Back on March 16, 1922, the Daily News—then a splashy, picture-filled tabloid perfect for a subway ride—sent its “Inquiring Photographer” to find out. The feature was a local favorite, where a roving photographer would ask everyday people a question submitted by a reader. For a dollar, Miss Anne Bonnard of West 52nd Street got to ignite one of the city’s most timeless debates.
The responses from 1920s New Yorkers are pure gold, a fantastic snapshot of a city grappling with its canine companions.
Miss Margaret Cordes, a dressmaker from West 121st Street, was firmly on Team "Too Many Dogs." “Every day you read in the newspapers where some child or woman has been bitten by a dog,” she said. “Every dog should be muzzled, but many are not.”
R.F. Morton, a textile man living on Fifth Avenue, thought dogs were fine—just not in the city. “They belong in the country,” he declared, adding a uniquely New York complaint: “I had a very valuable dog when I first came to the city, and the steam heat killed him.” Yes, you read that right. Death by radiator.
Then there was John Curry, a retired contractor from East 124th Street, who drew a line between "useful dogs" and what he called “useless dogs,” a category that included poodles, lap dogs, and toy dogs. “Most pet dogs get more attention than some babies,” he grumbled.
But the prize for the best answer has to go to Miss Nora Dempsey, a clerk from Brooklyn. When asked if there were too many dogs, she didn't miss a beat.
“There are not too many dogs here or any place else, because a dog is man’s most faithful friend if treated right,” she stated. Then, she delivered the punchline that’s just as sharp today: “But there are far too many two-legged dogs here.”
Gotta love a New Yorker who tells it like it is.
From Tabloid Buzz to a Midtown Icon
The newspaper that sparked this debate, the Daily News, was launched in 1919 as a sensational, picture-heavy tabloid. Its format was an instant hit, easy to flip through on a crowded subway, and it quickly became the most widely read newspaper in the country. Features like the “Inquiring Photographer” and comics like “Little Orphan Annie” made it a daily staple for millions.
After a few years in smaller downtown offices, the paper’s massive success demanded a grand new headquarters. In 1930, they moved into one of the city’s most stunning new skyscrapers: the Daily News Building at 220 East 42nd Street.
Designed by architect Raymond Hood, this 36-story Art Deco tower is a tourist attraction in its own right. If it looks familiar, it should! Its imposing facade became the stand-in for the Daily Planet, the workplace of Clark Kent and Lois Lane, in the 1978 movie *Superman*. For years, its lobby housed a massive, rotating globe that became a beloved city landmark.
The newspaper itself moved out in 1995, but its legacy remains. The building is still a hub of media, home to the local TV station WPIX (named for the paper’s nickname, “New York’s Picture Newspaper”). When you’re walking down 42nd Street near Grand Central, look up and take a moment to admire this piece of journalistic and architectural history.
From Farmland to Skyscapers
It’s hard to imagine now, but before the Daily News Building and its neighbors shot into the sky, this entire section of Midtown was a sprawling, hilly area known as Turtle Bay Farm. Going back to the 1600s, the land was a mix of rocky bluffs, marshland, and farmland overlooking the East River. One historian even wrote of a romantic spot nearby called the “Kissing Bridge,” where it was customary to salute a lady under your protection with a kiss.
By the 1860s, the idyllic farm was long gone, replaced by a rough neighborhood of shantytowns and gangs. But with the 20th century came incredible transformation, turning the area into the bustling business district we know today.
Just east of the Daily News Building, you’ll find the United Nations and Tudor City, a charming gothic-style apartment complex built in the 1920s. Ironically, this quiet enclave has earned the modern nickname “Two-dog City” because of the sheer number of canine residents who call it home.
It seems that a hundred years later, New Yorkers are still just as dog-crazy as ever. The debate started by the Daily News in 1922 is far from over—and whether you think there are too many dogs, not enough, or just too many of the two-legged variety, it’s all part of the wonderful, chaotic story of New York City.
