Full name: Reginald R. Ragamuffin the Third
Nicknames: Rags
Occupation: Carters family dog From:
Carter adopted his family's 19-year-old dog Rags. Rags is aged (23 years old) ailing, suicidal and just wants to "end it all." He is seen licking light sockets, trying to jump off a window sill, and eating pills, but he haven’t yet been lucky enough to kill him self.
Rags has medication for itching, wheezing, and diarrhoea among other prescriptions. He is loosing his coat, teeth and vision, but he still have his health, or at least enough to stay alive.
Rag's full name is Reginald R. Ragamuffin the Third. He is the only dog on the block who can growl his own initials "RRR." His owner, Carter likes to dress Rags in matching outfits. So, if Carter wears a pair of pyjamas with tiger strips, Rags will be seen modelling his own matching set of pyjamas.

Rags has had many adventures. He's pooped in Stuart Bondek's shoe, which later made Stuart give him away as a gift to Heidi Klum to score, but without any luck. The Mayor of New York City fell in love with him after filming an animal rights film, and while under the care of Caitlin Moore, Rags swallowed Deputy Mayor Charlie Crawford's bleeper.

One day, after Carter brought Rags to work, he got killed by a Statue of Liberty paperweight that “accidentally” toppled off a shelf onto the unsuspecting canine, while Paul was watching him. Much to Rags' disappointment, he was resurrected by the hand of a man named Owen Joyce who claimed he was the Messiah.
"Rags" has been heard begging for help with his suicidal attempts on a number of occasions. Celebrities have supplied their voices to Rag's morbid musings. They included David Letterman in "Dead Dog Talking", Tim Allen in "The Kidney's All Right" and Regis Philbin in "Back to the Future IV- Judgment Day". The episode "Dead Dog Talking" carried the caption at the end dedicated: "To Rags, 1846 - 1998." and it was a tribute to Kirk J. Rudell's former dog, with the same name.

Rags is played by doggie star Wes, a.k.a. Uncle Wesley. Bruce Pelaccio is his trainer. The dog's agent is Cathryn Long of All Creatures Great & Small of NY. Wesley is owned by a New York City woman, Ruth Powell, who loves Rags as a friend and a pet. Wes has served as a Chair Dog for the ASPCA's 1999 Dog Walk and Woofstock in New York City.

Ruth Powell on how she got "Rags":
In 1996, his owner Ruth Powell met a breeder at the Westminster Dog Show. As much as she wanted a Brussels Griffon, Ruth didn't want to adopt a puppy. Shortly after the show, the breeder told her that he had a 5-year old stud that was available for adoption. "I took one look at Wesley," remembers Ruth "and it was love at first sight."
Originally, Ruth planned to breed Wesley with other Brussels Griffons that shared the same distinctive look but she never found another dog to mate him with. Contented to just have an affectionate pet dog, she would take Wesley on walks but, wherever they went, people would stop to comment on his looks. "I couldn't go anywhere without someone asking me what kind of dog Wesley is or just making remarks about how cute he is. When this started to happen, I began training him at home. Shortly afterwards, I sent his professional photos to agents in Manhattan."
Almost immediately, Wesley found an agent with All Creatures Great & Small. "Spin City," which up until April 2000 was taped in New York City, had a casting call out for a dog and without an audition or screen test, Wesley was hired.

As a television actor, Wesley is worth even more than other purebred dogs. Even before he became a star, Ruth valued him enough to purchase pet insurance policy with Veterinary Pet Insurance. "I believe that when you adopt a pet you are taking on the responsibility of keeping them healthy," says Ruth. "Shortly after I got Wesley, I took out a policy with VPI, same insurance company I had policies with for my other dogs. It wasn't even something I thought about; it was just something I knew a responsible pet owner does."
With Michael J. Fox's departure from the series and Charlie Sheen now starring in the show, there will be changes this season. The action will still take place in Manhattan with Mayor Winston still getting himself into all kinds of trouble, but the actual filming will now be done in Los Angeles. Wesley is such an important part of the show that he will fly to Los Angeles in October and spend a few months with a trainer and then head back home when filming has been completed for the season.
Until filming begins again, Wesley is leading a good life in Manhattan. Ruth continues to take him on walks where people now recognize him as the "Spin City" dog. And when a fan requests a pawograph, Wesley is always happy to oblige.
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The Brussels Griffon breed is believed to have been produced by crossing affenpinschers with the pug, and possibly the toy spaniels.