Dixon native’s furry friend stars in film

DIXON — When Courtney Moore adopted her dog, Henry, 3 years ago, she had no idea that he would one day become a product model and movie star.

The Dixon native moved to Los Angeles about 9 years ago to pursue an acting career. Her canine companion followed in her footsteps.

He’s been featured on the cover of a dog food product and in many advertisements. He recently wrapped up production as Nuzzles in the film “The Furry Fortune.”

It’s about showcasing rescue animals and the importance of family, based on the book of the same name by D. Goode Morgan.

The plot is that two twins who are growing apart discover their pet rescue dog is shedding money. The neighbors, a malicious IRS agent and his slimy son, kidnap the money-making canine, and the siblings must work together to save their pet and their family. In the end, their family is more important than any amount of money.

Moore has a role in the film and also served as Henry’s handler. There was a lot of obedience training, but “he’s so smart,” Moore said.

The training is mostly toy-driven, and Henry loves his toys. He can follow speaking commands and hand movements.

“It’s the dream,” she said. “To be on set every day together. It’s amazing.”

The film, directed by Justin Ward, is in post production and will likely be released around Christmas or in January. The filmmakers raised $217,465 on crowd funding site wefunder.com to develop the movie.