At five months old, a white and tan puppy named Pepsi was found abandoned in the snow. Sadly, the local shelter near Leavenworth, Kansas was overcrowded, meaning Pepsi would be at risk of euthanasia. He was way too young for his life to end that way, but he didn’t know what else to do.
Then, animal trainer Melissa Millett came to the rescue. She’s famous for training dogs for acting roles, both for TV and movies. She had the perfect opportunity for Pepsi, so she quickly saved him from death’s door. Now, Pepsi is a spoiled and beloved celebrity!
From Freezing to Fame
Rescuers found Pepsi alone near a snowy woodpile in Kansas. On top of everything, the shivering puppy was also heartworm positive. Pepsi was quickly put at risk due to overcrowded shelters, and it looked like it might be the end.
But then Millett spotted Pepsi and fell in love. She decided Pepsi was the perfect dog for the role of Krypto, Superboy’s dog, in the HBO Max series Titans. Millett said it was because Pepsi looks so much like the comic book character. The shelter also shared a photo of him wearing a Kansas City Chiefs collar, which Millet thought looked like a superhero collar.
“The dog has to look like the comic book character, and Pepsi is the closest that we found to that original comic book character look,” Millett said.
Millett quickly took him in and started training him to be the best superhero possible. Despite a tragic start to life, Pepsi was excited to become an actor.
Pepsi Steals the Show
Since no one knows the extent of Pepsi’s past, training him is a little harder than most dogs. Some things scare him, such as the dog-friendly paint he sometimes wears for work. But thanks to positive reinforcement training, Millett gained his trust in no time. After all, his acting role is a huge opportunity.
“It’s an extremely popular show, and the character (Krypto) has all of Superboy’s powers. He can fly. He has human intelligence. He’s got laser eyes, just it’s really cool,” said Millett.
Now, Pepsi is a TV star because a kind human believed in him. Not many rescue dogs get their chance in the spotlight, so this is a huge accomplishment for dogs as a whole. Millett hopes Pepsi’s role will also encourage more viewers to adopt dogs in need. Don’t miss this inspirational pup’s debut performances!
H/T: kxan.com
Featured Screenshot via Deadline.com
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