Breeders

A welcome diversion from the usual NYC Saturday afternoon social philandering of late breakfasts and early drinks came in the form of The AKC Meet the Breeds Show at the Javits center this weekend.

Less of a Christoper Guest-ian pageanatry for blue ribbon pedigrees, Meet the Breeds is more of an informal trade show where 160 breeds of dog and 50 breeds of cat are showcased. Sparsely to decadently decorated booths are manned by breed enthusiasts ebulliently divulging breed information  to spark more affection for their pet. 

Their constant encouragement of guests to physically fawn over the dogs and cats on display (antibacterial hand gel was a pre-requisite for petting the hairless felines) was slightly disarming since 1) they are perfect strangers 2) we're in a city where dog walkers are far more likely to scowl at you for talking touching their pet than encourage you to so do.

Cairn Terrier (AKA Toto) , more photos at  ITakeMyCameraEverywhereIGo.com

On the pomp and circumstance surface, it's endearing to see a person love their animal so much that they’ll stand as a sideline cheerleader for their terrier, hound or shorthair—endearing even if that person is dressed as a ship captain, the cast of Wizard of Oz, or HRH Queen Elizabeth. 

Sure, the cats are squirmy, skittish and plotting the death of the next hand that reaches toward them. And the dogs are obliging to the touchy-feely onlookers because the sheer fatigue from constant human interaction has rendered them immobile. But isn't that what we've built the American Pop Culture Dream on? Good breeding and near-obsessive ogling of the ridiculous and ridiculously beautiful until we've exhausted them? 

Seeing a Westie or Bichon pose diligently at the hand of her master, one can’t help but comparatively recall a toddler in a tiara hoping mommy will love her more if she has the prettiest hair, the nicest smile and the most praise from onlookers (at one point, a woman scolded a small boy who tried to pet her dog while it’s photo was being taken – “Wait! Someone's taking her picture!”). 

Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Photo Credit: Yours Truly

If these dogs and cats were human, their "parents" would likely, and zestfully, fall into role of "momager." But for now, they're just proud pet owners...at least until their little darling gets older, starts dabbling in narcotics and is slammed with a DUI for swerving on the PCH to evade the paparazzi.