Owner Honors Legendary Las Vegas Chihuahua Who Passed Away After Decade of Performing on The Strip: 'He Rescued Me'

Las Vegas is mourning the passing of a famous Chihuahua who became a star performing alongside Piff the Magic Dragon for nearly a decade.

Mr. Piffles was adopted by Piff, whose real name is John van der Put, in 2009, according to a YouTube video shared by Piff in honor of the dog.

"For over 15 years, I've had the privilege and the pleasure of being upstaged and outshone night after night by Mr. Piffles," Piff said in a statement obtained by KLAS.

Mr. Piffles quickly became a beloved performer, appearing on "America's Got Talent" and eventually becoming a mainstay on the Las Vegas Strip.

"He came into my life when I had nothing, and set me on the path to a career I could only dream of. In the beginning, I may have rescued him, but in the end, he rescued me," Piff said in a statement obtained by KLAS.

Just before his 17th birthday earlier this week, Mr. Piffles passed away, leaving behind a legacy that includes more than 5,000 performances. In his honor, the Flamingo Hotel is opening "Mr. Piffles Magical Playground," a dog-friendly area dedicated to his memory, KLAS reported.

In tribute to his career, Mr. Piffles will be succeeded by a genetically identical clone, Mr. Piffles 2.0.