Where To Watch
Amanda Blake considered herself a friend of cats and dogs
Guess they call her Miss Kitty for a reason! Blake had a passion for rescuing all kinds of critters.
In Gunsmoke, Kitty Russell was always a lover, not a fighter. In real life, Amanda Blake was the same way. She spread her love evenly among her series, herself, and her special passion for rescuing dogs and cats.
Her character was known for being strong and compassionate, and would often show kindness and concern for those in Dodge City. When she wasn't working the bar in Dodge City, Blake was showing kindness and concern in other areas.
According to a 1959 interview with The Miami Herald, Blake said she considered herself the unofficial head of the unofficial dog and cat rescue of San Fernando Valley, which operated out of her ranch-style home.
"Some friends tell me they think the main point of my life is to see how many stray dogs and cats I can keep the dog catcher from catching," Blake said. "That's not quite true, of course, but I guess I am a sucker for strays."
According to the interview, Blake was tired of seeing homeless animals on the streets near her home. She was known for picking up strays and providing them with a place to stay—the kind of Southern hospitality that would make Miss Kitty proud.
She said it was hard to establish a firm count of how many animals she had rescued; there were dogs and cats "everywhere in sight."
"I do have a procedure," Blake said. "First off, I get the stray. It either is brought in by me—I find them all over—or is brought to me. Lots of people know about this operation."
"Anyhow, the animal gets bathed and deloused and anything else needed at my veterinarian's," Blake continued. "Then he comes back home. I have enough rooms and kennels and land to handle quite a few animals. Then, the phoning starts. I call about two or three people. I tell them what's in need of a home. They call a few people. We never fail to place the pet in a home."
Blake admitted that her house could be a bit noisy, and with two dogs and two cats of her own, it’s easy to see why.
Whether she was in character or just being herself, Blake had a passion for being kind to others. Miss Kitty had claws, and she wasn’t afraid to dig in and stand up for her beliefs to help save the lives of many animals.
"They're all spoiled," Blake said. "They get on chairs. I'm just a tremendous animal lover, and so are my friends. In fact, they have to be, or they're not my friends."
Related
2 Comments
