June 8, 2009

(ZT Pet News Photo Courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment. All rights reserved)

Kyra Sedgwick Carries Fifth Season of The Closer: TNT's blockbuster hit returns to prime time this evening with an explosive season premier that will have crime drama fans, and pet owners, equally on the edge of their seats thanks to Sedgwick's powerful performance.

NEW YORK -- Tough cookie Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson, played by Kyra Sedgwick, may mistakenly call her female cat, a "he" but her attachment to her pet, named Kitty, becomes strikingly clear throughout the season premier of TNT's The Closer.

Airing tonight at 9 EST, Sedgwick, a Golden Globe winner for her role as Johnson, delivers another poignant performance which has made the cable series a blockbuster.

Facing a quadruple homicide -- a grisly crime where a grandmother, mother and two children were shot execution style -- the LAPD homicide unit struggles to cope in piecing together the case.

Each detective shows signs of their own personal connection to the case -- with their own heartaches brought to surface by identifying with similar losses embodied in the homicide case.

For Johnson, peppered through the episode, which chronicles a three-day investigation, the conflict lies in helplessness.

After the first day's investigation, Johnson first arrives home to greet -- in normal everyday fashion -- Kitty and her husband, FBI Agent Fritz Howard, played by Jon Tenney.

But the normal routine quickly begins to slip away as Johnson learns that Kitty's sudden fickle eating behavior might mean something more serious.

Johnson's bond with Kitty parallels the premier's explosive plot, says James Duff, the series creator and executive producer.

"She's projecting the exact details of the case onto Kitty -- where the guy left his house at breakfast and he came back and his family was gone," said Duff in an interview with ZT Pet News.

Having worked Kitty into the plot at episode three, Duff says the pet has been a symbolic tool for showing that Johnson and other real-life detectives are just "normal people doing (a really hard job) and they are sent out there to deal with extraordinarily terrible people."

Dressed in feminine lines of various pink hues, Johnson's soft appearance starkly contrasts her stalwart demeanour despite the harrowing turns the murder investigation takes throughout the course of three days.

But Kitty is Johnson's escape.

"It gives her a chance to project what she can't do at work -- she can't be seen at work weeping at crime scenes," Duff explained. "She can't be seen as overly grief stricken.

"But all of that does not go away."

Known as "the closer," Johnson lives up to her reputation in an emotionally intense and exhausting interrogation which puts the case to bed and the murderer behind bars.

Eager for the comfort of her furry friend, Johnson walks through the door calling for Kitty. The house is ominously still, until her husband, Howard, emerges with news that the vet had to keep Kitty overnight.

"Then she says, 'how come I couldn't' see this happening,' " recounted Duff. "It's the moment she realizes Kitty is much sicker than she thought ... so we are going to see her struggle with this for a while."

Embracing the theme of "change," this is The Closer's fifth season as it leads the network's programming for female-driven, emotionally packed dramas which also includes Saving Grace and HawthoRNe.

TIPS FOR RECOGNIZING AND CARING FOR A SICK PET Courtesy of American Humane Association

1. Keep in mind that animals will generally attempt to mask signs of illness. This behavior is a natural instinct that is used for protection in the wild where any animal showing signs of weakness is likely to be shunned by its own kind and/or attacked by predators.

2. Be aware that any subtle change in your pet’s appearance or behavior could indicate illness. Some signs to watch for include:

o Decrease or loss of appetite

o Decrease in energy or activity level

o Hiding

o Vomiting or diarrhea

o Blood in the urine or stool

o Bloating of the abdomen

o Straining or inability to urinate or defecate

o Increased shedding or bald patches

o Excessive scratching or licking of the body

o Foul odor coming from the mouth, ears, or skin

o Discharge from the eyes or nose

o Limping

o Seizures

o Reluctance or difficulty in getting up or going up and down stairs

o Abnormal vocalization (whining or crying)

3. Know which signs indicate an emergency that requires immediate veterinary care and which require veterinary care if they continue for more than a day or two. Symptoms that indicate an emergency include the inability to urinate, a bloated hard abdomen, excessive vomiting or diarrhea, seizures, and the inability to stand up. Other less severe signs of illness should be checked by a veterinarian within 24 to 48 hrs.

4. Once you have taken a sick pet to your veterinarian, you may need to continue medical care at home in the form of medication, special foods, or supportive physical care. Here are some tips on handling the daily care of a sick pet:

o Make sure you know the correct dose and understand how to give medications prescribed by your veterinarian. Your veterinarian knows that medicating a pet can be challenging and he will be glad to give you a demonstration and some extra coaching if you need it.

o Keep in mind that a sick pet should be kept in a quiet environment and he may prefer to be left alone. Make sure that young children and other pets do not bother him. You may need to keep your sick pet in a separate room or area of the house.

o If your veterinarian has prescribed a special food for your sick pet, make sure that you feed him separately from other pets. Also be sure that all members of your household are aware of your pet’s special dietary needs and understand that even small amounts of treats or other types of foods could be harmful.

o Be aware of any special physical needs that your sick pet may have. Some medications may cause your pet to drink and urinate more so you may need to walk him or clean his litter box more frequently. If your pet is having difficulty walking or going up and down stairs, you may need to help him. Ask your veterinarian to show you the correct way to assist your pet so that you will not hurt him.

5. Report any worsening symptoms or new symptoms to your veterinarian immediately, as these could indicate that your pet’s illness has become more serious. New symptoms could also be side effects of your pet’s medication. Your veterinarian may want to re-examine your pet or he may simply change your pet’s medication.

6. Be sure to finish all medications as prescribed by your veterinarian and take your pet back to your veterinarian for any recommended recheck exams or diagnostic tests. Even if your pet seems completely better to you, it is very important that you adhere to your veterinarian’s instructions. Even if your pet does not look or act sick anymore, there could still be an underlying illness that could recur if you don’t follow through on all of your veterinarian’s recommendations.

Robin Wallace, editor of Zootoo Pet News, can be e-mailed at rwallace@zootoo.com.