For hard-core devotees of “American Idol,” there are plenty of opportunities for Spot to command the spotlight — and that’s precisely where many New Yorkers feel their best friends deserve to be.
Last week, days before Westminster began, six intrepid dog owners braved blustery weather to audition their pooches before a panel of judges at Madison Square Garden. The winner — the bowser with the “best bark” — would receive a six-month supply of Purina Dog Chow plus the dog’s recorded bark featured in the opening “barking concerto” of “The 101 Dalmatians Musical,” composed by Styx’s Dennis DeYoung and running April 7-18 at the Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Owners and their pooches came from all over New York, having heard about the contest at their local dog park or on Urbanhound.com. The majority of hound hopefuls were purebreds with years of experience: a hoodie-clad Maltese from Brooklyn named Snowflake; three Cavalier King Charles spaniels — Zara, Giana and Penny Lane — all wearing frilly dresses; and a butch bulldog from Manhattan named Turbo.
Cute though they were, those contestants were deafeningly quiet — and this was a barking audition. The loud-and-clear winner, paws down, was an underdog mongrel named Nsala, a 10-month-old terrier-dachshund mix. Yvette Brown, who co-owns the sweet little mutt with her daughter Kira, accompanied Nsala to the audition.
“Nsala’s got a great bark — my neighbors know it!” says Brown. The dog’s unusual name is the acronym for North Shore Animal League America, the shelter where the Browns adopted her last May.
At audition time, Nsala didn’t disappoint. Brown made a motion with her hand, as if putting food to her lips, and the little dog made a big fuss. “She always barks whenever she sees us eat,” Brown explains. “When she won, I was tearing up; I was the proud grandma!”
With her strong voice and sweet face, Nsala could have a promising performing career ahead, but Brown isn’t eager to become a stage grandmother. “Nsala’s already earned her supply of Purina food,” she says.
Meanwhile, 20th Century Fox just announced a nationwide call for K9 talent to include in its upcoming “Marmaduke” feature. The lovable Great Dane of comedic fame will come to life onscreen June 4, and dog owners are invited to submit short videos of their pets by Tuesday at marmaduke.usatoday.com. Four grand prize winners will appear at the end of the film.
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