My Additional Commentary on New York Times "Outside Mets’ Citi Field, fans pay to pose with a dressed-up dog; some say it’s animal abuse"

By Sam Blum-Aug. 13, 2025     https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6549106/2025/08/13/mets-dog-citi-field-animal-abuse-questions/

Christina Shusterich -My additional commentary on the NY Times - The Athletic "mets" dog article was quoted in

As a Dog Behavior Expert and Specialist, I am gratified to contribute to this article and help bring to light how these dogs are forced into being egregiously denied the natural biological imperatives for canine health as well as abusive denial and perversion of normal canine behavior not only biologically but behaviorally. In warm/hot weather a dog does NOT naturally Not seek shade, drinking water, rest and pant as are biological necessities to prevent overheating. Dog are more susceptible to heat related illness (which can lead to death and organ damage) than humans which is why there is so much information available to owners on keeping our dogs safe in the heat - short walks at the coolest times of day, bring plenty of drinking water, seeking shade as much as possible while resting their dogs when needed.

Not only does Norberto Fernandez NOT follow these critical safety measures He actually does the complete OPPOSITE of these long standing protocols for dog safety in making the dog as hot as possible Clothing including a hat, stunningly preventing panting with the dogs mouth closed around a human pipe - panting the absolute critical biological imperative to prevent overheating in canines, no access to drinking water which should be in abundance, shade and even bathroom access.

Behaviorally, these dogs display unnatural robotic behavior - they do not display any normal dog behaviors for a minimum of 90 minutes, they DO NOT MOVE AT ALL except to unnatural raise and lower a paw repetitiously, often without even looking at the person - its is not even an interaction. There are no natural animal movements - they solely sit and raise a paw up and down. They are prevented from even the very, very minimal normal canine movements of standing, walking and moving from a seated position.

All of these unnatural behaviors can only happen by physically forcing the dog to stop innate, biologically driven canine behaviors while physically forcing the dog to behave in unnatural ones. With dogs, outward visible physical punishment it frowned upon so the use of physical control via punishment is by the use of a shock collar (hidden behind a bandanna not worn in the typical dog fashion but looped around the neck preventing clear site of what appears to be several collars). All the dogs behaviors unexpressed and those expressed are typical of shock collar/remote punishment use.

It is really well past time (over 16 years!) to stop paying this person panhandling and making money for himself by engaging and displaying actual dog abuse, including misleading the public that he is affiliated with the Mets organization by forcing Mets clothing on the dogs, which he is absolutely not -“The New York Mets organization is in no way affiliated with this individual and their dog and do not condone their behavior,” the team said in a statement to The Athletic. This person and clear dog abuse needs to finally be stopped.