What will happen to Nipper, a dog statue on a New York warehouse

Albany’s Beloved Nipper Statue Faces Uncertain Future Amid Building Concerns

Albany residents are growing increasingly concerned about the fate of one of their most cherished local landmarks – a 28-foot-tall white dog statue with black ears known affectionately as “Nipper.” For almost seven decades, this massive recreation of RCA’s famous listening terrier has perched atop a warehouse, becoming an integral part of the city’s identity and skyline.

“When I think of Nipper, I think of Albany. When I think of Albany, I think of Nipper,” said local resident Cody Hitt during a recent evening at a bar near the iconic statue.

The statue recreates the famous image of a terrier listening attentively to a phonograph, which was long used as a trademark by electronics and communications giant RCA. Over the years, Nipper has transcended his corporate origins to become a genuine source of local pride for this Hudson River community. Parents routinely point him out to children from the highway, and his distinctive image – head cocked inquisitively to one side – appears on merchandise ranging from key chains to hoodies and shot glasses.

However, the future of this beloved canine landmark has recently been cast into doubt. After years of litigation, the unused four-story warehouse that serves as Nipper’s pedestal was recently marked with a red placard featuring a white slash – a warning sign alerting firefighters and other first responders to use caution when entering the potentially unsafe structure.

“It’s definitely not a good thing for Nipper. He is attached to that building, so if something happens to it, it’s going to be kind of hard to take him off,” explained Cara Macri, director of preservation services for the Historic Albany Foundation.

The original Nipper lived in late 19th century England, earning his name from his habit of trying to bite people’s ankles. Following the dog’s death, his owner’s brother, Francis Barraud, immortalized him in the painting “His Master’s Voice,” depicting the terrier intrigued by sound emanating from a phonograph horn. The image was purchased by The Gramophone Company in London in 1899 and later registered for use in the United States. In 1929, the trademark was acquired by the company that would eventually become RCA.

Albany’s version of Nipper – constructed with a composite body over a steel frame – was installed by crane in the late 1950s to advertise an RCA appliance distributor. While numerous Nipper statues were created during this era, including a 14-foot high version now housed at the Maryland Center for History and Culture in Baltimore, Albany’s stands as the largest.

The statue remains a distinctive element in Albany’s skyline, which otherwise features the modernist state government complex adjacent to the state Capitol, including a 44-story office tower and the egg-shaped performing arts center. Downtown at the Fort Orange General Store, Nipper-themed merchandise consistently ranks among the bestselling items.

“He is kind of like our unofficial mascot here at Fort Orange, as well as the city of Albany,” said store owner Erica Cubello, who was wearing a Nipper hoodie during a recent interview.

While the statue itself appears well-preserved, the building below has sat vacant for at least a decade, with paint visibly chipping from its exterior. Despite plans announced ten years ago to develop apartments and retail space in the newly purchased building, nothing materialized. Foreclosure litigation has been ongoing for years, with city tax documents showing an attorney acting as a receiver for the property.

By 2024, the Historic Albany Foundation had placed the building on its list of endangered places. In March, city officials installed the cautionary placard on the building’s entrance, prompting Times-Union columnist Chris Churchill to sound the alarm in a piece titled “Nipper has our love, but needs more protection.”

In response to growing concerns, Albany Mayor Dorcey Applyrs is working to add Nipper to the city’s list of historic landmarks, which could help protect both the dog statue and the building from damaging changes. Additionally, a state board recently nominated the warehouse district that includes Nipper’s building for state and national historic registers, potentially making the structure eligible for preservation tax credits.

Despite these concerning developments, there are no serious discussions about relocating the approximately four-ton statue, which would present significant logistical challenges and expenses. As Macri noted, even if removal became necessary, finding a suitable new location would be problematic: “There’s a whole redevelopment downtown. You could put him there. You could put him on the riverfront. But he’s a big dog.”