Reader mailbag: Is this a new dog run in Tompkins Square Park?

[Reader-submitted photo of the West Lawn]

From the EVG inbox...

I was playing with my toddler in the unlocked area in Tompkins Square Park — north of the chess tables and south of the St. Mark's Place entrance. I’ve noticed the New Amsterdam School playing there so I assumed it was a space where children are allowed. A couple of people came in and let their very large dogs off leash. One woman informed me that this area was now an official dog area, though there is no sign posted. She said that for over a year this is the only area (besides the official dog run) where you won’t get a ticket for letting your dog off-leash.

I was wondering if you knew if this area is an official dog area, or just an area that dog owners are claiming for themselves.

The reader asked to put this question out to readers. (One vote for B — dog owners are claiming it for themselves.)

This came up several times last year... when Park regulars complained about more and more people letting their (large) dogs run loose in sections of Tompkins Square Park — especially in that West Lawn the reader above described ...



One owner of a large dog said at the time last year that he didn't like to use the official dog run because it gets too crowded.

Park officials eventually padlocked the West Lawn... for awhile.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Makeshift dog run in Tompkins Square Park has been padlocked

Monday's parting shot

Photo on Seventh Street today by Derek Berg ...

Thursday's parting shot

Say hi to Simeon. Photo in Tompkins Square Park by Derek Berg ...

Monday's parting shot

This is either traveling or a double dribble. Your call!

Photo on Fourth Street today by Derek Berg.

Reader report: A dog-kicking incident on 10th Street

An EVG reader shared the following:

Yesterday (9/3) at around 4:40 p.m., a man approached my two friends and I as we stood on the sidewalk talking on 10th Street between 1st Avenue and 2nd Avenue ...

He asked us something along the lines of “what are you doing in my spot?” Completely unprovoked, he then kicked my friend's dog across the sidewalk — hard enough that the dog flew about five feet in the air and yelped loudly. He then walked off as though nothing had happened.

We called the cops immediately and they turned up pretty fast but no luck so far in tracking the guy down.

The reader snapped a photo of the man as he walked away. The reader said the dog-kicking suspect was a black male, 5-7 and in his late teens or early 20s with hazel-colored eyes. He did not seem "with it."

Per the reader: "Thought I’d try and make as many people in the neighborhood aware in case he tries to approach anyone else and do the same thing ..."

And the dog is doing OK.

Updated 7:15 p.m.

There are now flyers on 10th Street...


[Photo by Steven]

An unsettling find on 5th Street

An EVG reader shares these photos from Fifth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B... the reader did a double-take at this note...



At first, the reader thought this might be some kind of sick gag (as we've seen notes on curbside garbage bags in the past). However, upon closer inspection, it looked as if someone took care to wrap the contents inside the double plastic bag.

Apparently this is an acceptable way to dispose of a pet in NYC. According to the Department of Sanitation website:

The City accepts reports of dead animals. The City will collect a carcass from a public area or street (or from private property – if the animal may have been rabid, was killed by a family pet or scratched or bit a person or pet.) You may also place a dead animal in a heavy-duty black plastic bag or double plastic bag and put it out on the day of garbage collection with a note taped to the bag stating "dead dog" or "dead cat", for example. Animals that may have been rabid should not be put in the garbage. The City cremates dead pets for a fee, though the ashes are not returned to the animal’s owner.

Monday's parting shot

A scene today on Avenue A today featuring Giblet ... photo by Derek Berg...

Saturday's parting shot

Out with the dog today on Second Avenue... thanks to EVG reader Mary Jane Glaser for the photo...

Sunday's parting shot

A scene today from the Tompkins Square Park dog run via Derek Berg...

Saturday's parting shot

It was quite pleasant out today, though it was still sweater weather for some ... photo from the Tompkins Square Dog Run this afternoon via Bobby Williams.

Wednesday's parting shot

First day of spring. Time for a haircut. Photo in Tompkins Square Park today by Derek Berg.

Dante and Diego's adoption is the feel-good story that we need right now

On Sunday, I posted that Dante and Diego, the two bonded senior labs that belonged to Chile, the longtime 12th Street resident who recently passed away, had been adopted together by a couple in Brooklyn.

Reps from Animal Haven, the nonprofit animal shelter, took the dogs in on Nov. 27. Chile's neighbors rallied to keep Dante and Diego together following his death.

Animal Haven shared the adoption story on Instagram:

The couple recently had to say goodbye to their senior lab. As lifelong dog lovers, their home was empty and quiet, and they decided it was time for a new addition.

So they came to Animal Haven looking for a new puppy. But after seeing Dante and Diego and hearing their story, they knew in their hearts that those old souls were the dogs for them. It was fate.

Dante and Diego are now happily home, less than one week after losing the only home they'd ever known. We are beyond thrilled!

"This is what we dream of for all of our animals," said Jenny Coffey, Animal Haven's director of community engagement, who facilitated the rescue. Our heartfelt thanks goes out to everyone in this amazing, animal-loving NYC community who shared and participated in Dante and Diego's journey!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Animal Haven (@animalhaven) on Dec 4, 2018 at 12:19pm PST

Dante and Diego have been adopted, and are going together to a new home in Brooklyn!

Diego and Dante, the two labs that belonged to Chile, the longtime 12th Street resident who recently passed away, have been adopted together by a couple in Brooklyn.

This past Tuesday, Animal Haven, a nonprofit animal shelter, took the dogs away to find them a new home.

The folks at Animal Haven shared the photo below and this message on Instagram Wednesday:

Chile was one of those kind individuals who knew everyone on East 12th Street and, in turn, the neighborhood also cared for his beloved senior dogs, Dante and Diego. The threesome would sit together on a local bench welcoming neighbors home from a long workday. Together, they were unique characters that made the East Village welcoming and a true neighborhood. So it's no surprise that everyone came together soon after Chile's passing to make sure the dogs were safe and a call was made to Animal Haven for help.

When our community outreach team arrived yesterday to pick up the dogs, they were met by a handful of residents and friends of Chile. 💙💙💙 A group of eight friends walked the dogs to the transport car where photos were taken, hugs were given, and tears were shed.

A tipster says that NY1 will be featuring this adoption. I'll link to that clip once it's online. Updated: Here's the link to the NY1 piece.

Updated 12/5
Read an update here!

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.

Thursday's parting shot

Who's a good boy? Photo yesterday outside the Standard East Village by Derek Berg...

Dog days of summer (obviously)

A short film by Grant Shaffer... shot today on 10th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue...

Report: Neglected puppies found in 13th Street apartment are finding new homes

[Image via ASPCA]

Earlier this month, 33 malnourished Shih Tzu-Terrier mixed puppies were reportedly found in a resident's Campos Plaza apartment on 13th Street.

The Post reports today that at least half of the puppies have been adopted, and the rest are in good care.

“ASPCA Animal Hospital and Adoption Center staff have worked diligently over the last two weeks to provide each dog with the medical attention and socialization they needed,” said Howard Lawrence, vice president of ASPCA’s Human Law Enforcement, in a statement to The Post. “We’re pleased that nearly half of the dogs have already been placed in loving homes.”

The resident, named as 57-year-old Ivan Paredes, was charged with torturing, injuring and/or not feeding an animal and neglect of an impounded animal, according to the Post.

Tenants have claimed that NYCHA officials ignored their complaints about the mistreated puppies for months.

Tater in the morning

A Tater sighting on Ninth Street this a.m. via Steven...

Tuesday's parting shot

The new puppy here in Tompkins Square Park is named, topically enough, Stormy El Chapo Daniels. (He responds to Stormy.)

Photo today by Derek Berg...

Makeshift dog run in Tompkins Square Park has been padlocked

Two weeks ago, officers from the Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP!) came to Tompkins Square Park to warn dog owners about letting their pets roam off-leash.

Park regulars said that there were complaints about more and more people letting their dogs run loose in sections of Tompkins, especially in the West Lawn near the entrance on St. Mark's Place... and not clean up after their dogs... in this area right here!



Parkgoers said some dog owners continued to ignore the various warnings and homemade signs... especially early mornings and on weekends...

Now someone (presumably from the Park office) has padlocked the entrance to the West Lawn in an attempt to thwart the dog owners from using this area ...


[Photo yesterday by Bobby Williams]

Previously on EV Grieve:
A warning about off-leash dogs in Tompkins Square Park (29 comments)