This month's featured animal is
...RAGS THE
DOG
Rags
is a laid-back
Brussels Griffon dog. He is owned by Carter
Heywood (Michael Boatman), a black, gay civil
servant who works for the Mayors Office in New
York City. Rags is aged, ailing, suicidal and
just wants to "end it all." He's been
seen licking light sockets, jumping out of
windows, or eating pills. Rags has medication
for itching, wheezing, and diarrhea among other
prescriptions. When applying anti-fungal cream
to his tummy, Rags likes it rubbed in a circular
motion-not up and down. I don't even want to
tell you about the flatulent ointment for his
rectum.
Rag's full name is Reginald R. Ragamuffin
the Third. He is the only dog on the block who
could growl his own initials "RRR."
His owner, Carter likes to dress Rags in
matching outfits. So, if Carter wears a pair of
pajamas with tiger strips, Rags will be seen
modeling his own matching set of PJs.
Rags has had many adventures. He's pooped in
Stuart Bondek's shoe, had the Mayor of New York
City fall in love with him after filming an
animal rights film, and swallowed Deputy Mayor
Charlie Crawford's pager while under the care of
Caitlin Moore. One day, after
Carter brought Rags to work, he got killed
by a Statue of Liberty paperweight that
accidentally toppled off a shelf onto the
unsuspecting canine. Much to Rags' chagrin, he
was resurrected by the hand of a man named Owen
Joyce (Christopher Lloyd) who claimed he was the
Messiah.
Rags with
Antler
Carter holding Rags
(Photos courtesy of www.animalfair.com)
Trivia
Note: Rags appears on the sitcom SPIN
CITY/ABC/1996+. On a number of occasions,
celebrities have supplied their voices to Rag's morbid musings.
They included David Letterman ("Dead Dog
Talking"), Tim Allen ("The Kidney's
All Right") and Regis Philbin ("Back
to the Future IV- Judgment Day"). The
episode "Dead Dog Walking" carried the
caption dedication: "To Rags, 1846 -
1998."
Rags is played by doggie star Wes, a.k.a.
Uncle Wesley. Bruce Pelaccio is his trainer. The
dog's agent is Cathryn Long of All Creatures
Great & Small of NY. Wesley is owned by a
New York City woman, Ruth Powell, who loves Rags
as a friend and a pet. Wes has served as a Chair
Dog for the ASPCA's 1999 Dog Walk and Woofstock
in New York City.
*The Brussels Griffon breed is believed to
have been produced by crossing affenpinschers
with the pug, and possibly the toy
spaniels.
