Preceded by a "For Patrick Swayze" screen. The actor, who died on September 14, 2009, starred in Roadhouse and Ghost, which were two of the movies referenced/spoofed in this episode he is the first celebrity to be memoralized in the series.
Determined in season seven that Brian was at least eight years old; so he would be about 56 in dog years. Which would make Rita actually younger than he is mature wise.