| Writer Judy Connor and The Brown Dog, Otis
Although her debut as an author is an intimate,
first-person revelation and reflection about her
divorce, her ex-husband and her precocious brown
dog, Judy Connor insists that it is, in fact,
a love story.
I have to admit it was hard to resist picking
up and reading a book with reviews like, “This
book is more fun that a box of glue-huffing monkeys
on St. Peter and Bourbon” (John Goodman)
or “If you dog doesn’t like this book,
he has no sense of humor”, (Roy Blount,
Jr.). What sold me was, “Have you laughed
at your ex husband today? If you just bought this
book, stop on your way home and pick up a box
of Depends—you’ll want to wear them
while you read it—yeah, it’s that
funny”, (Jill Connor Browne, The Sweet Potato
Queens).
Prominently featured in Southern Fried Divorce
is Otis (a.k.a. The Brown Dog), a former street
dog lucky enough to have landed in the lap of
luxury. After describing the day in which her
ex-husband shows up, with Otis riding shotgun,
to drive Connor to court for their divorce hearing,
she writes, “That ex-husband had recently
begun this goofy business of trying to smuggle
the brown dog in everywhere he went…for
instance, the Superdome. Man and dog also made
an attempt to breach one of the Inaugural Balls
for either the mayor or the governor.” For
the record, we here at Urban Dog Magazine wholeheartedly
embrace the concept sneaking dogs into wherever
they can be snuck and we thank Judy Connor and
Otis for spending some time with us to answer
the Inner Dog Questionnaire.
What is his idea
of perfect happiness?
Reclining across his favorite human while getting
a belly scratch.
What is his favorite treat?
Rumaki—hold the water chestnuts. Also fried
chicken from Frankie and Johnny’s.
If he could change one
thing about himself what would it be?
He’d like his neck to be longer for better
backbiting.
What is his most
treasured possession?
He is completely non-materialistic. Due
to deprived childhood, he doesn’t know what
toys are.
What is his most endearing quality?
He is so very courteous. He never snatches
a morsel from a hand and never begins eating before
his host.
Assuming there is such a thing as reincarnation,
what or who might he have been in a former life?
Many folks think that the brown dog is the reincarnation
of that ex-husband. My jury is still out. However,
if it’s true, somebody’s learned some
big ole karmic lessons.
Is there anything that
embarrasses him?
Tripping up on a slippery floor.
What is it that
he dislikes most?
Swallowing a bitter pill. (This is not a metaphor)
What is his greatest fear?
Butt-tampering, if he is the tamperee. Even
more than thunder.
What is his greatest
accomplishment?
Finding the perfect home after living on the
street. And his command of language: he
understands many words, can say “wow”
and can read lips.
What is his favorite place?
The brown bergiere chair and ottoman, upholstered
in monkey motif and the most pricey furniture
in the house, of course.
What does he really like in other dogs?
When they are behind a high chain link fence
and he’s not, so he can grudge dump right
under their noses.
Does he have
a motto?
“Far Niente”. (It’s Italian,
loosely: To do nothing is wonderful.)
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