NICE, FRANCE–(Marketwire – June 29, 2010) –

WHO: The Companion Animal Protection Society (www.caps-web.org), Santa Cruz SPCA (www.santacruzspca.org), the Societé Défense des Animaux, and the official Mayor’s Office of the City of Nice.

WHERE: Promenade des Anglais, seaside, across the street from the Negresco Hotel, 37 Promenade des Anglais, Nice, France.

WHEN: Wednesday, June 30^th, 7:15 PM

WHAT: Riviera Rescue (www.rivierarescue.blogspot.com), CAPS, the Santa Cruz SPCA and Air France are conducting a historic rescue airlift of little death row dogs from Los Angeles animal shelters to Nice, France. This is the first such rescue ever to take place in France. The dogs were scheduled to be euthanized because of the American pet overpopulation crisis that is killing five million companion animals per year in our nation’s shelter system. CAPS, the SDA, and the Mayor’s office of Nice will welcome the L.A. dogs’ arrival on the famous Promenade des Anglais in the heart of Nice along with French families who will be fostering the dogs until they find their adoptive homes.

This effort marks the internationalization of the Companion Animal Protection Society, which plans to expand its puppy mill and pet store investigations in Europe. CAPS claims pet stores all along the Riviera coastline are supplied by European puppy mills — inhumane breeding factories. The Riviera Rescue airlift is a way to divert puppy mill sales on the Riviera and to promote adoption while saving lives.

“Given the crisis dogs are facing in California shelters, we have a moral obligation to act. Riviera Rescue is proof of the long friendship between our two countries. The people of Nice have opened their hearts to these little death row dogs and with this airlift, we hope to pave the way for a continuing international program to save lives.” — Carole Raphaelle Davis, West Coast Director, Companion Animal Protection Society

“Because of our spay/neuter ordinance, decreasing euthanasia over 70% in Santa Cruz County, Rescue Riviera was made possible — saving dogs that were on death row from Los Angeles. Most people don’t realize that pet overpopulation in the United States is an epidemic and innocent adoptable dogs are dying as they wait for a loving home. Until we have spay/neuter ordinances nationally, consider adopting a death row dog. Save a life.” — Lisa Carter, Executive Director, Santa Cruz SPCA

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