`Air Bud' Film's Dog Star Loses Leg To Cancer

BURBANK, Calif. - The basketball-playing dog in Disney's new movie "Air Bud" has lost a leg to cancer.

Buddy, a 7-year-old golden retriever who also appeared on "America's Funniest Home Videos" and "Late Night With David Letterman," began limping toward the end of filming "Air Bud" in December.

Owner Kevin DiCicco, who lives in San Diego, took Buddy to a veterinarian, and the dog was diagnosed with cancer.

His right rear leg was amputated, Disney spokeswoman Terry Curtin said yesterday.

"He is able to still shoot baskets," Curtin said, adding that Disney has been trying to get DiCicco to bring Buddy to Burbank so his story could be told "because it was so heroic."