Local puppies are set to make their television debut and local animal organizations are hoping their appearance will shed some light on the growing problems of over population at the Barnwell County Animal Shelter.

Late last week Dawn Pennington of GROWL received a e-mail from the Martha Stewart Show requesting help with a puppy training segment. The segment will include training techniques shown by Victoria Stilwell of "It's Me or The Dog," which airs on the Animal Planet.

GROWL is a all-volunteer animal rescue based out of South Carolina and New Jersey. GROWL works closely with many animal shelters around South Carolina and other states as well. The group transports animals all over the United States via dedicated volunteer transport drivers and works closely with other transport coordinators to move more animals to safety in the GROWL network.

All of the animals GROWL selected to appear on the show are from Barnwell County.

GROWL works closely with Dr. Shannan Miller of Dogwood Animal Hospital and BCAS.

Through this partnership, each year hundreds of animals which have been tagged to be euthanized at the Barnwell County animal shelter have been rescued, said Pennington.

These animals are then transported and adopted in the northern states, she said.

Heading to New York this week will be Sarah and the "Rat Pack": Butch, Bower, Bruzer, Inky, Mick, Rowdy, Spice, Tipper and Uno.

Sarah is a 10-week-old beagle/hound mix female with an excellent personality, Pennington said.

"The Rat Pack" consists of puppies that are eight weeks old and have a typical, but sad story, she said.

Their mother, Faith, was turned over to the BCAS by a woman in Blackville who found her wandering and pregnant. Within hours of being at the shelter, she was panting and uneasy. Miller took Faith to her office, Pennington said.

The next morning Miller and her staff walked in to a litter of 12 puppies, she said.

"Nine of these lived and these are the lucky babies that GROWL has been working to help find forever homes for," Pennington said.

They have been in foster care with Jennifer Campbell and are now ready for their journey North where families will be screened and the adoption process will begin, she said.

That process will start Wednesday and several of these will appear on the Martha Stewart Show, Pennington said.

As for what this could mean for the BCAS, Miller said she could hardly contain her excitement at the possibilities.

"The opportunity for such exposure doesn't come around often for a small rural animal shelter like Barnwell. This not only puts the Barnwell shelter on national television, it also highlights how rescues and veterinarians are working together," Miller said.

"I can only dream and wish that some compassionate animal loving person will see the needs of our shelter and animals that the Barnwell Animal Shelter Foundation tries so hard to save on a daily basis. Basically the Barnwell County Animal Shelter needs an ‘extreme makeover,'" Miller said, referring to the TV show by the same name that renovates the homes of people consdiered well-deserving or in need.

The program will air locally March 4. Times of broadcast differ so check local listings for the Martha Stewart Show.