The Museum of the Dog by the American Kennel Club will re-open its doors on February 8 this year in Manhattan. The launch will take place a few days before the 142-year old Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show begins.
The museum is located in the Kalikow Building at 101 Park Avenue. It will exhibit one of the world’s largest collection of canine fine art. With this building, the museum will return to the new location in New York city from West St. Louis County in Missouri.
At present, there are over 100 museums in New York, and Museum of the Dog is the only one solely dedicated to dogs. The executive director of American Kennel Club, Alan Fausel said, “This museum is a beautiful ode to man’s best friend and we are thrilled to bring these pieces and exhibitions to new audiences”.
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Inside the museum, you can find a collection of paintings, water colours, paints, drawing, sculptures, printouts, bronzes, decorative objects, and interactive displays that depict the different stages of the lives of dogs. The artworks by popular artists Edwin Landseer, Maud Earl and Arthur Wardle will be displayed in the museum.
The building spans two floors with a two-storey glass display case with bronze and porcelain figures of the dogs. A library will also be present in the museum for visitors to read and educate themselves about their favourite breeds of dogs.
The museum gallery includes a “Find Your Match” kiosk in which a visitor’s photograph will be clicked and matched with a look-alike breed. Other features of the museum include ‘Meet the Breeds’ touchscreen table (visitors can explore the breeds, their features, history, and characteristics), an app for kids to interact and play with a virtual dog or the tour guide, a gift shop with books, stuffed dogs, and accessories with dog pictures.
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The admission fee for the museum will be $15 for adults, $5 for kids under 5, $10 for senior citizens, students, and military men. However, if you think you would find real dogs or be able to take your own dogs to the museum, that is not the case.
However, after getting a feel of the museum, you can adopt a dog from a local pet adoption centre around the city or wherever you are.