From the “Here’s Something You Don’t See Every Day” category is this immense Boston Terrier statue situated at the base of the sign in front of the New Americana Theatre in Bronson, Missouri. Built in 2012, it’s a permanent tribute to the Todd Oliver Show in which Oliver, a “dog ventriloquist”, incorporates (wait for it) dogs! We don’t know how he it does it (a fake mouth attached to the dog is a good guess), or if it’s even funny, but appearances on “The Late Late show, “The Today Show” the David Letterman show,” “The Howie Mandell Show,” and “Walker Texas Ranger” suggest he has fans.  You decide:

The act started as a hobby that in Oliver’s own words, “got out of hand.” Eventually, he put on a comedian act for Season 7 of America’s Got Talent. He was eliminated in the Quarterfinals in the Judges’ Choice, but he returned for the Wild Card Show. He was later eliminated again in the Semifinals in the Judges’ Choice.

Oliver used to have a Basset Hound that lived a good long life,  but more recently, his two Boston terriers (Irving Jr. and Irving Sr.) are part of the act. At home, they are part of the pet brood that also includes two cockatiels, five linnies (a type of parakeet) and a Netherland dwarf bunny named “Ellis.” Backstage there’s a doggy bed, and when the Bostons are in that bed, they know they’re either going to be going on stage with their owner, or coming offstage. They love the love they get in the reception line after the show, and to naysayers who say that animals shouldn’t be in show business, Oliver says that they shouldn’t be mistreated in show business. Dogs like having a job, and Oliver’s dogs are no different. He regards his dogs as family pets who happen to go to work with him.