Bullyboi
09-28-2006, 12:14 AM
'Ruby' newest Lakeshore Player
Rescued dog a star in “Cheaper by the Dozen”
Mike Morgan (whitebearpress@sherbtel.net)
Staff Writer
Ruby lounged in a chair last week while her owner talked about how far she's come in three years.
Patrick Bttendorf of Scandia said Ruby was found starving in an abandoned house as a puppy. After this, she spent nearly a month in a hospital recovering from illnesses.
Today, training and plenty of attention have given Ruby a new leash on life.
She recently won a spot in White Bear Lake's Lakeshore Players Theatre's production of "Cheaper by the Dozen."
Next month, the dog will meet an agent and may pursue work in commercials.
Because Ruby is a American Stafford-shire Terrior, commonly called a pit bull, Bttendorf has had to endure harassment from people who think the breed is dangerous - an unfair stereotype born from owners who abuse the animals or breed them to fight other dogs, he said.
Bttendorf originally agreed to foster the dog for an animal rescue organization in Forest Lake and had no intention of keeping her. But the dog won over the family.
"Everyone in my family said I have to keep her," Bttendorf said.
Long considered a family dog, pit bulls have recently gotten a bad rap from media accounts of biting incidents, which Bttendorf believes are the result of owners' actions, not the dogs' natural temperament.
Some unsavory owners get them to intimidate people and don't provide proper care, Bttendorf said. The breed is muscular and much stronger than most breeds, he added.
Initially negative perceptions proved an obstacle to Ruby landing the part in "Cheaper by the Dozen."
"Some people were a little apprehensive," Bttendorf said. "By opening night, she won over the skeptics."
Now the dog is beloved by the cast and crew, and has been a hit with audiences, said Bttendorf, who attends each show with Ruby.
Lakeshore Players Managing Director Joan Elwell agreed. She said the dog is particularly popular with the play's young cast members.
"The kids have bonded with her like she is their pet," she said.
Lee's Limo in Wyoming supplied a limousine to take Ruby and other actors to opening night.
During one performance, the dog was accidentally led on stage too early. Ruby ran off stage and up through the aisle between the audience.
She then came back and got into her proper place just before her scene started, to the delight of the audience, Bttendorf said.
The dog's stellar behavior stems from extensive training.
Bttendorf takes her to Total Recall obedience school in Hugo each week.
Ruby has won several retrieval contests and been certified by Therapy Dogs International.
Bttendorf also frequently brings her to nursing homes where she comforts residents by playing or snuggling with them, he said. Ruby often sits on residents beds and gets petted like a cat.
"She's always happy to see folks," said Bttendorf, who even brings the dog to work with him each day in Forest Lake. Ruby sits in while Bttendorf hosts an afternoon radio show on WLKX, FM 95.9.
Up next, Ruby will be in a Burnsville production of "Steel Magnolias," Bttendorf said.
Remaining performances of Cheaper by the Dozen are sold out, but the Lakeshore Players Theater has a waiting list for each performance in case of cancellations. Call 651-429-5674 for more information.
Mike Morgan can be reached at 651-407-1218 or whitebearpress@sherbtel.net.
http://www.whitebearpress.com/main.asp?SectionID=8&SubSectionID=9&ArticleID=3719
Rescued dog a star in “Cheaper by the Dozen”
Mike Morgan (whitebearpress@sherbtel.net)
Staff Writer
Ruby lounged in a chair last week while her owner talked about how far she's come in three years.
Patrick Bttendorf of Scandia said Ruby was found starving in an abandoned house as a puppy. After this, she spent nearly a month in a hospital recovering from illnesses.
Today, training and plenty of attention have given Ruby a new leash on life.
She recently won a spot in White Bear Lake's Lakeshore Players Theatre's production of "Cheaper by the Dozen."
Next month, the dog will meet an agent and may pursue work in commercials.
Because Ruby is a American Stafford-shire Terrior, commonly called a pit bull, Bttendorf has had to endure harassment from people who think the breed is dangerous - an unfair stereotype born from owners who abuse the animals or breed them to fight other dogs, he said.
Bttendorf originally agreed to foster the dog for an animal rescue organization in Forest Lake and had no intention of keeping her. But the dog won over the family.
"Everyone in my family said I have to keep her," Bttendorf said.
Long considered a family dog, pit bulls have recently gotten a bad rap from media accounts of biting incidents, which Bttendorf believes are the result of owners' actions, not the dogs' natural temperament.
Some unsavory owners get them to intimidate people and don't provide proper care, Bttendorf said. The breed is muscular and much stronger than most breeds, he added.
Initially negative perceptions proved an obstacle to Ruby landing the part in "Cheaper by the Dozen."
"Some people were a little apprehensive," Bttendorf said. "By opening night, she won over the skeptics."
Now the dog is beloved by the cast and crew, and has been a hit with audiences, said Bttendorf, who attends each show with Ruby.
Lakeshore Players Managing Director Joan Elwell agreed. She said the dog is particularly popular with the play's young cast members.
"The kids have bonded with her like she is their pet," she said.
Lee's Limo in Wyoming supplied a limousine to take Ruby and other actors to opening night.
During one performance, the dog was accidentally led on stage too early. Ruby ran off stage and up through the aisle between the audience.
She then came back and got into her proper place just before her scene started, to the delight of the audience, Bttendorf said.
The dog's stellar behavior stems from extensive training.
Bttendorf takes her to Total Recall obedience school in Hugo each week.
Ruby has won several retrieval contests and been certified by Therapy Dogs International.
Bttendorf also frequently brings her to nursing homes where she comforts residents by playing or snuggling with them, he said. Ruby often sits on residents beds and gets petted like a cat.
"She's always happy to see folks," said Bttendorf, who even brings the dog to work with him each day in Forest Lake. Ruby sits in while Bttendorf hosts an afternoon radio show on WLKX, FM 95.9.
Up next, Ruby will be in a Burnsville production of "Steel Magnolias," Bttendorf said.
Remaining performances of Cheaper by the Dozen are sold out, but the Lakeshore Players Theater has a waiting list for each performance in case of cancellations. Call 651-429-5674 for more information.
Mike Morgan can be reached at 651-407-1218 or whitebearpress@sherbtel.net.
http://www.whitebearpress.com/main.asp?SectionID=8&SubSectionID=9&ArticleID=3719