D AV I D PAT R I C K C O L U M B I A Adoption Center, in hopes of finding a new home for the dogs. Bratton escorted ASPCA dog Duchess, who had been brought to the ASPCA by the New York Police Department in November. Andy Cohen accompanied his own dog, Wacha. I missed the Bergh Ball this year and also last year. I totally support their work and I had other commitments, but the Bergh Ball was on my mind. Two years ago when I went to cover it, I adopted a 12-year-old Shih Tzu named Jenny. It was a spur of the moment decision because I already had two rescued Shih Tzus at home and I have a busy day-to-day life
away from the apartment. But Jenny, who was being carried around that evening by one of the ASPCA volunteers, reminded me of another dog named Buster that I adopted back in the late ’90s from the Center for Animal Control. He was a little sweetie. It turned out that my new girl was 12, was blind, had been in terrible health, had had tumors on all of her teats, and had a bronchial problem. But who cares? She needed a home. After I agreed to share my home with her, the vets at the ASPCA waited until they were sure she was in good health before releasing her. That was in June 2012. She’s been in very good
health ever since. She’s a sweet dog and able to maneuver around carefully, despite her blindness. She loves affection but, unlike my other two dogs, she does not come for it and, at first, was uncertain about receiving. I don’t know what her history is but she was a very alienated dog. They told me that she stayed off by herself at the center. It always amazes me that people have animals (and children) and abuse them or abandon them. Those are the real losers in life. Losers in so many ways. She was very tentative when she came home with me. Also, my other female—my alpha dog—Madame, or Missy, was
not hospitable. In fact, she was something of a little brat about this new girl in town. I could actually see the dialogue going on between the two of them. Jenny backed off quite easily, as if to say: “Fine, have it your way.” I excoriated Madame and she wagged her tail in response. The other guy, Byron, follows Madame around like her little puppy (unless she shoos him away). It is a very amusing scene for me to watch them live their lives quite apart from me. When Jenny was first living with us, she wouldn’t sleep in the bedroom with the rest of the gang. I tried to help her by putting her on the bed, but she wanted to get off and then
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