19-year-old star dog retires from ‘The Nutcracker’ after more than 125 performances

After more than 125 performances in “The Nutcracker” in Rhode Island, a 19-year-old Yorkshire terrier named Archie is leaving the stage. Festival Ballet Providence announced this week that its beloved “Nutcracker” dog is retiring. 

The ballet says Archie achieved stardom in his annual romp across the Providence Performing Arts Center stage and is ready for the next chapter.

Misha Djuric (JUHR’-itch), the ballet’s artistic director and Archie’s owner, says Archie is “settling down to a life of luxury and long naps on pillows.”

The ballet is holding auditions for the next “Nutcracker” dog. Auditions will take place at the Festival Ballet Providence studios on Hope Street in Providence on Dec. 2. The ballet says it’s looking for a pup with an elegant prance, regal coat of fur and charming smile.

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After talking about Archie, let's look at a dog in England who has received ample amount of attention after he succumbed to his nurturing instincts and adopted an entire furry family of nine ducklings after their mother went missing. Although the castle shelters a number of rescued animals, the dog, Fred is the 'resident dog' of the castle and now the parent, taking nine of these precious orphaned ducklings under his paw.

The 10-year old Labrador living at Mountfitchet Castle found these wandering chicks and immediately took up the responsibility to nurture them. In this happy ending story, the ducklings now sleep in the adopted-parent's basket and the unconventional family swims in the castle’s trench. 

Read: India's First Dog Park Wonderland Has Opened In Hyderabad And The Facilities And Cost Will Make You Want To Pester Your Civic Authority For One Too