Hell’s Kitchen Pups Battle for Top Dog in NYC’s Honorary Dog Mayor Race

Election season is going to the dogs — literally! The race for Honorary Dog Mayor of NYC is heating up, with eager paw-liticians vying for the top spot.

This biannual bark-off will determine which canine-date will succeed the inaugural Honorary Dog Mayor, Sally Long Dog, a Basset Hound, and her Deputy Dog Mayor, Riley, a Golden Retriever. Among the 16 chosen nominees are two Hell’s Kitchen pups — Puccini the Yorkiepoo and Loubie the Hugging Dog .

The event, created by Stephen Calabria, a former polling reporter for The Huffington Post, aims to inject some tail-wagging fun into politics. Stephen, who’s been a New Yorker for over a decade, explained to W42ST, “It’s my way of commenting on politics, escaping politics and putting a positive spin on something at a time when very little about it seems fun or desirable.”

When Sally won the first election in 2022, a small crowd gathered for her bark-worthy inauguration in front of City Hall. Multiple people expressed just how much they needed something positive in politics. “It makes people feel a sense of fun about something that is politics-adjacent and I don’t think the passing few years have diminished that at all. If anything, it’s enhanced it that much more,” added Stephen, reflecting on the current political landscape.

While being Honorary Dog Mayor of NYC may not come with official responsibilities, there have been some notable moments. Over the course of her term Sally has visited City Hall twice, was the guest of honor at a Parks Department staff paw-ty and spent time advocating for all of New York City’s pets. When she steps down from public service, Sally will continue her work as a therapy dog, making regular visits to support groups around the city.

For this year’s canine-dates, Stephen turned to social media to recruit some of the city’s top dogs with the main requirements being residing in one of the five boroughs and having at least 10,000 followers on social media. There is one exception to that — an adoptable dog named Will O’Wisp from NYC’s Animal Care Center. As the event gains more traction, the hope is to use it as a platform to empty the shelters and get all of the animals the care and families they need.

We met up with Puccini, Loubie and their owners to ask the hard hitting questions…

Puccini and Leslie Riddle

Campaign Slogan: “Pawsitively Puccini”

Talent: Giving high fives

What’s your favorite dog-friendly place in Hell’s Kitchen?
We love to visit Scott at 44&X on 10th Avenue. Every Easter our dog crew heads over there for brunch after the parade. Puccini has a fancy decorated stroller. Little Pie Company is another favorite, they all love Puccini!

How did Puccini get his name?
When I moved to New York, I got in with a bunch of Italian designers and started working with [Emilio] Pucci. I started going to shoe factories in Italy, while also traveling the world dancing with the Rockettes! During my travels in Italy, I developed a love for the opera composer Giacomo Puccini. Those two great Italians were the inspiration for his name.

Tell us more about your passions …
Puccini is a bonafide celebrity. Last year, he walked the runway at Paris Fashion Week and has been in other fashion shows during his career. Beyond fashion, Puccini won the Barking Beauty Pageant back in 2018 and has not one, not two, but THREE talent agents! Most recently, Puccini played Ellen Barkin’s dog in the Peacock series Poker Face starring Natasha Lyonne.

Loubie and César Fernández-Chávez

Campaign Slogan: “One Hug at a Time”

Talent: Giving hugs

What’s your favorite dog-friendly place in Hell’s Kitchen?
We used to go to House of Brews before it closed. Loubie had a birthday party on the patio there one year. As a big dog, we find there aren’t too many dog-friendly places in Hell’s Kitchen even though Loubie is a certified service dog. However we enjoy seeing all of our neighborhood friends when we take walks.

How did Loubie (Louboutina) get her name?
I had always raised dogs in Peru, but when I came to the United States to establish myself it had been almost 10 years since I last had a dog. Louboutina was actually a gift from a good friend of mine. The first night I met my friend was at the Gansevoort Hotel. The elevator doors opened and her and a friend caught my eye — they were very elegant and she was wearing Louboutins. So I told her I was naming her Louboutina in honor of the first day that we met.

Tell us more about your passions …
Loubie and I are passionate supporters of PAWS NY, an incredible organization dedicated to assisting NYC residents facing challenges in keeping their beloved pets due to physical and financial hardships. We are eager to shine a light on their invaluable efforts and make a positive impact through raising awareness. Loubie also enjoys being a therapy dog — when I worked in the hospital, she would often accompany me to the office and brighten everyone’s day with her visits.

Councilmember Erik Bottcher has officially made a co-endorsement for both pups, telling W42ST in a statement, “I am proud to endorse Puccini and Loubie as they embark on their campaigns to become Dog Mayor of New York City. Their unwavering dedication to our community, their boundless energy, and their ability to bring joy to all they meet make them the perfect candidates for this prestigious role. I am confident that they will represent our city with grace, charm, and wagging tails that never quit. I’ll be cheering on Puccini and Loubie in their bid to lead the way to a more pawsitive future for all New Yorkers!”

The first round of voting begins on Wednesday, July 24 with matchups every week until September 11. Puccini’s matchup is on July 31 and Loubie’s is on August 28. Voting will take place over a 24 hour period from 12:01am to 11:59pm on each date. All voting will take place on Dog Mayor NYC’s Instagram , Facebook and X pages.

• Weds. July 24—Zayla vs. Pepper
• Weds. July 31—Mello vs. Puccini
• Weds. Aug 7—Shayna vs. Ziggy
• Weds. Aug 14—Enzo vs. Cyrus
• Weds. Aug 21—Mr. Tobi vs. Louie
• Weds. August 28—Loubie vs. Simon
• Weds. Sept. 4—Lucy vs. Bertram
• Weds. Sept. 11—Will O’Wisp vs. Kaido

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