Dog Stardom!

Happy Friday everyone!

If you have seen Marley & Me, you might know the  face of Rudy. I thought this was a short and sweet article on Rudy, who knew the dogs used in the movie would come from a shelter! Just goes to show sheltered dogs are well trained and behaved.

I guess Pet Dreams really do come true!

From Shelter To Stardom: A Dog's Story

A Tampa Bay star has hit the big screen and fans can't get enough.

One of the Labrador retrievers used in the movie "Marley and Me" is a local. The dog, Rudy, ended up at a Hillsborough County Animal Services shelter as a stray eight years ago. The agency contacted Labrador Retriever Rescue of Florida, and Susan Wooley, of Temple Terrace, adopted him.

When the producers of "Marley and Me" were looking for dogs to play the title role, they e-mailed the rescue center. In all, 22 dogs were involved in the movie, with Rudy among the older canine cast members.

In Tinseltown, where even canines get star treatment, Rudy was no exception. He spent a week in Hollywood with a special trainer and costar Jennifer Aniston. He even had his own swimming pool.

Now Rudy is back home. He greeted moviegoers outside of Muvico in Tampa Palms today.

"It couldn't have happened to a nicer dog," Wooley said of her pet's Hollywood adventure. "But Rudy is happy to be home."