adventures of Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

The further (often truly) amazing adventures of Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Happy holidays from Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street has her first ever annual checkup

Meanwhile at the polls...

From the EVG inbox...

Miss Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street just after exercising her Dog given right to vote today. In addition to looking forward to a De Blasio administration, she’s hopeful a new Police Commissioner will back off just a bit on the leash laws at off hours at the East River Park. She’s getting a bit tired of the fines.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Meet Kita

The further adventures of Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

The further (often truly) amazing adventures of Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street supports Bill De Blasio for Mayor

Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street supports Bill De Blasio for Mayor

[EVG file photo]

The latest from the NYC mayoral race.

We’ve been anxiously awaiting the moment when Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street is ready to divulge which Mayoral candidate she is throwing her considerable weight behind.

She’s been wooed by all the major candidates as she seems to have her paws on the pulse of the neighborhood. The last time she voted here it was just after Superstorm Sandy and the lines were incredibly long so she’s hoping for smoother sailing this time.

She carefully considered all the candidates; briefly thought of supporting the former Congressman because she thought Weiner was a breed of dog. Another leading candidate behaves a bit too much like an attack dog so that put her off needless to say. Finally she’s informed us she’s supporting Bill De Blasio. Apparently she’s become quite chummy with him and his entire family.



Kita won't confirm for sure but we have an inkling that De Blasio promised his first act as Mayor will be to ban 7-11s and Yorkies named Max so that’s what finally won her over.

Kita looks forward to seeing everyone at the polls on September 10.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Meet Kita

The further adventures of Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

The further (often truly) amazing adventures of Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street