An Irishman has discovered the dog he adopted from a rescue shelter is the grandson of the St Bernard from the Beethoven films.
Brian Kavanagh describes Ben, who he rescued a year and a half ago, as the "missing part" of his life.
The pilot told how he found out Ben was related to the famous Hollywood canine after tracing the dog's blood lineage.
Brian searched the dog's family tree, which revealed he was one of the last grand puppies of the St Bernard who featured in the 1992 hit film.
He said: “He is the missing part of my life, I adore him and I can’t say enough good things about him, we love him to bits.
"He is pretty much famous, we got his blood lineage done and he tracks all the way back to the original Beethoven in the lineage of his family and his paperwork, so he has that bit of pedigree.
"He is one of the last grand puppies from that dog, you trace it back through their paperwork and his family tree is recorded all the way back to the original Beethoven."
Speaking to the Irish Sun, Brian told how Ben was abused before being picked up by the dog sanctuary.
But the dog's fortunes have now taken a full 360 degree turn, as it now travels on jets - with Brian working for a private firm.
He said Ben, which has travelled with him to Hong Kong, is the "best thing" to ever come into his life.
Brian added: “He just walks into the plane with ease. He is in no way nervous.
"I don’t fly commercially, it’s all private, so he comes with me.
“The biggest flight he has been on is Hong Kong last year, we are going to New York soon too.”
