Schnuffie Productions Presents
A dogumentary film
Volunteers from California set out to change the world by rescuing stray dogs in Romania. What could possibly go wrong?
Schnuffie Productions Presents
A dogumentary film
Volunteers from California set out to change the world by rescuing stray dogs in Romania. What could possibly go wrong?
About the Film
ASTRAY follows a group of well-meaning volunteers from Southern California as they travel to former communist Romania to help address the country’s overwhelming stray dog problem. The documentary captures their efforts as they confront the true severity of the situation firsthand. Despite not speaking the language or understanding the culture, they do their best to assist and even form new friendships. In the end, the group rescues thirteen puppies and brings them back to the United States, where they are adopted into loving forever homes.
The volunteers in Galați, Romania, May 2006.
Armed with compassion and little else, the volunteers partner with local organizations to implement a trap, neuter and release program in the industrial city of Galați. What begins as a straightforward mission quickly unravels into something far more complex. They encounter poverty, systemic dysfunction and a stray dog crisis so large it defies comprehension. They also discover kindness, humor, resilience and moments of genuine human connection.
We could not save them all.
But love always finds a way.
The story is narrated by Eva Sippel, who spearheaded the project. Nearly twenty years in the making, the film asks difficult questions about the gap between intention and impact, about whether foreign aid actually works and about what it means to try when the odds are overwhelming. Through it all, a simple truth emerges: while you may not be able to save the world, saving even one life can change yours.
Director
Paul Carlin
Producer
Eva Sippel
Runtime
100 Minutes
Format
4K Video 1.85
Genre
Documentary
Language
English
Country
United States
Year
2026
Director's Statement
Paul Carlin, Director
My wife (Eva Sippel) and I went to Galați in 2006 believing that love and good intentions were enough. The film asks whether that is true, and it does not offer an easy answer. What we found was poverty, systemic dysfunction, and a stray dog crisis so large it defies comprehension. We also found kindness, humor, resilience, and moments of genuine human connection that I have never forgotten.
I have spent nearly twenty years finishing this film alongside a demanding career. That process has given me perspective I could not have had in 2006. The footage feels more urgent now than it did then. Romania's stray dog crisis has never been resolved. The debates we captured about the right way to help, about whether foreign aid actually works, about the gap between intention and impact, are debates the world is still having.
What stays with me, after all this time, is not the scale of the problem. It is the individual moments. A puppy handed over a fence. A volunteer who quietly keeps going when everything falls apart. A small dog given a name and a home and a life she would not otherwise have had.
We could not save them all. But love always finds a way.
The Team
The volunteers came from all walks of life, sharing one common denominator: a love of dogs. Together, they traveled to a country most of them knew very little about, united by the belief that they could make a difference.
Producer / Narrator
Born and raised in Germany, Eva made her way to Los Angeles where she worked from production assistant to news editor at KFWB News Radio. She holds a master's degree in organizational leadership and has been recognized with a Mayor's Commendation for her work as president of the Volunteers of the Burbank Animal Shelter.
Director / Camera / Editor
A CSUN Radio/TV/Film graduate, Paul has spent over 15 years as a Senior Finishing Artist at Company 3, finishing feature films that have collectively earned over $9 billion at the global box office. Astray represents his feature directorial debut. Shot guerrilla style in Galați, Romania, it was finished using the latest advancements in image restoration technology.
Line Producer
Molly met Eva while volunteering at the Burbank Animal Shelter. She earned a master's degree in Public Administration. Organized, determined, and most importantly, good with money, she kept the budget tight and the production moving.
Camera Operator
One of the most experienced camera operators for travel based reality shows including Big Brother and The Amazing Race franchise. Known for hanging out of helicopters and doing just about anything to get a shot, earning him the nickname "Stevil Knievel."
Volunteer
A Texan through and through, Holly earns her living as a clown at children's birthday parties. She jumped on a plane to help stranded animals during Hurricane Katrina. Focused, gutsy, and not afraid to get into a troubled situation when it needs smoothing out.
Volunteer
A UC San Diego graduate in sociology and political science, Silisha serves as Director of Labor Relations for Warner Bros. Studios. She brought sharp negotiation skills and practical wisdom to the team.
Volunteer
With over 19 years of experience working with animals, Marilyn is a certified animal communicator and healer. She shares her ranch in San Diego with 17 animal companions and brought a unique spiritual perspective to the journey.
Still Photographer
Born in California, Ed took up photography at age 12. He studied marketing and advertising at San Diego State University and has traveled throughout the world focusing on event, music, and documentary photography.
Veterinarian
A traveling veterinarian from Australia, Peter was the team's wild card. He brought crucial medical expertise to the mission, performing surgeries under challenging conditions in the makeshift vet clinic in Galați.
On the Ground
The volunteers joined forces with two remarkable women who had already dedicated their lives to fighting Romania's stray dog crisis from within the country itself.
Founder, Romania Animal Rescue
Nancy founded Romania Animal Rescue after a 2001 hiking trip through the country ended in an overwhelming desire to help the stray dog population. Since 2009, her organization has spayed and neutered approximately 27,000 animals free of charge. She and her husband Rory live in Livermore, California, with their rescued dogs, horses, and chickens.
Founder, ROLDA Shelter
Dana grew up in the city of Galați in Eastern Romania. Her passion to help the local street dogs led her to open ROLDA, an internationally supported charity working to address the country's stray dog problem. Determined and strong willed, she became the volunteers' essential connection on the ground.
The Crisis
Romania's stray dog crisis traces back to the Communist era, when dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu forced the majority of the population into block apartment buildings in an effort to modernize the country. The displaced Romanians were not able to bring their pets with them and had no choice but to abandon them on the streets. The animals proliferated and gradually swamped the country.
Stray dog on the streets of Galați, Romania.
After Romania's oppressive Communist regime was overthrown in 1989, the country experienced a decade of economic instability. Shelters and animal care do not register as a priority in a society dealing with greater concerns such as unemployment and corruption. City shelters remain poorly run, severely underfunded, and neglected.
International organizations today cite 500,000 to 600,000 strays nationwide. While Bucharest numbers have decreased, rural and industrial areas still struggle with dog packs. The debates the film captured in 2006 about the right way to help are debates the world is still having.
Press & Inquiries
Website
Production Company
Schnuffie Productions LLC
ASTRAY is currently in final post production and being prepared for its festival premiere. The filmmakers are available for interviews, press screenings, and festival programming discussions.
For press kits, high resolution stills, and additional materials, please contact the production team directly.
Lina found her fur-ever home.