Colson Whitehead's featured in the latest "New York Diet" column at New York Magazine. And I see that he and Kevin Young are reading at the Strand from 7 to 8:30pm on Thursday, January 18--hmmm, maybe I should try and get to that one...
(What I really went to the NY Mag site for was to read this article about getting a dog in New York, I think I am really on the verge of doing it only not until the summer. It would be sensible to get a small dog that I could carry in a bag, but I think I would do better with a medium-sized mutt that might like to go for longish runs. I can see that really all this is going to end in me finally being forced to get a driver's license, which will be for the greater good of my maturity and usefulness in the world--when you find yourself bemoaning the anti-dog policies of Amtrak and New Jersey Transit and wondering how much a livery-car driver would charge to drive you and a dog round-trip to Philadelphia for the holidays, you know that things have tipped over the edge into compete insanity/eccentricity...)
(UPDATED: And I am also going to get a bicycle. So that I can train for triathlons...)
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I'm also (mostly) a non-driver, and just for the record, I once travelled by an airport van service from Philadelphia to JFK, then by cab from JFK to Brooklyn, to transport the pet cat. It was expensive, and slow, and I've since come to the conclusion that people often bring pet carriers (discreetly) onto the SEPTA and NJT commuter trains without incident.
ReplyDelete-- Rachel Hollander
Oh, what a very useful tip! I had not thought of the airport van service thing...
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I think that there must be some pets on SEPTA/NJT--in fact I may be misremembering but I am almost certain I once had my cat in a carrier on Amtrak some years ago without anybody objecting...
Why do you want a dog? For a running companion? Consider that for a decade or more you are the caregiver of this animal....it is a big responsibility. I mean no offense, people have kids who shouldn't, and people have pets who shouldn't and the shelters are filled with discarded critters. All's I'm saying is really think about it. Perhaps you have a friend who will let you borrow her dog for a week so you can get an idea of what's involved. A dog alone in an apartment for long hours? No matter what the weather or what has gone on the night before, the dog needs a walk first thing in the morning.....and during the day at least once, and before bed. Peace.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, that's why I don't have one already; but it's certainly not for the running thing, that's minor. I work almost entirely at home, so the usual objection is moot...
ReplyDeleteA medium-sized mutt sounds wonderful. If you're interested in a smallish dog, though, you might consider a Papillon -- that's what we have, chosen, in part, because they're the smallest of the dogs that compete in agility training, which tranlates to enjoying physicality, training and being companions. They're also supposed to be the more silent of the smaller breeds which was appealing b/c we were living in an apartment when we got her (though I have to admit our is a loud-mouth and Lowell is often rueful when reading descriptions of the "quiet Papillons.")
ReplyDeleteOur Papillon is unusually small (under 5 pounds -- they're usually 10-15 lbs.) but *loves* hiking, and I just pick her up and carry her when I think she's had enough. I have another friend who runs who does the same thing with her small dog.
Clearly, this is mostly just a shameless ploy to try to convince you to have a dog as ridiculous-looking as mine:
http://www.serialphoto.com/archive.php?id=211
All that said, there's also something great about going to the pound and just seeing which dog you connect to ... lots of excellent dogs there (sorry to overflow, I get sympathetic excitement when people are planning dogs).
— CAAF
anonymouse 1 here: oh I feel so much better about it...you work at home. Dogs are so wonderful and like Bojangles who only grieved for 20 years, I grieve for over 30 years for my dearest neurotic brilliant attachment-disordered 30-pound cockapoo. Maybe a greyhound. There are greyhound rescue groups, the dog will certainly love running with you, and there are actually small-ish ones, almost always female. They are not lap dogs so much as lean-into-you dogs. They love the contact body to body. Or just trust the universe to find you the perfect match at the shelter. Very pleased you didn't take offense and accepted my comments in the loving although cautionary spirit I intended.
ReplyDeleteCarrie, that dog is adorable!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 1: oh, definitely! (And even my office is 2 blocks away from home, so on even the conjecturally busiest day/week ever I can definitely always slip away for forty minutes a couple times in the middle.) I've looked in to that greyhound rescue thing, I like the idea very much, but I think the pound will be the way to go; I really need to get a puppy that I can train myself. Those rescue greyhounds are almost always adult dogs, aren't they, who haven't been trained as domestic animals? I was worried by the description of them not knowing how to deal with stairs, I live in an elevator building but I would imagine taking the dog up and down the stairs into Riverside Park at the corner...
Anon 1 again: Yes, it's true, greyhound rescues need work. Petfinder.com is a wonderful site. Maybe not a puppy 7 weeks old, but perhaps several months old? Pictures, and often the dog has been fostered while awaiting its forever home, as they say, and so the foster person can give you lots of important info plus already potty trained. I'm sure you will keep us posted!!
ReplyDelete