Beverly Hills Chihuahua’s Real-Life Rescue Story

The canine star of new movie Beverly Hills Chihuahua was saved from certain death when Hollywood animal trainer Mike Alexander discovered him on a California animal shelter’s ‘doggy death row’.

Rusco was set to be put down after he was found wandering the streets of Moreno Valley, and no one came to claim him. But Alexander spotted him on an online directory and decided he would be perfect for the role of Papi in the new film.

He then had a race against time to save Rusco from a lethal injection.

Alexander tells the National Enquirer, “I rushed down to the shelter, but it was so far away and I had traffic to deal with. When I got there they were just closing the doors.”

He returned the next day and was thrilled to discover Rusco was still alive: “After spending a little time with him, I knew that this was going to be Papi.”

Rusco plays a tough street pooch in the movie. His voice is added by comedian George Lopez. Drew Barrymore lends her voice to Papi’s love interest Chloe.

When I watched this movie, I kept thinking about how much little Papi looked like me Leo. How anyone could put a precious little doggie like that down is beyond me. When I marry my ultra-billionaire, I am just going to go around to shelters and adopt all their doggies and let them run around in a huge house I will buy just for them so that no little Leos will ever be killed again.

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