To look at Eric Stoltz, star of stage and screen, wearing a Burberry sweater with blue jeans, simultaneously enjoying a custom-painted portrait of Poppy, his yellow lab, and the barefoot comfort of a sleek, linen-slipcovered sofa by the French lifestyle designer Catherine Memmi, the casual observer would say he’s the picture of the stylish, modern dog lover.
But Stoltz’s devotion to dogs is about substance just as much as style. In late 2003, the multi-talented actor-director-producer was driving on the Freeway in Los Angeles, on his way home from seeing a friend’s play, when he saw a mutt "running onto the off ramp, in between cars - it was very dangerous," he recalls.
Some might hesitate when asked what they’d do in such a stressful situation. But for Stoltz, there was only one thing to do: pull over and help. The steps he took in responding to this crisis not only saved one lost dog’s life; they’re a fine checklist for anyone attempting to achieve a successful roadside rescue.
Luring the dog to safety was priority one. Food - specifically, the only edible in the car, a lemon-flavored Luna bar purchased by Stoltz’s girlfriend - served as temporary bait in the capture. But although the couple are vegetarian, the average canine is not. Luckily, another motorist stopped to make the dog a more enticing offer: a can of high-protein cat food, "which he went ape for," Stoltz says. Experts agree that animal-loving motorists should always keep small cans or pouches of cat food in the glove compartment for just such emergencies, as well as a slip lead with which to lasso elusive canines and reel them gently in.
It was 11:20 at night, cars were honking, and "the dog was totally freaked out," but finally the shepherd-rottweiler-pitbull-lab mix - a classic "Heinz 57" of a mutt - landed safely in Stoltz’s station wagon. "It took about 45 minutes to lure him to the car," the actor says. "Then he calmed down."
The dog had a collar, but no tags. What if he hadn’t been abandoned, but had accidentally become separated from his people, who might be frantically searching for him? To be sure, "I took him to a vet immediately and had him scanned," explains Stoltz, "but there was no microchip." Having a stray examined by a vet right away is especially important if you already have pets at home, to avoid passing on any possible contagious diseases. It’s also wise to research the options for 24-hour vet care in your area before need arises, so you’ll know where to go in the event of an emergency, whether the situation involves a stray or one of your own animal companions.
Happily, the vet’s exam showed there was nothing wrong with the dog other than dehydration. "He was so scrawny and starving, he lunged for food with his ears pinned back in panic mode, and he drank about four gallons of water," Stoltz recalls. "Then he didn’t pee for a day. He stayed with me that first night, but didn’t sleep - he just howled." The lucky mutt’s exploits earned him the name Chancer - an Irish term for "someone who takes great risks, pushes his luck, and survives," Stoltz explains.
After inquiring at area shelters, which sadly have a kill policy due to lack of space, Stoltz decided to manage Chancer’s adoption himself - at which point the task at hand was simply a matter of diligently spreading the word and patiently interviewing potential adopters until just the right home was found.
That’s where this reporter came in. For my column in the Sunday New York Post, I couldn’t resist bumping the story I already had in the queue to run the inspiring story of Chancer’s rescue. A few days after the paper ran my article "Softie Celeb Saves Stray," Stoltz received "e-mails from all over the States, and Australia." It took a couple more months, but ultimately Chancer found his forever home.
As for Poppy, the beautiful blonde is happy having no competition for Stoltz’s attention - other than her two-dimensional likeness displayed proudly over the sofa.
