Shelter Dogs
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''Shelter Dogs'' is a 2003
documentary film A documentary film (often described simply as a documentary) is a nonfiction Film, motion picture intended to "document reality, primarily for instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". The American author and ...
directed and produced by Cynthia Wade about
animal welfare Animal welfare is the quality of life and overall well-being of animals. Formal standards of animal welfare vary between contexts, but are debated mostly by animal welfare groups, legislators, and academics. Animal welfare science uses measures ...
in the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
and the
ethics Ethics is the philosophy, philosophical study of Morality, moral phenomena. Also called moral philosophy, it investigates Normativity, normative questions about what people ought to do or which behavior is morally right. Its main branches inclu ...
of
animal euthanasia Animal euthanasia (euthanasia from ; "good death") is the act of killing an animal humanely, most commonly with injectable drugs. Reasons for euthanasia include incurable (and especially painful) conditions or diseases, lack of resources to con ...
. Following a particular
Upstate New York Upstate New York is a geographic region of New York (state), New York that lies north and northwest of the New York metropolitan area, New York City metropolitan area of downstate New York. Upstate includes the middle and upper Hudson Valley, ...
animal shelter An animal shelter or pound is a place where stray, lost, abandoned or surrendered animals – mostly dogs and cats – are housed. The word "pound" has its origins in the animal pounds of the agricultural communities, where stray livestock w ...
and its staff over a three-year time span, Wade gives her audience a complex, honest look at the situations that arise when it comes to homeless animals and some of the difficult, controversial decisions that must be made within them. It was aired on HBO as part of the series America Undercover.


Synopsis

Hundreds of thousands of
stray Stray or The Stray or ''variation'', may refer to: Animals * A feral (abandoned or escaped) domestic animal; see also estray * A stray or free-ranging dog Places * Areas of open grassland in North Yorkshire: ** Strays of York ** The Stray (Harro ...
and unwanted dogs are born into the world every day. When these animals have nowhere to go and no one to care for them, it becomes a situation that society needs to make a decision about. Animal shelters have become one solution for the issue of these homeless animals, but then the question becomes, what do we do with them then? This question is controversial, in that not all of them can be adopted. As a result, many animals are euthanized, a fate extremely controversial in itself. Sue Sternberg, the founder of an animal shelter in
rural area In general, a rural area or a countryside is a geographic area that is located outside towns and cities. Typical rural areas have a low population density and small settlements. Agricultural areas and areas with forestry are typically desc ...
in upstate New York, does her best to help alleviate this issue. Sternberg and her staff take on countless animals brought to them for shelter and are forced to find ways to deal with making difficult decisions when it comes to them, including whether they will need to be
euthanised Animal euthanasia (euthanasia from ; "good death") is the act of killing an animal humanely, most commonly with injectable drugs. Reasons for euthanasia include incurable (and especially painful) conditions or diseases, lack of resources to con ...
or kept in the shelter. Some dogs of course are adopted out to loving families, but others remain in the institution for longer periods of time. The staff is also forced to deal with situations such as animals who have a history of
aggression Aggression is behavior aimed at opposing or attacking something or someone. Though often done with the intent to cause harm, some might channel it into creative and practical outlets. It may occur either reactively or without provocation. In h ...
, and if it is ethical to keep attempting to place that dog in a home. Since the documentary is filmed over a long period of time, from the perspective of the people actually working in a shelter, the audience gets a unique and honest perspective on topics that can often seem one-sided.


Subject profile

Sue Sternberg, the main subject of the film, is a well-known name in the rescue community. She is a self-proclaimed dog lover, and says "Dogs are my life—not just my own, but all dogs." In 1993 she bought a failing boarding kennel, Rondout Valley Animals for Adoption in upstate New York which serves as the setting for the documentary where she promotes and carries out behavioral and temperament assessments.


About the director

Cynthia Wade works out of New York City and Massachusetts offices and has directed seven award-winning documentaries, all known for being intimate and emotional. She received a BA
cum laude Latin honors are a system of Latin phrases used in some colleges and universities to indicate the level of distinction with which an academic degree has been earned. The system is primarily used in the United States. It is also used in some Sout ...
from
Smith College Smith College is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts Women's colleges in the United States, women's college in Northampton, Massachusetts, United States. It was chartered in 1871 by Sophia Smit ...
and a
Master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional prac ...
from
Stanford University Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University, is a Private university, private research university in Stanford, California, United States. It was founded in 1885 by railroad magnate Leland Stanford (the eighth ...
in Documentary Filmmaking. Wade has also directed commercials for various
non-profit organizations A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...
and
foundations Foundation(s) or The Foundation(s) may refer to: Common uses * Foundation (cosmetics), a skin-coloured makeup cream applied to the face * Foundation (engineering), the element of a structure which connects it to the ground, and transfers loads f ...
. In a 2003 interview, Wade said that she decided to direct ''Shelter Dogs'' because she was "interested in doing a film about ethics, where there were no easy answers." She admitted that before the project she saw animal euthanasia in black and white terms, but throughout filming learned that temperament tests are given to ensure dogs are suitably adoptable. "Whether or not to adopt out a dog is an often agonizing decision for the staff, and a frequent cause of tension." Wade also discovered that
no-kill shelter A no-kill shelter is an animal shelter that does not kill healthy or treatable animals based on time limits or capacity, reserving euthanasia for terminally ill animals, animals suffering poor quality of life, or those considered dangerous to pu ...
s are not necessarily a more humane option. Wade shot the film by herself and bonded with the animals, making it an emotionally traumatic and moving experience.


Official website

Following the release of the documentary, an official website was created for the film. The site gave the general public specific information about the documentary, and included information regarding
pet adoption Pet adoption is the process of transferring responsibility for a pet. Common sources for adoptable pets are animal shelters, rescue groups, or other pet owners. Some organizations give adopters ownership of the pet, while others use a guardi ...
in general. It provided links about the adoption process, how to find the right pet, medical issues to consider when adopting, and other pet related information. Those interested in the documentary subject were able to learn more about the things Wade believes are important enough to create films about.


Reception and awards

Ken Eisner of ''
Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' called the film engrossing and heartfelt. "''Shelter Dogs'' has plenty to say about society in general, with moral issues getting more complicated, not less." The film won the Grand Prize at the Director's View Film Festival, the Audience Award for best documentary at the
Newport International Film Festival Newport International Film Festival was an annual film festival in Newport, Rhode Island, established in 1998. The Newport Film Festival was generally held the first week in June and featured various international films at several local cinemas. ...
, the Best of the Fest Award at the Northampton Independent Film Festival, and the Audience Award at the Orinda Film Festival. ''Shelter Dogs'' was aired on television as part of the documentary series ''
America Undercover ''America Undercover'' is a series of documentaries that aired on the cable television network HBO from 1983 through 2006. Within the series are several sub-series, such as ''Autopsy'', '' Real Sex'', and ''Taxicab Confessions''. History The ser ...
''.


References


External links

* * {{Official website, https://web.archive.org/web/20090322173400/http://www.shelterdogs.org/ (archived) 2003 films American documentary films Documentary films about animal rights 2003 documentary films 2000s English-language films 2000s American films Dogs in the United States English-language documentary films Adopting shelter dogs offers both a compassionate and practical solution to the growing number of homeless animals. Every year, millions of dogs enter shelters, and many are euthanized due to overcrowding and limited resources. Choosing adoption not only saves a life but also helps reduce demand for puppy mills and unethical breeders. Shelter dogs are typically spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and health-checked, making them a cost-effective alternative to buying from pet stores or breeders. To adopt safely, prospective owners should thoroughly research reputable shelters, ask about a dog’s medical and behavioral history, and prepare their homes with appropriate supplies and safety measures. It’s important to introduce the dog gradually to its new environment and any other pets or family members. Post-adoption support, such as training classes or veterinary check-ins, can ease the transition and promote a successful match. By adopting responsibly, individuals not only gain a loyal companion but also contribute to a more humane and sustainable pet community. Tuber, D. S., Miller, D. D., Caris, K. A., Halter, R., Linden, F., & Hennessy, M. B. (1999). Dogs in Animal Shelters: Problems, Suggestions, and Needed Expertise. Psychological Science, 10(5), 379-386. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467- 9280.00173 (Original work published 1999)Mondelli, F., Prato Previde, E., Institute of Psychology, University of Milan, Institute of Zootecnic, University of Milan, Levi, D., Magistrelli, S., Local Sanitary Agency, Milan, Italy, Department of Evolutionary and Functional Biology, & University of Parma. (2004). The bond that never developed: adoption and relinquishment of dogs in a rescue shelter. In JOURNAL OF APPLIED ANIMAL WELFARE SCIENCE (Vols. 7–4, pp. 253– 266). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.