By Gary Martin
Thank goodness for air conditioning.
Gary B. Martin is an illustrator and animator who has lived on the Upper West Side for more than 30 years. His illustrations appear in the Rag on Sundays, chronicling life in the neighborhood, New York City, and the Universe. See them all here. For a broader range of Gary’s work, including animations and other motion graphics, please visit www.martoons.com
Subscribe to West Side Rag’s FREE email newsletter here. And you can Support the Rag here.
Ever wonder where the phrase “dog days of summer” comes from? Ancient civilizations, particularly the Greeks and Romans, associated Sirius — part of Canis Major and the brightest star in the night sky — with the hottest part of the summer. They believed that when Sirius rose with the sun, its heat combined with the sun’s to create an intense period of heat. It’s not so bad today. But next week will be a doozy! So don’t forget to give your little creatures (even the cats, like the one snuck into Gary’s picture) lots of water and shade these hot days!
So what does Sirius mean dog? Dog?
“Sirius” derives from a Greek term meaning scorching or glowing; its nickname, the Dog Star, stems from its being the brightest star in Canis Major, the rising of which in July coincides with summer’s scorching peak. Sirius is also the brightest star in the night sky, by a wide margin; it’s actually a binary star system 8.6 light-years distant — only about twice as far away as the Sun’s nearest stellar neighbor, the Alpha Centauri system, and growing nearer.
Sirius actually IS a dog in the namesake novel by Olaf Stapledon.
yes, yes!
This picture makes me miss our beautiful Rosie more than usual. Had she lived, it would have been her 14th birthday this week. Hug your creatures a little extra for us, would you?
I completely understand. I lost my beautiful dog, Fanny, last Tuesday. She was just shy of 14 (July 20), and had been with me since she was 11 weeks old. She was a great dog, and was with me all of the time when I was out working in Riverside Park. She was good with other dogs and people, especially small kids. She was 65 pounds of love and joy.
“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” Josh Billings
Food runs a close second in my dog case!
I’ve always envied dogs, but watching dogs frolic on a hot day makes me envy them even more. Thank you for portraying on of my favorite parts of summer in NYC so beautifully, Gary!
Dogs running around off leash is definitely the UWS
Missing my dogs Tex and Lola when I see this great cartoon!
You said it!
Note the stink lines emanating from the dog on the bench.
That’s heat rising.
Love his cartoons.. look at the cool cat at the corner!
Jealous of these dogs!
Love seeing dogs frolicking in the park! I wish I could be as in the moment as our canine friends.
Aw. This is sweet! I’m cooling off by just looking at it. 👍🏼
Fabulous, Gary! You did it again……THANK YOU 👏👏👏 That would have been my doggie resting on the bench! It even looked like him…😞
Notice the Gary character tucked behind the wall while the dogs frolic in the sprinkler. Oh and the little guy holding a fan. Love it.
It’s been a struggle to keep cool this summer as a human… I forget how much harder it is for our four-legged friends. Sweet image.
Doggie Heaven!
Right on! (Even for that cat.) Love Gary’s work and the way is mind works.
So great to have a cartoon that just plain made me smile!! 💕
I love to see dogs having a happy frolic in the park. What does break my heart, though, is when irresponsible dog owners walk their dogs on the searing hot pavement and asphalt streets. Or the ones who ride their bikes fast and make their leashed dogs keep up with them. Oh, if I were Queen of the World and could change these things!
🐶🐕🐩🐕🦺
🐺 (ancestor)
Nice. I love a hot dog in the park in the summer.
Amen!