Insu Kim and IB (pictured above)
Industrial designer, Upper East Side.
What does IB stand for?
Insu’s Bird. It’s something easy for him to say.
He can say it?
Oh yes. He’s like a Pokémonster. Like how Pikachu says, “Pikachu”? He says “IB.” When he’s needy-greedy, looking for something, he says, “IB! IB!”
Why did you get him?
During COVID, I was afraid of going outside, and I found a virtual Bible-study group at this church. I studied Genesis, where it talks about God’s creations being fruitful and multiplying through the earth, through the plants, fish, birds, and all the living creatures. I was always hesitant to actually own a bird, but this felt like God’s message to go through with it. I wanted an apartment-friendly bird because it’s New York. This breed — the white-capped pionus — is very difficult to find. But it’s hypoallergenic, beautiful, and quiet. I eventually found one that had just hatched in Virginia and went there to pick him up. Now I take him everywhere, even to the office. He just sits on my shoulder like a couch potato.
Faith Williams and Ella
Pediatrician, Upper West Side
Anthony Levy and Trixie
Data analyst, Greenwood Heights
What brought you to the ceremony?
My wife used to attend school at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and it was a part of her childhood to go to that ceremony. Plus my dog is rather mischievous; she’s very drawn to trouble. So any divine help I can get in ensuring her safety is much appreciated.
Lila Menard and Babka
Graduate student, Lenox Hill
Hope Chang and Lazarus
Photographer, Harlem
Paulina Concha and Felipe
Water researcher, Harlem
Is your cat on a leash?
Yes. It took a while to get him comfortable, but now he’s just a part of the morning dog gang in Morningside Park. Some dogs hate him, some dogs love him. And the feeling is mutual.
Jennifer Jimenez and Max B
Jewelry designer, Hell’s Kitchen
Christina Hansen and King
Carriage driver, Hell’s Kitchen
Jeanette Velez and Tommy
Retired construction worker, Co-op City
Irene Silverblatt and McJagger
Retired professor, Upper West Side
Is this your first animal blessing?
We’ve done it before in Durham, where we used to live. Since we’ve moved to New York, McJagger’s eyes have been opened to the world. He saw doggy diversity that he’d never seen before. Down in Durham, it’s mostly big dogs, and this expanded his cultural experience. There is so much pee-mail to be had around here, as in when dogs piss on top of where someone else pissed.
Laura Brose and Lilly C, a.k.a. “Bitey Whitey”
Caregiver, West Brighton
Susanna Mitton and Hanukkah
Producer, Upper West Side
Who’s in there?
Well, my husband is a magician. And in 1991, some artist friends of ours asked him to conduct their wedding. He bought two doves at a pet store to do a trick where the wedding rings come out of an egg. Mark was going to return them to the pet store, but we liked having them. This little guy is the only one of their children we kept. At some point, we started taking all the birds to the services. They seem to like it.
Ethiopis Ghebremicael and Dess
Retired accountant, Upper East Side
Daniel Villaronga and Amp
Electrician, Upper West Side
Ava Florio and Crystal
Sixth-grader, Whitestone
Was she the only turtle?
Yes, and I could tell all the dogs were looking at her. She really liked all the attention. Every time I put her down, she started walking really fast. She does that at the park, too, when she sees flowers she wants to eat.
Michelle Katz and Louis and Elmer Katz
Publicist, Manhattan Valley
Silke Sahl and Luna
Librarian, Morningside Heights
Maura Lynch and Blondie
Photographer, Hell’s Kitchen
How did it go?
Well, okay. During the blessing, Blondie was barking so much at the priest that he had to do the blessing from a distance.
Riley Hughes and Simba
Graduate student, Financial District
Faith Williams and Ella
Pediatrician, Upper West Side
Anthony Levy and Trixie
Data analyst, Greenwood Heights
What brought you to the ceremony?
My wife used to attend school at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and it was a part of her childhood to go to that ceremony. Plus my dog is rather mischievous; she’s very drawn to trouble. So any divine help I can get in ensuring her safety is much appreciated.
Lila Menard and Babka
Graduate student, Lenox Hill
Hope Chang and Lazarus
Photographer, Harlem
Paulina Concha and Felipe
Water researcher, Harlem
Is your cat on a leash?
Yes. It took a while to get him comfortable, but now he’s just a part of the morning dog gang in Morningside Park. Some dogs hate him, some dogs love him. And the feeling is mutual.
Jennifer Jimenez and Max B
Jewelry designer, Hell’s Kitchen
Christina Hansen and King
Carriage driver, Hell’s Kitchen
Jeanette Velez and Tommy
Retired construction worker, Co-op City
Irene Silverblatt and McJagger
Retired professor, Upper West Side
Is this your first animal blessing?
We’ve done it before in Durham, where we used to live. Since we’ve moved to New York, McJagger’s eyes have been opened to the world. He saw doggy diversity that he’d never seen before. Down in Durham, it’s mostly big dogs, and this expanded his cultural experience. There is so much pee-mail to be had around here, as in when dogs piss on top of where someone else pissed.
Laura Brose and Lilly C, a.k.a. “Bitey Whitey”
Caregiver, West Brighton
Susanna Mitton and Hanukkah
Producer, Upper West Side
Who’s in there?
Well, my husband is a magician. And in 1991, some artist friends of ours asked him to conduct their wedding. He bought two doves at a pet store to do a trick where the wedding rings come out of an egg. Mark was going to return them to the pet store, but we liked having them. This little guy is the only one of their children we kept. At some point, we started taking all the birds to the services. They seem to like it.
Ethiopis Ghebremicael and Dess
Retired accountant, Upper East Side
Daniel Villaronga and Amp
Electrician, Upper West Side
Ava Florio and Crystal
Sixth-grader, Whitestone
Was she the only turtle?
Yes, and I could tell all the dogs were looking at her. She really liked all the attention. Every time I put her down, she started walking really fast. She does that at the park, too, when she sees flowers she wants to eat.
Michelle Katz and Louis and Elmer Katz
Publicist, Manhattan Valley
Silke Sahl and Luna
Librarian, Morningside Heights
Maura Lynch and Blondie
Photographer, Hell’s Kitchen
How did it go?
Well, okay. During the blessing, Blondie was barking so much at the priest that he had to do the blessing from a distance.
Riley Hughes and Simba
Graduate student, Financial District
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