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'Dogs of the UWS' Marking Territory on Social Media

By Kayla Epstein | July 17, 2015 3:19pm | Updated on July 20, 2015 8:59am
 Dogs of the Upper West Side is a collection of social media accounts aimed at showcasing the neighborhood's best pups. 
Dogs of the Upper West Side
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UPPER WEST SIDE — The Upper West Side has gone to the dogs — and the neighborhood has the photos to prove it.

Dogs of the UWS, a network of social media accounts on Instagram, Twitter, and Tumblr, features the neighborhood’s most photogenic pooches.

Courtney Ronner, 32, a freelance corporate communications and marketing consultant, launched the accounts as a pet project this spring.

“With so many fun dogs in the area, I knew that it was something that deserved to be shared,” she told DNAinfo New York.

The accounts were also a great opportunity to showcase the best parts of the neighborhood, like local shops and restaurants, museums, landmarks and parks, she said.

Ronner takes some photos of the featured dogs herself, while some are taken by others and tagged on social media using the hashtag #DOTUWS. She then curates the submissions. Users can also email submissions to DogsOfTheUWS@gmail.com, she said.

“Dog owners have been really enthusiastic about helping DOTUWS grow,” Ronner said.

The Instagram account had 1,198 followers as of Friday, and the hashtag #DOTUWS has appeared on 1,907 posts. A slightly longer version of the hashtag, #DogsoftheUWS, has appeared on 1,451 posts.

Ronner’s own dog, an Australian shepherd named Hamlet, went to live upstate with her parents after she moved to New York City in 2007.

“[He] didn’t do well here; it was a tough transition to the city for him,” she acknowledged. But the dogs of the Upper West Side have helped with what she called her “canine withdrawal.”

Aside from serving up digital doses of doggie joy, Ronner has bigger hopes for the brand.

“We’ve been talking about group playdates for our followers as well ‘yappy’ hours with dogs in tow,” she said of expanding beyond social media.

“We’re interested in collaborating with local, neighborhood businesses to bring great services and products to our fans.”

When asked about her favorite canines that appeared on Dogs of the UWS, Ronner demurred.

“Ah, come on now, I can’t play favorites!” she said. “I love all the dogs we feature.”  

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