Hotel for Pups Pops Up in LA

A hotel for dogs? Why not?

DreamWorks Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies have opened just such lodging as part of a promo for the upcoming “Hotel for Dogs” film.

Shoppers at the Westfield Century City, an open-air retail venue in Los Angeles, can check their dogs into the doggie retreat through Jan. 5 and let the canines socialize in the lap of luxury for up to four hours free while their owners shop, the companies said.

The hotel is an exact replica of the one seen in the film, which stars Emma Roberts and Jake T. Austin, along with Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Dillon and Don Cheadle. The comedy shows how two resourceful kids use love and imagination to create a magical dog-paradise for their dog and all of his stray friends. The film opens Jan. 16. (http://www.hotelfordogsmovie.com).

To handle the work involved with managing the dogs, Westfield partnered with New Leash on Life Animal Rescue (http://www.nlol.org) to run the operation.

Should shoppers go over their four hours of dog-free shopping, each additional hour will cost $10 with the proceeds going to New Leash on Life Animal Rescue.

A special screening of “Hotel for Dogs” will be held Dec. 13 at the mall, followed by a meet and greet with Austin, who will sign autographs and take photos with fans.

BigHeads Network, LLC, built the hotel.

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