Approximately 350 dogs reside in London Terrace. For the most part, these hounds aren’t mutts but creatures of high pedigree. Madonna’s stylist owns one. Deborah Harry keeps a critter here. I knew pugs, basset hounds, basenjis, scotties, weimaraners, and schipperkees. The twelve-building complex is in, in fact, a kennel.

In September of 1995, I organized a dog show during the annual street fair. Thirty dogs attended and received bandannas, chew sticks, biscuits and a gift certificate to the nearby Barking Zoo. They filled out entry forms that included questions about their favorite non-dog food, television show, pet name and their most lovable trait. I drew places on the street for each dog in chalk. Pictures were snapped. Favorite non-dog foods included mashed potatoes, underwear, socks. I stayed away from a real contest for fear of owners attacking each other. Every dogsbody wins at this show. Proceeds went to the tenant’s association. I was able to put, “Master of Ceremonies, Dog Show” on my resume. Cat owners in the building voiced their disapproval. The show drew a big crowd and was a modest success. However, it did not come off without incident.

As the dogs were breaking up, a chow from another block attacked Pippin, a brown poodle, tearing a chunk from his hind quarters. The owner of the chow vanished into the crowd and was never found. Pippin almost died