We've all seen Paris Hilton swanning about Hollywood with her pet chihuahua, Tinkerbell. Plenty of other socialites and It girls now slavishly follow her example, and the fashion for "accessory dogs" is catching on in rich cliques across the globe.
But ask 39-year-old Juliette Piesley why she's never seen without her dog and she'll assure you it has nothing to do with Ms Hilton.
No, she's been carrying George around everywhere because he makes her car start.
Juliette first realised that her pet had unusual powers when she was left stranded in Addlestone, Surrey. She tried everything to start the engine, including changing the batteries on her electric key fob, but the car simply wouldn't respond to the key.
Exasperated, she called her breakdown service.
Kevin Gorman, the AA patrolman who came to her aid, noticed the immobiliser chip was missing from her keyring. Had Juliette had removed it when changing the batteries on her key fob? It turned out she had. She also mentioned that George had eaten something while she was struggling with the car.
In a flash of inspiration, Patrolman Gorman deduced that the dog had swallowed the immobiliser. He sat George on the front seat and turned the key - and of course the engine roared into life.
"I was glad to get the car started for the member," Gorman said afterward.
"They will now have to take George with them in the car until things take their natural course," he added, cryptically.
Lee-Anne Bass, one of the woman car insurance specialists at CoverGirl Car Insurance Services, said "Having to carry a dog on her lap whilst driving constitutes a pretty major distraction.
"It could well affect Juliette's woman car insurance premium - so let's hope things with George "take their natural course" before motor insurance renewal time," she added.