Swanton: Fluffy Pomeranian wins role of Toto

1/26/2005

A fluffy dog named Ladybug, featured in a photo and story in the Jan. 20 Neighbors editions, won the role of Toto in the upcoming production of the Wizard of Oz at Swanton High School. The Pomeranian, who beat out a pool of other pooches for the part, begins rehearsals this week.

In the classic movie, the male Toto was played by Terry, a female Cairn terrier. Ladybug's owner Melinda Albring said at the audition that her dog's hairdo could be fashioned to resemble the scrappy little black dog.

Mrs. Albring's daughters, who are Swanton students, will watch over the family pet during rehearsals to avoid a repeat of what happened to Terry during rehearsals for the 1939 MGM movie from Warner Bros. That Toto suffered a sprained foot when a soldier jumped on her, according to Web sites that ooze with Oz oddities.