Domino the rabbit has a unique ability to make people smile. He is a certified therapy rabbit, which is rare in a field dominated by dogs. Therapy pets visit hospitals, nursing homes and schools to provide affection to people in need.

Domino shows extreme calmness and poise, and loves to be scratched behind his ears. He began sharing his therapeutic talents last year at an army base in Edison, N.J., cheering up soldiers. Ever since, Domino has visited nursing homes, hospitals and other places where people are in need of a smile. The rabbit makes owner and Upper West Side resident Nora Beard very proud.

“One photographer just started taking pictures and before we knew it we had like 20 photographers crowding around him taking pictures,” said Aston’s owner, Dara King. “They must have thought he was a celebrity dog!”

Photo by Andrew Schwartz

Aston belongs to the relatively uncommon dog breed, the Brussels Griffon. Due some high-profile exposure, such as an appearance in the movie As Good As It Gets, the breed has dramatically risen in popularity. Since 1998, registration of new Brussels Griffons increased 73 percent, and the breed now ranks as the 67th most popular in America, according to the American Kennel Club. A win at the 2008 Westminster Dog Show by a Brussels Griffon caused even more interest in the breed, giving dogs such as Aston plenty of curious new fans.

“He gets a lot of attention,” King said. “I walk him down the street and I get stopped like 80 times a day from people asking what he is.”

“I had been looking for a Great Dane for a while,” Benisty said. “They sent me some pictures, and he was very photogenic.”

Finnegan is the second Great Dane from the Dunn family to be featured in this paper, with the first being photographed in the early 1990s.

Joan and Bob Dunn rescued the dog from a previous owner, adopting him through the Mid Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League.

“The woman who owned him worked 7 a.m. to 8 at night, and they had him in a cage all day,” Joan said. “These dogs need exercise.”

Finnegan, who is 2 and a half, now runs freely around Central Park and socializes with other dogs.

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To submit your pet for “Pet of the Month,” send an email with photo attached describing why your animal deserves recognition to pets@manhattanmedia.com. Photos will be judged on factors including cuteness, originality, artistic merit and how compelling the accompanying story is.

Photo by Andrew Schwartz

“She was aggressive at first, but later she started to play with the other dogs,” Waltrick said. Lluna now responds to commands in English, Spanish and Portuguese as a result of her travels. But, Waltrick adds, “I don’t think it’s the language, I think it’s the way you say it.”
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To submit your pet for “Pet of the Month,” send an email with photo attached describing why your animal deserves recognition to pets@manhattanmedia.com. Photos will be judged on factors including cuteness, originality, artistic merit and how compelling the accompanying story is.

To submit your pet for “Pet of the Month,” send an email with photo attached describing why your animal deserves recognition to pets@manhattanmedia.com. Photos will be judged on factors including cuteness, originality, artistic merit and how compelling the accompanying story is.