Maybe they should have called Michael Vick.
Movie pirates, mad that DVD-detecting dogs were taking such a big bite out of their booty, have put a failed hit out on the hounds.
Lucky and Flo, two energetic black Labradors, sniffed out so many counterfeit movies in DVD-pirating hot spot Malaysia earlier this year – $6 million worth – that they had to be spirited out of the country in the face of death threats by criminals.
“Because they were so successful, the pirate guys put out a bounty on their heads,” said Michael Buchan of the Motion Picture Association of America.
But the $29,000 price tag was cheap because the pooches are “priceless,” Buchan quipped.
The dogs are trained to detect the unique polycarbonate scent of a DVD when it’s hidden in other materials.
And they got a snoutful during a visit to New York yesterday.
The canine crusaders successfully sniffed out boxes of bootlegs at City Hall, rooting out rip-offs of “Harry Potter,” “Rush Hour” and “Underdog.”
The dogged duo has been working airports and office buildings all over the world for the past six months, in an effort by the MPAA to root out pirated films.
One of their first jobs was at an airport in Britain, when they enthusiastically uncovered a suitcase full of canned meat – with one DVD under it.
The 4-year-olds were selected for their love of preying and playing – possibly troublemaking traits in a regular household, but essential for a sniffing dog.
“Lucky had created mayhem in her home environment and was going to be put down,” said her trainer, Neil Powell, from Northern Ireland. “The dog had eaten the Christmas cake and stand, the curtains, candles and candle holders. She’s just destructive unless she’s working.”
Training took several months and mostly involved isolating the unique scent on a typical DVD. After finding it, Powell rubbed the plastic smell on tennis balls and taught the dogs to look for them – and, therefore, the scent of DVDs – on command.
“In their own little minds, all they’re doing is looking for the tennis ball,” said Powell, adding that the pair can’t distinguish between legitimate and pirated films.
The MPAA is showcasing Lucky and Flo, hoping to convince governments to get their own DVD-sniffing dogs. Malaysia has already agreed, and talks are also happening with South Africa, said MPAA officials.
After a few covert sniffing jobs in New York, the pooches will head to Canada.