Good news, ladies! It looks like Mickey Rourke now needs a date for the Oscars. Unfortunately, this development has come at the expense of Rourke’s longtime companion, Loki, the 18-year-old Chihuahua who has been at the actor’s side throughout the red carpet season. The poor critter passed away on Monday, less than a week before the Academy Awards ceremony (and, as Defamer points out, this tragic event happened too late for the beloved pooch to qualify for the annual “In Memoriam” segment.)

As the owner of a Chihuahua-American myself, this news hits me particularly hard. And while I don’t necessarily want to place any blame for this tragedy on the grieving owner, I do wonder if the notoriously hard-partying Rourke overestimated the geriatric Loki’s ability to keep up with the rigorous award season party schedule. My boy Maury is only ten, and he needs a nap after a particularly strenuous poop. On the other hand, part of me wonders if this is all a publicity stunt designed to win over any swing voters in the Academy. I guess we’ll know if Mickey shows up to accept his award with Loki tucked under his arm. But don’t show up on the red carpet with a new doggie, Mick! Too soon.

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