Carrie Preston and Michael Emerson have found true love — and not just with each other. Six years ago, the New York–based couple adopted a poodle-Maltese mix they found on PetFinder, and their lives have not been the same since.
“Michael and I have been together for going on 22 years,” Preston, 49, tells Us Weekly Video in the newest installment of our “Meet My Pet” series. “We talk about our lives B.C. and A.C. — Before Chumley and After Chumley.”
The pooch, named for a speakeasy in New York City’s West Village, captured the True Blood actress’ heart right away. “When I started looking on PetFinder, I saw this little face,” she recalls. “Something spoke to me and I said, ‘This is the dog.’ They described him as serious. And I thought, ‘I like that idea of a serious dog.'”
Emerson, 61, notes that Chumley is “not real social” with other dogs. But he loves his humans. “He may not think he’s a dog,” the Lost actor quips. Adds Preston: “He prefers to be with the pack. And we’re the pack.”
Both stars have busy schedules, what with their TV commitments and all — Emerson just wrapped the final season of Person of Interest, while Preston stars in the upcoming miniseries When We Rise — but they always make time for their pup.
“I like having a dog because it anchors your day,” the actress tells Us. “And it gets you out of your head.”
Meet Chumley in our exclusive “Meet My Pet” video above!
