No Better Friend offers a unique collection of intimate essays by celebrities about the dogs that have touched their lives, giving us the inside scoop on the bond between owner and dog, defined not by status or popularity but founded instead on what truly matters: loyalty and love. These sometimes poignant, often touching, always personal stories show a hidden side of celebrities we know only through screen, stage, and the media. Readers will find joy, laughter, sadness, and a deeper connection to their favorite icons.Arlene Dahl recounts her miniature schnauzer Maxi's hilarious misadventures with Liza Minnelli's schnauzer, Emmelina. Massimo Ferragamo pens a reverse love letter from his German wirehaired pointer, Penna. Andrzej Krakowski details his pit-Lab Hoover's side-splitting brush with the law. Patti LuPone shares a heartbreaking remembrance of her beloved yellow Lab, Indiana. Steve Martin reflects on how his Lab Roger defined over a decade of his life. Natalie Portman reveals how her rescue dog, Charlie, helped her weather a broken heart. Mark Ruffalo expresses gratitude for Frieda Number Two, his Schipperke that prevented his young son from drowning, and Elaine Stritch delivers an impassioned monologue about the miniature dachshund that Noel Coward gave her. Each moving essay includes a photo of the contributor and his or her beloved canine. Dog lovers everywhere will cherish these remarkable tales of celebrities and their four-legged soulmates.

About the Author
Elke Gazzara, a former model and entrepreneur, met award-winning actor Ben Gazzara while working on a film in Seoul. They were married from 1982 until his death in 2012. She and her beloved miniature dachshund, Stella, divide their time between Umbria and New York City.

Reviews
"Intimate, loving stories ... It's like being a guest at a great dinner party where you realize that bold-face names are just like the rest of us when it comes to their dogs."-Cesar's WayCritical acclaim for Madison Avenue Maxi:"A fun, breezy read." -New York Post"If you are a Ben Gazzara fan or a dog lover, and most especially a small dog lover, and even more especially, a dachshund lover, this book will pull at your heartstrings. ... Pleasant and diverting-angel food for the recreational reader's palate. And right in style." -Curled Up with a Good Book"An entertaining story ... Fans of Gazzara, who often plays tough-guy roles, will enjoy this story of how Maxi stays close by." -Bookviews.com"Madison Avenue Maxi is going to speak to critter lovers of all kinds with its unabashed adoration of an animal. If you've got a pet ... this book will make you yip with joy." -The Bookworm Sez column



Book Information
ISBN 9780762783748
Author Elke Gazzara
Format Hardback
Page Count 256
Imprint Globe Pequot Press
Publisher Rowman & Littlefield
Weight(grams) 23g