- [Producer] What are your thoughts on animals?
- Love them.
- Are we talking about wild animals?
- No, pets.
- [Producer] We're talking about
whatever animals you like.
- I like human animals.
- [Producer] Have you ever owned one as a pet before?
- Yes. - Oh yeah.
- I have had a dog.
- And I had a 26-gallon saltwater tank.
(laughs)
- Oh.
- [Producer] Is that what you call it?
- Yes.
- [Producer] I'm going to show you pictures
of your past pets, and get your response.
Sound good?
- Yeah. - Yeah.
- [Producer] Great, let's get started.
- Let's do.
- [Producer] Who are these guys?
- They're not my neighbors.
- [Robert] That looks like the three Reeves boys.
We're just out frolicking in the snow.
(laughs)
My dad was a hunter, and he had hunting dogs.
- What did your dad hunt?
- Quail, duck, rabbit.
(laughs)
- [Producer] Who do you think
this little fellow belonged to?
- That's my Sheba.
- Oh, that's yours.
- Sheba was a black lab from the animal shelter.
- [Producer] Is there meaning behind the name Sheba?
- No, she just felt like a little black queen.
That's another picture of her.
- Who's the guy?
- That's me.
And I was living by myself,
so she was the only other person in the house.
- A caregiver.
- Well...
- Companion.
- She was excellent for me at that time,
because I was expecting to die
within a short period of time,
and I think her spirit coming into my life
may have saved my life.
- I'm welling up.
- Oh, don't.
(laughs)
Sheba was with me for about 12 years, til she died.
- Sheba the lifesaver.
- Sheba the lifesaver, yes.
- [Producer] Who do you think raised this here canine?
- The most serious golden retriever to have ever existed.
That's Hannah.
She, too, was a rescue dog actually.
- Aw.
- Which one's the dog?
(laughs)
- Both.
- She came to us, I think, in 1990.
She was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed her very much.
- [Producer] Oh look, there's another one.
- Oh, that's her buddy, that's Mr. Rocky.
He doesn't look happy at that point.
He wasn't interested in having his picture taken,
(laughs)
but this is a picture of him when he was in his...
Do you see that?
He would come and grab your hand in his paw,
very gently, and command your attention,
making you think that you were
the most important creature in the world to him.
Until the next person came into the room,
(laughs)
and he went over there.
Rocky died in 2005.
He was suffering from seizures.
I kept thinking to myself,
"Why does he stay?"
And it suddenly appeared to me
that the reason why he was staying
was because I was not ready to let him go.
I asked Rocky,
"Rocky, will you be sitting there in the boat
"when the boatman comes for me?"
And his eyes suddenly cleared,
and what I saw was my reflection.
And so the last image he saw was of me,
and I honestly believe that he is there waiting for me.
I think about him every day.
And this happened, what, 10 years ago?
More?
And in some ways, he broke the mold.
I really don't have an interest in having other dogs.
- [Producer] He was the one.
- I guess so, you know.
He was just this extraordinary dog
that made you feel like you were
the most important thing to him.
And that's a rare gift in a human being,
let alone an animal.
- [Producer] And just who did this guy belong to?
- That lady, once, twice, three times.
That was Tiara Tia, my first and only pet/animal.
I wanted a child, so (laughs).
- [Producer] What's the meaning behind the name Tia?
Like Tia Mowry?
- I just liked it.
(all gasp)
- Oh wow.
- Cute.
- She was, and she was a good dog.
Oh, look at me.
Those moments too, in the shower, okay.
- Did you bathe her?
- What do you think I was doing in there?
(laughs)
As she grew, no, she went to the groomer.
She was a joy.
- [Producer] What was your favorite thing to do together?
- Walk, to show her off in the neighborhood.
Oh, look at me.
I mean, look at the dog.
(laughs)
Oh, you got that (laughs).
They jacked sister woman up here.
Got her shaved.
And I was going down the street, and this neighbor,
"What happened?"
I just go,
"Shh, she doesn't know what she looks like."
But we had her fixed, so she was...
She was a gem.
- [Producer] And do you miss her?
- A lot, yeah.
I really do.
That was my child.
I wish I had her now.
- [Producer] Were these your dogs?
- No, I wouldn't have dogs like those.
(laughs)
- [Producer] Was this your dog?
- No, it was not, it was hers. (laughs)
- [Producer] Why do you have so many pictures
with dogs that aren't yours?
- Because I was in them.
(group laughs)
And that's my truth.
- [Producer] Bill, feel left out?
- Yeah.
- Get a pet.
- Didn't you even have a pretend pet?
- No.
I called my pets lovers.
(gasps)
- I wanna know if Bill has any pictures of his fish.
- No.
- Why not?
- They died too quickly.
(laughs)
- [Producer] Tell us about your cats.
- That wasn't my cat.
- [Producer] I think there's two, right?
- Oh, they were a pair.
(laughs)
I hated them.
(laughs)
Because I was raising doves.
Every time I'd come home,
there'd be white feathers all over the driveway,
and I would go nuts.
The cats eventually wandered off somewhere,
and I was happy as a clam.
- He was definitely not an animal person.
- Thank you for sharing.
(group laughs)
- [Producer] Did you have any dogs?
- No.
- [Producer] Do you want a dog?
- No.
- [Producer] Oh, well then I guess there's no point
bringing these guys out.
- You're kidding, you don't have a dog out there, do you?
- [Producer] I do.
(all gasp)
- Oh, no!
- Oh, no.
Look at these little puppies.
- I want that one, I want the tan one.
- What's your name, little fella?
- Hi there.
- Little frightened fellow.
- Are you scared?
- [Producer] Don't worry, they're puppies, Bill.
- They don't bite?
- I know, the world is such a strange place.
- Oh, you're so cute, yes you are.
- These poor little thingies.
- Aw, look at them.
- You know what's going on?
- Look at this, just clings to you.
- Is this your first time in front of a camera?
Look at me.
- Hello.
- Say hi.
- Hello, little fellow.
- I love it.
- [Producer] What did you think of this experience?
- It's sweet.
- It was nice. - Yes it is.
- [Producer] How did it make you feel?
- Warm and fuzzy.
- My blood pressure has dropped 10 points.
- [Producer] Do you feel like
you got paired with the right pup?
- Yes, and you better take it away soon, because I'll bond.
(laughs)
- [Producer] Do you miss having a dog?
- Yes. - Yes.
If I had the time, I would love it.
- She's teething on me.
- Oh, teething, of course, they like the bone.
- [Producer] What advice do you have
to offer current and future pet owners out there?
- Just love your pet.
- Take time for them.
- They're wonderful friends.
- And please look at animal shelters
before you go out and buy a dog.
- [Producer] Now, go ahead
and say some parting words to your puppies.
- Bye.
- Bye, sweetie. - Bye, and good luck.
- Did you have a good time?
- Yeah, we both did.
- I don't know why they talk so loud over here,
they're disturbing you, aren't they?
- I hope you find a good home, okay?
- And you be a good boy.
- You're gonna get yourself a nice daddy.
- You're getting uncomfortable?
- I think this one's ready to go.
- Thank you for the love.
- [Producer] Okay, everybody look to the camera.
- Oh.
(camera clicking)
- [Producer] Who wants the final word?
- Woof.
(group laughs)
- [Bill] Aw.
- [Jessay] Yeah.
- [Bill] Aw.
- [Bill] Are you Okay?
Oh I'm sorry.
- [Jessay] It heard you say you didn't want it.
- [Robert] No.
- [Robert] You're a TV star.
- [Mick] I know, you're gonna be a big star.
- [Jessay] Child, just don't mess on me.