Whether you went into the pandemic with a dog at home or acquired one or two or seven partway through, pet owners know that the past two years have provided vast quantities of quality time with their four-legged charges. Perhaps you found yourself speaking to your furry friends. Perhaps you started reading to them. Or dressing them up in human clothes and making them sit at the dinner table and engage in political debates. No judgment—it’s been a long, lonely haul. Almost certainly, you and your dog have started to look a lot more alike. Sans haircuts, or reasons to put on pants, we humans have all let loose our inner feral selves. And, when you spend enough time staring deeply into your dog’s eyes, you might begin to notice that he seems more human than the bobbing faces in the squares on your computer. In fact, the venerable BBC informs us, “Dogs look like their owners—it’s a scientific fact.” Ditto the venerable Disney, which depicted the phenomenon in its 1961 adaptation of “One Hundred and One Dalmatians.” This week, in celebration of our Style & Design Issue, five cartoonists—Emily Bernstein, Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell, Jason Adam Katzenstein, Carolita Johnson, and Jeremy Nguyen—fanned out across the city to find people who match their dogs. Read on to see some of the most striking duos, and follow us on Instagram to see more drawings, inspired by reader-submitted photos.
Maria Hernandez Park, Brooklyn
Alberto has lived in Bushwick for thirty years. Rocky, his Cane Corso, is seven months old.
Washington Square Park, Manhattan
Arthur, a one-year-old Wheaten terrier, “loves pizza, like a true New Yorker,” Elissa says.
Sunnyside Gardens, Queens
Coco’s vest came with the AC/DC patch, but Nelson added the other flair himself.
Prospect Park, Brooklyn
We spotted Camila and Frida enjoying a warm day in the park. Frida is a ten-year-old Lhasa Apso—named for Frida Kahlo, of course.
Central Park, Manhattan
People often stop and remark on Sophie’s good looks, Alan says. If they look alike, he says, maybe they’re talking about him, too!
Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Della—short for mortadella—was adopted from the Animal Care Center of Brooklyn.
Central Park, Manhattan
“We’re both high-energy and love making friends,” John says, referring to his Labrador. (Plus, they dress alike.)
Washington Square Park, Manhattan
Freddie, a fifteen-month-old poodle, “might look fancy,” Brette says, “but he loves to shred toilet paper.”
Sunnyside Gardens, Queens
Lucci, a one-and-a-half-year-old American Bully, is named after Lucky Luciano, the American mobster.
Maria Hernandez Park, Brooklyn
Sasha is a one-year-old pitbull-Labrador mix who plays well with dogs of all sizes, Corinne says.
Washington Square Park, Manhattan
Rorey, an eighteen-month-old mutt, likes to collect all her toys and place them around Brian’s head when he’s napping.
Central Park, Manhattan
“Always get a dog that matches your décor!” Alice says, of her Japanese Chin, Addie.
Bull Moose Dog Run, Manhattan
Sue rescued Penelope from See Spot Rescued. “Honestly, she’s the one who did the rescuing,” Sue says.
Bushwick, Brooklyn
We spotted Logan and Georgi, a ten-week-old Cavalier King Charles spaniel, at Nook café.
Washington Square Park, Manhattan
Leo is an eight-year-old silver Lab with a shiny coat and a friendly smile.
Sunnyside Gardens, Queens
Blue, an eight-year-old English bulldog, is “sweet but tough,” Ray says.
Bull Moose Dog Run, Manhattan
“Frankie is way cuter than I am!” Annie says, of her Shih Tzu-poodle mix.
Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Namu is a Coton de Tuléar. His name means “tree” in Korean.
