The Cohanzick Zoo will soon be home to a couple of rare dogs that had a brief star turn.
An Illinois man is set to deliver this weekend two New Guinea singing dogs -- so called for the distinctive howl they make.
Breeder Thomas Wendt, co-founder of the organization New Guinea Singing Dogs International, is transporting two 18-month-old sisters, Lexie and Marlie, from his Chicago home to the zoo.
Lexie and Marlie were recently featured on Animal Planet's "Dogs 101" a cable TV show that highlights the unique characteristics of different breeds.
The Cohanzick Zoo had been looking to reopen its New Guinea singing dog exhibit since its 12-year-old dog Digger died last winter, but couldn't find any of the rare dogs. Wendt and other experts say there's only about 200 of the dogs in captivity. The dogs, affectionately called singers, are considered the rarest dog in the world.
Kelly Shaw, curator of the Cohanzick Zoo, said the zoo is proud to give Lexie and Marlie a home.
"The whole staff is very excited," she said.
A New Guinea singing dog can only howl a single note, however, when in a group, the dogs can hit different pitches making for a unique mix of howling and pitch-perfect prowess, according to experts.
Lexie and Marlie were rescued from a woman in Pennsylvania after she traded two purebred Yorkshire Terriers for the puppies, but realized they were too much for her to handle, Wendt said. A member of an Internet user group for fans of the dogs suggested the zoo as a possible home, noting the 12-year-old Digger recently died, he said.
Digger's former habitat was damaged over the winter, so zoo staff have been working to get it back in shape for Lexie and Marlie. Shaw said she expected the work to be done by end of this week.
Wendt figures the dogs will be in town late Sunday, though they won't be immediately put on display.
Lexie and Marlie found their way into TV fame when Animal Planet reached out to Wendt's organization trying to find dogs to feature in the show.
"They were in foster care in Allentown, Pa., and I guess Animal Planet is based on the East Coast, so they called and asked if I could help," he said in a phone interview Friday while taking a break from driving.
The dogs can be seen in several clips playing in a backyard and one of them served as the model for a computer-animated skeleton detailing the dogs' distinct head and teeth structure. The scenes were filmed last fall, he said.
Wendt said the dogs grew up together, but have been separated for a little while and will need time to get comfortable with one another again.
"I had to separate them on the drive," he said. "But, they'll be OK."
The dogs are being donated to the zoo, with Wendt only being compensated for his travel expenses.
