Should We Feel Sorry for Pinky Michelle Reynolds?

Dear Dog Lady,

I’m addicted to snarky gossip blogs. On one of them, I forget which one, I read about Edie Falco, the star of “The Sopranos,” sharing a snicker with a blog feeder in the waiting room of an animal hospital. They were chuckling over Star Jones’ “stupid fru-fru” dog. Apparently, Jones and her dog are on the cover of a magazine and Jones brags she loves her Pinky Michelle Reynolds so much she put the Maltese on a diet. Gastric bypass for pets? Should we feel sorry for Star Jones dog?

Ethan, Forest Hills, NY

Ethan, such a hawk you are about these tittle-tattle matters. The Web gossip mongers feed the beast and things get out of hand in reporting pup culture. Star Jones freely admits she once was Cruella DeVille and hated small creatures, but she seems to have seen the light. Dog Lady actually read that magazine story about Star Jones and her dog. The controversial former talk show panelist merely said she feeds Pinky twice a day instead of “constantly.” This is the responsible thing to do.

Jones’ professional future and her marriage may be a subject for speculation on the back-biting blogs, but let’s not begrudge her right to love a “stupid fru-fru” dog. Pinky Michelle never asks why Jones raked in an obscene amount of wedding freebies, the truth about how she lost all that weight, whether husband Al Reynolds is gay, or if Barbara Walters' cold shoulder will freeze Jones out of other TV opportunities.

In the midst of a personal setback, Jones may have discovered the unconditional truth about dogs: They love you whether you're draped in diamonds or covered in mud. In the magazine, Jones describes what happens when she comes home to Pinky: “ 'This little beautiful animal says: ‘You’re the greatest thing in the world.’ ” Star Jones needs to imagine such kindness. Actually, we all could use a dose.

Posted by Dog Lady at July 10, 2006 05:39 PM