Mr. Piffles, the beloved canine partner of Piff the Magic Dragon for almost a decade, passed away last Friday. The sad news was shared by Piff’s publicist on Tuesday, which coincidentally would have been Mr. Piffles’ 17th birthday.
Piff the Magic Dragon, also known as John van der Put, is a British magician and comedian famous for blending magic with dry, self-deprecating humor.
The duo gained fame after reaching the finals of “America’s Got Talent” season nine in 2015. While they didn’t win, they landed their own show at the Flamingo a year later, which remains a nightly attraction till date.
“For more than 15 years, I’ve had the honor and delight of being overshadowed and outperformed night after night by Mr. Piffles,” van der Put expressed in a statement.
The concept of a chihuahua assistant in dragon attire was not van der Put’s own. In 2009, while refining his stage persona at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, he received a suggestion to introduce the club owner’s dog to the act.
This idea clicked, prompting him to acquire a dog of his own through Scotland’s online marketplace. Despite being a handful in private, Mr. Piffles always shined on stage.
“He entered my life when I had nothing, and led me towards a career I could only imagine,” van der Put shared.
The entertainer plans to carry on with his Flamingo show alongside a new furry sidekick, Mr. Piffles 2.0, created through cloning from the original Mr. Piffles the previous year.
The Flamingo will also unveil a special dog-friendly area, named Mr. Piffles’ Magical Playground, at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The article “Mr. Piffles, Las Vegas Strip’s Favorite Pooch, Dies at 16” first appeared on Casino.org.