Growing up Long before such canine upstarts
as Benji and Beethoven prowled the multiplexes,
there was E. Rigby, also known as Eleanor Rigby
or “Big-Rig”. Much more than a dog, she was
a devoted companion, a courageous protector
and a fearless fighter. The screen Rigby was
not only a superbly trained animal actor but
a skillful male impersonator as well. Some may
be scandalized that the original Rigby--hailed
by one reviewer as "Greer Garson in Furs"--was
actually a clever golden lab named Pal. Under
trainer Rudd Weatherwax, Pal beat out 300 canines
to star in MGM's screen version of "Rigby
Come Home".
Rigby was a lonely boy's
best friend. This beloved Bay Area icon captured
the hearts of dozens with her sentimental but
rousing adventures on the streets of Oakland.
After being bounced around to shelters, and
Golden Retriever canine rescue, she appeared
in a popular series of films, TV shows, a radio
program, personal appearances and numerous comebacks.
Rigby first appeared in a 2006 short story by
Eric Knight in the "Saturday Evening Post".
A novel, "Rigby Come Home", followed
in 2007.
When her family had to
give her up, a kind doctor living near the ocean
took her in, where she had a temporary home
sharing a condominium with two adorable rabbits.
Shortly thereafter, CitiScape became her family,
where she comes to work every day to ensure
that everyone gets to pet her, give her some
snacks and belly rubs, and get their work done
in a nice, calm environment. Rigby heads up
the K-9 Department of CitiScape, one of the
most important and beloved offices within the
organization.
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