While the young and tuneful are preparing for a new round of auditions for the next national Idol competition, there's a choir of pups that are giving their all for the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB).

From 30 May to 2 June the RNZFB's animated pups will be howling out "Ain't nothin' but a hound dog" to support the training of guide dogs by promoting the Puppypal programme. Just click on www.pupidol.org.nz to hear our "Pupstars".

Through the website the public can sign up as a Puppypal supporter, which costs just 50 cents a day, and they can judge the K-9 singing talent for themselves! You can even have a go creating your own Pupstar song!

This fun campaign comes with a very serious message. Guide dogs are essential for the independence of almost 300 blind, deafblind and vision-impaired people – and there are more waiting to be matched with a guide dog.

It costs $22,500 to breed, raise, train and match a guide dog and it takes on average two years before these specially bred, cute little balls of fluff are working with their handlers.

Quarterly "Pupdates" let Puppypal supporters follow the progress of six special puppies as they train to become guide dogs.

Watch out for the D'Lites (mobile billboards) and volunteers handing out flyers in the Auckland Central Business District (CBD) and CBD fringe throughout the campaign.

For more information about the Puppypal programme, visit www.topofthepups.org.nz/

To view and listen to the Pupstars in action visit www.pupidol.org.nz/.

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For further information, please contact Sarah Byers,
Communications Co-ordinator
Ph: (09) 355-6906 or Mob: 021 752 875