WOOF! Did Lucky & I have one eventful week! First stop in New York City was Bidawee's Gala on the Green (as in Central Park's Tavern On The Green) where we ran into supermodel Paulina Porizkova, judge on America's Next Top Model (wife of Cars singer Rick Ocasek) and an avid animal advocate. She was very funny -- commenting that her dog was a "Classic Cadillac!" Paulina was all smiles as she took a photo with America's Next Top Dog, Lucky! The oldest dog to date, a 21-year-old Daschund (147 in human years) named Chanel was there celebrating with parents Karl and Denise Shaughnessy. Denise shared that life has been hectic with Chanel and although Chanel doesn't go to many social events, this was one event she couldn't stray from; she said, "Chanel is like Barbra Streisand, aren't their noses similar." She was given a Guinness World Book Records award for being the oldest living dog. Iams Pet Food and Home 4 the Holidays Campaign was also honored at the event -- this campaign helped to save the lives of more than 1.2 million pets this past holiday season.
Next we ventured over to the 5th Annual Housing Works' Design On A Dime Extravaganza. Extreme Makeover - Home Edition's Ty Pennington was there, and we couldn't help but ask what kind of doghouse Bo Obama should have built to mirror his new extreme makeover and lifestyle. Ty said "I would have to know exactly what kind of personality the dog has to match the temperament to the tenement, it shouldn't be a little miniature White House and certainly not overdone." He added, "I suggest some shag carpets, earthy tones, definitely a relaxing mood". Sounds right with all the political howling going on around, Bo!
When we asked former Charlie's Angels star, host and judge on Shear Genius, Jaclyn Smith which Charlie's Angel her Poodle Elizabeth looks the most like she immediately replied, "Farrah Fawcett, she is bigger than life, has curly hair and everybody loves her." As for Jaclyn's four other dogs, she said Kate is her French Bulldog, Bird is "intense, sharp, brightest of the dogs", of Ralphie (her Boston Bull Terrier) she said, "would never get through casting", and "Charlie would be my dog Tank (French Bulldog) ... always mysteriously hiding." Jaclyn added, "I am more like my dog Emma Jane." No wonder she started a new brand (jaclynsmith.com) featuring housewares, furniture, linens, and furniture, she needed the extra furniture and linens to house her pack of five dogs, in comfort of course!
Lucky and I had a Presidential whirlwind, when we headed down to Washington, DC for the White House Correspondents dinner weekend -- Lucky is our official "White House Pet Correspondent"! If Lucky decides to throw her collar into the race and run for president, she certainly met her staff! Lucky as the White House Pet Correspondent" (puplitical commentator and writer) -- she promises to report all the latest barking news on the energetic First (Portuguese Water) Dog, Bo Obama (already known for breaking bipartisan ground on the White House lawn).
Knight Rider actor Val Kilmer will possibly be running a political campaign to become the next New Mexico Governor. He has a new dog, named after his good friend, rapper 50 cent. And calls him "Fitty" (that's 50 cent's nickname). Fitty (the dog) is a "loner mutt misfit." says Val. Val lends his time to charity and feeds 100's of animals, including buffalo and horses.
Former US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright has cows and when asked which was her favorite? She quipped, "All of them!" Moo-over!
When Gossip Girl's Chace Crawford said fellow Gossip Girl star Blake Lively's dog Penny has the worst breath, Lucky just looked away, then searched for a greenie in her bag. Journalist and TV personality Greta Van Susteren of Fox News (airing on weeknights) let us know that every Wednesday she posts animals up on her rescue website (petconnectrescue.org).
Our favorite meet and greet was Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, who doesn't have any pets at the moment but informed Lucky that although they have decreased many items in the Homeland Security Budget, they have increased the necessary dog-sniffing security budget. Of course she had to get a photo with Lucky -- Lucky made sure she gave the meanest Maltese military look she could muster!
Meet The Press host David Gregory was excited to see Lucky, he was hands (and paws) down our favorite interview when we promoted our book How To Understand Men Through Their Dogs on The Today Show (buy now: www.animalfair.com). TV Producer extraordinare Tammy Haddad (a former producer for MSNBC) and David Adler the founder of BizBash Media were the hosts of this fabulous fete on Saturday before the big dinner.
The political fun kept on as we ran into some fun loving animal people at the Vanity Fair Bloomberg Party after the White House Correspondents Dinner. We swooped over to hero Chesley Burnett Sullenberger, aka Sully, the skilled pilot (he's one Bird Dog) who safely glided and landed a distressed US Airways Airbus A320 onto the New York's Hudson River. Sully is the proud parent to a dog named Twinkle, who used to be a guide dog (seems heroism runs in the family). He was so inspired by Twinkle that Sully now trains other guide dogs.
Marley & Me actor Owen Wilson told us he has an Australian Shepherd named Garcia named after surfer Sunny Garcia. Lucky would be envious if she found out that Owen's dog had a cameo in Marley and Me. Okay, I must note "Lucky & Me" would be a hysterical movie, and our ending would have people crying ... with laughter!
Then we bumped into some "Washington Top Dogs". The man who masterminded putting Obama into office, Senior Political Strategist David Axelrod, was excited to chat about his cat Twinkle (not Obama) and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, who is not a pet guy (maybe Bo Obama will "change" that). Finally, pet-less Jonathan Lovett -- the President's head speechwriter -- made us laugh; he's the guy writing the one liner jokes about Bo Obama for President Obama.
Jonathan must have given Obama this line during the White House Correspondents Dinner when he said "All this change hasn't been easy. Change never is. So I've cut the tension by bringing a new friend to the White House. He's warm, he's cuddly, loyal, enthusiastic. You just have to keep him on a tight leash. Every once in a while he goes charging off in the wrong direction and gets himself into trouble. But enough about Joe Biden."
Sammy Davis, Jr. is the name of actors Idina Menzel (who was our favorite star in Broadway's Wicked) and Taye Diggs' (as seen on CBS' Private Practice and Grey's Anatomy) Yorkie and they said it's the perfect moniker since actress Idina is Jewish and husband Taye Diggs is black. The animal loving duo also had me cracking up about their two rescue cats, named Coltrane and Ella (feeling a jazzy play date with Bo Obama happening soon -- named after Diddley).
Finally we ended the week with our dear friends Christina and John McLaughlin, (the Political host of the McLaughlin Group), for their annual Brunch (Lucky never misses brunch -- no matter what party). Senior advisor to U.S. presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan, and Republican presidential nomination in 1992 and 1996, Pat Buchanan along with his wife told us a cat-chy story about their late beloved kitty. In the early '80s, when Ronald Reagan became president, a young kitten wandered into their lives at the same time. After a day on Capitol Hill, Pat arrived home and joyfully named their new pet after the well-liked president, Gipper. Pat said, "He was one hell of a cat." (President Reagan or Pat's cat Gipper?)
With all the presidential advice Lucky received this past weekend from the above-mentioned, she is well on her way to being appointed White House Pet Correspondent to Bo Obama. This weekend produced enough excitement to last me for at least another year, and Lucky seven dog years!