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Email: "Puppies debut in ‘Marley and Me’"
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SCIO — Move over Clark Gable. Harrison County now has a few other stars to add to its Hollywood connection. These stars may not garner the title as “King of Hollywood” but you could dub them as the current “top dogs” in the film industry. On Christmas Day, when the film “Marley and Me” opened across the country, three of the yellow Labrador retriever puppies bred by the Citro family of Scio made their big screen debut. Starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston, the film is based on the book of the same name written by journalist John Grogan who chronicled 14 years of raising a loveable, but rambunctious, Labrador named Marley. Through his column, Grogan kept his readers and Marley’s fans entertained as he wrote about life with the dog that is now the subject of the top flick of all time to open on Christmas Day grossing more than $14 million. To be a part of the movie was both a surprise and a dream come true for Joe and Diane Citro. “A representative contacted us,” said Diane. “She had found us on the Internet and knew our puppies were the style the producers were looking for. Their demeanor was also what they wanted.” That wasn’t what surprised Diane and her husband. However, they were stunned to learn that the color of the little stars didn’t really matter to the filmmakers. “They said the makeup artists could correct any color issues,” she said. “They said they just all fell in love with our style of dogs and they wanted them in Florida to begin filming.” Soon after the dogs were on the set, the Citros got another call from those involved in making the movie. “They told us our dogs were the most trainable of all those they worked with. They said the puppies were very intelligent,” Diane said. “They wanted additional older puppies. We sent them three more but due to conflicts in filming schedules they weren’t able to use the other dogs.” However, the original three became instant stars when called upon to “do their stuff.” “The puppy busting through the screen door is ours,” said Diane. “The trainer worked with two of our little ones and that was the result of hours of work. Our three puppies are also in the litter at the beginning of the film and the one eating up all the Purina Puppy Chow on the floor is ours.” All three puppies were such hits with the crew that none made it back to the Citros. “We had asked to buy the puppies back after filming was completed,” Diane said. “But everyone just fell in love with them and they kept them.” The puppies came from a fourth-generation litter from the Citro family based business. Diane said they operate a small breeding business and take great care and pride in their dogs. “We have been AKC breeders for the past 25 years,” she said. “Our dogs have gone all over the world and we’ve sold to some very well-known people, but we specialize in companion dogs.” She said many of their canines are used as therapy dogs in institutions for mentally and physically challenged adults and children. The dogs also are trained to assist those who are deaf and as companion animals for autistic children and adults. “Our dogs are bred to be calm and smart,” Diane said. “That is the reason they were selected for the movie.” She said she recently talked with the trainer who worked with the puppies for the film and learned they have continued their careers. One has been featured in the LTD Commodities catalogue. “The trainer said she is the exclusive model for the company when they need a dog,” Diane said. “The puppies have also appeared in other advertisements, on greeting cards and have been featured in calendars. They’ve made it big.” Breeding the dogs has always been a family affair for the Citros and their children, so it was only appropriate that they head to the theater as a group to see the debut of the movie. Diane and several of her children and their spouses were delighted to see their puppies on the big screen. “My husband just couldn’t go,” she said. “We knew the ending of the movie and we had just lost one of our most cherished dogs. He just didn’t want to go through it.” However, Diane said she is happy she saw the film. “Oh, I shed a few tears,” she said. “But I laughed a lot, too. It was so exciting to see our little ones starring in the movie. I really am glad we are a part of it and so many other people are enjoying the puppies. It‘s really a great movie with a great message.”

 

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