Dana Kaye & Mrs. Dalloway

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Dana Kaye, the owner of Kaye Publicity, a boutique PR company specializing in publishing and entertainment.

Mrs. Dalloway is the greeter and morale booster at Kaye Publicity. She's a 2-year-old shih-tzu/poodle mix.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Mrs. Dalloway and I always share our morning coffee, whether it's at the office or in the living room with a good book.

What's brewing?

Usually Starbucks or Caribou, but always in a French press.

Any treats for you or Mrs. Dalloway on this occasion?

We both enjoy peanut butter, though I usually take mine on a bagel and she prefers hers in a kong.

How did Mrs. Dalloway get her name? Any nicknames?

I named her after the Virginia Woolf novel. My girlfriend named her after Clarissa Vaughn in Michael Cunningham's The Hours. Fortunately, they have the same name. Since Mrs. Dalloway is a long name for such a small dog, we usually call her Dally.

How were you and your dog united?

She was an impulse buy in every sense of the word. We were driving to Costco and passed a pet shop. The sign read "shih-poo puppies" and since my girlfriend had a shih-poo growing up, she pulled over and said we should go in. Dally was the last female dog of the litter and we instantly bonded. But we couldn't get just a dog without thinking it through! Plus, who gets a puppy in the middle of winter? So we went to Costco, did our shopping, but couldn't stop thinking about her. We picked her up on the way home.

Who are Mrs. Dalloway's best pet-pals?

Her other office buddy is Charlie [photo right]. They play well together, though sometimes, they get a bit barky.

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

We also have a 16-lb. cat, Nico, who she adores. They wrestle, nap together, even clean each other's ears.

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

The ball. Good lord, she can't get enough of a ball. As my assistant says, "I wish I loved something as much as Dally loves that ball."

What is Mrs. Dalloway's best quality?

She's a very loyal, lovable dog. And when playing fetch, she'll give everyone in the room a turn.

If Mrs. Dalloway could change one thing about you, what would it be?

She'd probably want me to be more of a sucker. I never give her treats if she doesn't deserve them and always make her walk to work no matter how much she wishes I would pick her up.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which Mrs. Dalloway could speak, which actor should do her voice?

That's a tough one. I actually do a Dally voice, so it's really hard to picture her sounding like anyone else.

If Mrs. Dalloway could answer only one question in English, what would you ask her?

Why are you so scared of everything?

Visit the Kaye Publicity website and Facebook page.

--Marshal Zeringue