By Sarah Tan
Special to DNAinfo
HELL'S KITCHEN — Ever heard of a Pumi dog? How about a cat who wears a hat and shakes hands?
At the third American Kennel Club's “Meet the Breeds” event Saturday, visitors had a chance to get acquainted with some of the strangest, most exotic, friendliest and the most well-groomed creatures of the feline and canine world at the Javits Center.
At the event — featuring 160 breeds of dog and 50 breeds of cat — there was a feline fashion show, a chance to meet agility dogs that scramble through obstacle courses and police dogs.
Jorge Bendersky, of Manhattan, and his charismatic Pomeranian, Tito, entertained crowds of children during the show, which continues Sunday.
“Tito likes little people because he feels bigger when he sees them,” Bendersky said of the pooch.
A row of Briard dogs lapped up the attention and petting from children and adults alike.
“We come down every year, she's a real ham,” Barbe Lynch, of Rochester, NY, said of her Briard, Zelda. “This is an old thing for her.”
And in the next aisle down, Robin Cosenza, of Connecticut, and her Belgian Tervuren, Beaumont, calmly sat back and observed.
“No one has ever heard of a Belgium Tervuren before,” Cosenza said of the Beaumont. “I just wanted for people to see who he is.”
The show wasn't all exotic breeds. Pat Borracci, of Dix Hills, dressed as a queen, showed off her family's award-winning mastiffs in an elaborate medieval castle-themed booth.
“We always say mastiffs are the keeper of the castle,” she said.
And for the cat lovers, there were aisles of shorthairs, long hairs, and cats in costume. Gail Berder, of Texas showed off Oriental shorthair, Girlie, who sported a miniature cowboy hat.
“We just want to let everyone know we really did come from Texas,” Berder said.
