Dog condos with outside toilet-
http://members.efn.org/~hkrieger/f_dog.jpg
Instead going to an animal shelter, could these people go to a human shelter and rescue someone there?
3
have rescued homeless people off street and gave them a place to sleep at night!
1
I wonder if the dog picked out the wallpaper.
6
my dog never offers mean opinions like the ones I've read in these letters.
4
We spent thousands of dollars fencing in our front yard so our prior dog (and now our current dog) has room to run without getting smooshed. Otherwise he prefers our space over his own space.
5
Reading about a 1,200 sq foot studio space filled with rescue parrots just made my day!
8
This is absurd. I don't know about parrots, cats and turtles, but dogs and humans are destined to live together in close contact. My 13 year old dog would feel abandoned in his own room and I would be distraught without his nightly company. Dogs crave affection and companionship --not a room of their own!
10
Some days I'd like to give the stray cats I adopted years ago full reign of the balcony so they'd stop destroying all my stuff.
4
Somewhere in the rubble I have a book with a CAT WALL. The home portrayed was very modest. It was a project a do-it-yourselfer could do with modest material that could be found at a neighbourhood hardware store. In this area there a number of RECYCLE stores that sell reclaimed building materials. I know a family that took a tiny old house and beautifully renovated it themselves with reclaimed building materials. Pillows can be sewed...fabric can be used as wallpaper. A friend who is a second hand store afficianado buys fabric in those stores very cheaply.
The point I am trying to make is that...even in the day of Amazon Key...there exist crafters...a vanishing breed because I think they do not teach sewing in the schools....a casualty of "fast fashion."
4
Sorry..the business is named RESTORE. Unfortunately, there are way too many demolitions of beautiful, well preserved houses replaced by mcmansions bought by over seas money and left vacant. The locals cannot afford them...they start at 5 or 6 million. From my reading this is a world wide phenomena.
1
My Siamese Sushi lived for 21 years 12 days. Our extravagance was building a screened gazebo on our log house so she could safely enjoy being outdoors. Otherwise the three of us occupied approximately 20 square feet of space. No matter the size of the bed, she occupied a third. Her head, on the pillow. Her arms reaching out to touch our faces. Bedtime was 10pm except in San Francisco where it was 7pm (time difference). Oh and please turn on the electric mattress pad. Where we went, she went, no separate space for her. She considered herself a furry human and judging from the number of "no pets" places that not only accepted her but welcomed her, she was. I can't imagine her wanting a space of her own. She was great!
16
Dogs don’t belong in cities. They are a public health risk. These animals were domesticated by humans thousands of years ago, long before the invention of apartment buildings. These animals simply don’t belong in urban environments. And they shouldn’t be permitted to urinate or defecate on city sidewalks. New York City should take the courageous step of banning the harboring of these animals within the city.
5
You're crazy! NYC will never ban animals within the city. Humans are the health risk.
14
Ban cats and dogs?
Good luck with that plan.
2
I didn’t say anything about cats. Cats are very different from dogs as there are millions of feral cats living in our cities. Dogs, on the other hand, are not wild. They aren’t just naturally living in our cities. They are being bred by humans to kept as pets. These animals are responsible for biting people and causing millions of people to seek emergency room care each year. They don’t belong in our cities. I am speaking out against the growing sense of entitlement that dog owners seem to share that the public must tolerate their pets.
2
And here I thought I was being extravagant by buying my dog the fancy dog food instead of the stuff on sale at Target.
14
Wow, I cannot believe the vitriol in the comments here. I thoroughly enjoyed this lovely piece in the Times. I really wanted to see the cat wall. That sounds fantastic!
I'm a liberal, yet I care a lot more about animals than I do about people, so maybe that makes me a contradiction. Animals are at the mercy of their people. I'm glad these animals have good people!
As for me, I sleep in a pile with my pugs. They run the house. I'm glad they let me live here.
32
It is sort of odd that there is such condemnation for indulging living pets, yet nobody would bat an eye if these people spent their money on extravagant jewelry or blew a fortune gambling.
12
It's actually nobody's business how people spend their money including but not exclusive to jewels, yachts and casinos!
4
So I googled, because she seemed like a bit of a character. The woman with the Central Park West apartment has been in The NY Times before, where it was mentioned that she barters dental care to struggling artists in NY, and frequently travels to countries to provide her services for free to people in need. But I'm really enjoying all the righteous indignation from people who I'm sure generously give anything more than an 8x10 living space, and their entire disposable income to the less fortunate.
12
Interesting, because I googled the woman with the dog's separate room and the results were for an extravagant destination wedding for which they paid thousands to have their dog there.
4
Every time you point your finger, you have four more pointing right back at you. I'm sure someone thinks your [apartment, clothes, food, whatever] is extravagant as well.
Everyone on this discussion acts like they live in a 100sq ft microstudio, wearing clothes they upcycled from found dryer lint, and donates bone marrow for fun.
1
Someday, after the revolution happens and historians are writing about the causes, this article will be cited.
14
I empathize with the largesse of these pet owners. Until recently, one of the more expensive items in my living room was a solid oak, custom-made, eight-foot iguana cage. They don’t live a long time so my friend is gone.
As for the dog, she doesn't want her own space. She'd rather share mine.
9
As long as there is JUST ONE hungry child in this country, this story is singularly repulsive.
9
Get a grip. There are always hungry children. So, because someone has a pet and cares for it, in your zero-sum world that means a child dies? Absent a separate room for the pet, which was going to be paid for anyway occupied or not, your contention is this activity harms children? Pray tell, how?
21
All living creatures on this earth deserve nurture and respect. Condemning one species will not erase the cruelty of another. For instance, the human assassins who murdered dozens of helpless and innocent Rhinos leaving their mutilated and lifeless bodies to prove this unspeakable cruelty.
4
Considering that my entire house is already "owned" by my two cats, I'm not sure what more I can do?
17
Surrender.Catnip and salmon bits in hand :)
4
I'm originally from NY. I own birds. I love them and give them good housing. But leave it up to the extremely insular NY Times to focus on rich people who buy pets their own apartments.
That's why the rest of America thinks that both coasts are --- to borrow a phrase from SNL --- "liberal elites run wild."
Get a clue.
10
u mean a good CAGE?
How about spending some of that money on children??? There are plenty of kids living below the poverty line who could use a little bit of the disposable income being thrown away on dogs, cats and exotic pets..
I have no problem with pet ownership. My wife and I own a cat. We feed the cat We like the cat. We make sure she stays healthy. But that's about it. Anything beyond that is rediculous and possibly obscene
7
"How about spending some of that money on children???"
That's speciesist!
7
If speciesist means that I would rather see a child be healthy, clothed, fed and loved rather than a dog, cat or any other animal then I'm proud to be called a speciesist
2
R.F.
How do you feel about people who spend their disposable income on gambling, traveling, boating, collecting objects, owning a vacation home? Are those people also "rediculous (sic) and possibly obscene"?
Donating/volunteering to less fortunate and engaging in indulgent purchases are not mutually exclusive activities; people may well do both.
Something that perplexes me is why so many people who think it's sinful to spoil animals have no problem with doing the same with kids or themselves.
And many of these same people fight against planned parenthood, wide access to birth control, equally funding public education, etc., yet are first to scream about "helping homeless kids!" when they don't approve of how others spend their own money. If you want fewer homeless kids then vote for legislation that promotes equality and social justice so those poor kids have a chance from the starting gate.
18
Are these pet owners the same type of people who like to dress up as milk maids and frolic on a farm during their free time?
8
Only if their wives approve.
10
Great writing! I would have liked to have read more about the bunny condos in the closet
3
This is such a nice article. Though I don't have pets now I love them. The comments from the foaming at the mouth bleeding heart liberals are so entertaining .... But poor people, but homeless people. Do the bleeding hearts rant and rave about the ~$60B per year Americans spend on make up? Or the billion$ spent on movie and theater tickets? Money spent on Christmas trees, decorations, cards, wrapping paper and ribbons? Or the
money spent on countless other wants rather than needs?
Even funnier is the idea the rich don't pay their share of taxes. The rich pay MUCH MORE than a fair share. The top 1% of taxpayers pay ~40% of all federal income taxes collected. The top 10% of taxpayers pay ~70% of all federal income taxes. Never enough taxes for the "give me free stuff" Democratic voters. Socialism always fails because other people's money eventually runs out.
9
Reader in DC,
Whatever gives you the idea those who object to indulging pets are liberal?
I'm a "bleeding heart" who absolutely believes in giving animals a decent life, be they pets or farm animals. You seem to ignore the fact that liberals largely support regulations establishing a minimum standard of care for pets as well as livestock - think puppy mills and factory farms, whereas conservatives (who are more likely to oppose regulation of commercial farms and puppy mills) tend to view them as commodities rather than live beings.
15
The top 1% pay 40% of all taxes, but they also have over 50% of the wealth. The top 10% may pay 70% of the taxes, but they have 80% of the wealth.
How is that a "fair share" exactly?
11
Nom: I don't doubt that you are a "bleeding heart", however, you misread the comment. Reread it and correct your post.
1
How jarring to read this after finishing "The Lost Children of Tuam."
16
I thought the same thing. I just finished reading about Tuam.
6
That does it. I'm going with my gut and opening a dog wedding company.
18
The way we relate to our pets is based on our needs and conditioning. We often project on them and forget that they are animals not humans. It is very nice and commendable to want the best for them but we should not go overboard. In my practice Cybeles, Feng Shui for pet owners, we seek to create the most harmonious space for pets and owners, we work on their relationship and we never deny the fundamental nature of the pet which is to be just an animal.
3 sessions a week?
1
Animals aren’t interested in the aesthetics of their surroundings. In most of these cases this is just a vacuous display of wealth. I bet these people are praying for tax cuts.
17
Heated marble floors? Perhaps you should invite some homeless people over to take advantage of the space. Just more ridiculous behavior concerning people and their dogs now and attempting to humanize them.
15
In rural Ireland before the famine of 1845 to 1847 that dessimated 67% of the population large families lived in small stone clashes houses that had a side shed for a donkey No fancy decorating or expense. That is more realistic than designer places for animals,which gives a distorted view of the world as a soft hearted place, like the falsely attributed “ Let them eat cake” phrase of Marie Antoinette.
I have. Rescue chihuahua that I take everywhere where he is allowed. The expens is to allow his travel . At home he like an 18 dollar bed at the end of the bed. Still the cruelty of the world makes that a delusion.
1
I can understand wanting a soundproofed chamber for a French Bulldog, due to the snoring, but dogs are pack animals. They prefer to sleep in a pile with other mammals. Dogs like to eat other animals' scat and to sleep on top of and beneath other dogs. Dogs are happiest when living in the most undignified way(s) imaginable: Eating raccoon poop and sleeping in a pile. I love dogs, but dogs are not dignified creatures.
8
My wife and are child free but share a large Victorian 19th century house with 3 cats and 2 macaws. I don't think they have formally picked their own rooms but seem to enjoy the space. I can't wait for the letters from all the haters with 4 children who think they are environmentally conscience because they drive a Prius.
15
In the Sunday Oregonian today there was a paid obituary for a "passed" hound dog (Dudley). I has several thoughts, but I'll let you digest the text and come to your own conclusions....
Dudley Rupert - Our Noble Hound Dog
March 15, 2007 - Oct. 19, 2017
"Dudley's journey came to an end after valiantly fighting cancer. He was held by his family.
Dudley found his way to a Missouri pound as a young pup. I learned about this funny little dog on death row and came to claim him. "It's me and you now." We spent 10 good years exploring forests, national parks, big cities, and open prairies. We carved out a great life for ourselves and moved to Oregon, where Dudley enjoyed the great outdoors.
Dudley is survived by his lifelong companion, Emily Lohman; his trusted buddy, Andreas Brandenberger; and his dog-brother, KC Cowboy."
16
Ron Green,
I think it's a lovely tribute to a family member.
16
Dudley is romping around the big pet condo in the sky.
4
A beautiful and moving heart song to her canine companion. Emily Lohman, I am so sorry for your loss, and hope you know that Dudley has found his way to the NYTimes. Thanks to Ron Green for sharing it. Whatever thoughts motivated you, I find Dudley's obituary helped to ground the largesse of some pet owners described in the Times article in that deep bond between human and animal companion.
1
My two dogs have an entire house, I'm thankful that they allow me to stay with them :)
27
There are many people in this country with way more money than they need, and they spend it on foolish things for themselves and their children, so it's no surprise that it extends to their pets. But you're delusional if you think that they would donate it to helping the suffering masses if they didn't spend it on their pets. They would just get another pedicure or massage or unnecessary gadget.
10
The pets in this article deserve more astute masters.
6
My beautiful dog,
i'll never have another
4
Paul Barbour
I'm sorry for your loss...from your words, it seems like it was recent.
As much as I've mourned dog companions who have passed, there are always more who are in need, so eventually they come "home" are a loved just as much.
2
That was supposed to read "and are loved just as much".
I seriously thought this was a satire, a vapid one perhaps, ridiculing upper class people for their attitudes about pets. Then I read on.
I have no other comment except that the disconnect within the Times is truly mindboggling and can only be explained by an upper class obtuseness & refusal to realize they *are* upper class, surrounding themselves in a privileged bubble, refusing to look at themselves and instead mocking the rest of the country and the lower classes, not remotely Guardians of Goodness against Democracy Dying in Darkness (to use another paper's slogan). Exactly as with Harvey Weinstein, reality tells a different story.
14
Instead of a puff piece written in the genre of some pet magazine, one can only imagine the different tone of the article, and the resultant universal outcries of condemnation, if the people featured, rather than wealthy Tribecans and surbanites, were instead empty nester widows in public housing projects giving over the use of their now empty bedrooms for the comfort of their pets.
9
In that situation, I imagine there would be significantly fewer heated marble floors and custom-designed dog beds.
5
Huge thanks to Caroline for including us in that beautifully written article!
If anybody’s interested in checking out Jill’s wall for her cat Nadia here’s a link to photos and video of Nadia playing on the wall furniture: https://www.catastrophicreations.com/meet-forestwind-wendelyn/
2
Those are really nice spaces for a jumper cat. I have one cat who loves to jump onto high places and who would love those wall steps. But my other cat cannot jump at all and would never be able to navigate those steps.
1
Awesome! My husband is laughing at the rope bridge (the probably just wants one in the yard for himself). I would worry that the platforms are awfully high if the cat falls, but Nadia seems to have it all figured out. Can anyone get up to the top to clean cat hair off those things? Or to clean the air return for the furnace, which is likely full of cat hair?
Kudos to you for keeping your cat indoors, where she cannot kill birds, get killed by a coyote or a car, or poo in the neighbor's food garden (I am that cat resenting neighbor).
7
Yea keeping it clean occurred to me, too.
Disgusting. I'll admit I didn't read much more than the title. Still, first, dogs are pack animals. Second, the amount of money Americans spend on pets in a misguided search for love is obscene. I'll concede everyone has a love-searching vice - religion, alcohol, pets, golf, whatever. But dogs ARE pack animals. You have to respect and honor science.
8
Scott,
They can easily remedy the situation by getting another dog...although there are some dogs who prefer to be "single".
2
Didn't the writer anticipate some blow-back from this piece: Twelve hundred square feet of space for birds (the size of many homes). The individual who owns 3 condos devoting enormous space for her animal family? My fourteen year old spoiled-rotten canine child lounges on a tattered- yet comfy bed with a magnificent view of the fridge-- and he couldn't be happier.
16
Some people have too much money.
14
Love your pet, but don't make believe it appreciates wallpaper and decorations, those things are for the entertainment of the owner not the pet. These are examples of delusional people hiding gaining cover from media via supposed kindness toward animals, it's disturbing and pitiful. I won't address the waste of money as wrong, just absurd.
15
Caviar problems. This is insane and I'm a dog lover.
7
At my local Whole Foods recently, there were no less than three people shopping with their dogs, one a couple with two dogs. One of these shoppers I observed finger picking a "treat" out of the salad bar to hand feed to her mid sized brown poodle before going back to finger pick out a second treat. That some people have come to see themselves as the mommy dog to their pet is more a feature of the psychological breakdown of society than anything else.
This article does not belong in The New York Times, nor even its Real Estate section.
12
Gosh New York Times, I'm so grateful that, in a city rife with inequality particularly epitomized by the real estate market, you have chosen to run this on the front page of your real estate section.
14
Speciesism is a form of discrimination and inequality, too. Animals have some rights and should have more legal rights. Why is the human species the only worthy species worth considering? The needs of other species and the environment of our planet should also be taken into account, understood, and studied.
4
Cynthia, do not know what you mean, are you "for" or against this type of behavior, as far as understanding the "need" of the animals, provide them their food and shelter, and if the animal is sleeping or not coming to you, than give him/her their "space" by leaving them alone, that's all that needs to be done.
There is nothing in my post to suggest that humans are the only species of interest nor is there anything about Speciesism- please re-read it a bit more carefully to recognize that it is not making a normative judgment on the article's subject matter, but rather a direct criticism of the New York Times and these completely vacuous and tone deaf articles. When I read articles like this and think about the thought process involved with selecting this article for front page real estate- unless the motivation is to get a lot of comments--it's hard not to wonder where this paper is going. This is not all the news that's fit to print--it's fit perfectly for my recycling bin.
3
Ahem—cats???
1
I’m appalled at the vicious, hateful assaults on these people who happen
to love their animals a great deal. Is it their fault that there are homeless people in the world? Are they contributing to poverty and pain? Love is where you find it, should you be so lucky, and it is no crime, moral or otherwise, to lavish those we love with the things we hope will bring them joy. Don’t you do that with your loved ones? Don’t you sometimes spend money on gifts for family members that could have gone to charity? Is anyone asking you to do what these people are doing? And who of you knows how much any of them have donated to the causes you mention? Think before you judge.
12
Nope, sorry, feeling pretty judgey. The level of self-importance this article aggrandizes is revolting. I would be mortified to be included in this club, and I'm someone whose avocation is caring for special needs animals.
12
The difference, of course, is that I don't brag about my extravagances on the front page of a New York Times section.
6
That the newspaper of record would showcase these extravagant pet owners as the new normal in real estate trends is what galls. Did the NYT ever do a big spread on the lavish lifestyle of the little pooch that Leona Helmsley bequeathed what 46 million dollars to? No, that would have been in extremely bad taste. Somehow the editorial standards have since slipped.
I have a dog whom I love dearly but seriously, she would rather be by my side than in her own "room." Animals don't know or care about designer blankets, fancy beds or any other such "luxuries." These are folks projecting their own neuroses onto their pets, plain and simple. They need to spend more time around people and worry less about their pets. So yes, I will judge them.
14
A lot of animals like to have space for themselves, and this article is not about designer labels but about giving animals their own private spaces. Socialization of people occurs in many different forms not only human-to-human contact, but human-to-animal contact, human-to-machine contact, human-to-nature contact, etc. so this is already a form of socialization that isn't inferior to another form of socialization.
which animals like space? all the dogs I know huddle together and sleep on each other. Unless you have date that proves different, I strongly disagree with your claim. I think most animals prefer to be in groups. Some animals may be solitary due to their preying habits and place on the food chain, but most animals travel, live, and sleep in packs/herds/groups. For an animal, being with other animals gives them a great sense of safety, and for an animal, feeling safe is about one for the best feelings around. My dog used to climb between me and my ex. I liked to think he just enjoyed the proximity to both of us, but what he really liked was feeling that he was protected from predation by the wall the two of us created.
4
I knew there was a justification for tax cuts for the rich:
"A Bedroom for Rover, Maybe Even a Condo".
13
Perhaps it isn't the dog or cat or rabbit that wants/needs their own space, but rather, the human who needs space from their beloved pet . . . on occasion.
Just a thought.
8
Dogs need space for sure but these pack animals would rather you be in it with them.
6
What ever happened to the simple dog house in the back yard or garage?
3
People in other cities have pets; in New York, we have roommates. My two pit bulls get all the space they need during their frequent long walks every day. When they're inside, they're resting comfortably on my bed. I have a feeling if I have them a room, they'd end up there anyway.
5
My cat Noëlle , inspired by your article,has asked me to inform you that she is busy planning a special room for me. After all, I live in HER place, not the other way around. I guess that's why there are no cats in your article...
4
Dogs with their own rooms in the same city as 10s of thousands of homeless, many of them children. Another clear sign of extreme inequality and subsequent moral decay. Only a matter of time before the pitchforks come out.
9
Serious animal lovers don't call them pets.
2
"Serious animal lovers don't call them pets." Oh, oh.
2
The World is falling apart and this is certainly one of the serious reasons.
9
Dogs are pack animals. It is their nature to stay with the group. Isolation is interpreted in the canine brain as punishment. Please don’t anthropomorphise.
10
I have no issue with people spending their money on their pets. There is nothing wrong with loving an animal and making its welfare your priority. If your animals make you happy, then good for you that you take care of them in whichever way you think is right. There are many animals that are in shelters right now hoping that someone shows up to give them a home, so I am happy that these pets are living a good life. I love my dogs and they love me, my idea of their welfare and needs may be different from yours, but as long as the basics of food, shelter, and vet care when needed are met, the extras are up to each individual owner.
9
@ Lily Quinones
My dogs are my best friends and I'll make sure they have everything they need before I do (because they can't).
But an article about how filthy rich people spend huge amounts of money on their pets while half the country is in poverty is obscene and revolting.
9
The starting point for any keeper of animals should be the welfare needs of the species in question. Cats sharing houses with dogs generally need high perches. Pygmy goats need substantial climbing frames. Recuperating animals may need spaces where they can't jump up and down and re-injure themselves. Rabbits need enough space to move around freely but without access to dangerous things. Snakes, many fish and rodents need sufficient hiding/burrowing places to keep them from being stressed.
If the owner also wants to paint flowers on the walls of those spaces that's absolutely fine but it shouldn't be confused with what the animal actually needs in order to thrive.
4
Of course you want your pets to be happy and healthy but good lord, how people fetishize their pets! Pets need food and companionship and dogs need a place outside to run around. Beyond that it's more about the owner than the pet.
9
People have a right to love their pets in their own way. I have been homeless for four years and would not have survived without my service animals. I have no grudge against people who
pamper their pets, as long as they love them. Most of the homeless Ive met feel the same way.
11
Look, these people make an easy target. But it's not as if they'd be subletting or donating their extra room if it wasn't dedicated to their pets. No. They live in an ample space, and choose to share it with animals. The pets aren't displacing homeless people. Are all those leveling criticism inhabiting every square inch of their domains? Does no one among them have a spare room? Because if they do, and it's mostly unoccupied, they're just as guilty.
12
But few people are throwing their spare rooms in the faces of millions of people via the national news.
1
@Mcm: Exactly. If I had three condos in NY and the Times asked to interview me, I would either refuse or insist they not use my real name. The idea that one would proudly discuss this with a national audience is beyond my imagining.
1
My English Springer Spaniel has the run of the condo as well as the backyard. He has a 3 x 5 bed (although at night he prefers to sleep in bed with me) and two dozen toys, and picks and chooses whatever he likes at any given moment. He's a very happy dog.
7
I couldn't get through this article so apologies if I missed the point. All I could think about was that my 401(k) will be taxed now so rich people can buy apartments for their pets.
21
pets have morphed into just another extension of rampant wasteful and frivoulous consumptiom.
i hate to rain on the parade, and i love my dogs, but let's be realistic and understand that pets can be loved and well taken care of without private groomers and rooms and toys. they need food,clean water, excercise, attention and
loads of uncomplicated love and support. that can happen in a little corner of your house.
5
@ marie bernadette
Amen, sister. This article and the implications therein are obscene and revolting.
3
'Our' rabbit has been living here with us for years She goes wherever she wants, when she wants in the house. Every night she sleeps in that room that she chose; she has a her own corner of the living-room with carpet, water, and stuff she likes to throw around; and her litter box in another room. She asks when she wants to go out on the porch, comes when called (if she feels like it) but always joins us for dinner. She gets organic greens, oat hay, timothy hay and timothy pellets. If workers, guests, or we mistakenly leave the outside door open, she ignores it. Guess she knows a good thing! The House Rabbit Society has an excellent web-site, with a lot of very helpful information.
5
BTW, she is a native-species rabbit who came from the Animal Rescue League. They had found her with other horribly-mistreated, starving rabbits, chickens, goats, etc., crammed in cages from floor to ceiling in a barn for the amusement of an despicable sadist who was then apparently convicted of cruelty and related charges.
2
When it comes to dogs, I find that they will seek out a comfortable spot for a bed that is near you. They are happy to just be around you. I have a pack of 25 rescue dogs scattered all over the house - den, breakfast nook, master bedroom. They sleep on memory foam beds with blankets and have their favorite spots - almost reserved spaces. It works just fine. Whenever I move to another room, the dog population triples as most of the group drifts in my direction. The only truly dog space I have is a 16 x 25 sunroom that I built for them and which has a decent day population. You try to make adjustments to make your dog comfortable but in truth as long as they have a bed or space near where you will be they are happy.
6
Entice,
Sounds wonderful, have space for a human and two more dogs? :o)
2
I have found with my 2 dogs that they have chosen their own spaces in my large house and tend to hang out there. The less-sociable older dog has a spot near a large picture-window away from the main living areas, where she can observe the squirrels and birds outside, and sleep in peace and quiet most of the day. I have put her bed and comfort-cushions there. The younger, very-sociable dog has decided on a large ottoman also close to a window - to which he can hoist himself on his front paws to look out for, and warn us of, invading aliens - like the Amazon delivery man. At night, he likes the floor beside our bed - to guard his sleeping sheep, we presume. His bed has been placed in this spot. Dogs and cats pick their own favorite spots - it seems strange to allocate them special rooms cut off from their humans.
14
Two reasons I have kept my house: 1. it is a mess and I cannot sell it for a decent price. 2. I do cat rescue and cannot do that in an apt. Right now, I only have five cats, I have had up to 8, and any kind of animal rescue is wonderful, even if it costs everything you have. Frankly though it doesn't cost much to keep a cat happy, just food, a cosy place to sleep, a window, a toy. They are all good natured, happy to see me, thrilled when I give them a meal or a clean blanket, not fussy about their food. They were foreclosed or thrown out, discarded, living on the streets. I have tried taking in people and they have turned on me. The cats have become my best friends. The oldest greets me at the door every day when I get home. I can trust him in the house. Can you say that about many people? I don't think so.
13
Is not excessive "dog friendship/love" really just an easy substitute for the more complicated (but ultimately more rewarding) human frienship/love?
8
I have found human love much less rewarding. Humans are like bottomless pits that can never be satisfied. My cats are happy with food and a blanket.
18
Maybe human companionship is more rewarding to you, but I prefer the company of my animals for the most part. My pets never betrayed a confidence, never lied or cheated or stole, and they are grateful for even the smallest kindness.
10
It's not a contest. Most of the people I know have pets that they love dearly, yet we still enjoy being with one another. Love comes in many forms and doesn't have a limit.
3
I can't relate to the people that are upset about animals being treated well but I don't think it's right to think that a dog or a bird is happy just because it has a bigger space. Homeless animals with owners often have stronger connections to their owners because they spend all their time together, so if wealthy people are placing dogs and birds in larger spaces and not spending a good deal of time with them, that is not a luxury from the pet's point of view. I'm glad these animals are being well-cared for, in regards to space, but dogs -and especially birds- need to spend a lot of one-on-one time with their owners.
16
I mind less that people devote a large amount of space to their pets than that the NYT feels like it needs to rub everyone's noses in such excess.
24
It would be better if they did an article on animal rescue. There are people who don't have much money who are out there on the streets every day, helping and rescuing animals. That would be a worthier use of the space in this newspaper.
4
I'm glad the NYT does such articles. It gives me insight into all the kooky people out there in the world. I mean kooky in the nicest way, of course.
2
"We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are." Anais Nin
5
There are so many humans in need, many of them children. Do you really want to spend your resources on buying a room just for animals? Charity is tremendously fulfilling, every bit as much as the loving relationship one gets from animals. Let the animal hang out in your room (it would prefer that any way) and use the additional cash to sponsor a human or to subsidize housing for an elderly or young person.
20
Ive tried helping people, and they have turned on me, also with my limited resources its easier to help homeless animals. Its also better for people if I make sure strays are vaccinated and neutered and get some of them off the streets and into a home. I don't think that's a bad thing to do. I wish people would use birth control, then maybe we wouldn't have a worldwide overpopulation crisis.
6
Our children are compassionate adults because they were reared in a "menagerie." Wilbur - the potbellied pig - had free roam of the house and three acres. The Little Red Hen had wonderful broods of chicks. The rescue dogs/cats, the cockatiels (started breeding after five years), lop-eared rabbits in the garden raised beds, the single duckling rescued from the snapping turtle - and on and on. Animals connect us to our better selves and listen to us when other humans haven't the time. In our maturity, we have only too many rescue dogs (rescued by a pregnant daughter who lives in an urban area). My bedroom is not "mine" - I share with my granddogs ranging from 12 to 75 lbs. and my grandchildren and granddogs love each other. Animal domestication was undoubtedly driven by mothers' needs to entertain children.
13
I hope poor Margesux isn't cooped up in that expensive kennel for more than the periods when visitors call. A "mud room" of five feet by eight is just a kennel by another name. I don't care whether the marble floors are heated and the wallpaper is cute. Labradors are bred to move, and they want to be part of the family. If the dog isn't aggressive, why isolate her?
The bird guy is a pet hoarder. His aviary is clean and his birds look healthy (thanks to a paid attendant), but that is too many birds for the space allotted.
The writer's rabbit room makes more sense, although a closet without a window sounds unhealthy for both pets and owner. At least the bunnies are not in cages or roaming the entire apartment, chewing wires. The closet is a happy medium.
I like the woman who gave her ailing dog a room to recover in and retreat to. None of that arrangement sounded outlandish to me (even the bigger apartment). I had a dog (one of three at the time) who liked to sleep on the bed in my guest room, so I just let her have the room. She treated it as her safe place. As she aged and grew weaker, I bought her carpeted stairs to get into the bed. She had all of her toys piled up in there. I know it sounds daft, but she was happy there, and that made me happy. If I had workmen in the house and she needed to be sequestered, she was secure in there with a baby gate across the door. But the rest of the time she was free to be anywhere in the house or outdoors. She often chose her room.
17
A Room of One’ s Own may have served Virginia Woolf well, but my dog is a social pack animal whose immediate ancestors evolved over 60,000 years to live with humans, not in her own room. She does, however, enjoy equal rights alongside her male companions in our neighborhood, and is still admired for her beauty and temperament.
13
How many of those birds have been caught and smuggled out of their natural habitat to be your urban pets? Ones who end up wearing clothes and plucking themselves naked out of anxiety and stress. Pretty sure that macaw would much rather enjoy soaring over a rainforest and than clutching its owner’s shoulder or eating seeds purchased from the pet store. It’s deeply troubling and twisted how much everyone tries to turn wildlife into domesticated dogs on leashes.
16
Long Islander,
Perhaps the birds are rescues.
As fascinating as birds are, it is difficult to understand the desire to keep something that flies captive.
2
I adore birds of all kinds but dismissed the idea of owning one after researching the effects of captivity on their well being. These birds display classic stress symptoms, all for the sake of our needy entertainment and companionship. Imagine as a human being living in a small bathroom with no access to your natural habitat? Would you be happy even if there was a drawing of blue sky and trees on the wall?
20
I really don't get the thesis here. Locking a lab in a closet? Birds with cropped wings in cages?
If you want a pet, be with your pet. I would never think of locking up my lab Bella when company comes over. Also, rather funny to think of a Frank Gehry multimillion dollar two bedroom apartment as actually good for a lab in any way.
Just plain guilt among the .01%
48
My dog Fido saved his Alpo coupons, invested in a Brooklyn duplex, dumped it for a Soho condo and now is living in Paris. Dogs know real estate. Come on NYT, there are young African American kids in Rikers Island who are having their futures destroyed. No hope and scared. Write about them. This paper is doomed if you keep this up.
7
one percenter,
How about they write about both? We can all use a break from the daily horrors of the current administration.
5
And I thought that when the Bible warned of "unatural affection", we were being warned of something else. Something is wrong in our society that could allow for the disparity in humanity. I'm shocked sometimes at how well some immigrant -haters treat their pets. The contrast is mind-boggling.
22
I never had a dog when growing up in the suburbs, the folks next door had a dog who had his own special room. It was called a dog house and it was in the back yard.
45
Dog houses are great as long as the weather is cooperative and the dog either has companionship or doesn't spend hours alone outside, unless it's a dog that prefers being outside and alone.
2
Maybe I'm a softy, but my house is really my dog's house. I just live in it.
64
That's pretty much how I live. But the dogs aren't allowed to use my towel.
4
And pay the mortgage and taxes and ...
Me too.
2
These people have way too much time and money on their hands.
66
Especially money.
4
For all of the critical commenters, what exactly can these people do to meet your moral standards? Rent their extra rooms out to strangers at low cost? Move into smaller spaces out of guilt? Turn their mudroom into a shelter? What do you say to the homeless man that I know who takes care of a colony of cats? You'd probably be just as critical of his choices, but he says they saved his life and give him joy.
Homelessness is much more complicated than mean, old, rich people giving their dogs a bed or putting cat perches on their walls. And loving animals does not mean these people don't also do heroic things for people. This is just a snapshot of their lives at this particular moment. Maybe some of them headed down to the soup kitchen after the interview.
Some of you are so venomous in your comments that I wouldn't want you around animals or people. yikes.
57
@Val: I don't think you fully appreciate the implications of wealthy people in NYC providing rooms - and even separate apartments - for their pets. These people are paying in the vicinity of $1,500/square foot to purchase space, plus monthly carrying charges.
For people of that level of wealth, I ask you, Val: would it ruin their lifestyle if they were taxed more heavily, so that the truly needy humans consigned to the streets had a clean, dry place to live, and perhaps supportive counseling to help them?
3
LOVE this article! It’s nice to hear what led the writer to her research, the slide show & video really help and I didn’t find it tone deaf at all. Nice job! Makes me realize how much I was willing to do for my animals when I was rich and how badly I’d like to live on the Upper West Side now that I’m poor. Oh, well! Maybe I’ll copy that Yorkie’s headboard and bedspread and live vicariously somehow...
8
Well, Marin County is awfully nice and rather expensive...can't be too poor if you live there!
From Zillow " The median home value in Mill Valley is $1,412,400"
I have lived both in Marin and the Upper West Side and I would take Marin any day...
1
I'm guessing that's "poor" as in "my neighbors and friends make $500k a year and I only make $300k *sad face*".
3
Margaux, you lucky dog.
4
They have a bedroom. OURS.
42
Only in a 1st world country.
13
Living with animals? Has anyone ever taken an Infectious Disease class?
Have you seen the lung diseases humans contract from birds? Dogs and cats have their own ailments that impact humans . Contrary to what many believe about how clean an animal is, the truth is there are many rare and unknown diseases transmitted from animal to human.
6
My dogs live all over my house and are all over me pretty much all the time. I get them vetted and vaccinated, checked for parasites, and I treat them with a flea and tick preventative. I know they are healthy. I have had dogs my entire life (more than five decades) and have never gotten an illness or parasite from them or any other pets.
I do agree with your comment on birds and lung diseases, though. Many years ago I kept caged parakeets. I suffered horrible asthma at that time, but did not make the connection to the birds because I had always had bad allergies, and I lived in a damp climate where mold spores were rampant. I have since learned that there is a proven connection between continued exposure to bird dander and lung cancer. No more birds for me.
3
Really? Everyone I know who owns dogs is healthier than people who don't. Your comment is reflective of the way Westerners have adopted a recent prissiness about living with animals. In the rest of the world, and in the West for thousands of years, people and animals lived in close association.
Oh, by the way, we are also animals.
6
I have had dogs my entire life. The live in my home with me and sleep in my bed. Oddly, the only illnesses I've contracted have been the result of human contact. Go figure!
2
elsewhere in nytimes it is reported someone spent 17.8 million for a watch. now that’s a waste of money if ever i heard of one. but as of right now no one is complaining that that money should have gone to the homeless. you could say that any indulgence from an overpriced coffee to an extravagant vacation could better be spent elsewhere on others. where does it begin or end? my animal companions are faithful, loving friends who are worth every penny i spend on food and medical care.
29
Fair enough, but it's not just any watch. It was Paul Newman's Daytona. 17.8 million is, indeed, an obscene amount of money, but the buyer paid for the watch's history and not the watch itself. A comparable watch would be 20k to 30k depending on the material (was Newman's Dayton all steel?). Buy Paul Newman's Dayton is like buying Jackie O's inauguration dress or something. It's a piece of American lore. Paul Newman was one of the most likable men to walk the Earth.
2
But it is just any watch, it records the time to the precision limits of the device just like any watch. It contains no history that isn't available to anybody else, it tells no story, yields no wisdom. It's just a watch. What the obscene $17.8million buys is bragging rights. Think about that for a second. Most people would be happy to brag about having $18million. The buyer thinks its more important to brag about a second hand watch.
The same is true for the pet owners in this article.
3
Jonathan, I'll bet if I looked at all of your purchases over a period of time I'd find plenty that I could tag as frivolous, self-indugent, etc. When people spend money on something they want to have, it's their business.
3
Here's hoping the animal shelters don't fill up with rabbits whose newly inspired owners read this and think "a litter-box trained rabbit, sounds easy."
28
I am making space for my cats, especially since vets advise that there be at least one extra litter box for every cat there is in the household. I have two cats, so I need three litter boxes. My cats generally sleep with me at night, but as indoors only cats they appreciate having more room to explore and to rest when they want to be curious and adventuresome.
4
Two, 11 year old indoor cats live with my wife and me in our 3,500 sq ft house in Western PA. Basically, they roam around, and share spaces with us. I do anthropomorphize them (baby talk, etc) and we have spent, on one occasion, a shockingly large amount of money ($2,000) at an overnight pet ER to save one of them with a bladder blockage.
I don't think of them as 'pets.' I prefer the French cognate 'mascotte', which I think has a different cast in the English meaning to 'pet'. Considering, that of the domestic animals, the ones that share the genes for getting along with humans, which are present more or less in all of them, the cat has the fewest, and is considered in the law in many places to be a wild animal, maybe it is better to settle on a compromise idea of relationship, but certainly nothing that has to do with 'ownership.'
We are happy to share our space with Linus and Grusha, and have made accommodations to their tastes and needs. They are completely adaptable and happy to find a comfortable space wherever a cat might happen to wish to be. Nothing beyond the normal boxes, bowls and toys seems to be necessary. Provide the cat with a box, bowls, a few squares a day, a few toys, and a stress-free environment, and they will take it from there.
14
A cat is indeed not a pet - it's an interactive "objet d'art".
2
I confess that I don't have as many people friends as I'd like. And this makes my dog a more important companion. So I spoil the dog to the extent it makes me happy. But the truth is that our relationship is about my benefit. I need exercise and so does she. We both need attention. We both need amusement. And we both need a change of scenery once in a while. She might like a 3 BR condo with a view. Tough luck. She's lucky to have access to the backyard pool and a grass area where she can do her thing. That 3 BR condo ain't gonna happen.
21
Our dogs and cats would rather be with us rather than a space of their own.
76
I have a feeling that some of these pets are really substitutes for friends and family that used to be around.
14
My family now consists of three and dropping You are right, but it is all good. Cheers.
5
Aren't pets just as much friends and family as humans? Humans are animals, too.
15
We are not fortunate enough to have big or affectionate families/friends.
Thanks for reminding me.
Most of the time my dogs fill in admirably.
12
It is a relief to see that animals easily will be able to repurpose what we have built for ourselves afterwards. Too bad though that we’ve probably built the toilets too high for many of them. Best that they not totally forget where they came from every time they still have to squat.
1
I've adopted three straight Humane Society dogs and love them like family. But seriously? I assume the writer saw the unintended irony here even if the interview subjects did not. I wonder how our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico are doing with their "bunny rooms" right now.
17
Puerto Rico was a disaster even before the hurricane.
1
This is a little crazy.
My cat and my dog don't really want space of their own. All they want is the space right next to me. Sometimes the space right on top of me.
186
Spot on Lydia! I love your fabulous and truthful comment.
3
Evocative of the British upper classes who treated their horses and dogs so very much better than people
14
Our cat is our feline buddy and we her human pals. She is NOT our child and we are most certainly NOT her parents.
15
The best "room" for pets
is outside
in the free world
with no walls
7
until dinnertime and Netflix
3
and learning to use the riding mower.
2
Exactly, Merrily! My dogs have a dog door left open during the day, leading to forested acreage they can enjoy freely. They choose to follow me around instead. If I'm indoors, they are hanging out right nearby. They'll run outside without me to bark at the UPS guy or something, but it's what we call "people TV" the rest of the time. Dogs want to be with their owners.
4
Well, no matter that my two dogs have lots of space, they want to only be one place at night, on the floor by my bed! Why would they want another bedroom?
26
Some dogs do, Mary. My two dogs sleep in my room (one of them on my bed), but I have had dogs in the past who preferred to sleep elsewhere in the house. One of them had her own room!
1
It’s a horrible thought. But this makes me think there are probably homeless people wishing they were pets. Or refugees like the fleeing Rohingya.
It’s heartbreaking that so many human beings live worse than pets.
65
Do we take the homeless off the streets and gas them to death or give them lethal injections? The animal shelter in Newark, just a few miles away, operates as a death camp for animals. Dogs and cats are horribly abused in research labs and on the streets. Lets not kid ourselves that animals are better off than homeless humans. Animals are tortured and killed by the millions every day.
3
It is heartbreaking that both so many humans and pets live in misery.
4
That is the most ridiculous thing I have read in this thread.
New Yorkers DO need to travel west of the Hudson River a bit more.
23
So funny the angry comments about pet owners from those who seem to think that living in NY is a god given right even for those people who can't afford it. Just pathetic. Then the comments about the poor and homeless. If the commenters are so bothered they can start writing checks.
12
You keep posting the exact same opinion over and over and over again..
5
Repetition is good way to teach. And a lot of NYT commenters on this article and others seem to think there is some god given right to live in NYT.
Yes, I would suspect that "Reader in Wash D.C. " is Donald Trump, except that even he would never refer to himself as a "Reader".
5
The squirrels I feed outside my garage studio are getting too comfortable about coming in. With those big bushy tails it’s time for me to teach them how to paint and let them feed me. Tomorrow I’ll set up some short easels and let them have a go. I’ll probably learn more from them if I’m lucky.
7
Wait a minute. Is it April Fool's Day already? I thought it was Halloween.
Speaking of, those who dress their pets up in costumes need to get a life.
14
Thanks for the reminder, it's time to dig out my chihuahua's Underdog costume.
3
I am an animal lover and I've had pets that I was devoted to but these people are out of touch. I hope they give very generously to charities because, if not, I don't know how they dare face the public after this article. At a time when there is a threat of nuclear war, when Puerto Rico still has little to no power or clean water, when there are so many homeless people and famine, war, and poverty is everywhere, we all need to get a grip, please.
13
So glad my dog and cats can't read! But this is beyond ridiculous
16
In America, 564,708 people . . . homeless.
7
So do something about it.
3
Fine example of the mankind's decaying state.
11
Let them eat IAMS!
17
No wonder they hate us.
5
Giving housing to dogs, while thousands of our fellow Americans have to spend this winter out of doors. Disgusting.
14
My cat does not require toys, his own room or anything mentioned in this article. The one luxury he demands is access to my lap which I am happy to provide.
37
susan - nothing can top access to one's personal lap. Sounds like one extremely lucky and loved feline. Good for you both. Meow meow from a fellow feline lover.
1
My husband and I always called our dog our 4-legged daughter because we loved her that much and stopped counting after spending $35,000 on on her medical bills during her 14 years of life. I know it's a ton of money, but fortunately, we were in a financial position to be silly about her needs. When it came time to say good bye, we never wanted any regrets of not doing everything possible for her when she was with us.
We also have cats. Boy, do we have cats. All outside strays that have adopted us. Each one has it's own space/room/bed in the family room, a.k.a., the full length basement. One of our best friends said when he dies, he wants to come back as one of our cats because of how well they have it in our home.
For me, taking in strays is probably a result of having an extremely painful and traumatic experience when I was young, centering around the death of my pet cats and dogs. Ever since then, I feel compelled to save as many as I can, and love each one as if they were my children.
I do notice that there tends to be three different types of people when it comes to pets - folks like me who love them more than I should, folks who totally dislike pets on any level, and folks who have pets but see them as that, pets, and don't go overboard like I d o.
Frankly, as long as people don't intentionally harm any animal, I can appreciate the nuances when it comes to personal opinion and view point. There are no right or wrong answers, just different ones.
43
Amen. Much respect.
6
I disagree that there are no wrong answers when it comes to caring for pets. I see so many people buy or adopt dogs for reasons that don't have anything to do loving dogs as the sloppy, demanding, long-lived canines they are. They want a dog because it's cool to have a certain breed, or trendy to have a rescue, or because they are practicing for parenthood (and will dump the dog at the shelter when the time comes for a real baby). They buy a puppy because they want a puppy but not a dog. So they dump the pup at ten months. They grow bored with the dogs and leave it, neglected, in the yard. And on and on. The right way to keep a pet is to care for it and love it and provide it an appropriate home for the animal's entire lifetime. And get the right pet for your lifestyle and expectations. Don't declaw the cat because you care more about your furniture. Don't get a dog meant to run and hunt and keep her in a tiny mud room.
Yes, there is indeed a right and a wrong way to do this.
13
You are correct. The many examples you listed are crucial. Because I personally would never commit any of those acts, I simply did not think of them when composing my post. Thank you so much for your clarification. Much appreciated, but much necessary that it was written. Thank you again. Sincere apologies for this omission.
3
Would have loved to see a space for a cat in the article!
And this isn't necessarily a 1% percent issue like so many commenters mention. My step-father was not rich, but had a small room for his birds as well. No one would complain about a sewing room or other hobby room, right? Neither am I wealthy, but I wouldn't hesitate to make a room for my cats given the right circumstances.
17
I also wanted to see a picture of the cat wall made for Nadia, the Siberian kitty!
6
The entire second floor master is dedicated to my cats, filled with cat trees, cat toys, food bowls, cat tunnels that light up, etc. Its a cat paradise. Do they spend any time there? Nope. None. Instead, they follow us around 24/7 wherever we go, endlessly hound us to pet them on the sofa, trail me around the kitchen hoping for treats (they know I'll give in) and as often as they can sneak in to sleep with us.
My lesson? Animals could care less about their own space so long as they have a warm human to cuddle with and a bowl full of treats.
54
The irony, of course, is the common notion that cats are aloof. :)
7
Animals that make good pets are socialized animals. They are not wild animals nor zoo critters. They want to be with human companions, or they would not be good pets.
The oldest joke is about buying a dog or cat some fancy toy, and they ignore it in favor of an old sock or scratching the sofa. (There is the same joke about babies preferring the box to the toy that came inside of it.)
People who think that CATS of all creatures, care about "painted murals on the wall" or elaborate structures -- are dead wrong. If a cat wants something to play with, you'd buy them an old straggly wing chair and let them claw it to smithereens. Of course, that wouldn't look cool or trendy, or let you show off to friends or post on Pinterest.
I am not so critical about the societal impact of these rooms for pets They seem to be pretty economical. They are pretty small rooms. The one for the Yorkie is a guest room that is easily converted from doggie to human guest. The one for the large 70 lb dog is only 5' x 8' and includes a lot of the things necessary to have a large dog, like a bathing sink (And it is in Chicago, not NYC). I think if you have a pet, it is not ostentatious to designate a space just for them, especially when the space is reasonably small.
8
Yes, just what we don't need is a tax cut for the .01%. I'm all for the human treatment of animals, but what about people? How about housing, healthcare, jobs, education and so much more. Let's not stop taxing inheritance either. We need this money for people and poor children.
25
I'm an animal lover (and a vegetarian), but this is getting a little ridiculous. I wish that pet owners with the financial resources to provide this level of care and attention to their pets would extend this love to their compatriots and fellow human beings, many of whom live lives that pale in comparison to the luxurious treatment these animals are receiving.
Yeah, Let's have tax cut for the rich and the 1% and this is how they're going to spend it!
97
I was with ya until you went on about the 1%. I grant you that this is a silly article about self-indulgent people who lost their way, but can't we just shut up about politics for a bit?
7
Oh, thank you! I was just wanting to write something similar. And feared I’d be “hounded” (forgive me, hounds!) for being more concerned about our fellow humans in need.
Bravo!
6
I'm sure the people featured here are kind and compassionate and truly devoted to their pets. However, this article left me with a complete sense of disgust at the bizarre priorities on which they choose to spend their money. Was it intended to be ironic and have us question our own use of resources? If so, well done.
117
Anyone who thinks this article has any merit should read the book " mountains beyond mountains." Among other things the book, written by a physician overseas, makes fun of Americans who spend more money on their pets than helping humanity. Basically the pet business is a multi billion dollar business.
3
"We needed a space to keep her when guests came over, where she wouldn't feel trapped or anxious."
And who - or what - at 70 pounds would "feel trapped or anxious" in a dedicated 40 square foot space?
8
A dog with anxiety can feel trapped just by being kept from her owners. No space is too big.
1
Absolutely! I hope you've seen the sarcasm in my comment. We've always had cats and they have run of their world...and ours.
It's a shame these poor pets have only a single room of their own. Maybe when the Republic tax plan passes these pets will get an entire floor in a condo overlooking Central Park.
70
Bird and rabbits — what the rest of the world calls food, living in luxury. Good thing the impoverished of the world are unable to read this article, since it will only make them hate the U.S. more.
29
This is sickening, given the homeless situation in the city. There are literally thousands of men, women, and children who are living in shelters or worse. If half of what rich New Yorkers spend on luxury toys, clothes, and gear for their dogs were donated to domestic violence shelters and other institutions that serve the homeless, we'd be in a lot better shape. Shame on the NYTimes for not even mentioning this disparity.
79
Not to forget doggie daycare, spas, manicures, hair stylists, acupuncturists, trainers, special chefs, jewelry-it's ALL out there.
6
To them a homeless person is worth less than a bird, cat or dog. God has His priorities, one day the last shall be first.
2
Why on earth would I want a separate bedroom for my beloved dog? She and ai share our lives together! She sleeps in my bed, she sits on my lap, she sits on various chairs and sofas. I have her for COMPANIONSHIP, not to live in another room, for heaven's sake!
I do know a woman (who has been written about in the NYTimes), who bought the co-op above her own for her dogs. But, she has a LOT of dogs and shows them and does agility and obedience events with them as well. She can afford this, so why not?
All these comments about how people are homeless and here are people giving a room to a dog etc. Well, last time I checked, one is not required to have someone for every room in order to justify owning it. I live in a 3 BR house - 2800 sqr ft - by myself, other than my dog. Should I be required to relinquish it in order for others with a larger family to occupy it? I hope not! If so, welcome to Russia!
I can't imagine what that apt with bird droppings all over the floors (designed to "hide" the droppings? yikes!) smells like. And smells travel in apt buildings, even in the best. Some people don't house break their dogs and cats and the entire place reeks. I pity their neighbors if they live in an apt!
As for Margaux, the yellow Lab; an appropriate sized crate would serve the same purpose. I always have a crate set up to use when repairmen are in my house or guests who might not care for dogs. A room such as was described is for it's OWNER, not the dog.
14
Mudroom? Fine. Closet? Fine. Bedroom? Weird. Apartment? Insane. This article? Tone deaf, not only to neighbors who need to live with animals' noises and odors, but, more importantly, it's the height of insult to those who don't have a room of their own.
I love and miss NYC. Please don't drive people to hate it while I'm gone.
15
Are you kidding me dog owners?
Dogs want to be with their human parents when they are at home. The private dog rooms should only be used when owners are away from home, to confine your dog to a defined space, if needed.
How pretentious and so completely unnecessary when it comes to DOGS!
30
Human parents? How very very very sad.
4
So when we cut their taxes. The rich will spend them on overpriced dog beds made in Thailand. Way to trickle down!!!
26
So glad my pets skills don't extend to reading the NYT or there would be some major jealousy or would there be? To each his own.
2
I am most inspired by Caroline Biggs, the author.
A New Yorker who gives up her walk-in closet for her rabbits?
What greater sacrifice can a woman make?
41
I spoil the heck out of my birds but when I'm not around, they go into their cages for their own safety and to keep them from destroying the house. Parrots especially - any psiittacines, even little parakeets - chew everything in sight, incessantly. The woodwork, the walls, anything they can get to. The room where they live has some kind of barrier around the baseboards and lower walls, the outlets have baby guards, the furniture also has protective shielding to about 10 inches from the floor and upholstery is all covered (except the chair that the larger bird has already destroyed). Mrs. Stern's parrots and cockatoo are going to destroy that condo. Even if you give them things to chew on, they will still chew the woodwork and walls.
2
Disgusting, while thousands of New Yorkers live in rat-infested housing, or worse are homeless, these spoiled, entitled one-percenters have nothing to do but to waste money and precious space on AN ANIMAL. It's not a family member people, it's AN ANIMAL.
27
You do know that you too are an "animal," right? Class mammalia. You also have no idea is these "entitled one-percenters" help, or do not help society in other ways. Perhaps they support human and animal shelters to the tune of millions. Perhaps they build hospital wings. Perhaps they fund medical research. And perhaps they don't.
At the top of the animal food chain of class mammalia, you have been given the ability to judge and judge others. Perhaps you could give that gift the proper respect it deserves without the knee-jerk rush to condemn. I can tell you right now, the pure hearts of any of the "ANIMALS" in this story would only choose love and acceptance, trust and best wishes, rather than negative harshness. Learn from the animals. Don't judge.
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I agree with your premise, but no one has the moral purview to determine that animals aren’t family members.
Get a grip.
8
I wasn't aware there are four categories of matter - animal, vegetable, mineral, and human. We are animals too, my dear.
7
Is this a joke? An article that walked over from the Style section? A: get real, people are homeless. B: our dogs and cats have wanted to be with us; they would see having their own rooms as a prison!
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I know a homeless man who has a dog. Maybe one of these people would be will ing to share some of their space with his dog. Never mind him. He's only a human who has fallen on very hard times. Let him eat kibble!
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what dream!! love them all
2
This article reads like a parody of the entitled rich who are clueless about the rest of the 99.9%.
81
People can't afford NYC apartments so bash a dog. I'm sure all of these doomsayers indulge in something that I can blame the poverty on India on. Quit the shaming. If you really cared about whatever you used to disparage a dog with go out and do something about it. You won't you hypocrites.
9
Any dog owner with a brain knows that they are pack animals. My Lab wants to be wherever I am, sleeps on the carpet next to my bed and wouldn't ever think of leaving me for the guest bedroom. Materialistic, conspicuous consumption in a decadent society which is crumbling due to a collective lack of compassion and civility where greed is valued higher than anything else deserves to be shamed.
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@ miguel
Well put. These entitled rich people are really asking for it.
5
In this age of rage, this is a charming and whimsical story that brightened my day. Hate to bring politics into this, but doncha' know the insane dotard doesn't have any pets and has never had any pets. Maybe that's what's wrong with him?
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In these times, a tone deaf article. I love my pets too, but good grief.
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I agree--not a great article for these times. Or The Times, perhaps. It comes across as pretentious and cruel, mascarading as "charming." Of course pets can be "family," but ending with "why not" provide Margaux with heated marble floors, invites the reader to answer the question: because it's obnoxious and self-indulgent and certainly more for the person than for the dog.
1
Surely, this is a classifiable condition fit to be published in the DSM 5 (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders used by mental health professionals)?
19
This is really too bad. The fact is, animals like to be with their people except (sometimes) when they're in pain. And if they're in that much pain, and there's no recourse, it's time to put them down.
When I bring a new cat into the house (and I do not have more than three at one time), I quarantine him or her until the vaccines and worming kick in, and then I introduce everyone gradually. But that's all.
Of course, the bottom line is, you can buy pet a condo or give him his own room, but if you have any sort of relationship with him, he'll choose to be on your lap or leaning against you. Save your money for something really important, like putting food on your table or tithing to worthy causes.
12
My neighbors bought a 4 bedroom apartment - I thought they must have a lot of children - no just 4 dogs and a cat who must be using those extra bedrooms.
1
Before I comment and am met with the wrath of the animal rights advocates, let me establish my credentials. I am a tenant side housing lawyer and I have devoted my decades long career to representing tenants battling with their landlords, often over their right to harbor pets, or have an emotional support animal. I am also a current dog owner and have owned several dogs, cats and birds during my lifetime. Having said that, there is something indecent, decadent and wrong about a society where millions of families are homeless, and live in substandard, overcrowded and unaffordable housing while others have set aside walk in closets, rooms and entire apartments for their pets. It gives me little hope for the future of our country and makes me feel that we are the modern Rome, in a state of indulgent collapse.
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People have no right live in one of the most expensive cities in the world. THe country is 3000 miles across and is full of affordable housing.
9
I agree, Sam Himmelstein...there needs to be a happy medium between "fish-sized fish bowl" and "animal opulence", especially for people themselves.
You need one home; you can make a case for a second. You don't need a third, nor does your Delaware LLC need its own.
I don't agree with Reader In Wash, DC: New York could easily deal with the homeless, by forcing out the current cartel of evict-by-racist-negligence slumlords and LLC empty-home owners (with a strong, compassionate eminent domain that seizes their spaces the moment they stop taking tenant calls), dividing larger apartments, and merging tiny studios. Once the apartments are big enough, storage facilities can be replaced with many more apartments, and they and the seized spaces can finally make housing a free and competitive market.
2
Humans have choices. They can get a job, get further education, NOT HAVE CHILDREN! Dogs are innocent. They don't have choices. They depend on us. They languish in shelters waiting for a forever home and many are killed (euthanized). Any worldwide collapse will be due to humans, not to dogs.
2
I am a nature lover. I have a 11 year old Mexican street dog that literally adopted us. We don’t have rooms or special spaces for her. What is most important to her is to be able to socialize, explore, exercise and play. So, although she has a bad liver and takes daily medication for it, she goes out every day in walks, runs and explorations to the forest, streets, dog parks, beach, etc. Basically, whatever is available wherever we go. She travels with me almost everywhere possible, and we spend the time to make her own food and welcome her to all spaces in the house. She seems happy despite her illness because she gets to be dog: migrate, hunt (she has a bell that alerts wild animals), play, socialize, roll on dirt and other less appealing things, sniff, swim, etc. She watches over me when we go out into the countryside and I over her. It is not complete freedom, but it is the closest thing to being dog that I can offer. I think that would be an impossible task for me to accomplish with birds, turtles, fish and rabbits. Dogs and cats have evolved along humans, albeit possibly freer wilder humans. Like wild animals, some of the animals depicted in this article should be in sanctuaries or freed, so they can have a more fish like, rabbit like, bird like, etc existence, instead of living in special rooms with human representations of nature around them.
12
In a Santa Monica two bedroom, the only amenity I needed for my beautiful white rescue cat, Buddy, was a kitty door. Outside that door was an outdoor walkway to other second floor apartments, and a stairway to the downstairs courtyard, more apartments, bushes and the street. When a new neighbor moved into an apartment, Buddy was there at her door, to help her explore her new digs. He also chased after birds - once bringing home a sparrow (which I released). He also chased after a squirrel in a courtyard palm tree, as well as two neighboring cats. (He was, however, great friends with dogs). I
Whenever I came home, he would see me on the walkway and come welcome me. And though he only sometimes entered home with me, within a minute or two, he would come in through the kitty door. (Coming home had to be his initiative).
He was a very happy, healthy cat. Yes, I gave him good food, took him to the vet and got him annual shots, etc., but my main gift was not at all expensive: his freedom.
When I moved to NYC and a larger two bedroom, I hoped the balcony would give him some freedom, but traffic noise scared him; he stayed indoors, with no squirrels, birds, or other cats to chase. He still loved me - but it was I who felt guilty. Freedom is the greatest gift, and it is hard to give this to a pet in NYC.
15
So get him a kitten.
9
Cats enjoy hunting, and it is part of their nature. Unfortunately, they did not evolve along with wild birds in America, so they have an unfair advantage in being able to kill these small songbirds. This is something to keep in mind if you let your cat run outside freely.
8
Our cats do not go after birds. They are smart and recognized early that birds can fly and that stalking birds is a waste of energy. In fact, the crows and Steller's jays make fun of the cats and tease them. The cats chase squirrels which are more agile. The squirrels climb up into the horse chestnut tree in the autumn and enjoy throwing horse chestnuts down onto the cats.
After decades of living with indoor/outdoor cats, none have brought a bird into the house, but they do manage to bring in an occasional traumatized mouse, most of whom survive the cat encounter and are released back into nature.
Putting a bell on a cat does not help keep birds safe from cats, but it has been found that putting a colorful scrunchie-type collar on a cat keeps birds safe --- birds are able to see the bright color and avoid the feline.
If you spend time with your cats, if you go outside with them, and if you pay proper attention, bird life need not be threatened.
I'm very glad Chauncey has a nice bed and view of Brooklyn, but New York City has now become unaffordable to most young people, who either live in overcrowded and overpriced spaces with multiple roommates, or remain with their parents. For many young people, including my son, owning a home within a reasonable commute to New York City is a distant dream. No offense to the people and designers who build dedicated pet rooms, but somehow, I feel that much higher taxes on the very wealthy would be a better use of time.
146
There is no god given right to live in NY. Your son can own a home in NY city rather than in reasonable commuting distance. All he has to do is work for it. Then when he has earned it someone who wants it without earning it will demand high taxes on him.
4
nothing against pets. but it is well proven that owners who leave out food and water for pets or who leave open bags of food in closets or cabinets are often the source of mice and bugs for their neighbors in city dwellings... even the best apartments may not be thoroughly sealed and/or pests create new highways to get where the goods are.
31
Many pet owners, like us (four cats, two dogs), feed only what their animals eat at one sitting and keep the excess in closed containers. No mice or bugs in that. I suspect that human food creates much more pest cuisine than pet dinners do.
33
As a first-time dog owner, I am completely smitten with our 70-lb. golden retriever. There is no room or furniture that is off-limits to him, but a separate, dedicated room would never work for him because he is adorably 100% people-focused and sleeps in the master bedroom on our bed. My partner and I are determined that our next move will be to a house with a big, fenced-in yard for our dog.
84
Same for me. My dog sleeps next to my wife and me every night. If we weren't sleeping in the same room, she'd come find us.
12
I love it :) We are thinking about buying a king-size bed bc our queen is getting a bit cramped for three of us. But I think the dog actually prefers the closeness and being wedged in between me and my husband. Sometimes he will even squeeze his body next to the headboard and curl around my head. And I end up waking up inhaling warm fur.
5
Jennifer, unless you want that big backyard so your golden can get some exercise your dog will never be happy out there alone. All goldens are "100% people-focused" like my golden rescue from Puerto Rico and being outside all day or in their "own" room is not in their DNA. Dogs smell other dogs' butts I don't think they care much about the decor of their abode!
1
Bravo New York Times.
Thousands of NYC children whose families are homeless, living in homeless shelters. And NYC families doubled up in bad housing.
Glad to know we New Yorkers are clear about our priorities, what is really important - luxury space for pets.
217
I'm a huge animal lover, but I tend to agree. It's sad to think of all the people in NY in need, kids who may not even know where they will sleep tonight, while others have so much they can create special housing for their pets.
6
Yep, I knew I would find one of these comments and here it is. You've change the world.
You don't really know anything about these people. Do they have to say that they give $10K to charity every year or care for their neighbor out of the goodness of their heart to pass the "LS" test? Then they would be accused of bragging.
I don't know anything about you, but I would place a bet that these pet lovers are more sympathetic to social problems than you are.
14
Responsible pet owners spay and neuter.
Too bad the people breeding kids they can't afford will not do the same to themselves.
Several people in the story adopted rescued animals.
Rather than whining that people did not give their money to support someone else's kid why don't YOU take on the support for a whole bunch of homeless children? You know - put your money where your mouth is.
Animals can not get jobs, support themselves, rent housing or otherwise provide for themselves.
People choose to have kids they can not afford and remain in cities they can not afford. Oh well. Their decision and THEIR kids.
22