Q. Olive, we understand there’s an interesting story about how you and Annie met.
A. Annie was working for Mike Meyers, and his assistant Emma had a Maltese, Lois Pearl--a dear, dear friend. Naturally, Annie became smitten with Lois and decided she had to have a Maltese, too. I mean, what’s not to like, right? So she located me out in Victorville, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Q. So you’re a country girl...
A. I come from Victorville, it’s true. But my family is descended from old and distinguished stock. Mr. Charles Darwin himself traced the Maltese line to the year 6,000 B.C. We were esteemed by the ancient Greeks and worshipped by the Egyptians. We were the favored dog of many a European court.

Q. Were you sad to leave Victorville behind?
A. The people in Victorville are salt of the earth, don’t get me wrong. But when Annie told me we were moving to Beverly Hills, I had my bags packed in six seconds flat. Of course I didn’t know we were moving south of Olympic Boulevard.

Q. Or that you would have to work for a living.
A. That was a rude awakening. I like to sleep in, get up around noon, have a little nosh. Annie has me up at the crack of dawn, working all day--we’re not home till dark! It is not the pampered life I was groomed for.

Q. Can you describe your duties?
A. Well I have to keep the other dogs in line, in the car and during our walks. They’re a rowdy bunch--sweet, but a little rough around the edges. And let’s face it, some of them are none too bright. They need a strong hand.

Q. Excuse us, but you’re only 5 pounds. How do manage to control up to eight dogs when most of them weigh 100 pounds more than you do?
A. How did Queen Victoria rule half of the world? It’s called presence, my dear.

Q. Still, it must be hard work.
A. Well I am fit, as you can see. And being on the trail every day I do require extra grooming. I mean, just because you work for a living mean doesn’t mean you let yourself go.

Q. What’s Annie Lever like?
A. She’s my best friend. We work together, we play together. Mostly we just laugh at others.

Q. No dark side? No “wire hanger” stories?
A. If you think you’re going to get a whiff of scandal from me, you’re barking up the wrong dog. You can wait for my memoirs, like everyone else.

Q. Sorry. One final question--what does the future hold for Olive Pearl?
A. Movies, a book deal--I have several projects in development. Eventually, I would like to live on an island somewhere, like Claudette Colbert. I hear Malta is nice.