1. On September 5, 1998 I was hired by this suddenly late and great fellow's otherworldly guides. A spiritual man in life he was immediately concerned about his beloved Akita named, affectionately, 'Yojimbo' - and I was happy to see to the pure-bred and gentle animal (who was grieving his newly deceased owner soundly). His master had won three Academy Awards and any number of other international accolades for his work in cinema. This could easily explain the dog's name, which had me perplexed at first. Who was Yojimbo's owner? Note: As I left the house I noticed the time on the mantle clock. It read '7'. Magnificent! I was right on schedule... Akira Kurosawa Toshiro Mifune Jerome Robbins Orson Welles

2. On August 2, 1998 I was called to exercise the dog of an entertainer who had passed away that day, and I remember the sadness I (and all the others, both young and still young at heart) had felt upon the news. Such pleasures, puppets, silly things that talked when spoken to, and never a condescending moment to the youngsters who had grown up paying attention, wide-eyed with all of it! The dog that awaited me, a little Chihuahua not bigger than a large sock, batted its long eyelashes at me as I found her. She was ready to have a short run by the looks of things. "Come along, Chopsticks!" I invited, and the little thing recognized her name immediately and off we went. Whose dog was Chopsticks? Bob Keeshan (of "Captain Kangaroo") Shari Lewis (of "The Shari Lewis Show") "Buffalo" Bob Smith (of "Howdy Doody") Fran Allison (of "Kukla, Fran and Ollie")

3. On October 12, 1998 I got an assignment that I dreaded. Yes, even I whose days are themed with the dying, occasionally become saddened to the core when my job(s) find me. In this case a young man from Wyoming had been beaten most cruelly and left to die hanging from a fence. He'd lingered to life for five days after being discovered there but finally could hang on no longer. In this case it was not the boy's dog but the pet of his mother, Judy, who needed my help. The poor woman had lost so much! Her son was gone, her faith in human nature shattered with him (but I could sense this woman was a fighter through and through). I headed west in a hurry to lend a hand in her time of need. Who was Judy's son? Michael Ryland Bassett Stuart Mulligan Springer Timothy Albert Grayhound Matthew Wayne Shepard

4. One assignment came upon this dog owner's death on July 5, 1998. I remember the atrocious traffic on Michigan Avenue as I neared my destination and was daunted to find an extremely large pooch, a Rottweiler named 'Bear', eagerly awaiting my strolling assistance. He was saddened at the loss of his master, to be sure, but was (to my relief) a lovable big pooch with a deadly good aim as our duties progressed. It would seem he had some Hall of Fame athletic skills, much like his late owner sported as well. Whose dog was Bear? Ray Nitschke Junius Kellogg Sid Luckman Jim Murray

5. March 10, 1998 marked the end of the road for reliable American actor Lloyd Bridges and I was called to help with his Golden Retriever, a fine swimmer named 'Nelson' and a most friendly dog. It would seem that he took after his master, an affable sort and noteworthy family man who had lived 85 productive years. I remembered Mr. Bridges so well (as Nelson and I sought out a fire hydrant) from that absolutely hilarious 1980 movie "Airplane" - just thinking about it got me giggling again. As the doggie relieved himself I was trying to think of Lloyd's character's name in that movie. I was stumped, though. Can you tell me what it was? Rumack Murdoch McCroskey Striker

6. May 28, 1998 called for my somber services once again - this time regarding the end of a man's life that was lived both long and colorfully indeed. I climbed off the plane in a warm (rather pleasant) climate and awaiting me was a friendly stranger escorting a somewhat stern-looking bulldog named Flagstaff (but I liked his conservatively designed collar and, after a pat on the head or two, he seemed an honest and loyal mutt). We marched to the nearest sidewalk where he wanted to go for a good run, so I complied. It seemed Flagstaff liked to run, but he wasn't so successful at it. Whose recently deceased politician/spokesperson's pet was I running with? Tell me and I'll give you a Daisy! George Wallace Barry Goldwater Benjamin Spock Curtis T. McMullen

7. My phone rang on November 22, 1998 and, once again, my services were required in Las Vegas. It seemed another one had died too young. My immediate reaction was that a life lived in smoke-filled "joints", embarking on endeavors both engaging but fraught with destructive influences, presenting a brilliance that was no better than relying on chance - well, it was sometimes not meant to last. I went and collected a scruffy little pup. His name was 'Hoyle' and he was a frisky mutt with a heavy heart that night. His master had "cashed in", so to speak. Who was little Hoyle's former owner and friend? Wendy O. Williams, punk ruck musician/performance artist Kerry Thornley, counter-culture guru/contemporary philosopher Junior Wells, harmonica player/jazz and blues singer Stu Ungar, gin rummy/poker champion

8. A messenger arrived at my door in the wee hours of May 28, 1998. The parents of a very noteworthy celebrity were, amongst other things tragic and real, hoping they could hire me. Their son's wife had just lost her life to a gunshot wound and none of it was sensible or fair for any of them. The dog in need of help was named "Bill McNeal" (a name I recognized, having watched my share of TV series and entertainment specials). I agreed to board a plane post haste to Los Angeles. To the house of which celebrated lost soul was I headed? Lil' "Bow Wow" Robert Blake Phil Hartman James Spader

9. How eerie, I thought, that I was reading the newest detective novel when my next assignment found me on February 7, 1998. This time the dog that needed my care upon the death of her owner was a most engaging beagle named, appropriately, 'Anderson'. Her owner, the prolific and always hard-to-put-down author Lawrence Sanders, had passed on to that big precinct in the sky that day at 77. In literally dozens of bestselling novels, Mr. Sanders had created many a character (both law abiding and some a good deal less so). Which of the following is NOT a detective/sleuth created by Lawrence Sanders? Joshua Bigg Archie McNally Edward Delaney Petra Connor

10. I remember January 5, 1998 as being very cold where I was, quite snowy! So when the call came with that unexpected news of the death of this fellow I know that my blood flowed even colder for a moment. It was his ex-wife on the phone alerting me to his fatal accident (and, really, I just couldn't believe I was talking to both an Oscar-winning actress AND a woman who had been an idol of mine for decades). I quickly agreed to help and, grief stricken as she was, she managed to tell me the little Italian greyhound puppy in my care would answer to 'Salvatore'. Before I hung up I told the entirely bereft woman: "Believe! He's in a better place now. And know that, throughout all the ups and downs, you two were a good combination...". With that I was on my way. Who had died that sad day? Answer: (Two Words)