Martha's champion chow chow, Paw Paw, competed in the prestigious Westminster Dog Show in 1999. Surfing the television a while back at nearly 2 a.m. as insomniacs often do, I caught the Conan O'Brien show with guest Martha Stewart, who was promoting a new book. As a gag Conan had Martha drink from a quart of beer and chuck down some peanuts, which she happily did. That is the true essence of Martha Stewart, a lady who is comfortable preparing a gourmet dinner for 12 (comparable to that of any European chef) and then enjoying some nuts and a cold brew. Perhaps what has made her a huge success is that simple, down-to-earth quality, which the common person can relate to. In most instances it's hard to imagine the very wealthy (particularly celebrities) doing the mundane, daily chores of running a house. Can you picture Elizabeth Taylor or Barbra Streisand vacuuming the stairs or scooping the kitty liter … I didn't think so. Paw Paw and Martha rest before he has to report to the ring to be judged. Although he made the first cut; Paw Paw unfortunately did not win. Martha Stewart's appeal is her practicality. In her venues (her television show, a magazine, numerous books, etc.) she not only discusses the proper way to cook a filet mignon or where to find the best restaurants in New York's Upper East Side, she shares tips on how to keep your brooms and brushes clean and prolong their longevity or how to properly groom a cat. Something for everyone, no matter what walk of life. Martha was raised in New Jersey. One of six children, her father was a pharmaceutical salesman and her mother a schoolteacher. It was at an early age that they instructed her in the basics of cooking, sewing, and gardening. Martha went on to study history and architectural history at Barnard College where she earned her bachelor's degree. Martha put herself through school with occasional modeling jobs. She married while in school and after graduating joined the ranks of Wall Street where she became a very successful stockbroker. In the early 1970s Martha, her husband, and her daughter, Alexis, moved to Connecticut where Martha began her catering business. In 1982 she published the classic Entertaining, which has become a must-have in every homeowner's collection and thus said good bye to her low-key life-style. Pets have always been an important part of Martha's life. Here she poses with one of her eight Himalayan cats. At this writing Martha is one of the most popular American celebrities. Her television show, Martha Stewart Living, is one of daytime TV's most highly rated shows, is broadcast daily around the nation and represents just one facet of the media powerhouse known as Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO). Fans of her show get to share in Martha's life as she shares her favorite dishes and gardening secrets. What is not a secret is Martha's immense love for animals. She quite often invites animal experts to visit the show and introduces her audience to all sorts of wonderful creatures. Martha always shares what she has found to be the best way to deal with pet issues. She details tips on grooming, feeding and toys, and even gives us the background on her favorite breeds. Martha shares her life with a plethora of pets. She has four chow chow dogs. Their names are Paw Paw, Chin Chin, ZuZu, and Empress Wu. She also has eight Himalayan cats named Teeny, Weeny, Mozart, Beethoven, Verdi, Vivaldi, Berlioz, and Bartok. She also has six canaries (four white and two red), as well as various chinchillas. Martha's love of birds has led her to breed chickens. Her chickens have their own house, which Martha calls the Palais de Poulet (the Chicken Palace) . In one episode, Martha took cameras with her to an avian show in Pennsylvania and even shared scenes of the chicken house with viewers. (She, of course, first obtained the chickens' permission to bring in cameras.) In 1999 Martha was honored to have her beloved Paw Paw compete in the distinguished Westminster Dog Show in New York. This 123-year-old event is the crème de la crème in the world of dogs. Elaine Albert, Paw Paw's co-owner, was on-hand to groom him magnificently. He exemplified the breed standard. Most owners and breeders who compete in dog shows are full-time working individuals who cannot always travel to shows. Owners hire handlers to prepare the dogs for competition and handle them in the ring. Linda Albert, Paw Paw's handler, was on-hand to help him through his judging. Paw Paw did make the first cut, but did not take the big prize (it went to a toy breed, the Papillion). Martha was very excited at having Paw Paw at Westminster and may decide to compete him again next year. She had the pleasure of being on the cover of the 1999 Purina celebrity dog calendar with Paw Paw and Chin Chin. Pets enrich her life and she shares the joys of having companion animals with her viewers every chance she gets. She always takes the opportunity to preach responsible pet ownership and proper care for our critters. From chow chows to chow mein, Martha Stewart is on a mission to educate America with practical and important information on how to keep our homes happy, our meals delicious, our gardens blooming and our pets safe and loved. Martha, keep up your work … it's a good thing! -Kareem Tabsch is a freelance writer who specializes in celebrity interviews. He has interviewed celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Bob Hope, Joan Rivers, Julio Iglesias, Barbara Mandrell and others. He writes frequently on animal-related issues as well as on the entertainment industry.

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