Glenn Close Throws a Bone to Charity

Glenn Close is a five-time Academy Award nominee and two-time Golden Globe winner, but it’s her latest role at Fetchdog.com that’s earned the actress a ‘Golden Bone’ from Look to the Stars.

“I’m in a redemption mode, to get back to my real self,” joked Close, who’s portrayed characters that haven’t always been kind to animals, “The real truth is that I’ve been surrounded by dogs my entire life.”

Last October, Close and her husband David Shaw started Fetchdog.com, a site that sells high-end dog products while raising money for charity. Included on the site is Close’s blog, Lively Licks where she interviews celebrities about their dogs, profiles people who work with dogs and dishes out tips on anything from puppy training to canine health.

The most unique aspect of the site is that Fetchdog.com funnels a portion of its sales to dog-related causes. All you have to do is purchase an item and a percentage of the total will be donated to select dog charities with no added cost to you. Martha Stewart, for example, chose the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. When shoppers place their orders through Stewart’s page, the ASPCA receives roughly 6 percent of the price.

“Our dogs love us and keep us laughing through good times and bad,” writes Close on her blog, “This blog is a tribute to all the fabulous dogs who trot and wag their way through our lives and to the people who they have so successfully trained.”

Close has interviewed many dog lovers such as Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson, who directed contributions to Little Angels Pug Rescue, and Dan Zelman and Debra Messing, who selected Animal Rescue New Orleans.

In one of her blogs, there is a great video of Close and her husband taking part in a training exercise with ski patrol member Tracy Christensen and his avalanche rescue dog, Mick. The video, narrated by Close, shows the couple buried beneath 4 feet of snow while Mick catches their scent and leads his handler to their rescue.

Close has more than one furry friend herself, including several canines whose lineage appears to be a mix of cairn terrier, West Highland white terrier and indeterminate other breeds. And wouldn’t you know it, she always brings her ‘kids’ to the set while shooting “Damages,” FX cable network’s critically acclaimed legal drama in which Close plays high-powered attorney Patty Hewes.

“They really change the atmosphere of the set when they come on. People just love it,” Close said. “And as long as they’re in a place where you can’t hear their toenails click when the camera turns on, then we’re fine.”