Millionaire pooch selling Miami villa once owned by Madonna

Gunther the German shepherd spent a caller greeting playing with his tennis ball, rolling successful the grass, slobbering a small and napping a lot. Later, helium had a “meeting” with the existent property agents selling his Miami mansion that his handlers bought from Madonna.

And of people Gunther was wearing his precise champion faux diamond canine collar for the gathering — his existent golden collar is backmost astatine his main location successful Tuscany. As brainsick arsenic it sounds adjacent by Florida's standards, Gunther VI inherited his immense fortune, including the eight-bedroom waterfront location erstwhile owned by the “Material Girl” singer, from his gramps Gunther IV. At slightest that’s what the handlers who negociate the property say.

The Tuscan-style villa with views of Biscayne Bay went connected merchantability Wednesday for $31 cardinal — a whopping markup from the acquisition 2 decades agone from the popular prima for $7.5 million. The location besides boasts a gilded framed representation of Gunther IV implicit the surviving country fireplace.

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The dog's lineage dates backmost decades to erstwhile Gunther III inherited a multimillion-dollar spot from precocious proprietor German countess Karlotta Liebenstein erstwhile she died successful 1992. Since then, a radical of handlers person helped support a jet-setting manner for a succession of dogs. There are trips to the Milan and the Bahamas, wherever the latest Gunther precocious dined retired astatine restaurants each evening — his handlers similar to marque definite he's good socialized.

A cook cooks his meal each greeting made of the finest meat, caller vegetables and rice. Sometimes helium enjoys caviar, but there's ne'er immoderate kibble successful sight. He travels by backstage jet, works connected obedience skills regular with his trainer and sleeps successful a lavish round, reddish velvet furniture overlooking the bay.

“He lives successful Madonna’s erstwhile maestro bedroom,” said existent property cause Ruthie Assouline who nabbed the listing with her hubby Ethan for the 1.2-acre (0.5 hectare) spot successful a enactment of a half-dozen waterfront homes adjacent to a nationalist region parkland and connected the aforesaid thoroughfare wherever Sylvester Stallone erstwhile lived.

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“He virtually sleeps overlooking the astir magnificent presumption successful an Italian customized furniture successful the erstwhile chamber of the top popular prima successful the world.”

Carla Riccitelli is 1 of Gunther's main caretakers and is connected a committee that manages the spot present worthy astir $500 million, deciding erstwhile to bargain and merchantability existent estate. The radical has adjacent purchased sports teams, including a men's shot squad and women's swimming squad and, yes, Gunther played connected the tract and attended the meets, she said.

Riccitelli, a 52-year-old carnal person who resides successful Tuscany, met the radical taking attraction of Gunther astir 30 years ago. She instantly connected with the canine and the ngo of the trust, and joined the team. She besides helped signifier Gunther Rescue a fewer years agone to attraction for different animals.

She has taken attraction of the past 3 Gunthers and often brings the existent canine with her connected regular trips to the marketplace oregon visits to the kennel wherever she cares for strays.

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“He's not assertive astatine all,” she said, saying galore radical constitute disconnected the breed arsenic wolves. “He's precise bully with different animals.”

“They're precise protective with their owner, with their people. They similar to person the household astir truthful I usually invitation friends with different dogs over,” she said during a telephone interview.

She talks with the committee that oversees the spot a fewer times a month. The Miami existent property marketplace is truthful hot, with specified constricted inventory, they decided it was an opportune clip to sell.

The Assoulines are accustomed to multi-million dollar listings, but this 1 seemed unbelievable.

“When it was explained that this location was bought by this German shepherd, I was like, ‘What are you talking about? I’m not pursuing you',” Ruthie Assouline said.

When she archetypal met Gunther, helium covered her look with specified sloppy kisses that helium licked disconnected her lipstick, she laughed.

As luxurious arsenic Gunther's beingness sound, helium inactive has play and hardships similar everyone. Back successful Italy, Riccitelli has 2 different dogs that unrecorded with Gunther — his favourite playmates.

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But she besides has six cats and a mates of chickens.

Let's conscionable accidental it's a enactment successful progress, Riccitelli said.

“He's inactive learning to beryllium with six cats.”

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