My dog Peggy’s DNA was tested: She is a sausage-shaped muddle of basset hound, spaniel, pit bull, and German Shepherd. I had no expectations for Peggy, I knew she was a mutt. But what if you have shelled out thousands for a specific breed? This is what investigative journalist Paul Morgan-Bentley faced with his dog, Eddie. While Eddie was supposedly a cavapoo, Morgan-Bentley’s suspicions grew—until a DNA test finally proved he had been duped. (Don’t worry, Eddie is still very loved despite being a fraud.)
The doubt about Eddie’s true nature has bothered me. I am head of investigations at The Times, overseeing a team of investigative journalists. I am meant to be good at sniffing out a lie, acting on that niggling feeling when something does not feel quite right, and getting to the truth. It has become a matter of pride. When I work from home, I occasionally look down and there is Eddie lying in his fluffy bed, tilting his silly head, looking me in the eyes and mocking me with his long snout. Of course he’s not a bloody cavapoo. I decided to go in search of the evidence.
More picks on dogs
Friends in Low Places
“At the buda wiener dog races, big personalities come in small packages.”
How to Save a Dog
“For nearly a year, a motley crew scoured New Orleans for a shaggy white mutt named Scrim.”
He Handles Custody Disputes, Death Row Cases, and Biters. He’s Salem’s Dog Lawyer.
“Once a reluctant law student, Jeremy Cohen is now one of the country’s fiercest advocates for canine clients and their owners.”
Inside California’s Brutal Underground Market for Puppies: Neglected Dogs, Deceived Owners, Big Profits
“Buyers are often fooled into thinking they’re supporting reputable, local breeders, but are instead fueling a trade in which some puppies are born and raised in horrific conditions.”
A Rescue Dog Saved Him From Addiction
“I’ll give her the best four months possible.”
