Why did Renee Zellweger have UC Davis on her mind and how is her dog involved?

Before receiving an achievement award last week at this year’s Palm Springs International Film Festival for her starring role as Judy Garland in the Hollywood biopic “Judy,” Renee Zellweger noted that her dog had recently been treated in the Sacramento area.

She dodged questions about possible Oscar nominations for her role and told Los Angeles television station ABC 7 on the red carpet that she had sent her dog to a local veterinary hospital for hip surgery.

“I have my head in UC Davis where my doggie Chester just had his second hip replacement surgery for complications,” Zellweger told reporters.

Zellweger said Chester, the name of her beloved German Shepherd, is just a nickname. His full name is Winchester King of the Road, she told ABC 7.

“I’ve been hands on and thinking about that every minute,” Zellweger said of her dog’s surgery. “He’s my son — my first son.”

University of California, Davis is home to a small animal clinic, which specializes in treatment for dogs and cats.

This story was originally published January 12, 2020 at 11:34 AM with the headline "Why did Renee Zellweger have UC Davis on her mind and how is her dog involved?."