Yesterday was #NationalDogDay, but in upstate New York we celebrated a week early…
My old pal Lynne O’Neill has a LOT of experience producing fashions –like 40 years worth. (She’s currently producing 12 for the upcoming New York Fashion Week.) Remember the Sex and the City episode where Carrie falls on the runway? Margaret Cho is the show’s producer –she’s playing Lynne.
Anyway, she asked me to help her with this Canine Fashion Show benefitting the Sullivan County SPCA, so I created the artwork, headed up the judging and helped with organizing and promoting it. Lynne did the bulk of the work getting lots of local press.
It was held at the Cochecton Pumphouse, which was renamed the Pup House just for the event.
Gilbert & Busfield with rescue Chicago a few years ago when he a pup…
Gilbert is an actress, author and lifelong dog lover…
Melissa Gilbert (Little House) and her husband Timothy Busfield (30 Something, West Wing) bought a house upstate just before COVID (it’s all detailed in her new book Back to the Prarie) and Melissa is a big dog lover. She generously agreed to host and was a dream. (The morning of the event she woke up with a severe rash, but she took Benadryl, rallied and showed up like the pro she is!)
The Emmy-nominated actress Becky Ann Baker (Girls) and her husband Dylan Baker (The Good Wife) are pals with Tim and Melissa and Becky agreed to on the judges panel. Tim and Dylan helped out making announcements and drawing raffle numbers. (It was so great to have such seasoned pros and good sports on the mic.)
The venue was packed with 50+ dogs and their owners entering, not counting those that came without entering. Lynne wrangled the pups (no small feat!) as Melissa announced each dog and their owner making their way through the crowd in front of a capacity crowd.
Becky Ann, Stickett Inn co-owner Johnny Pizzolato, 2 Queens coffee co-owner Charles Wilkin, Barnlab owner and Fox TV casting director Clint Alexander scored them. (I didn’t vote. Becky Ann quickly added the four scores and I wrote them down. Quickly!)
Canine Nellie Oleson, and Laura Engel’s original 70s TV nemesis played by Alison Arngrim
One pooch, Maggie, came dressed as Nellie Olson. A little backstory. As a young girl, Melissa famously starred on TV’s Little House on the Prarie and her nemesis on the show was a bratty girl named Nellie Oleson. When the dog-in-drag Nellie appeared, Melissa joked,
I should want to punch you in the face, but you’re too cute!“
I share a 17 and a half year old Brussels Griffon, Lamonte, with my ex Roswell Hamrick and his husband, fellow judge Johnny, who are friends with Gilbert. Melissa loves Lamonte. When Lamonte appeared with Roswell dressed in a blonde wig, pearls and flower print dress Melissa was torn as to whether he was another Nellie or if he was giving her Gertie dressed E.T. in drag vibes..?
Roswell with Lamonte in doggie drag; E.T. as dressed by Drew Barrymore’s Gertie
In the end the Nellie look-alike, Maggie and two other pups, Bun-Bun & Lua Mia snatched the three top trophies which were custom-made by Nonna Hall. Lilly Bear treats were provided for the winners as well as all of the dogs that entered.
Lamonte changed into his tux to receive his Lifetime Achievement Award as a style icon. (FYI, he would have also been a winner. Johnny could not vote for him but the three other judges gave him a perfect 10, something no other dog that day got!)
Local businesses donated prizes for the raffle and silent auction. There were so many great prizes including custom pet portraits, dog beds, bowls and a ton more.
People are SO generous when it comes to dogs and community outreach here.
Judge, actress Becky Ann Baker, myself & Gilbert with my print presented to her as a thank you…
Trey Speegle, ALL, 2019, archival pigment, pencil, house paint. Collection of Becky Ann & Dylan Baker
Becky Ann & Dylan bid on and won my maquette for ALL. It was created for a series I did in 2019 called Political Animals (I realized afterward that Dylan played the Vice President on the TV series Political Animals in 2012… synchronicity! He had no idea… still doesn’t unless he’s reading this.)
The event was a big success by all accounts. Thousands were raised for the local SPCA, plus doggies and their owners had a really fun afternoon.
Many have asked if it will happen again next year. I guess that remains to be seen. Two days before the event, the owners listed the Pumphouse for sale.
You can check out more pics of pups at @cochetonpuphouse on Instagram.
Winners, Bun Bun, Lua Mia & Maggie with Gilbert and their handlers
Melissa, Johnny, Lamonte, Roswell & me (I looked sloppy after 5 hours in the heat)
Custom loving cup made by Nonna Hall, commissioned by producer Lynne O’Neill
Ceramic artist Nonna Hall with husband Jeff & pups Zosya & Daphne
