Koko (dog) facts for kids
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Koko on theatrical poster for Red Dog
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| Breed | Australian Kelpie |
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| Sex | Male |
| Born | 9 April 2005 Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 18 December 2012 (aged 7) Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
| Occupation | Canine actor, fundraiser |
| Notable role | Red Dog |
| Years active | 2011–2012 |
| Owner | Nelson Woss |
| Appearance | Red cloud kelpie |
| Awards | Golden Collar Award |
| www.reddogmovie.com/ | |
Koko was a famous Australian dog actor and fundraiser. He was an Australian Kelpie breed. Koko was best known for playing the main character, Red Dog, in the 2011 movie Red Dog. He was born on April 9, 2005, and passed away on December 18, 2012. Koko was owned by Nelson Woss, who helped produce the Red Dog movie.
Contents
Koko's Early Life
Koko was born in Victoria, Australia, in 2005. His breeders were Carol and Len Hobday. When he was young, Koko was trained to be a show dog. He was very good at it!
A Young Champion
In January 2006, Koko won a special award. He was named "Best Exhibiting Group, Working Dogs." This was quite amazing because Koko was very young to win such a big award.
Becoming a Movie Star
Koko became very famous in 2011. This was because of his role in the movie Red Dog. The film was based on a true story. It was about a dog in a mining town and the friendships he made there.
Winning Awards
Koko's acting in Red Dog was highly praised. He won the Golden Collar Award for "Best Dog in a Foreign Film." He received this award in Los Angeles, USA.
Koko in Art
A painting of Koko was created by artist Adam Cullen. The painting showed Koko with his owner, Nelson Woss. This artwork was chosen as a finalist in the 2012 Archibald Prize. This is a very important art competition in Australia.
Koko's Later Years
In 2012, Koko had to stop acting. He was diagnosed with a heart condition called congestive heart disease. Even though he was retired, Koko still helped others.
Helping Others
Koko continued to make special appearances. He helped raise money for the RSPCA. He also helped the Dogs' Refuge Home WA. People would donate money to these charities when Koko visited.
Koko's Legacy
Koko passed away from heart failure on December 18, 2012. He was 7 years old. He died in Perth, Western Australia. A movie called Red Dog: True Blue was made later. This film was dedicated to Koko's memory.
