Meet Professor X's newest Beast

March 10, 2017 8:10 AM

This week has been an exciting one for Sir Patrick Stewart, as he once again embarks on an exciting adventure with a hairy friend with claws. I'm talking, of course, about Stewart and his wife Sunny Ozell fostering an adorable pit bull named Ginger (video of just them meeting Ginger here) with the help of the Wags And Walks rescue organization. Even if she snores and isn't much of a swimmer, Patrick and Sunny are obviously delighted to have her around.

Also: A dog who looks like Patrick Stewart and Patrick Stewart trying to look like a dog who looks like Patrick Stewart. Want to check out previous Stewart shenanigans on the Blue? Make it so!

posted by zombieflanders (28 comments total)

All the feels!
posted by MrGuilt at 8:14 AM on March 10, 2017

this is heartwarming as fuck
posted by dismas at 8:17 AM on March 10, 2017 [3 favorites]

Is it me, or is like every 3rd dog* a pitbull these days? Initially it seemed like mostly rescues or folks were trying to reclaim the breed from its bad reputation, but now the smiley little fuckers are everywhere.

*The other two are a doodle of some sort and a pug.
posted by leotrotsky at 8:19 AM on March 10, 2017 [7 favorites]

Too bad Sir Patrick can't run for president if he gets a dual citizenship. Maybe we could, I don't know, get him to captain a ship or something.
posted by vibrotronica at 8:19 AM on March 10, 2017 [2 favorites]

I just had to check if there was such thing as a pibbledoodle and apparently somehow no?
posted by idiopath at 8:25 AM on March 10, 2017 [1 favorite]

I'm not sure if getting US citizenship is going to work out for him, but there really is something to be said for the type of person who sees flames and hears screaming and runs towards the fire.
posted by Countess Elena at 8:26 AM on March 10, 2017 [43 favorites]

I love how enraptured he is by seeing Ginger through the window and needs reminding to answer the door. :D
posted by Celsius1414 at 8:46 AM on March 10, 2017 [9 favorites]

I've had a crush on Patrick Stewart for 30 years, and it isn't going away anytime soon.
posted by tzikeh at 8:47 AM on March 10, 2017 [18 favorites]

I've been regularly checking my local pound for a Jack Russel, and Pits easily make up around 2/3 of the available dogs.
posted by Beholder at 9:18 AM on March 10, 2017 [1 favorite]

I wandered back through the Patrick-Stewart-on-Metafilter link (to see if I had missed any of them over the years), and re-read his piece on the physical violence his mother suffered after his father came home from the war, as well as all the comments on it here. It reminded me of his Who Do Tou Think You Are episode, which wouldn't air until three years after that post was made. It would have been a great, vital addition to the post or comments. It's on YouTube (though you have to go poking about to piece the whole episode together), but here's the turning-point segment: he is standing on a field where his father fought in the war, and reads a small article from his hometown paper that shifts everything for the episode and for hm (you can hear the change in his voice).
posted by tzikeh at 9:35 AM on March 10, 2017 [6 favorites]

He's like the Jimmy Carter of ex-Enterprise captains.
posted by Atom Eyes at 9:49 AM on March 10, 2017 [28 favorites]

Encouraging people to foster is the best thing ever, ever, ever.

Sir Patrick is the best people.
posted by lumpenprole at 9:51 AM on March 10, 2017 [2 favorites]

🚨🚨🚨 New video! 🚨🚨🚨

From what I understand rules and consistency are everything as a foster dog parent. #GingerGurl @ASPCA @WagsandWalks #AdoptDontShop #pitbull
posted by Celsius1414 at 10:10 AM on March 10, 2017 [7 favorites]

*heart eyes*
posted by Space Kitty at 11:28 AM on March 10, 2017 [2 favorites]

Doing some quick spreadsheet work on Petfinder's national (american) adoptable dog breed counts...

Pit bulls are way overrepresented -- 13% of the dogs on petfinder are pitties. Labs are 11% and chihuahuas are 7%, every other breed is below 5%.

I'm guessing that breeders are dumping lots of pit puppies on the market.

Didn't the same thing happen with Jack Russells in the 90s, when everyone wanted an Eddie Frasier until they realized that Jack Russells are essentially perpetual motion machines? JRT's are only 1.1% of dogs on Petfinder now.
posted by Sauce Trough at 12:05 PM on March 10, 2017 [2 favorites]

Man, talking about winning the foster household jackpot. Well-deserved, Ginger. #AdoptDontShop
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 12:08 PM on March 10, 2017

Immediately successful First Contact. Ginger can tell she's with people who will care for and protect her.

(Does this mean face-licking from strangers is on the table now? I'd better start saving up for that next convention...)
posted by The Underpants Monster at 12:36 PM on March 10, 2017 [2 favorites]

Sauce Trough: I'm guessing that breeders are dumping lots of pit puppies on the market.

There are various reasons there are so many pitties in shelters. "Pit bull" is an umbrella term for American Pit Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, any mixes thereof, and any dog that vaguely resembles these dogs, and they're an increasingly popular group of breeds, which leads to lots of people breeding them, both as professional breeders and "back yard breeders." And then pitties are banned by Breed Specific Legislation due to Pit Bull Prejudice.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:52 PM on March 10, 2017 [2 favorites]

I want to lick his head too. A+, Ginger Gurl. A+.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 1:46 PM on March 10, 2017 [4 favorites]

I'm guessing that breeders are dumping lots of pit puppies on the market.

Yep. Combine that with the over representation of bad dog owners wanting pits, with a dash of some shelters refusing to take them, and you get the situation we're in now.

It's happened in the past with other breeds that there were weird myths built around (think Rottweilers, Dobermans, German Shepards). It'll probably happen again with some other poor breed.
posted by lumpenprole at 2:03 PM on March 10, 2017

WHAT A GOOD PUPPER I AM DELIGHT
posted by poffin boffin at 4:29 PM on March 10, 2017 [1 favorite]

My friend pointed out to me: she doesn't know he's famous! She just loves him!
posted by dismas at 4:45 PM on March 10, 2017 [12 favorites]

This is basically my favorite thing ever. Seeing these two together is so sweet I can barely take it.

Who's a good puppy??? Ginger's a good puppy!!!
posted by litera scripta manet at 5:16 PM on March 10, 2017

I hope this turns into a Foster Failure, for both of their sakes.
posted by tzikeh at 5:38 PM on March 10, 2017 [8 favorites]

I hope this turns into a Foster Failure, for both of their sakes.

I have a feeling this is going to be a total failed foster. : )
posted by SisterHavana at 8:56 AM on March 11, 2017 [3 favorites]

Ginger made a sneeze!

I died of cuteness and my ghost posts this comment.
posted by Celsius1414 at 11:16 AM on March 11, 2017 [6 favorites]

You either will dig this for the cute, or you will dig this because OMIGOD PATRICK STEWART CUDDLING WITH DOGGIE IN HIS SLEEP
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:56 PM on March 12, 2017 [4 favorites]

Is it me, or is like every 3rd dog* a pitbull these days? Initially it seemed like mostly rescues or folks were trying to reclaim the breed from its bad reputation, but now the smiley little fuckers are everywhere.

Thank backyard breeders and idiots who don't understand the breed for that. Backyard breeders think they're gonna make bank. Idiots think the dogs boost their status. They're all assholes who can't spontaneously combust fast enough.

I rescued my own smiley little fucker 5 years ago. She was about to be dumped at a high kill shelter. Why? Because all she wanted to do was cuddle everyone. She doesn't look or act mean now, and definitely didn't at the age of 6 months. She wounded a man's frail ego by not being tough.

His loss. There's nothing quite like 90 pounds of APBT climbing into your lap for a cuddle. I am lying in bed right now, she is draped over my hip. By morning, she will have migrated to the husband's head. Zoe is a joy. I will never be without a Pibble again.
posted by MissySedai at 10:22 PM on March 13, 2017 [5 favorites]