Good-bye Dan, The Littlest Emperor

Written by

19th Century Dog Art, Dog Art Photography

Danny was my sister Sheila's dog. Last night she said good-bye to him. He was 12 and he was sick. It was devastating. Danny was a character. Barely 4 pounds, he was absolutely adorable. Children were crazy about him — like a teddy bear come to life. But he was deceivingly powerful. Really, somehow he managed to alpha-dog his entire family. It was stunning and hilarious. Here is the photo Sheila sent an online suitor named Greg. Obviously Greg fell in love with them both and married her and adopted him. They came to have a special bond. (Sheila and Greg did too.)

Once, we made Danny an emperor's costume for a video project I was making. We thought he would be fussy wearing a fur-lined cape and a golden laurel crown. He loved it! Didn't want to take it off, and for years he wore it on his walks. He was very popular with the West Hollywood boys on Santa Monica Blvd. They admired his style.

Danny, you weren't always the easiest dog, but you brought great joy to many people. And the family you helped create by being so cute in that single photo sent to a stranger is your legacy. Our hearts are heavy that you're gone. Rest in peace, Little Guy.

(photos: Mark Jacobson, Moira McLaughlin, Greg Cameron.)

Comments

11 responses to “Good-bye Dan, The Littlest Emperor”

May 21, 2007

Clair Lamb

Oh, Dan… Dizzy and I will miss you, Sergeant Taffy.
Dan taught Dizzy to respect his authority, and to this day Dizzy defers to small dogs just the way he deferred to Dan.
Someday we’ll all hike Runyon together again, and in heaven, there’s no poop to scoop…

Reply
May 21, 2007

Maeve Cunningham

What a devastating loss. Dan was more than a dog, he truly was a member of the family. A small barky fellow that warmed my heart and won me over. Doonin’ – RIP. You will be missed more than you’ll ever know. Sheila, Greg and little lady L, my deepest sympathies.
M xox

Reply
May 21, 2007

Anahita

Little Danny was the cutest and sweetest dog who will be missed so much – My deepest sympathies for all you Camerons. With Love, Anahita

Reply
May 21, 2007

Hugh

I remember when Sheila brought Danny home and she, Meredith, and I would play with him and watch him run up and down the carpeted hallway at the Sweetzer apartment. That seems like many lifetimes ago and it was. Through so many days and so many relationships and children and sorrow and laughter Danny was always there with us standing by as we struggled and lost and truimphed in our day to day adventures. I suspect he will be with us for the rest of our days as well. With much love little man.
Hugh

Reply
May 21, 2007

Mandy Safavi-Goldman

Oh no so sad! I had no idea he was poorly! Poor Danny but at least he lived a full happy life. He shall be missed 🙁

Reply
May 21, 2007

Allison

The McLaughlin/Cameron menagerie helped bring the message of Dog Love to an admitted non-pet lover, so my thanks to Danny et. al. for that. He was just one fine, funny fellow — one of the visual reminders I keep in my head to remember that sometimes life is just precious and funny if we choose to look at it that way… because how else could you look at that dog?
Much love, I know this is hard!
Al

Reply
May 21, 2007

Skank

Dan’s basic problem was that he was cute and he knew it. While his cuteness brought us a lot of barking, it also brought a lot of joy. Not just for us, but for him as well. I believe Dan had a great life. While I don’t know what it was like to walk in Dan’s shoes, I do know what it was like to walk in his pee, because I did that countless times in Sheila’s kitchen. I will miss you, Danny.

Reply
May 21, 2007

alex cameron

i loved Dan just as much as everyone else did and i know it must be hard to loose someone as special as Dan, but that is why we have family, to be there when we need them most.
love alex cameron

Reply
May 22, 2007

Jonathan

LIttle Danny always gave our dog, Clio, a good run for her money. He will be missed by all beings large and small.

Reply
May 23, 2007

Meredith Driscoll

I was there when Sheila first brought him home so long ago. I was expecting to see some designer dress she bought at the Beverly Center for some HBO event but instead she was holding the smallest creature I ever saw. I can’t say he was really a dog but a gremlin. He was our baby who hung out through all the ridiculous boyfriends like the Angry Young Bolshevic. He was part of the parties and special occassions through out my wonderful and greatly missed moments in LA. I will always cherish the memories and Dan is in all of them. My fondest moments of Dan….tearing through the apartment on Sweetzer with my mothers Granny Panties in his mouth. She was mortified. Dan was triumphant. If there was a strong wind he would have sailed off into the sky with a huge billowing sail of ivory nylon. The time he got away away from me and ran towards Sweetzer…luckily I dove for the leash as my heart stoppped. I cursed him out and then he peed at my feet. The infamous poo crawl on the Upper West Side….Feet Following Feet…Walking Down The Street. And finally last November when I came out for a visit 6 months pregnant. He would curl up next to me on Sheila’s sofa as if to say “Hello old friend.” He was our Big Man Dan. I’ll miss you Danny.

Reply
May 26, 2007

Regan and Terry

It took me a long time to come and look at this. The loss is heart breaking. I couldn’t think of the right thing to say and guess I still haven’t.
Anyway, about Danny…
I have to give Dan credit for my being allowed to get a dog of my own. I had been dating Terry for several years and always hoped that his allergy to dogs would just go away so we could expand our family. We went to LA for Mark and Kathleen’s wedding and stayed at Sheila’s house. When I came down the stairs to find Terry dozing on the floor with Danny curled up on his chest (right under his nose), I knew that I could begin my search for the right dog. I found Logan in a high rate kill shelter in West Virginia. In a way, Danny saved his life.
He’s a magical little guy. Thank you Danny for being so special and sharing your life with us.

Reply