A tan and white Shetland Sheepdog, Matisse is British, and considers himself a philanthropooch. He's refined and fastidious with good taste and very good manners.

Fast Facts:
Matisse is highly educated with an Oxford education (Oxford University of Doggy Obedience), M.D.O.-Master of Doggy Obedience-Order of the Good Canine, Phi Bow-wow Kappa, Knight of the Chewed Garterbelt.

Matisse's owner, Jane
Matisse's female human owner--known as Jane Spencer to her friends. Matisse simply calls her Mistress. Jane is a diplomat with the British government. Matisse is her best friend and companion. She has no clue of Matisse's secret life.

Margie and Dennis
The animal control officers, Sergeant Margie, a heavy set gal with a thick Minnesotan accent and Dennis, her sidekick (the Barney Fife of animal control), help catch the strays. They lurk around every corner, giving all pets a reason to look over their shoulders for fear of being caught and sent to animal jail. Margie and Dennis chase Red for his many misadventures.

Melman
The neighborhood mailman. The target of Red's obsession. He comes up with new and innovative ways to deliver the mail, but Red's pranks supersede all his efforts. Poor Melman is Red's favorite plaything.
Matisse's niece, Madison, is a mix breed dog. She is all that epitomizes a teenager. She's full of puppy curiosity, energy, and getting into mischief and trouble: much to Matisse's dismay!

Fast Facts:
Madison is an orphan and doesn't know she's adopted. She loves to play games like extreme fetch with her puppy pals.
Matisse's best friend; Red is a Labrador Retriever. He is handsome, self-confident and laid back; an all-American dog and a real slob. He is happy go lucky and loves sneaking up on the mailman.

Fast Facts:
Red loves all kinds of sports especially baseball.
A street-smart streak of L.A., Javier is the squirrel voice of the treetops, with one ear to the ground. Living with his extended family in the huge tree between the Embassy and Red's house, Javier has connections all over the city. More interested in the squirrel Stock Exchange then in politics, Javier is the bushy-tailed Greek chorus to the goings on in the neighborhood. Red chases him just for fun, sometimes, but Javier takes it in stride.

A pigeon on the outs, with one foot missing. He lives off the street, eating out of garbage cans and picking up whatever crumbs he can find. For a slice of bread he'd sell out his mama. Trying to evade all the dangers of city life; cars, cats and flying predators, he has made a temporary home across the street from Matisse and Red.

A gopher who took a wrong turn around Mt. Fuji and ended up in the middle of Red's front lawn. Takuya, is an expert in martial arts and his special love--spelunking. Though he's Japanese, Takuya is more Jackie Chan than Musashi--friendly, open, daring, easily excited and occasionally goofy. He's considered a pest by the two-legged world, but his engineering genius, tireless nature and open heart have made him a cherished friend to the animal world. Red likes him like a chew-toy, Matisse underestimates him, Benny and Takuya communicate in a spiritiual language of their own and Javier identifies with his methodical nature. Bufords hates him. But then, Buford hates everybody.
A very cool orange tabby cat; who loves catnip and music. Benny and Red live together in the same household but often don't get along.

Benny likes his catnip and listening to the latest music. He is amazingly graceful despite his weight. Contrary, mysterious and running on his own timetable, Benny refuses to acknowledge humans as the dominant species. And though being seen with dogs is not very cool, Benny is far too cool to care. He helps Matisse and Red when it suits him to do so and tolerates Buford with benign detachment.