Celebs share New Year's resolutions for their pets

The Associated Press, Tuesday, December 20, 2011, 9:54am (PST)

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Tony La Russa would like his dog to spend more time in his lap. Bob Barker would like his rabbit to spend more time in its litter box. And Lea Michele would like her cat to spend less time in her cotton ball jar.

The Associated Press asked several celebrity pet owners about New Year's resolutions for their animals — and resolutions their pets might have for them.

La Russa, the reigning World Series champion manager, would like it if his 12-year-old Chihuahua Twiggy would jump into his lap every time he sat down. "I'd like that affectionate reassurance every time, not just sometimes," he said.

And on behalf of Twiggy, La Russa would resolve to "be the person that Twiggy wants me to be and deserves for me to be."

Jazz singer Roberta Flack would resolve "not to have to beg Yogi, my shiba inu dog, to eat his breakfast or dinner so his food bowl would not be looking at us all day long! He likes to be begged to eat — coerced — given one bite from the bowl by hand."

And for her: "That I talk less and quietly. I have a seal point Siamese, Mimi-La, who likes to put her front paw on my face as if to say, `Shhhhh."`

Flack didn't include resolutions for eight dogs, 12 cats, a llama, six horses, three donkeys, several Chinese chickens, a road runner, three flamingos and several geese she cares for after adopting them from petting zoos and other places.

"CSI: Miami" actress Eva La Rue would ask that "our bulldog Frank be less of a ham. He is so funny. He always needs to be right in the middle of the room where all the action is taking place. He constantly needs attention.

"If Frank made a New Year's resolution for me it would be that I would devote 100 percent of my time to him only. If my shnoodle, Bingo, made a resolution, it would be that he would get just some of the attention that Frank demands from us! LOL!"

It seemed fitting to ask some of the actors in the movie "New Year's Eve" for their resolutions.

Seven dogs — Oscar, Romeo, Stella, Piper, Weaser, Flora and Tamber — would like actress Katherine Heigl "to feed them consistently on time in the morning."

She wishes Oscar the hound would "not be so aggressive toward strangers. That would be good because I really don't want to get sued."

Academy Award winner Hilary Swank said of her two dogs: "They are so great. ... I wish they could do every interview with me and just sit right here and here. That would be my New Year's resolutions for my dogs — that they're always with me."

Josh Duhamel would like his rescue dog Meatloaf "to really work on his coordination and work on getting a little more exercise because he's struggling right now. But he's still happy and he's not in pain. But it's really hard to get him to do anything. He's super lazy. He's like maybe the most unathletic animal you've ever seen."

"Glee'"'s Lea Michele says her cat Sheila needs a resolution.

"I wish that Sheila would stop going into my bathroom, taking out all my cotton balls out of the jars and spreading them all over. So her New Year's resolution would be to get over the cotton ball obsession."

Dog whisperer Cesar Millan would like his pit bull Junior to continue as "an ambassador for powerful breeds, reinforcing the message that it's not the breed, it's the human behind the animal." And Junior to Millan? "Accept yourself," he said.

"We have cats, lots of cats. They are pretty well behaved but one — Ted. I would resolve that Ted might start to work on getting along well with others," said Joe Bonsall of country music's Oak Ridge Boys.

"All of my cats might wish that I stayed out on the road more so they would not have to share (my wife) Mary as much. Seriously! I am sometimes a blight on their existence," he added.

Fellow group member Duane Allen said sports and music would top his list.

"I taught my dogs how to play basketball — everything except shooting. So that would be on the list. l taught one how to sing. I am now trying to teach my Lab (Lana) how to talk. She thinks I am Elvis."

And if Lana had her way, "it would be to tell me to not talk," Allen said.

Country singer Buddy Jewell wants his Akita Jack to "eat more pork chop bones!" And Jack, in turn, wants Jewell to "Grill more pork chops!"

Bluegrass singer Janie Fricke said her favorite pet is Rico, an 18-year-old African grey parrot who plays like a baby. Her wish for him? "I hope he lives to be 80, as the book says."

And if he were to make a resolution? "He hopes we keep feeding him his fave snack — peanuts."

Retired game show host Bob Barker's has an 8-year-old rabbit. Mr. Rabbit already follows Barker around the house "helping me in every way he can." If Barker could ask for more, it would be "to use his box every time, not just when it's convenient."

And Mr. Rabbit's resolution for Barker? What else? "To continue urging folks to have their pets spayed and neutered — including rabbits."

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Associated Press Entertainment Reporter Natalie Rotman contributed to this report.