Orphaned puppies from Romania to arrive in San Diego as part of "Rags to Riches - A Dog's Life" documentary

Rancho Santa Fe, CA - Orphaned puppies from Romania are scheduled to land in San Diego THIS AFTERNOON and arrive at Helen Woodward Animal Center on WEDNESDAY. The journey, being recorded for a documentary entitled "Rags to Riches - A Dog's Life", followed a group of California animal advocates and US-based Romania Animal Rescue (RAR) to Galati (guh-Lot'), Romania to save pups thrown in the trash and roaming the streets.

"Dog lovers worldwide are working together in this life-saving project", says Eva Sippel, President of Burbank, California-based Schnuffie Productions. Sippel and Paul Carlin, director of "Rags to Riches - A Dog's Life", traveled to Romania with ten volunteers who worked with an animal shelter to begin rescue efforts for the city's 14,000 stray dogs.

Sippel says, "Families with litters of puppies just throw them in the trash to be hauled away! Altering their pets is not part of the culture, but throwing them out with the garbage has become acceptable."

On Monday the Americans selected 13 puppies that traveled from Romania to New York. THIS AFTERNOON TWO OF THE PUPPIES WILL ARRIVE AT LINDBERGH FIELD AT 1:50 ABOARD JET BLUE FLIGHT 183. The others will fly into Burbank. (Jet Blue is donating the flights for the pups.) TONIGHT the pups will sleep in private homes...for the first time in their lives.

On Wednesday, May 17 at 11:00 am a dozen of the pups will arrive at Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe, CA where they will be surrendered for adoption. Each pup will be examined for health and temperament and receive necessary vaccines before it settles in for a drink of water, a bowl of Iams puppy food, and some well deserved sleep.

Once the pups are altered and released by the HWAC medical staff, they will be made available for adoption within the next few weeks. Qualified families will complete adoption applications and interviews with Helen Woodward Animal Center adoption counselors.

HWAC spokesman John Van Zante reminds the public that there are about 1,000 orphaned dogs and cats available for adoption in San Diego at any one time. "If your family is considering adoption, don't wait until these puppies are available. Visit your local animal shelter or pet rescue group today to find your new best friend."

For more information visit Helen Woodward Animal Center at 6461 El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe, or call 858-756-4117.

Additional information:

Throughout the day today (Tuesday, May 16, 2006) the Romanian puppies will be flying from JFK Airport in New York to southern California.

Two of the pups will be landing in San Diego at 1:50 pm on Jet Blue flight 183 and the rest will land in Burbank at various times.

The two volunteers with Schnuffie Productions accompanying the pups to San Diego today are:

Marilyn Gale, a Fallbrook, CA resident who volunteered her time and talents with Schnuffie Productions to be part of the Romanian rescue effort.

During the trip to Romania Marilyn worked with other volunteers to provide care and medical attention for the puppies that were rescued from the streets.

Silisha Sidell, a San Diego native who now lives in Burbank, CA made the trip as a Schnuffie Productions volunteer.

Silisha worked to provide care for the animals that were rescued. In her professional life she works for Warner Brothers in Burbank.

Tonight (Tuesday) the pups will stay in private homes in San Diego and Burbank.

On Wednesday morning at 11:00 the puppies are scheduled to arrive at Helen Woodward Animal Center, 6461 El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe where they will be examined by the HWAC Medical staff before being housed in an isolation area. As always, HWAC will work with the media to gain access for news coverage.

We're told that one pup has some medical issues and will be going to U.C. Davis for treatment. The rest are in generally good health. "Billy Bob" is a bit dehydrated.

Any of the puppies that have not been spayed (female) or neutered (male) will be altered before becoming available for adoption. (Both Fred and Barney have already been neutered.) Vaccinations will be brought up to date and each pup will be implanted with a microchip ID.

The puppies range in age from 6 weeks to 4 months.

The entire project is being shot by Schnuffie Productions, working with Romanian Animal Rescue, inc. (RAR) with a goal of creating "Rags to Riches - A Dog's Life"...a feature length documentary about the lives (and deaths) of homeless animals in Romania.

Totally worthless fun facts:

• In the United States our dogs say "Woof".
• In Romania the dogs say "Ham-ham"