Johnny Cash has been just about everywhere. But the lovable canine named for the country legend had never traveled to New York until he took a recent trip with his owner, glamorous philanthropist Kristi Schiller, to publicize K9s4COPS, the Houston-based organization that Schiller founded to fund the purchase and training of police dogs across the country.
During his stay in the Big Apple, the pooch was the first canine to ring the opening bell at the NASDAQ Stock Market in Times Square and appeared on The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson on FOX News and CNBC's The Street. His New York appearances honored the memory of K9 Sirius who died at the World Trade Center in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
"I didn't know how he would respond," Schiller said. "But he nailed it. And then he looked at me (asking) 'Where's my treat?' "
Before heading to New York, Schiller and Johnny Cash were in "intense training" for his big NASDAQ moment. She had a Lucite box built so he could stand on it and reach the pad to ring the bell. But it takes just the right amount of pressure on the pad to get the bell to ring and Schiller admits she was a bit nervous.
"I didn't know how he would respond," she said. "But he nailed it. And then he looked at me (asking) 'Where's my treat?' "
Among the K9s4COPS board members attending the NASDAQ ceremony were Freeport Port Commissioner John Hoss and Buck Keenan attorney Felicia Harris, Pam Mahoney, Dr. Aashish Shah, Shanna Brown, FOX News anchor Jamie Colby, Life + Dog magazine editor Brett Chisholm, top New York divorce lawyer Marilyn Chinitz, QVerify Inc. CEO Phil Houston and New York criminal lawyer Joe Tacopina.
Also joining in the festivities were Harris County Pct 4 Deputy Ted Dahlin, who inspired Schiller to found K9s4COPS after he lost his dog in the line of duty, and Jenna Jackson, whose Houston-based company, P&R Productions, captured Johnny Cash's trip.
While the canine rested for his big appearance, Schiller attended the opening of the trendy White Street restaurant in TriBeCa, where she was greeted by co-owner Dave Zinczenko, Bill Stanton, Roxanna Wood and Avatar co-star Stephen Lang. All are K9s4COPS board members.
Schiller also dined with New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton and wife, K9s4COPS board member Rikki Klieman, at the popular Upper East Side Italian restaurant Elio's.
After the bell ringing, Johnny Cash joined guests at the hip East Side restaurant Harlow, owned by restaurateur Michael Barrett and his wife Karin. (The restaurant is housed in a baroque building that William Randolph Hearst was said to have built as the personal entertainment space for his mistress, Marion Davies, in the 1930s.) But at that point the canine just seemed tuckered out and ready to return to Texas.
He's likely to make an appearance at K9s4COPS annual fundraiser on Oct. 28 at Hughes Hanger. The theme is "Unleashed Your Inner '80s Rock Star."
See this video of Johnny Cash ringing the opening bell at NASDAQ:
From left, Kristi Schiller, Johnny Cash and Jamie Colby.
