Buddy, the tail-wagging, hoops-playing golden retriever who stars in Disney's current big-screen release, Air Bud, has had his right hind leg amputated, the movie studio disclosed today. The cause: Cancer.
The canine started limping last December, toward the end of the shoot for his theatrical debut. Buddy's owner, Kevin DiCicco of San Diego, took him to the vet where the cancer was diagnosed, according to the Disney statement. It wasn't immediately known when the surgery took place.
Buddy is seven years old in people time; 49 in dog years.
He embarked on a movie career following TV guest appearances on Late Night with David Letterman and America's Funniest Home Videos. His talent then, as now: The dog's money on the court.
And if there's any bright spot in today's news, it's that Buddy's basketball-playing days aren't over. "He is still able to shoot baskets," Disney spokeswoman Terry Curtin said.
In Air Bud, Buddy is typecast as a golden retriever who befriends a lonely farm boy and, in his spare time, helps lead the child's b-ball team to the state finals.
There was no word today on Buddy's future in Hollywood. But do we hear a docudrama in the offing? Curtin said Disney encouraged DiCicco to come forward with Buddy's battle with cancer "because it was so heroic."