Pets are on people’s minds these days. The Charles Dickens Museum in London is hosting an exhibition titled “Faithful Companions: Charles Dickens and His Pets.” According to the Museum, “Dogs, ravens, goldfinches, and cats all could be found in the homes of Charles Dickens. For Dickens, pets were full of mischief and intrigue. His good friend John Forster wrote that Dickens’s interest in animals was ‘inexhaustible’ and this passion fueled the writer’s imagination. His letters to friends and family share the antics of his beloved animals such as Grip the raven and Timber the dog, and his novels tell the tales of unforgettable pets, like Bull’s-eye from Oliver Twist.
On this side of the pond, the Dickens Project is embarking on a “Pets of the Universe” calendar. You can submit a cute photo of and fun fact about your pet here. Here’s an introduction to our first Pet of the Universe, by Universe Co-Director John Jordan.
Our dog Cooper is cute. There's no doubt about that. People who see him on the street often smile and then ask, "What kind of dog is that? He's so cute!"
"He's a rascal," I usually reply, "and too cute for his own good."
Cooper is a small dog, not quite 10 lbs. He has curly grey hair, and he's probably some kind of poodle mix. We found him at a rescue agency, so we don't really know much about his background. His distinctive feature is his big, dark brown ears. No poodle ever had ears like these. He looks as if he might take off in flight at any minute. We think the ears may come from a Yorkie somewhere in his ancestry, or maybe a Chihuahua. Some people say he looks like a koala bear.
Cooper came into our lives in September of 2019. The rescue agency says he was found on the side of the road somewhere in Monterey County. Before he came to us, he spent a few years with an adopted family in Pacific Grove, but they had to relinquish him back to the agency. We were the lucky beneficiaries.
Cooper is the name he came with. We kept the name. It seemed just right for a small dog, a mini-Cooper. We do't know how old he is. Somewhere between 9 and 14? The records are contradictory, and the vet can't say for sure. Because he's so small, people often think he's a puppy.
Whatever his age, he still has lots of energy. He loves to run and sniff and pee, but he also loves to snuggle. He barks a lot, especially at strangers and at anyone who comes to the front door. He has a favorite walker who gives him chicken and sometimes takes him to the dog park. He knows all the merchants in the neighborhood--which ones have treats, that is--and he sits prettily whenever treats are on offer. Cooper knows his job, and he seems happy in his work. His job has three parts: guard the front door, snuggle, and make people smile. He's good at all three.
