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Meredith Wagner - A Unique Breed of Excellence
Meredith Wagner, Lifetime Television's Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Corporate Communications, is impressive in all aspects of her life. Her trademark: tireless conscientiousness to issues that matter. Wagner does the research and gets the results that make a difference in the lives of others. Then end of the day, Coolidge, a rescued soft-coated Wheaten Terrier is waiting for her.
Coolidge is a super casual pooch - understated nobility. He evokes an image of a suntanned urbane man lounging in a velvet smoking jacket. If words could be attached to his wheaten greetin' (Wikipedia indexed), when mom arrives home the dialogue would simply go: |
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Meredith: Hi, I'm home.
Coolidge: Can I make make a martini for you?
Meredith: That would be great.
(Coolidge nose-nudges a martini over to Meredith, spilling most of it.)
Coolidge: Now tell me all about your day.
Coolidge's self-appointed role is to amuse his mom, not in a comedic way but with a genuine understanding that life is meant to be lived. Fast pace? Not Coolidge's style. His joie de vivre is connected to a sense of survival. We'll share his childhood story with you in a minute.
Meredith, a lifetime pet owner of various breeds (Basset, mutt, a couple of Collies and Hoover, a beloved run-the-household four pound cat), found her breed passion in 1988. The love affair began at South Street seaport in Manhattan. When she laid eyes on a Wheaten for the first time. "I thought he was the cutest dog. Really unusual," says Wagner. |
Though having a long history, in the 1980's soft-coated Wheaten Terriers (SCWT) were barely on the canine radar screen. They are a native breed of Ireland, their ancestory dating back to prehistoric times. Ancient Romans so admired the terrier that they reproduced its likeness on coins, musical instruments and tapestries. The United States first began importing the breed in 1946. They gained offical recognition by the American Kennel Club in 1973.
The terrier was once considered the poor man's dog. Not anymore. Consider where Coolidge prefers to spend his time: Bergdorf Goodman, Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and Dolce & Gabbana. At each upscale boutique he finds his personal biscuit giver whom he immediately brings into complete submission with peekaboo-eyes hidden behind bangs that are soft, wavy and cascading. Like Pomo, WOOF Patrol's mascot, Coolidge shares a fondness for the upscale meaning that he prefers the comfort of an Armani store over a Banana Republic and that the atmosphere in Barney's is more appealing and less traumatic to a pooch like him, than Wal-Mart.
WOOF Patrol: Are dogs allowed at Lifetime?
Meredith Wagner: No. But it's my fantasy. Dogs have always been a part of my life. They add balance. I can't imagine being without one.
At the beginning of the interview Coolidge greeted us, not with a bark but rather a well managed "how-do-you-do" sniff. Everything he does is with a feng shui balance. He understands his limits. At six months old, he was left behind in a pet shop. It happens more often than people realize. The little doggy in the window sometimes stays unsold and left in a cage. At the time, Rosie, Meredith's first Wheaten, was 16 years old and had health issues that required special attention. Out of necessity, Rosie was sent to New Hampshire to live with Meredith's parents where "granddog" was warmly embraced.
Meredith and Hoover (we'll get to this kitty) were caught in an emotional vortex of knowing that they were doing the right thing by Rosie. However, they were both accostumed to having a dog in the house so when they received an email from friend, Terrie Pologianis alerting them to a sickly one that needed a home the timing was right.
M.W.: He had never been out of his cage. His muscles weren't defined and his stomach was a mess. Coolidge could walk only half a block before collasping to the ground. He was afraid of everything.
Looking around Wagner's spacious Park Avenue apartment, you notice its welcoming. Her coffee table is a refurbished antique barn door that reveals both her sophistication and a down-to-earth sensibility. Early on, Coolidge understood that he had found not only his home but his sanctury.
Meredith's personal photos of her pets include a portrait of her pint-sized matriarch, Hoover. Over the course of the cat's 22 years, she broke in 4 dogs and survived cancer. While Meredith was visiting her parents, Hoover passed away in her arms. |
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M.W.: I always worried what would happen (to Hoover). I think she had a stroke and was not well that night. In the morning she was in my arms. She did me favor, I wasn't alone. My parent's helped me.
W.P.: Pet bereavement is very real. It's emotionally impacting on an owner.
M.W.: She slept on top of my head. I knew at 22, she would not be with me much longer. I had her for a huge stretch of my life. My friends with pets understood that for me it was losing a family member. People from around the country that knew about Hoover sent sympathy cards and condolence emails. Coolidge knew. He was incredibly sensitive to my emotions.
W.P.: Do you have advice to offer others going through a loss of their pet?
M.W.: Take pictures of your pets. You'll be so happy you did. |
Rosie, Meredith & Coolidge |
Meredith Wagner, spearheaded the passage of The Debbie Smith Act, which was signed on October 30, 2004 to eliminate the backlog of DNA evidence from crime scenes and could potentially put ten of thousands of rapists behind bars. She also created Lifetime's trusted and multi-tiered campaigns known as "Our Lifetime Commitment." They include the following initiatives:
- Stop Breast Cancer for Life - (since 1994)
- Every Woman Counts - (since 2000 - inspiring and empowering woman to know the issues, register, vote and consider running for office themselves in the future.)
- Stop Violence against Women (since 2002)
*Photos courtesy of Meredith Wagner 
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