Picasso's Story

In the winter of 2000, an eight-month-old abandoned Pit Bull puppy, born with a twisted muzzle, was picked up by AC&C and brought to its Manhattan shelter. AC&C staff immediately knew they had to save this amazing animal, so they put the word out to the NYC rescue community.

When Bernadette Peters saw a photograph of the puppy with the cubist face, she named him Picasso. BARC shelter in Brooklyn agreed to take Picasso in and seek a loving home for him. As luck would have it, a Brooklyn couple who volunteered at BARC fell in love with Picasso, and welcomed him into their home. Now Picasso had a second chance for a happy life.

But in March 2003, a few months before his fourth birthday, Picasso was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure. Despite his illness, his lively spirit and sense of humor endured. His guardians gave Picasso the best possible care throughout his remaining three months. This special dog, who brought so much joy to everyone who met him, had beaten the odds once, but not this time.

Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore, founders of Broadway Barks, created the Picasso Veterinary Fund to keep Picasso's spirit alive. Today, the Picasso Veterinary Fund is giving hundreds of special little New Yorkers second chances for the good lives they deserve.

Remembered by His Family…

Picasso's adoptive family describes in their own words how Picasso came into their lives and created memories that will last a lifetime:

Picasso entered our lives the first day we volunteered to walk dogs at BARC. Out came Picasso, his tail wagging his body, head bobbing back and forth in excitement. When we decided to adopt him, the amazingly warm and committed people at BARC held Picasso for two months while we looked for a "pets-OK" apartment. They said they could see that we loved him, not the novelty of his face, and so they would care for him until we could bring him home.

Picasso was a walking definition of "social animal." He dragged us to doggie daycare, to the vet, to the pet store, if only to say hello and get some pets. He loved to run, sprinting like a greyhound, in dog runs and playgrounds and his favorite place of all, the beach. In line with his St. Francis Terrier (a.k.a. Pit Bull) heritage, he was an effervescent comedian, a tap dancer, an amazingly quick study, a sweet and cuddly lap dog who loved nothing more than to lay his head on your knee. We were always amazed at what a good dog he was. He never chewed, ripped, or rummaged through anything. He showed cats, squirrels, and birds the utmost courtesy. He lived to be fed, brushed, walked, talked to, petted, praised, loved. As one friend aptly put it, he lived to be good. He melted many a heart with his warm golden eyes and snuffling, snorty nose.

In March 2003, a few months before his fourth birthday, he was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure (CRF), in all likelihood congenital. The veterinarians on his case believed he had adapted to the increasing toxins in his blood throughout his short life, which is why he was virtually asymptomatic until his disease was terribly advanced. But even while sick, his lively spirit and sense of humor endured.

Wanting to support him during whatever time he had left, we educated ourselves about caring for dogs with kidney failure and gave him the best possible care. This incredible, wonderful boy, who was given one week to live after being diagnosed with end-stage CRF, spent three more wonderful months with us, before his body finally wore out.

Picasso had many friends, human and canine. He was always lucky to survive puppyhood, to be saved by FidoNYC, to land at BARC. He was lucky, and so were we. Hopefully, the Picasso Veterinary Fund will give other rescued animals the chance to find homes and bring joy into their humans' lives, as he did.