For “Sex and the City’s” Kristin Davis, blonde and brown-eyed Callie holds the key to her heart …
and her apartment.
They could do an episode about it: what happens when your perfect mate turns out to be a dog? If Carrie Bradshaw were to type that on her Apple computer, she would probably be referring to ‘dog’ in a figurative sense, and the show would have its usual cynical slant. However, Kristin Davis, who plays Charlotte, an idealist and the most conservative character on the show, may argue the literal sense: that dogs, in fact, can make ‘perfect mates.’ She knows from her own real-life experience, as she shares her life with her golden retriever, Callie.
Kristin Davis on September 11th
I did a photo shoot on the 10th and was flying back to LA on the 11th. We were supposed to leave at 9:00 that morning, but then we didn’t take off – which seemed normal on a full flight to LA. Eventually the captain told us what happened. At that point I could see the buildings smoking through the window. Everyone else got off the plane to watch CNN, but I couldn’t get off because Callie was underneath in cargo. The captain, Bob Posey, got Callie out and we stayed inside the plane with him and the flight attendants for about an hour, until airport officials told us we all had to get off.
We stayed at the airport for a long time because no one could come get us, so I went to the American Airlines special services office. Everyone seemed so happy to see a dog, and they just fawned over her. Then this really sweet couple that works for American took Callie and I home at 3:00 in the afternoon. We stayed at their house the whole day. It was so good to have Callie with me.
On her apartment fiasco
I told this story on Letterman—and after it aired, I ran into one of the members of the co-op who refuted it. So this is my version of the story.
I was living in a brownstone on the upper west side and an apartment went up on the market in the next-door co-op. I knew the person living on the parlor floor had a standard poodle that was always coming and going from the building. I thought the building would make a perfect home for Callie and me. They asked me to bring Callie to the co-op interview and introduce her to our potential neighbors, so I bathed her, gave her half a tranquilizer, and put treats in my pocket so she’d sit there and look at me. The meeting took about an hour and a half, and the co-op members acted as if I was going to be accepted. They said things like ‘do you like to garden? Maybe you could fix the window boxes,’ and, ‘what a nice dog Callie is.’ Two days later they called me and told me I was rejected. I couldn’t believe it. They said that they don’t allow dogs—and that were just meeting with me to be nice. It was such a ridiculous waste of time. I didn’t believe them. I mean, what about the poodle? That’s a dog!
On her pets
Growing up I had a dog “Sunshine” and two cats, “Frisky” and “Lilly.” Then I didn’t have pets for the longest time – when you are an actor you have to be ready to move all around…it’s tough. Callie is the first dog I’ve had since I’ve been on my own. She accompanies me everywhere, which is important in my strange world of traveling, working and everything. There is a lot of change, but Callie always remains the same.
In the morning when we wake up, Callie gets up on the bed with me and snuggles. Then my dog walker comes and takes her to the park where she can run off-leash. Sometimes she even swims in the pond – she’s a great swimmer. She also goes on little playdates. Ugh! Did I say playdates? That’s so embarrassing!
She comes to work with me sometimes, but she has to stay in the dressing room or in the trailer – she gets too excited on set.
At home, she’s allowed all over the furniture and she is very hairy. That’s the biggest way I spoil her—by giving her complete freedom around the house. She has a fabulous life—she gets to ride on the HBO private jet. When we’re traveling back and forth she sits in my lap, straddling me the whole way–I think she is afraid if she lets go, I’ll put her in the cargo area.
On dating and dogs
Actually my boyfriend at the time named Callie. He said the name just came to him. I thought it was perfect – so Callie she was. A couple of weeks later I called him and a woman answered the phone. She said she was his assistant’s girlfriend and her name was Callie. I couldn’t believe it – my dog was named for his assistant’s girlfriend! He thought it was funny.
Any man I date has to like Callie. There can’t be any jealously. It’s a very bad sign if people are jealous of dogs. I haven’t dealt with that in a while, but I did when she was a puppy. I had to pay attention to her because she was in to everything. The guy I was seeing at the time was jealous of her and so I ended it.
Callie likes everyone. I had another boyfriend and she was obsessed with him; he was a complete dog person. He would always play and roughhouse with her. I think Callie thought he was a dog.
She was upset when we broke up, so I used to call him and tell him to come see the dog but it probably wasn’t a good idea.
I did go out with a man – I almost forgot about this. He had a pool, perfect for Callie who is a ‘water dog’ – she loves to swim. Callie would jump in the pool and when she got out she would be really happy and would run crazy circles. My boyfriend got very upset because he thought she was going to ruin his landscaping – he was very particular. So after she’d swim, I’d grab a hold of her and put a leash on her. It was very sad for Callie and not a good omen for the relationship.
My dream man would have a big dog. Not bigger than Callie – maybe a golden, hound dog or a Lab! Callie also has fun with little dogs, but I think it would be weird to be with a man with a little dog.
On her future
I have no idea what the future holds – it’s always a big adventure. Until just recently when I walked by a baby and a dog on the street, I’d respond to the dog. And I still do, but I like babies now too. They’ve come up in stature for me lately. I do look forward to having a more relaxed schedule so I can get more dogs. I don’t care what kind. I’ll rescue them. I know Callie would love to have some playmates.