Why New York is Cooler than North Carolina

Posted by jrosenhouse on July 25, 2007
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There are many reasons, of course. But here’s an especially compelling one:

DON’T jump to conclusions now. Just because Wendy Bullard of Raleigh, N.C., isn’t allowed to walk her dog through the Streets at Southpoint, an outdoor mall in Durham, doesn’t mean that when she visits New York she can’t walk little Mick Dundee, an Australian silky terrier, down Fifth Avenue and strut right into Tiffany, Saks and Bergdorf Goodman.

“I can’t bring him anywhere in North Carolina,” said Ms. Bullard, who, by the way, didn’t go to all those stores. “I love coming up here.”

If bringing a dog to New York City seems nuts, think again. Is your pet well-behaved and tolerant of crowds and loud noises? If not, O.K., it’s nuts. But otherwise, pack your most stylish leash and come to town. Much of Manhattan is dog friendly, with dog runs galore and many parks that allow dogs to be off-leash before 9 a.m. and after 9 p.m. (www.nycparks.org – search “dogs” – has detailed information on dog runs and off-leash policies). Your pooch may make more friends in a day than it has in a lifetime of chasing squirrels in the backyard.

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Comments

  1. #1 Blake Stacey, OM
    July 25, 2007

    And here I thought this post was going to be about Michael Korn.

  2. #2 Jim
    July 25, 2007

    This has to be one of your stranger “miscellaneous” blog entries (& I’m not just saying that because I’m from NC).

  3. #3 David D.G.
    July 25, 2007

    Why is New York cooler than North Carolina? Latitude, of course.

    Otherwise, it clearly is just going to the dogs.

    ~David D.G.

  4. #4 PhysioProf
    July 25, 2007

    People bring dogs pretty much everywhere in NYC, except into restaurants. And there are so many sidewalk cafes, all of which allow dogs to sit under the table.

  5. #5 coturnix
    July 25, 2007

    Well, my dog (and many of the neighbors’) is allowed on the deck of Town Hall Grill in Chapel Hill. But you are right, there are not many places in NC where dogs are allowed.

  6. #6 Jason Rosenhouse
    July 26, 2007

    Jim-

    Strange? I just like dogs is all. I’m a little annoyed with my cats at the moment, however. One of them has been piddling in the basement. And after all I’ve done for them!

  7. #7 Fastlane
    July 26, 2007

    Apparently, NY has much in common with Europe.

    At least the part I’m familiar with, Germany, it was not at all uncommon to see dogs in a store. I think about the only place they weren’t allowed is grocery stores. Many grocery stores, or other shops that didn’t allow dogs, would put tie points ont he outside of the buildings, so one could tie thier dog’s leash and leave them for a few minutes.

    Most dogs in Germany are better behaved than children in the US. =P

    Cheers.

  8. #8 Leni
    July 26, 2007

    Pretty much all dogs are better behaved than children from anywhere, so don’t feel so special there Fastlane =P

  9. #9 stinger
    July 29, 2007

    There are Australian Terriers and there are Silky Terriers; Australian silky terrier must be some sort of cross-breed. Surely the NYTimes wouldn’t have gotten it wrong!

    /dog breed pedant

  10. #10 Jim
    July 31, 2007

    Leni-
    Let me second your statement above & just add, “especially Dutch dogs & children”.

  11. #11 yoshi
    August 1, 2007

    This is not a statement between NC and NYC but more of a statement between suburbia and the city. I live in Minneapolis. Almost every neighbor has a dog or at least a cat. If one of my dogs manages to get out of my yard I’ll get a call from -someone-. Usually someone I’ve never met before and my dog will be returned – always cheerfully. I’ve done the same. There are plenty of dog parks around. There are people who walk their dogs without leashes down my street. And get this – we don’t call animal control. Contrast this to my most recent experience going to my parents in suburban Minneapolis, while taking my dog out to the pond that borders my parents property – I get yelled at by not one but two people on how that dog needs to be on a leash (and I am still technically on my parents property). I have heard reports that escaped dogs are usually shot or taking to animal control with hefty fines. Its maddening.

  12. #12 sandra pospisil
    April 7, 2010

    Now Wendy, if you had a yorkie it wouldn’t be a problem.