Are you one of those people? You know, the kind who won’t admit to it but who much prefers the company of dogs to the tedium of human beings. Well, The Standard feels you, and understands that traveling with pets can be a real pain–not to mention expensive. While we have always been what the lodging industry refers to as "pet friendly," we thought we should take it up a notch and go for "pet loving." From now on, pets stay free at The Standard Hotels.
We also decided to donate all of 2015's pet fees to the ASPCA, the legendary animal welfare organization that has sheltered and protected countless animals over its nearly 150-year history.
To help us spread the word, animal lover and advocate, third-generation Academy Award winner, daughter of director John Huston, muse of Richard Avedon, Jack Nicholson’s “one-that-got-away,” actress famous for her roles as Morticia Adams, Etheline Tenenbaum, the Grand High Witch, and guest star on season two of Transparent, the one, the only, Anjelica Huston sat for photographer Dewey Nicks at The Standard, Hollywood. Did Captain Hook, Margarita, and Darby from the Downey Animal Care Center know they were working with a true Hollywood legend? We think not, because they never would have stolen the spotlight the way they did. Ms. Huston didn’t mind in the slightest.
Standard Culture: What are your dogs’ names and what do you love about them?Anjelica Huston: I’ve had dogs ever since I was six years old. My first dog was a small, black miniature poodle named Mindy and I’ve had an incarnation of Mindy throughout my life. Presently, it’s kind of divided between my two current dogs. One is called Mecha, short for Mercedes, and it also means “cowlick” in Spanish, and Pootie Pie, who’s formal name is Luna, but I call her Pootie. They all have the same characteristics, these little dogs throughout my life. They’re lapdogs, but they also have independence and they all have the same kind of spirit. Whenever I can, I have a bigger dog. I had a really great dog called Billy that I found on a railroad track up in Las Vegas, New Mexico. He died a couple of years ago. I loved Billy so much. I’d like to have many, many more dogs than I do, but I have at least two at any given time.
Why multiple pets?
Having one pet is putting all your love, like eggs, in one basket. So I recommend having multiple pets. The most rewarding thing about being around animals is their devotion, protection, watchfulness, their sharing, their tacit approval–all in all, their company. They don't ask questions. They just understand the answers.
We've read that your California ranch is home to a range of animals.
For thirty years I've had a farm in the Central valley where I've raised cats, dogs, ducks, chickens, goats, pigs, peacocks, ostrich, sheep, two cows, mustangs, Arabs, miniature ponies, Quarter Horses, and children.
Diana Vreeland once said in an interview, “I mean, the world without a leopard, who’d want to be there?”
I couldn’t agree more!
What do you think she might have to say about animal rights if she were around today? Or maybe, what did she say about it back during your Vogue days?
Well, back then, it was all about fur. No one really thought that much about cruelty to animals. When I was growing up in Ireland and England, there was the R.S.P.C.A. [Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals]. It was kind of a remote organization run by a few angry old ladies, but they did great work. When I was growing up, cruelty to animals was widespread and now there’s a much more conscious effort on the part of people to look after animals.
When we encounter something like, you know, this idiot who killed Cecil the Lion, it’s a huge outrage and that’s a new thing. When I was growing up, a lot of people went to Africa to shoot game, and it wasn’t considered in the least bit alarming to take down not only lions and tigers, but water buffalos, elephants—you know, anything you felt like killing.