Want to talk about your pet subject?*If you would like to feature (with your pet) in a forthcoming edition of this regular column, please contact Colleen Morgan at Colleen@MoodieDavittReport.com |
The Moodie Davitt Report is delighted to bring you the latest edition in our Pet-sonality Profile column, in association with Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
In this regular fun feature, we discover more about travel retail pet-sonalities, their back stories, traits and habits, as well as offering some insights into their owners. Each pet-sonality is also painted digitally by pets and equine artist Sami Moodie.
In this edition, we meet Maitreyi Karanth and two of her 11 much-loved rescue dogs, Shaggy and Demi.
As reported, the Hong Kong-based actor, stand-up comedian, producer, writer and humanitarian is set to headline the upcoming WiTR+ meeting during next month’s TFWA Asia Pacific event in Singapore*. Maitreyi is the Founder of the Koma Karanth Foundation, WiTR+’s charity for 2023. Look out for Martin Moodie’s extensive interview with her later this week.
Names and nicknames: Shaggy, who is also known as Shagster, and Demi or Dum Dum.
Breeds: Shaggy is a small Poodle and Demi is a Hong Kong Mongrel.
How old are they? Shaggy is nine but behaves like a puppy. We think Demi is 15 years old. He has been with us for the last five years and is showing his age. Bladder issues, folds all over his face but, hey, still desperate for long walks.
How did you meet them? We found Shaggy running near our home when out on a dog walk. He was completely matted and had clearly been living in the wild for a while.
I clapped and he came to me, sat in front of me so I took him in my arms and carried him home. He was not chipped and had no-one claiming him. We later heard he had been living like that for almost a year.
I had unfollowed all dog rescues as I did not want to be swayed into bringing another home. But one day I decided to look at the Sai Kung Stray Friends Foundation page. There was a plea from its founder Narelle, asking for someone to walk this poor dog who was tied up in the demolition yard. He had been chained to a tree, even through the severe Typhoon Mangkut.
My friend Allan and I went to walk him. Needless to say, on the third day I carried him home. Initially I told myself I would keep him in the garden; that was still better than being chained to a tree. But that never happened. Demi was straight inside and became Dum Dum. He is not the cleverest dog so hence the nickname.
Love at first sight? Every dog is love at sight for me. And sometimes love even before any sighting.
Quirky habits? Shaggy just loves to pose for pictures and Demi loves to flop onto our feet as soon as he sees us. He also loves to look at himself in the mirror.
Funny and/or endearing moments? Shaggy is a singer, an enthusiastic albeit off-key singer. However, he only sings with Yash, my son. Whenever I try, he looks at me as if to say, “You’re hurting my ears mummy, stop.”
Even though he is a big dog, Demi is scared of thunder. One night he sat as close as he could to my face for a full hour during thunder and lightning.
If Shaggy and Demi could talk what would their first words be? For Shaggy, that would be “Mummy, mummy, mummy’ and for Demi, “Feed me, walk me, feed me, walk me…”
Anything else we should know? We have 11 rescue dogs. Lola, Demi, Miffy, Mo, Shaggy, Browny, Loly, Oscy, Goldy, Paddy, Daisy. They all sleep on our beds at night.
All of them have a heart-warming story of survival. I have chosen to introduce you to just two of them here.
*The WiTR+ meeting will take place from 17:30 on Tuesday 9 May at the TFWA Asia Pacific Lounge at Marina Bay Sands.
Click here for our introductory story on the Duty Free Unleashed partnership with Tito’s Handmade Vodka. The independent vodka brand from Austin, Texas has had a close connection with the welfare of dogs since its founding by Bert ‘Tito’ Beveridge in 1997.
The company has always been committed to rescuing and protecting the animals that have come into the lives of its people, and has even created a programme, Vodka for Dog People, to help that come to life.
Note: Through this new column, Tito’s Handmade Vodka and The Moodie Davitt Report are partnering to promote the work of brokenbiscuits.org, a disabled animal charity. As the world’s first disabled animal centre, its work includes:
- Providing equipment to families
- Offering homes to paraplegic, deaf, blind and disabled animals
- An education programme of visiting schools and universities
- Working alongside rescue centre, rehabbers and veterinary professionals
- Caring for stray and surrendered disabled animals
To support the work of Broken Biscuits, you can donate via this link or find out more via the youtube channel.
Previously on Pet-sonality Profile
Meet Duke and Lindsay Hitzeroth
Meet Barry Geoghegan, Milly and Jess
Meet Julio Cesar Magaña Ortiz and Hope
Meet Pauline Prescott’s Daisy and Digger
Meet Jeff Bond and his four-legged friends
Meet Bronwyn Clementson and Harvey
Meet Sinéad El Sibai and Guinness
Meet Alex Thompson and Chester
Meet Jilly Brocklebank and Sadie
