Senior Cuomo adviser rejects report that governor is leaving mansion without his dog

According to a report by the Albany Times Union, Cuomo, who has been staying with one of his sisters in Westchester County, asked staff members at the Executive Mansion if anyone would like to keep his dog, Captain.

News 12 Staff

Aug 23, 2021, 7:39 PM

Updated 1,137 days ago

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A senior adviser to Gov. Andrew Cuomo is rejecting a news report that said he was leaving his dog behind as he steps away from the governorship in the state of New York.
According to a report by the Albany Times Union, Cuomo, who has been staying with one of his sisters in Westchester County, asked staff members at the Executive Mansion if anyone would like to keep his dog, Captain.
State police sources told the paper that Captain -- a shepherd, Siberian and malamute mix – has nipped a multiple people since he adopted him in 2018.
Richard Azzopardi, a spokesperson for Cuomo, spoke out against the report on Twitter, saying, “The Governor stayed downstate to monitor the storm … He will be vacating the mansion tonight,” and that Captain is a member of the former governor’s family.
But the Times Union’s police sources say Cuomo tried giving the dog away to a mansion employee, who allegedly “took the dog home and it didn’t work – the dog walks him, he don’t walk the dog.”
But animal advocates have spoken out against the move online, causing “Captain” to trend on Twitter.
Libby Post, executive director of the New York State Animal Protection Federation, wrote in a statement that her organization is “ready to help place Captain at one of our larger New York State animal shelters,” which have “excellent behavioral experts who can help Captain resolve his ‘nipping’ issues and adopt him into a loving, forever home.”
Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa also chimed in on Twitter, writing “As the next mayor of NYC I wish to extend the invitation to adopt you as the first dog of Gracie Mansion.”
Cuomo took to Twitter Monday night, posting a photo of him and his daughters with Captain saying, "Some people just can't get the facts straight. Yes, I was downstate monitoring storm response for a few days, but Captain and I are a man and his dog. He is part of our family and that’s the way it will always be."
Movers were first seen at the governor’s mansion on Friday shortly after he announced that he would resign, giving way to Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Gov. Cuomo issued a farewell address Monday afternoon, calling the state attorney general’s report into allegations of sexual harassment against him a “political firecracker” and said he would be exonerated by the facts.