2009 may be the Year of the Ox but judging by the movies coming out
this year, you'd think it was the Year of the Dog.

"Beverly Hills Chihuahua" starring Jamie Lee Curtis
will be released in the UK and many European countries in 2009.

2009 may be the Year of the Ox but judging by the movies coming out this
year, you'd think it was the Year of the Dog. "Marley and Me"
starring Jennifer Aniston is set to be released internationally in January and
so is "Hotel for Dogs" starring Aniston's old friend Lisa
Kudrow.

"Hotel for Dogs" is about two foster children who take over an
abandoned hotel to house as many homeless pups as they can.

The dogs are undeniably adorable on screen but Emma Roberts, who stars in
the movie, says they were a handful on set.

Emma Roberts saying:
"It was crazy working with all these dogs just because there are so
many of them on set all the time - so many trainers, the trainers telling the
dogs what to do, the director was telling us what to do and it was all really
chaotic but really fun."

The movie is a light-hearted look at a serious problem. The ASPCA estimates
that 3.5 million cats and dogs are euthanized every year. This saddens actor
Jake Austin who also stars in the movie.

Jake T. Austin saying:
"I hope this movie basically shows people what's going on in the
world towards stray dogs. I hope it motivates them to get some of them - find
some of them homes and families."

"Hotel for Dogs" is opening for business on January 16th.

Karina Huber, Reuters, New York.