December 29, 2008

Rudy, one of the 22 canine actors of "Marley and Me," wasn't born into stardom -- the dog started off as a stray, only days away from euthanazia. (Pet Pulse Photo by Kris O'Donnell)

TAMPA, Fla. -– Nine-year-old Rudy loves to play ball in the backyard with his mom, Susan Woolley.

You wouldn't know it from looking at him, but this former pound puppy has found movie stardom.

Rudy is one of about 22 dogs who played star canine role in "Marley and Me." Rudy plays Marley from age seven to nine.

"He's very much like the dog in the movie, very active, loves paper products, very social, loves people," Woolley said.

But Rudy's early life was far from glamorous. He was picked up by animal control when he was about 16-months-old and was a day away from being put down when Woolley agreed to foster him through Labrador Retriever Rescue of Florida. Rudy eventually found a home, but it turned out to be temporary.

"They called and said he's way too high energy for us so we took him back," Woolley said. "And he had actually gone to the U.S.D.A. as well to be a working dog there and had a bad disk in his back so at that point we decided we were going to keep him."

Woolley says Rudy definitely has his moments.

"If there's something he wants on the counter, he'll get up there and scope where things are and the minute you turn your head he's back up again and it's gone," Woolley said.

It's that kind of active behavior that caught the attention of talent scouts. Woolley says the movie's dog handlers were looking for a high energy older dog, who was yellow in color and had been in foster care or rescued. Rudy fit the bill.

"So he came and looked at Rudy and said he was exactly what he was looking for. And the next week he was on his way to Hollywood."

Trainers worked with Rudy for about four months before the dog spent about six months filming. Although the experience has been fun, Woolley says the movie has a serious message and should serve as a cautionary tale for anyone thinking about getting a dog, especially a Lab.

"You know, people when they have these dogs, they don't realize how active they can be and how much exercise they need and how time consuming they are," Woolley said.

As for Rudy, life has returned to normal. Woolley says he didn't come home with a new found Hollywood attitude, since he sort of had one all along.

"We call him a 'divum.' He's always been a divum. It's always been about Rudy," Woolley said.

For more information on Labrador Retriever Rescue of Florida, visit LabradorRescue.net.

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