The Dog Who Plays Liberace's Poodle Takes Top Honor at Cannes

Baby Boy wins the Palm Dog for work with Michael Douglas and Matt Damon in "Behind the Candelabra."

A panel of esteemed film critics met this week to select the "top dog" of the Cannes Film Festival. No, that's not a bit of fancy wordplay. They weren't there to give Quentin Tarantino some more awards to throw on the woodpile -- that happens during the Palme d'Or award. This is the Palm Dog award. Canis lupus familiaris. Best dog of the whole festival, the only award that really matters in some circles (like the one we're in right now).  

But first, how esteemed where these judges? Let's present them in list form: 

James Christopher of the TimesDerek Malcolm of the Evening Standard Peter Bradshaw of the GuardianCharles Gant of Heat MagazineKaleem Aftab of the IndependentFrom where I sit (Michael Leaverton of Dogster), that's pretty esteemed. 

And who won the Palm Dog? Baby Boy, Liberace's partially blind Poodle in Behind the Candelabra! He gets to wear the trophy collar. We weren't lucky enough to see the Steven Soderbergh film when it aired on HBO this week, but Twitter went nuts over the film, so we're assuming that Baby Boy put in a stellar performance. Also, perhaps Matt Damon, Michael Douglas, Rob Lowe, and Dan Aykroyd carried some of the weight as well. 

Peter Bradshaw praised Baby Boy for exploring "a profound existential paradox," according to PawNation.

In the film, Baby Boy is credited with bringing his teenage dog trainer (Matt Damon) into the embrace of Liberace (Michael Douglas). 

"He brought those boys together -- he has a lot to answer for!" said Palm Dog organizer Toby Rose. 

Oddly, we can't find a decent shot of the famed Baby Boy (save the one above), so we'd thought we'd leave you with this, a Poodle in sunglasses driving a car. Seems right. 

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In honor of World Turtle Day: strawberries!

Although I tend to think everyday is World Turtle Day in my backyard, I decided to help my turtle herd celebrate with some fresh strawberries. They’re in season now and a local farm is organic, so I picked up some.

Most herbivorous and omnivorous turtles and tortoises are attracted to bright colors. Red and yellow tend to attract them best so I like to get bright colored fruits and veggies as a part of their regular diet.

Scents are important, too. Pearl, my leopard tortoise, likes some rose blossoms but not all. She likes First Prize and Double Delight best even though First Prize is pink and Double Delight is white with bright red edges. Both are fragrant roses and Pearl always sniffs the roses before eating them (not that Pearl is spoiled or anything).

What chelonians eat as adults often depends on what they eat when very young. If they eat a variety of foods as hatchlings and juveniles, they will eat a variety of foods as adults. I can often trick some picky eaters into trying new foods but it can be tough.

Fredalina and Ethel, who joined my herd a few weeks ago, have already learned that I’m the source of food and come charging towards me. They both love strawberries and Ethel even grabbed one and ran off with it.

I know Onyx, my geriatric girl, loves these and chowed down. I couldn’t get a photo of The Old Man, who joined the herd early last year, as he’s still very shy. But his appetite is great. Everyone else, including Topaz, Uno, and the rest of the herd, were very happy with strawberries.

Fredalina and Ethel were beloved pets when they joined my herd but unfortunately, they are the exception. Doing rescue work can be heart breaking at times because often the turtles are in horrible shape. The Old Man is lucky; he’s doing very well. Although still shy, he’s eating well, has gained weight, and this spring is even courting one of the female box turtles.

On a sadder note, I took in a female box turtle rescue a few weeks ago who was in bad shape. She crossed the Rainbow Bridge this past weekend. She had been found as a stray, and had been chewed on by dogs or coyotes on more than one occasion. She was also very lightweight. I got her to veterinary care. We medicated her, soaked her, and gave her fluids. I tempted her with every food I know box turtles like but she was past eating. I’m so sorry, Little Girl, I wish you had found me sooner.

All photos by Liz Palika.

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Marines, motorcycles and the Family of Fur honor our own

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Standing in the warm sunshine of a San Diego County spring day yesterday, I thought of families: The families we’re born with, and the families we make ourselves. Yesterday, both kinds were much in evidence, as hundreds of people came to pay their final respects to Paul Palika, killed two weeks ago in a motorcycle accident on a rain-lashed California freeway. Paul, of course, was the husband of our Liz Palika, and I flew south to join our Kim Campbell Thornton, her dog Harper, and our Arden Moore at the service.

For Paul and Liz, the blood relatives were there, of course: Liz’s mom, siblings, Paul’s daughter. I’d never met any of them, but was not surprised to find I liked them all.

But more astonishing, really, was the response from the family we make.

Some of these families are forged in service and sacrifice, and such was the case with the many Marines and Navy veterans and active-duty service members who were there (Paul was a Marine veteran, and so is Liz). Some of these folks were also part of the other large group, the Patriot Guard, a motorcycle club that honors veterans. Guard members were not the only motorcyclists there, though: The line of riders coming in to the Kindred Spirits training yard was three miles long, with motorcycles ranging from powerful Harleys and BMWs all the way to Vespa scooters.

And then, of course, the family I came with: Dog-lovers.

Liz is a dog-trainer, and with her partners Petra and Kate she owns Kindred Spirits dog training. Many of the dogs at the service were owned by the training team, but many others came with those who’d come through the program and had Kindred Spirits to thank for their well-mannered companions.

A few other dogs were there as well, alongside neighbors and friends. Despite all the noise, people and dogs, Harper could not have been better, even though I’m pretty sure she was the smallest dog there and the crowd was so large that she was nearly stepped on a few times.

The Palika dogs seemed to know how many came for their family. This was especially true of Bashir, who was working his therapy dog magic on everyone.  And anyone who has ever doubted that dogs could grieve need only have spent a few minutes with Archer, Paul’s service dog, to be convinced otherwise. Archer was being protected by Kate, but clearly having a difficult time with his new circumstances. Heart-breaking.

The afternoon was life-affirming in a way I’ve never experienced before, and I can’t help but believe that Paul knew and was smiling.

There’s nothing more important than family, no matter how you make it.

Here is a beautiful newspaper article on Paul.

Consider making a donation to the Kindred Spirits 501(c)3 group to support the training of service dogs. Make checks out to Kindred Spirits Canine Education Center and send them to:

Terry Albert
14021 Earie Lane
Poway, CA 92064

(Top: The Patriot Guard brings Paul’s cremains into the service, courtesy of Kindred Spirits. Above: Memorial pin celebrating Paul and Archer, now on my travel bag.)

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