Animal Chat Rachael being such an animal lover was the thing that really sealed “the deal” with me. I “animal chatted” with Rachael during appetizers and drinks at Mixology after our shopping and she showed me so many adorable pics of her baby, Mr Big, and shared some amazing stories. Rachael is a toughy in business but a softy when it comes to her dog..and I like that! DD: Did you have any pets while growing up, what kind? Was your family into pets? I also know your husband likes pets! RC: I had pets growing up; aquariums with Angel Fish, a pet fish Oscar, birds, Willy a Boxer, my first dog, Cleo a Cocker Spaniel, and Molly a Silky Terrier. I had a working mom who supported my love of animals and I dreamed of going to Africa and working on a game preserve. I also loved dog shows and won some Junior Handler Awards with my Silky Terrier. I’m sure that if I wasn’t in the entertainment industry I would be working with animals. DD: Do you consider yourself more of a dog person, cat person, or both? And why? RC: I didn’t have a cat growing up because my grandmother was not a cat person. I am seriously into cats. As soon as I was on my own, I rescued a kitten. The love of my life was my cat Boss, she lived to be about 20 and was the official Trax Warehouse Cat. Right now, I have 2 cats both are female (Mayweather and Tigger) so I am definitely both. When Boss passed away, I decided to add a new dynamic to our family so I decided to get a puppy. DD: How did you and Mr Big find each other and what kind of breed is he? And how did you come up with that name?
RC: You can never replace a pet that has passed on because just like people they all have their own distinctive personalities. But I wanted another family member and I thought a frisky puppy might bring a smile to my face again. When I was young and showed my Silky, I studied all the breeds, in my treasured AKC book and I can still name a lot of them… I always wanted a Yorkshire Terrier, but my mom felt that breed was too delicate for a child. Now as an adult, I decided to begin my search. At the time I was living in New Orleans and could not find one locally. I searched the Internet and found a breeder whose credentials I checked thoroughly. There were pictures on line and I fell in love with the puppy who had the most mischievous look and the biggest erect ears! I love the TV program “Sex and the City” and Mr. Big’s character was so classy and debonair and My Mr. Big has such a gigantic personality and similar attributes. So Mr. Big arrived by plane and it was love at first sight. About 2 weeks after he arrived, I had to perform in Amsterdam and left Big with my husband Mark, who was not happy about getting a dog let alone a small one. Now they are inseparable! Don’t get me wrong, but Big is a lady’s man so he loves me just as much… but no doubt he and Mark have a special bond. My husband is a big guy and former Bull Rider; nobody ever even thinks about saying a word about his dog! Big likes to be photographed and since I’m his official photographer I am not in many of the photos! He really is a cute little show off! 59
My husband Mark loves Mr. Big our Yorkshire Terrier, but never try to call Big a pet, Mark feels he’s our equal and better than a lot of people. I donate to animal organizations and have done animal rescue whenever I see an animal in need. I love all animals large and small and try to be vegan, though I admit I’m not perfect.
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