Moo relaxes after his work day where he posed for photographs with local residents.
By WILLIAM CLARK
Prince. Cher. Madonna.
These are worldwide names that don’t require a surname. Mononyms to be specific.
Most New Jerseyans would lump Bruce into that category.
Readers of The Coaster may want to add another name onto that list.
Moo.
Each week readers search for the small black and white shih tzu mix in the pictures. This type dog is often called a toy dog. Most of the time he can be found being held by a fan in “The Question is…”
“He’s a little celebrity,” said Mike Booth, Coaster photographer and co-owner, who travels with Moo around town.
Moo is not native to the Garden State. While visiting his brother in Vermont, Booth saw a sign on the side of the road in Rutland. The 4×8 plywood sign advertised eight puppies for sale. Crossed out in black paint, the sign was updated to say that only one of the litter remained.
“He was the last one,” Booth said.
Booth drove back down to New Jersey but couldn’t get the puppy that lived with a Rottweiler and a Doberman Pinscher off his mind. He called the farm and headed back north.
When he arrived back at the farm, Booth took a walk with puppy. The black and white dog matched the animals that made their noises from the pasture. Moo was the perfect name for Booth’s new friend.
“I brought him home. He’s been a real good dog,” Booth said. “He only weighed five pounds and he was full of fleas.”
Moo is now almost 16 years old and still in pretty good shape, according to Booth.
Booth’s friend Kathy Young takes Moo into her West Long Branch house when Booth can’t bring him along with him.
“Moo’s been the best puppy in the whole world,” Young said.
Although he didn’t tear the house apart when Booth left, Moo certainly made it clear he preferred to be on whatever escapade Booth was off to when he left. Booth took him along when he grabbed his camera to ask members of the community their thoughts on that week’s question.
“It was kind of easy to take him everywhere,” Booth said.
People began to ask if they could hold Moo for the shot.
The gentle and easygoing dog was quick to agree. Now, most people familiar with The Coaster get excited when they see Moo with Booth.
“People like to see him,” Booth said. “People say hello on the street.”
Young, now retired, will take Moo places with her. Specifically Ocean Grove where residents will call out the well known canine.
“People pet him, say hello to him, get their picture taken with him,” Young said. “He’s got a nice little personality.”
During the interview, Booth realized that Moo had yet to be snapped for this week’s issue. If not, readers certainly would have asked where Moo was.
Booth continues to take care of the dog he picked up from the Green Mountain State and it shows.
“People think he’s a puppy sometimes,” he said. “Hopefully we get a couple more years out of him.”
