The Moodie Davitt Report is delighted to introduce a new column, Pet-sonality Profile, in association with Tito’s Handmade Vodka. In this regular fun feature, we aim to discover more about the pets of well-known industry figures. Each pet-sonality will also be painted digitally by pets and equine artist Sami Moodie (yes, that Moodie clan).
In this edition, we feature William Grant & Sons Global Travel Retail Head of Customer Marketing Lindsay Hitzeroth and her French bulldog Duke, who is the king of the Hitzeroth household.
Name + nickname: Duke + ‘Sweet potato’ or ‘Honeybee’.
Breed: a fawn French Bulldog
How old? Ten years young
How did you meet? We found Duke at a breeder in Kent. I went ‘to just have a look,’ but ended up taking him home with us.
Love at first sight? Immediately! He’s our constant companion – a little heartbeat at our feet.
Quirky habits: Duke must be touching and or snuggling with you in some way all the time. He thinks he owns every human he meets and even guards them against their own dog. Every night at the same time he’ll do ‘zoomies’ around the house.
Funniest and/or nicest moment: Duke used to be a therapy dog for an ad agency. Every morning he would toddle along Southbank to meet his colleagues. His main job was making sure everyone in the office had the opportunity to stroke him, throw a ball for him, give him snacks or take him for a walk. At lunch time, he would take his colleagues down to the Thames for lunch and be fawned over and photographed by tourists on Millennium Bridge in London.
Favourite trick: He’s a Duke! We do tricks for him!
Favourite treat: He is a sucker for biltong!
Social media account: You can follow him on @dukelovesfergie. He also features heavily on his dog mom’s account @muffyhitzeroth.
If Duke could talk, what would be his/her first words: “Get rid of the toddler!”
Favourite airport/airline (if they have travelled): Any airline that lets him travel in the cabin. His favourite airport is Cape Town International.
Anything else we should know: He’s famous! Duke has been the official dog for Hendrick’s Gin – featuring in one of their social campaigns as Deputy Deputy Minister of Marginally Superior Transport. His favourite train station is MarlyBONE. He abhors CATford.
Previously on Pet-sonality Profile
*If you would like to feature (with your pet) in a forthcoming edition of this regular column, please contact Dermot Davitt at Dermot@MoodieDavittReport.com or Martin Moodie at Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com
**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.
*** The Moodie Davitt Report is creating a digital artwork of every pet featured to be shared with every industry pet owner who participates.
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.
