By Audrey Campbell

I’m Barry, an 18-month-old mixed breed rescue pup from Montana. How did I come to live on the Upper West Side, you ask? Well, it’s a bit of a rags-to-riches ‘tail’.

My Mom and her sister were traveling through Montana and driving near a Native American reservation when they spotted me attempting to hitchhike alongside the busy highway. They kindly pulled over and gave me some head pats and scratches, as well as a gentle scolding that I really shouldn’t be wandering so close to the road for fear I might get hurt. I responded by rolling over for belly rubs.

They brought me to a local shelter to find out if I had been lost and if a family might show up to claim me, but no one ever did. After a few weeks of being unspoken for, Mom formally adopted me and coordinated with the shelter to have me driven all the way east to the great unknown of The Big City.

The first night I spent on the Upper West Side, my parents brought me to Central Park for an evening walk and I snapped up a rat with lightning speed. My predatory instincts were still on high alert after living on my own in Montana. From what I’ve read in the local news, it seems like the neighborhood and city at large might benefit from more furry friends like me with a hunter’s killer instinct for sniffing out pesky vermin. To paraphrase Lady Macbeth, “Out, out damn rats!” There’s a new sheriff in town.

But I must admit that I’m getting a bit soft, what with all the pampering and love I receive my from parents. My days are spent napping on soft beds (I have three to choose from), feasting on delicious food, and exploring Central Park. I especially like wandering through the wilderness of The Ramble, as it reminds me just a little bit of the natural beauty of Montana. Weekends are best enjoyed with a puppuccino at Black Lab Cafe.

I’ve quickly become ensconced in the local community and made lots of new friends. I love to romp around with other playful pups at the dog run at West 72nd and Riverside. I have a girlfriend, Sadie, and a best friend and walker named Nick – both of whom I love dearly. Considering where I began, I never could have predicted my life would be so different and so full today!

Read all of our Pupper West Side interviews here!

If you think your pup deserves a shot at neighborhood fame, we encourage you to reach out to Audrey at pupperwestsideuws@gmail.com to be considered for a future profile on West Side Rag and follow your fellow Pupper West Sider’s adventures on Instagram @pupper_west_side_uws If readers are interested in becoming pet owners, we encourage you to consider adopting or volunteering to be a foster parent with one of the many shelters and nonprofits based in and around New York City. These include but aren’t limited to: Muddy Paws Rescue; Animal Lighthouse Rescue; Animal Care Centers of NYC; NYC ASPCA; Humane Society of New York; Bideawee; Social Tees; Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue and Animal Haven.