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For the Love of Her Dogs: Robin Strasser on her Beloved Pets

In my next life, I’d like to come back as one of Robin Strasser‘s dogs. The ONE LIFE TO LIVE actress (Dorian) adores them, and it shows. Read on.Soap Opera Weekly: So, how are your dogs?

Robin Strasser: Oh, fabulous! It was 11 of the hardest months from the time I got the diagnosis that Scooter had three months to live, and we had 11 blessed months together. I took great care of her. I had holistic medical care for her. She had acupuncture, she was on Chinese herbs, and all her food was made from scratch by me personally. I didn’t take such good care of myself. I was just trying to get through it. I was grieving so badly and, you know, she just was the greatest, greatest dog. A week after her last day on the planet, when I said goodbye to her, I had written some pieces on my Web site about it. But — it’s the truth, I’m convinced — there are no accidents. So, a week after her passing, I remembered that I visited every animal shelter in Manhattan and made contributions in honor of Scooter, but I didn’t go to the ASPCA, and they’re not far from me. So I went up there. I made great friends, I wrote them a check, and they called me two weeks later, saying they had two little mixed breeds — small puppies — and one of them might be right for my family. I had been at work all day, so I thought, “Oh, no, it’s too late! I missed them!” The next day, I finally reached them. At 11 in the morning, I was there, and they had these two little dogs in a crate in the administrative offices, and my eyes met with the black-and-white one. I said, “Who’s the rock star? Boy, are you cute!” I left with her.



Weekly: What did you name her?

Strasser: Well, first of all, when they took her out of the crate, they put out a wee wee pad. She went right on the wee wee pad, so I said she’s a rock star and a rocket scientist; I said, “Can I please have this dog?” A woman came in; she was some other kind of administrator. “Well, we’ll keep the dog for pediatric spaying.” The color washed out of my face. I went, “You’re going to do an operation on this little, tiny thing? Please, please look at me. I will be so responsible, but I honestly believe it is better to wait until after the first heat, and this is just my experience; I’ve had females. I promise you she won’t be running around having unwanted puppies.” They let me out of there with her. I’m walking along the streets, I’m in love, and I’m trying out names. Well, [I said] “rock star” and “rocket scientist.” Every time I said rock, her little face lit up and her ears perked up. I said, “Rock, Rock…Rocky!” I spell it Roc-qui because, yes, that’s one of the things I added to Dorian — that I’m such a Francophile.



Weekly: And the other one, the Maltese?

Strasser: She’s Bisou, who was always the understudy to Scooter. Scooter was always the “it” girl, and Bisou had her issues because she was the understudy; she knew. She had a [moment of] “Hey, I’ll poop on the carpet; at least I’ll get a lot of attention.” I felt so badly, because it’s like, “This dog can’t be trained! I don’t understand!” She’s a second-class citizen, and now my second-class citizen is numero uno. Roc-qui is so in love with her, and Bisou loves her back. Roc-qui — even though she’s now somewhat bigger — if the two bowls are put out, she waits until Bisou eats first, and she sits there like a lady, letting Bisou have the first go. I’ll always have puppies. It’s my answer to empty-nest syndrome. My two sons are grown men. [These dogs] are my little girls.

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