Brian McGrory–a veteran, award-winning journalist and editor at The Boston Globe, currently writing a twice-a-week column for the paper and author, most recently of “Buddy: How A Rooster Made Me A Family Man”– discusses the lifelong importance to him of The Globe, a newspaper significant to him growing up and where he’s worked for nearly 25 years. 
He also recounts growing up in a dog-free family while always wanting a dog, and remembers the canine love of his life, a golden retriever named Harry. (He re-creates a scene from the book in which McGrory–on the White House beat during President Clinton’s administration–covers a press conference where press secretary Mike McCurry announces that Clinton had ordered bombing runs against Afghanistan and Sudan…and Harry wanders up to the podium and drops his tennis ball at McCurry’s feet, prompting McCurry to smile and say “Not now, Harry.”) McGrory also remembers how his veterinarian, Dr. Pam Bendock, cared for Harry through his death, how a romantic relationship bloomed, and how he went from footloose city guy to married man living in the suburbs with Bendock, her two daughters and a handful of animals, including the rooster, Buddy. He describes the struggles with Buddy, who he felt clearly did not like McGrory, and also the important life lessons he learned from the rooster.
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ALSO: We spoke briefly with Marti Ryan, of Hillsborough County Animal Services, who discussed Phoebe–the Tampa pitbull mix who made international news when she was shot twice in the head and buried up to her neck–her ongoing recovery toward becoming eligible for adoption, and the then-pending event for attendees to have pictures taken with Santa and Phoebe. Ryan also placed in context the attack on Phoebe, how the investigation into the perpetrator(s) is continuing, and how the reward fund offered to information leading to the arrest of the guilty party has continued to grow.
COMEDY CORNER: Eddie Izzard’s “Parrots” (www.eddieizzard.com)
MUSIC: Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks’ “Tigers,” Andrew Bird’s “Three White Horses,” instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: X’s “Hungry Wolf”
