Chihuahua -- "Legally Blonde"

The magazine "Healthy Pet" this month has a wonderful article about "Chico", the chihuahua in LB. (unfortunately, the mag. doesn't have the articles online---it's a magazine sent to pet rescuers).
It explains how many broadway animals come from shelters and are often fearless, often aggresive animals. Chico had been tied up by his former owners and left outside in winters. As a result, he bit many shelter workers and shivered in fear in the shelter cage, but was very confident out. The theatrical trainer (who happened to be in the Newark shelter), Bill Berloni, immediately knew that the "fearless pooch had potential" and trained him for the show.
The article explained that, "while searching for the next canine Hollywood star, often it's the difficult dogs who are the pick of the litter. Rescue dogs usually make wonderful movie dogs--they're typically dogs who didn't fit in at home because they're extremely smart and have tons of energy"

The article ended by saying that "In the two years since Chico bit his future trainer---he has gone on to thrive on Broadway. He's slowly become more comfortable with strangers and has learned to trust humans again"

Anyway---as an animal lover (and rescuer), I was very touched by this story.

Updated On: 9/5/08 at 01:54 PM

I love and adore Bill Berloni for only using animals from shelters.

He started his career with the original Broadway production of ANNIE and continues to train animals for Broadway shows, etc.

Love ya, Bill!

Here's a link to his website: http://www.theatricalanimals.com/index.php

Awwww!

Thanks for the article. I wonder if Chloe/"Rufus" the Bulldog was rescued from a shelter too. All of my animals were strays or shelter animals. They make good pets cause they're so grateful to have loving homes.

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His dogs are on TV, in films and often on Broadway. Right now, Chico plays Bruiser in "Legally Blonde." He is Elle Woods' sidekick.

BooBoo and Teddy are Chico's understudies. And Chloe plays Rufus in the show. Zizi is her backup. And believe it or not, Berloni rescued all the dogs from shelters.

"All five of these dogs were at risk of being euthanized, and nobody was going to adopt them," he said. "But there was nothing wrong with them. They may have a little baggage here and there, but a little love and kindness and positive reinforcement, you know, you could fix these dogs."

And turn them into stars. Berloni and Rob Cox train each dog for about a year to get them stage ready.

Chico sometimes falls asleep on stage, and Chloe has been known to cough. But through primping and costume changes, these dogs seem to really enjoy their stage lives.

Broadway certainly beats being in a shelter, and that's something Berloni hopes audiences take away with them.