Sister Act II: This Show Went to the Dogs

By Melanie Cane

During a recent television advertising shoot, a pair of dogs from Purchase stole the show.

 

Deja Blue and Dove starred as the sole “living props’’ in a national commercial for AT&T, filmed at Washington Square Park on April 27. The Italian greyhounds are owned by Tara Matthews.

 

The choice for top dog came down to fur color. The ad’s producer decided that Deja Blue, who is gray, blended in too much with the sidewalk. Dove, who is tan, got the part.

 

Matthews has been a freelance television writer and producer for nearly 20 years, but the idea to put the pups on television was not hers. Peg Munves, a trainer at Port Chester Obedience Training Club, approached her with the suggestion. Munves thought the girls would be successful in advertising because they are small, well trained, beautiful, and work well together. Talent agencies prefer working with pairs from the same dog family so that one can fill in as an understudy. Dove and Deja are sisters.

 

The trainer introduced Matthews to Cathryn Long, co-owner of All Creatures Great and Small, with her mother, Ruth M. Manecke, a zoologist. It is considered New York’s top animal modeling and talent agency.

 

Their clients include Rags, the dog on “Sin City”; the dog in the Electrolux commercial with Kelly Rippa; and Steely Dan, the cat who appeared in the talking baby commercial for E*trade during the Super Bowl telecast.

Births

Pat and Ali Culliford of Rye are pleased to announce the arrival of a daughter, Eve Caroline, April 4 at Greenwich Hospital. She weighed 6 pounds, 10 ounces.  

 

Pat and Ali share their excitement with maternal grandparents Kerry and Tom Brown of Rye, and paternal grandparents Susan and Alfred Culliford of Harrison.

 

Eve is the great-granddaughter of Shirley Mahoney, also of Rye.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jennifer M. (Culyer) and John H. Abbott announce the birth of a daughter, Hannah Charlotte Abbott, April 17 in Chesapeake, Virginia. Hannah weighed 5 pounds, 14 ounces and was 18 inches long.

 

Grandparents Jim and Cathy Culyer of Rye and Dr. Rick and Lainy Abbott of Scarsdale were all present to celebrate the birth of their granddaughter.