Obituary: Moose, who played Eddie on Frasier

Yeah, we know the human cast was great--Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, John Mahoney, Jane Leeves and Peri Gilpin deserved all the awards they received--but we tuned in to Frasier to see Eddie. And now Moose, the pooch with better comedic timing and a greater capacity to hit a mark than Wilmer Valderrama, has passed.

The 16-year-old Jack Russell terrier passed away of old age Thursday at the Los Angeles home of trainer Mathilde Halberg. In addition to being the first dog to portray Eddie, he also appeared the 2000 film My Dog Skip.

Grammer gave a shout out to the talented dog when he accepted a 1994 Emmy for best actor in a comedy. "Most important, Moose, this is for you."

You can read more on Excite news. Hopefully Eddie is enjoying sitting where Frasier doesn't want him in the upscale condo in the sky.

Alison Sweeney searches for lost pooch

Stars are just like the rest of us--when a pet gets loose and runs away, they'll do anything to find their loved one. Such is the distressing story of "Days of Our Lives" star Alison Sweeney, whose Chihuahua, Paco, is lost.

Paco slipped out the door of Alison's home in the Hollywood Hills. Since then, she and her husband have been seeking their fawn-colored, short-haired Chihuahua. Paco is a 4-year-old male and weighs only 4 pounds, so if you happen to be strolling through Hollywood, keep your eyes open!

Alison has turned to lost dog site Fido Finder to assist in searching for her pooch. Fido Finder is a national lost dog database designed to help the public reunite lost dogs with their owners by utilizing the power and reach of the Internet. The celebrity couple has posted a $1,000 reward on Fido Finder for Paco's safe return.

We wish Paco and Alison the best and hope for a speedy reunion!

The stars have spoken: Old Navy selects finalists

A couple months ago we told you that Old Navy was looking for a new "spokes dog." They've narrowed the field, and now it's up to you to select the winner!

A panel of celebrity judges are said to have selected the finalists out of a pool of 120,000 entries. Celebs on the panel included Hollywood's hottest (Katherine Heigl, Kristin Chenoweth), most talented (Alfre Woodard, Malcolm David Kelley) and best (Betty White, who has shown how golden she really is by working hard on behalf of animals).

Now, far be it from us to call into question the Old Navy press release, but we just don't see these five sitting around in a room sorting through a 40-foot stack of submissions. Assuming each entry was given five seconds of consideration, it would've taken seven full days--24/7--to get through the entire 120,000 entries. (Now, that's a reality TV show we'd watch!)

But that is beside the point, because now you must choose the winner! From June 23, 2006 through July 7, 2006, the finalists will be featured in more than 950 Old Navy store locations throughout North America. During that time, customers can vote for their favorite pooch online at http://www.oldnavy.com/magic. Each person is eligible to vote once every day during the two-week voting period. In addition, several voters will be randomly selected each day as instant winners to receive a $10 Old Navy appreciation card to be used toward their next purchase.

Here are the finalists:

Bean “The Live Wire,” Emeryville, CA
The smallest of the finalists, what Bean lacks in size she makes up for in energy. Bean has been known to work any room in social situations showing that although she is small in size, she’s big in personality. This California girl is a Norfolk Terrie/Chihuahua mix with a truly unique look. Owners Sherrie and John can’t walk 10 feet in Emeryville without someone stopping to pet this “live wire.”



Cooper “The Athlete,” Plano, TX
The Athlete in the group, Cooper stays active with swimming and hours at the dog park. Like all great athletes, Cooper knows she’s good and isn’t afraid to strut the streets of Plano with her owner Daniel to show off her fit physique. This teenager is a Boxer and Yellow Lab mix who stays cool on hot Texas days by playing in the sprinklers with her siblings.



Data “The Prankster,” Freeland, MI
Data was born to perform. He’s a brilliant goofball who loves to do tricks. Lori rescued the Australian Cattle Dog/Border Collie mix from a shelter, and even though he’s now a full-grown adult, he’s still a kid at heart. His favorite trick is walking backwards on cue and he’s even known to eat his meals off a plate at the dinner table.



Josie “The Sweetheart,” Mesa, AZ
Josie is the perfect pet. Popular around the neighborhood, Josie loves attention and always greets others with overwhelming affection. A border collie mix, she was rescued from the pound and still hasn’t stopped thanking her owner, Heather. Josie never bites off more than she can chew, never barks up the wrong tree, and always shares her treats with others.



Paco “The Free Spirit,” Venice Beach, CA
Paco really knows how to relax and let his hair down. Like most Southern California natives, Paco skateboards and even does yoga! Owners Olivia and Tao rescued the Terrier mix from a shelter and now he’s a regular on the Venice Beach scene. Paco loves belly rubs, long walks, cuddling and letting his long hair blow in the wind.



Sandi “The Bandit,” Bartlett, IL
One look and she’ll steal your heart. Sandi is an adorable puppy that enjoys keeping Joann & Dennis Hadden and their two children very busy playing ball and tug-of-war. Playfully rambunctious, the Shepherd/Collie Mix will wag her way into your heart. Until then, she’s content with being the pride of Bartlett, Illinois and the newest member of the Hadden family.

Hulk Hogan gives back Monkey

Are any of you watching "Hogan Knows Best" on VH1? We must admit that we aren't. There is only so much faux-reality-disfunctional-family-loving-their-kids TV one can watch in a lifetime, and we're afraid we used up our quota on the Osbournes.

We apparently missed a heartbreaking episode of the show. The Hogans already have a couple of birds and eight dogs, but mom Linda wanted to take in a rescued baby monkey, too. Sounded like a good idea, until the family quickly got tired of baby-sitting the mischievous little monkey. I guess the 15 diaper changes per day might've gotten to be a bit much. So, Hulk put his foot down, and the family returned the monkey to the rescue group.

While we respect the family's decision to return the pet once they realized they were unprepared to provide the proper care, we take the wrestler to task for his attitude about the upheavel their poorly conceived adoption might've caused to the monkey: "Well, don't feel bad. We'll just look at it as, you know, we tried really hard and he had a great vacation. And he got to know the greatest wrestler of all time."

Hey Hulk, how about we kidnap you for a couple of weeks? That way you can have a forced vacation at our house and get to know the greatest blogger of all time! (Funny how the experiences to which we subject our pets take a different meaning if we think about putting ourselves through the same thing, isn't it?)

You can read more on Post-Gazette.com (last item on the page).

Orlando Bloom to pose with pooch

Okay ladies, you'll want to start clearing a spot on your wall for the Tony La Russa's 2007 Celebrity Pet Calendar, which benefits the Animal Rescue Foundation in Walnut Creek. Why? Orlando Bloom will be posing with his dog!

We have no idea why they didn't simply dedicate all 12 months to Orlando (who will soon be swashbuckling back onto screens in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest). Instead, some other people will have their photos in the calendar: Charlize Theron, Fran Drescher, and St. Louis Cardinals shortstop David Eckstein will be included in the ARF calendar.

Hmmm, do we want to see one month with Fran Drescher or two months with Orlando Bloom? I'm just asking!

Learn more on CBS5.com.

Jerry Lewis faces surgery with pets at his side

According to Hollywood.com, Jerry Lewis is to undergo angioplasty in an effort to re-open arteries that were bypassed decades ago. The comedian and philanthropist suffered a heart attack last weekend and is recovering in a San Diego, California hospital.

But he's not alone--he is being comforted by his pet Chihuahuas. Jerry's manager says that Jerry's pooches, Rocky and Paulie, are with him in the hospital. He's also been boosted by the well wishes from friends including Larry King and Deana Martin, the daughter of Lewis' late partner Dean Martin.

Plans to turn his hit movie The Nutty Professor into a new stage musical are still going ahead, and the comic insists he'll be well enough to host his yearly Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon at the end of the summer.

We'd be tempted to make a sarcastic comment about how the rich and famous get to bring their pets with them to the hospital unlike we commoners, but we wish Jerry nothing but the best and are glad his dogs can help bring him comfort and a speedy recovery!

Read more here.

Garfield Sucks

Okay, we normally don't criticize animals on this blog, but in this case we feel it is warranted--and besides, Garfield is animated and not a real cat.

The new Garfield movie is craptacular, and not in a "so bad it's good" way but in a "so bad that it smells like used kitty litter" way. RottenTomatoes.com has tracked it with a lousy 12% approval rating, making it one of the worst-reviewed flicks of the year.

Now, you might ask why we care so much. After all, we could've just ignored the horrible Garfield's A Tale of Two Kitties and let is slink quickly to video. Well, here's why we care:

• First of all, we believe that in some Hollywood office suite occupied by an eight-figure exec, the following words were spoken about 18 to 24 months ago: "Well, sure the first Garfield movie sucked--but animal lovers will buy tickets for any piece of crap with a cat or dog on the screen, so let's make another!" We believe that pet lovers (not to mention pets themselves) are deserving of more effort from Hollywood than this terrible quickie.
• Secondly, Garfield is voiced by Bill Murray, and that means Murray fans (if there are any, still) might be tempted to show up. So, here it is Bill Murray fans: Don't do it! You've been forewarned. (And here's a special note to Bill, since we're sure he's a regular visitor to this blog: This is how you chose to invest the buzz you rightly earned from "Lost in Translation"?!? Is there some Oscar about which we are unaware--"Lifetime Achievement Award for Wasting True Talent"?)
• Lastly, we believe those responsible for insulting our intelligence deserve to be publicly outed, so here are people and organizations you should curse and may choose to avoid in the future: 20th Century Fox, the inappropriately named Ingenious Film Partners, Director Tim Hill, and Writers Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow. Heck, this movie is so bad, we're even going to spread some shame to the Key Grip: Michael Alexonis. (Sorry Michael, we're sure you're a talented and hard-working guy based on your numerous credits, but there's so much Garfield blame to spread around!)

Just so we're clear: None of us is going to see, rent, or even think about Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties, right? If so, perhaps the next movie Hollywood offers us with a pet star will be one conceived with quality and art in mind and not just profit.

Heather Graham and her pooch

We have no idea where this picture came from, and we don't care. It has two of the cutest things in the world--Heather Graham and a dog! Hollywood Tuna has other delightful photos of Ms. Boogie Nights, so click here to see more!

"Where My Dogs At?" cuts Tinkerbell porn scene

If you have a certain twisted sense of humor, you may want to check out MTV2's new show, "Where My Dogs At?" Demonstrating a strong sense of commitment to this new show, MTV2 has scheduled it at 12:30 p.m.

The animated series follows the antics of Buddy and Woof, two stray pooches lost in Hollywood who are constantly on the run from the dogcatcher. Somehow, the beagle and the bulldog keep finding their way into movie awards shows and celebrity households where all sorts of outrageous comedy ensues.

This show won't be for everyone. Jeffrey Ross, the mind behind the show and voice of one of the animated pooches, has been called the meanest man in comedy. He's already had to cut a scene in which Paris Hilton's dog Tinkerbell makes her own homemade porn movie with 101 dalmatians. (As if the classy Dalmatians would have anything to do with Tinkerbell!)

You can read more on Boston.com.

Fred Willard and Gena Lee Nolin Judge Dancing Pet Stars

The B&C Web site has nothing but sarcastic things to say about it, and we must be honest and say this sounds like risky viewing, even for dog lovers--this TV show will either be cute and cuddly or an enormous pile of dog poop. Still, despite our doubts, we'll definitely tune in to Animal Planet June 24 at 8 p.m for Dancing Pet Stars. That's right, Dancing With the Stars for the four-legged viewers.

What promises to make the show watchable is the presence of Best in Show star, Fred Willard. He'll be judging (and hopefully making humorous asides a la Buck Laughlin--"Which one of these dogs would you want to have as your wide receiver on your football team?") as will Baywatch star Gena Lee Nolin. (Tough gig--how'd you like to judge a dancing dog show next to Fred Willard?!?)

Read more on broadcastingcable.com.

Mariah Carey walks Jackson P Muttley

Okay, it's a given that we love Mariah because she loves dogs. That being said, does this girl ever dress down? Really, does this look anything like your dog-walking outfit?!?

Hello Magazine has several pictures of "the curvaceous diva" and her dog, Jackson P Muttley.

In Mariah's penthouse, his favorite toy is a jet--no, not the kind you fly in, but the kind you find in hot tubs. Says Mariah, "If I'm running a bath, all of a sudden I'll hear a splash and Jack will have jumped into the tub... He continually dives under the water and tries to bite the water coming out of the jets."

It's tough to be the dog of an A-lister: A life of hot tubs, penthouses, flying first class--and being walked by woman wearing a dress that shows more curves than a mountain highway. (Sure, we're jealous--so what?)

Read more at hellomagazine.com.

Hilary Duff's dog blog

And here we thought that having paws might be a hurdle that would prevent dogs from blogging! That's not the case for Hilary Duff's talented dog, Lola--she has her own blog, now.

Funny thing is, if our dog were to blog it would be nothing but "Play with me," "Feed me," "Play with me," "Feed me"--the most boring blog in the world. But, luckily for visitors to HilaryDuff.com, Lola has more to say. For example, the Chihuahua has posted her endorsement of a dog-care book written by the owner of a Maltese pal.

Alas, those of us not in the Hilary Fan Club cannot access Lola's blog; according to MTV.com, her pooch's musings are found in the fan-club-only section of the singer/actress' official site.

Much as we might like to join Hilary's fan club, we're afraid that simultaneously belonging to fan clubs of Hilary Duff and Dame Judi Dench may cause a cosmic incongruity that would threaten life in the universe. Or, maybe we'll just wait for Hilary to do a movie that appeals to someone over the age of 16. (If that sounds a bit catty, we'll point out her last movie was--ugh--Cheaper by the Dozen 2, while meanwhile Lindsay is about to appear opposite Meryl Streep in
A Prairie Home Companion. Come on, Hilary, we know you're better than that!)