With my compliments to the NY Post whose headline I have sort of stolen, adapted for my little blog. Say what you will about anything owned by Rupert Murdoch, no one can top The Post for headlines. (Source: NY Post, click here)
The smelly dog in question is Ugo, a Neapolitan Mastiff owned by Steven Lyon and residing in the same West 26Th Street Chelsea co-op building as CNN news anchor, Soledad O'Brien. The building co-op board attempted to evict the Lyon's family from their building because Ugo is messy, siting specifically in a 20-page affidavit that Ugo violated the terms of the co-op lease because of his "size, slobbering, shedding, drooling, gassiness and odors."
Lyons didn't have his dog when he bought his $3 million apartment in 2003. Ugo, a Neapolitan Mastiff bred from an award-winning bloodline, in Turin, Italy, was acquired in March 2007. Later that summer, the newly formed co-op board which allowed pets began complaining about Lyon's dog. In response, Lyons appears to have made attempts to make Ugo more acceptable, including taking Ugo to a groomer three times a month, spritzing him with an orange-scented deodorize and by offering to use the freight elevator to walk the dog.
Poor smelly Ugo. None of this had to happen and it is a story repeated all across the city, in rental buildings as well as co-ops. People! Check the fine print! When a lease says "pets allowed" and limits their size or species, pay attention and comply with the rules; don't think you can get away with bringing home a cute little puppy who will grow up to eat 8 to 10 cups of food a day as does the adult Neaopolitan Mastiff. Do your homework too and learn about a breed's characteristics (physical and mental) as well as his emotional and physical needs. I'm always shocked when I see just how ill-informed people are, still, in this age of information where all you have to do is enter a breed name in a search engine to find out everything you need to know and see if the dog of your dreams fits into the life of your reality. Sadly, when it comes to acquiring a pet, too many people continue to act on impulse. If we're going to bring an animal into close contact with other people (and other animals), we ought to be responsible enough to learn about the animal and figure out if it is one that may cause our neighbors (and their pets) any fear or annoyance. Mastiff's are an aquired taste. (I think they are beautiful and great dogs for the right humans and locations--not necessarily in a NYC apartment). And despite all their great qualities (loyal, steady) they can be intimidating to others just by their size, and, pretty disgusting to people who may not be fond of dogs to begin with.
And poor Soledad O'Brien. After The Post broke the story in January 2009, reports all over the Internet and in print appeared to be laying the blame for the eviction attempt at the feet of O'Brien signalling her out as the dog-hater in this case, when, in fact ,she was only acting as the co-op secretary and had simply signed the eviction papers (unless of course she raised the issue to begin which, something I just don't know and haven't seen any proof of either). Backlash against O'Brien has been so strong since the story first broke she sent an email in February resigning from the board saying, in part, "After discussions with neighbors and others, [my husband] and I have become increasingly concerned about my personal safety."
As for Ugo's fate, Manhattan Housing Court Judge Arlene Hahn ruled Monday, dismissing the case saying the dog's owners were not properly served in the suit. "The board is trying to evict a family, and it can't even serve the initial papers correctly," said Michael Schwartz, the lawyer for the family. "Maybe the board should be put on a leash."
Ugo can officially be a smelly dog, by odor of the court.
The smelly dog in question is Ugo, a Neapolitan Mastiff owned by Steven Lyon and residing in the same West 26Th Street Chelsea co-op building as CNN news anchor, Soledad O'Brien. The building co-op board attempted to evict the Lyon's family from their building because Ugo is messy, siting specifically in a 20-page affidavit that Ugo violated the terms of the co-op lease because of his "size, slobbering, shedding, drooling, gassiness and odors."
Lyons didn't have his dog when he bought his $3 million apartment in 2003. Ugo, a Neapolitan Mastiff bred from an award-winning bloodline, in Turin, Italy, was acquired in March 2007. Later that summer, the newly formed co-op board which allowed pets began complaining about Lyon's dog. In response, Lyons appears to have made attempts to make Ugo more acceptable, including taking Ugo to a groomer three times a month, spritzing him with an orange-scented deodorize and by offering to use the freight elevator to walk the dog.
Poor smelly Ugo. None of this had to happen and it is a story repeated all across the city, in rental buildings as well as co-ops. People! Check the fine print! When a lease says "pets allowed" and limits their size or species, pay attention and comply with the rules; don't think you can get away with bringing home a cute little puppy who will grow up to eat 8 to 10 cups of food a day as does the adult Neaopolitan Mastiff. Do your homework too and learn about a breed's characteristics (physical and mental) as well as his emotional and physical needs. I'm always shocked when I see just how ill-informed people are, still, in this age of information where all you have to do is enter a breed name in a search engine to find out everything you need to know and see if the dog of your dreams fits into the life of your reality. Sadly, when it comes to acquiring a pet, too many people continue to act on impulse. If we're going to bring an animal into close contact with other people (and other animals), we ought to be responsible enough to learn about the animal and figure out if it is one that may cause our neighbors (and their pets) any fear or annoyance. Mastiff's are an aquired taste. (I think they are beautiful and great dogs for the right humans and locations--not necessarily in a NYC apartment). And despite all their great qualities (loyal, steady) they can be intimidating to others just by their size, and, pretty disgusting to people who may not be fond of dogs to begin with.
The essence of the Neaopolitan Mastiff is his bestial appearance, astounding head and imposing size and attitude. (AKC breed standard for Neopalitan Mastiff)How could Lyons not have known his dog would drool (just look at the Mastiff's jowls), probably smell (because of the skin folds), and, scare some (size matters in a multiple dwelling building). (For more information on the NM, see this AKC website page.)
And poor Soledad O'Brien. After The Post broke the story in January 2009, reports all over the Internet and in print appeared to be laying the blame for the eviction attempt at the feet of O'Brien signalling her out as the dog-hater in this case, when, in fact ,she was only acting as the co-op secretary and had simply signed the eviction papers (unless of course she raised the issue to begin which, something I just don't know and haven't seen any proof of either). Backlash against O'Brien has been so strong since the story first broke she sent an email in February resigning from the board saying, in part, "After discussions with neighbors and others, [my husband] and I have become increasingly concerned about my personal safety."
As for Ugo's fate, Manhattan Housing Court Judge Arlene Hahn ruled Monday, dismissing the case saying the dog's owners were not properly served in the suit. "The board is trying to evict a family, and it can't even serve the initial papers correctly," said Michael Schwartz, the lawyer for the family. "Maybe the board should be put on a leash."
Ugo can officially be a smelly dog, by odor of the court.
Geez, I dunno.
ReplyDeleteBy my "country" standards, anybody who pays three million dollars for anything ought to be able to do what he wants in it!
Hah! And I'll bet that's just what he was thinking, that he could get away with doing whatever he wanted.
ReplyDelete