Oh Mickey, You’re So Fine
Andrew and I really wanted Mickey Rourke to win this year’s Oscar for Best Actor. His portrayal of Randy “The Ram” in The Wrestler was so heartwarming, and you could tell he poured every bit of his heart and soul into the performance, but more importantly, he’s really into dogs! Maybe Sean Penn has a dog(s) too, but we researched and couldn’t find a thing. So our guess is probably not. One thing is certain, you can’t get through an article about or interview with Mickey Rourke that doesn’t mention his pups! He thanked them in his Golden Globe acceptance speech. He is almost always accompanied by one of them on the red carpet, most notably his beloved sidekick Loki who recently passed away, may she run in peace. So Mickey’s not just a dog owner, he’s a dog lover. His dogs are a part of who he is and everything he does.
Rourke about Loki: “She’s the love of my life. She made it until six days ago. She left me at a time where, after 18 years, she knew I’d be all right.”
If I were keeping score that would make it Mickey Rourke, perfect 10, Sean Penn, zero.
And as if he needed any more points, have you seen Mickey’s dogs? He’s a big, burly guy, former boxer and proclaimed Hollywood bad boy. What kind of dog would you imagine him to have? Well I will confess when I heard his Golden Globe speech and imagined his dogs, I pictured Rottweilers, Boxers, Pit Bulls, Bulldogs or anything “bull.” Not so. Much to my delight his menagerie includes Chihuahuas and various Chi mixes, all small dogs, and some of whom wear clothes and jeweled collars. You go, Mickey! To me, it takes a strong, confident guy, secure in his own manhood to publicly display his love for his “girly dog.” In my book, that’s a slam dunk, home run and a touch down all wrapped up in one making Mickey Rourke the winner by a landslide.
While it’s probably not fair to favor celebrities with pets over all the others, on the other hand, I believe people who share their lives with animals have specific qualities that set them apart from the rest. It takes selflessness. When you get home from a hard day’s (or night’s) work and want to just plop down on the couch and kick up your feet, if you share your life with a dog or demanding cat, this is rarely an option. They want and need your attention and because you love them, you comply. It definitely takes some latitude and compromise in many areas. Let’s talk about housekeeping. Animals have no regard for cleanliness, this we know. Let’s be honest, dogs can be smelly at times, and sometimes downright foul. They sometimes drool and don’t care where it falls, like to roll in yucky things, lick their private parts and eat things off the floor. While cats are viewed as cleaner, ask any doctor and he or she will tell you that their mouths contain the most germs and bacteria of any domesticated animal. If a cat bites you, it’s almost a sure bet you’ll need a tetanus shot. And litter boxes? Enough said. So let’s just say, animal lovers, by design, are a lot less uptight when it comes to spilled milk, literally.
But all in all, I’d say the celebrities with pets are perhaps the most open and approachable as well. During the past two or three months I’ve seen Mickey Rourke in more photos and interviews than I could ever count. He even stops to talk to TMZ! As for Sean Penn, we all know how he views the paparazzi. He’s gotten into more than a few high profile scuffles with them. Who can blame him? They certainly are more than annoying, however Mr. Penn has also been known to snub fans as well. One thing I’ve found that unifies pet lovers is our willingness to talk about our pets. In fact, we seize almost every opportunity. Unfortunately, this doesn’t translate to questions about human children, particularly with celebrities. Most of them are far too guarded about them, and rightfully so. However when it comes to their pets, we have an “in.” It comes at no surprise that in nearly every interview I’ve seen with Mickey Rourke, he is asked about his dogs. Smart move, journalists! As for Sean Penn, et al, you’re on your own!
Which celebrities do you feel are the best dog parents?
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