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In 2013, while walking in New York City, Laura Burkart saw a Brussels Griffon who stole聽her heart. The toy breed oozed personality with big black eyes and a look that said, 鈥淚鈥檓 your best friend.鈥�
The chance encounter and a growing聽obsession with the breed eventually led Burkart to throw a lavish Kentucky Derby-themed party this year for 70 of her closest Brussels Griffon pals.
鈥淭he breed鈥檚 human-like expression drew me in, and right away, I knew I didn鈥檛 want to be a dog owner鈥擨 wanted to be a Brussels Griffon owner,鈥� Burkart says. 鈥淚t helped that I loved the 1997 rom-com 鈥楢s Good As It Gets鈥� with Verdell, a red-coated Griff.鈥�
Gala Griff Gathering
After waiting a year to get her own Brussels鈥攁 black, rough-coated one named Hendrik Von Griffon鈥擝urkart began organizing meetups for聽, a New York-based social dog club for Brussels Griffons and their owners. The latest meetup was the biggest one yet.
This year鈥檚 Kentucky Derby, which is traditionally held on the first Saturday in May, inspired the聽Griffs Derby Meetup at The Sanctuary on Roosevelt Island. Located on the East River with a clear view of Manhattan, the outdoor facility is an ideal spot for two- and four-legged聽guests who are ready to dress up and party.
鈥淲e needed to find a dog-friendly location that could accommodate our large crowd, and this one fit the bill,鈥� Burkart says. 鈥淲edding venues usually rent for $2,000, so we started a GoFundMe page to help give everyone a good time. Not everyone wants to spend $100 for a dog party.鈥�
Burkart spent weeks planning the perfect dog party, but bad potential weather threatened to put a damper on the outdoor festivities on the morning of the outdoor event.
鈥淥n May 7, I woke up to a torrential downpour,鈥� Burkart recalls. 鈥淲ith 50 mph winds, I didn鈥檛 think anyone would show up.鈥�
Fortunately, the day was saved and the Sanctuary set up a large tent and heat lamps. Of the 90聽RSVPs, 70 Brussels and their owners came out for a good time with both dogs and their owners clad in their best derby fits鈥攐ver-the-top hats included.
Despite the weather, the聽3-hour, multi-tiered soiree included swag bags and photo booths complete with derby-themed backdrops. The Griffs lapped up the dog-friendly ice cream and cake while the adults appreciated the mint juleps, and Andrea Caceres, a well-known NYC illustrator, created digital portraits of the dogs.
鈥淚 wanted everyone to leave with something,鈥� Burkart says.
Griff merch, games, and a costume contest added to the day鈥檚 fun. With no shortage of rose and horse motif ensembles, the dogs didn鈥檛 mind vying for the 鈥淲ho Wore It Best鈥� award.
Traveling From Out of Town
The canine sniff-fest not only honored the oldest sporting event in the U.S. but special Griff guests Twixie and Cowboy, who聽聽last summer, also traveled from out of state for the festivities. Known as the Midwest Griffs, the bearded couple were in the Big Apple on the same weekend.
鈥淲hen Griffs come to town, we throw parties in their honor, too,鈥� Burkart says.
More than 70 Griffs and 140 owners trotted to the horse race-nuptial from as far away as Los Angeles, Chicago, Austin, Seattle, and Toronto.
One of the most famous NYC Griffs,听, was also on the guest list. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a smooth-coated black-and-reddish-brown Griff with 180,000 followers,鈥� Burkart says. 鈥淜nown for doing amazing tricks, he鈥檚 appeared in music videos and聽.鈥�
Other big-name Instagram Brussels included聽,听, and聽, a smooth-coated female whose over-the-top-floral bonnet scored second place in the hat contest.
Burkart鈥檚 Brussels Hendrik, now 5 years old, arrived at the meetup in custom-made emerald green jockey silks. The large H on his chest undoubtedly helped him pull ahead in the costume competition and ultimately winning the 鈥淏est Rough Costume鈥� award.
Why聽Brussels Griffons?
For Burkart, throwing a Griff bash was more than a way to spend a Saturday.
At just 12-pounds, in smooth or rough coats, and in four distinct colors鈥攔ed, black-and-reddish-brown (called 鈥渂elge鈥�), black and tan, and black, this little breed with a large personality is popular in聽New York City, despite being 97th in of the聽most popular breeds.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e loving, kind, and easily bond with their people,鈥� Burkart says. 鈥淓nthusiasts of the breed wanted to get together socially, and the club was a way to meet other Griffs.鈥�
Although the Sanctuary may be a far cry from the historic twin spires of Churchill Downs, this Kentucky Derby-themed event proved a real winner for the breed and raised $500 for the聽Brussels Griffon Rescue in the process.