Back in the mid-1990s, when I was on staff at the American Animal Hospital Association, I helped with logistics for the big annual veterinary conference. Think of it like throwing some 50 special events every day for thousands of your closest colleagues in a strange city for four straight days. It is exhausting. The exhibit hall was always one of big draws, with oodles of free schwag and other tantalizing things to get people into the various booths, where the oh-so-charming sales folks could work their magic. One year, I don’t remember which, and I’m too tired to look it up, one of the exhibit hall stars was Moose, the dog who played Eddie in the TV show Frasier.
For free, you could have a Polaroid taken with him. Sometimes he kissed people. Sometimes he held your hand.
I plopped down in a rare, spare moment. His handler cued him. Someone snapped the image. Done. On to the next thing, for both of us.
At the time, I remember feeling VERY sad for Moose. He seemed detached, unemotional and like he wasn’t having any fun. I suppose it isn’t any different than meeting a famous human actor. I guess I shouldn’t have expected him to “like” me or anything, but he seemed like a little robot.
Moose is gone now. His son, Enzo, took over the role eventually.
I wish I could have met him when I knew more about dog training. I suspect I would see the whole thing differently. What seemed like detachment was perhaps extreme handler focus and an incredible work ethic. What seemed like a lack of emotion was probably turbo socialization where a sudden environmental change (like a new person sitting next to you every 15 seconds) wasn’t anything that required a response.
I still feel a little sad because I now understand how much work it was for him to be in that environment and to do all those things, BUT, I hope, he indeed was having fun, and that the tongue out thing wasn’t just something they taught him so that he looked happy.
Love that word, “hooligan.” Cool story, Roxanne.
I’m so happy to have that perspective from your interview. And, who doesn’t love a former hooligan?
Love the photo! Glad to read what Susan wrote. I always wonder what life is like for those animal stars, whether they still have a special someone to attach to. Interesting too that Moose was a rescued dog.
I interviewed Moose’s handler, Mathilde de Cagny, a number of years ago, and found her to be not only great to talk with but also very committed to the well-being of all the animals in her care. And she seemed to have a special appreciation for Moose, who apparently had been quite the hooligan before he was rescued.