Shelter Dogs (2003) User Reviews

A hard, compassionate look at a difficult subject.

[hopancakes · 8/10 · 27 May 2003]

Wow!

This film opened my eyes. The doc looks at a few months in the life of a compassionate animal shelter, but one that does euthanize dogs when necessary. The shelter dogs are a mix of heartbreakingly adorable and angry biters. The staff are an equal mix of emotions - love for the dogs, sadness or anger at the situation the dogs are in, and a clear understanding that some dogs are better off put to sleep than living in a cage for 5 or 8 or 10 years.

I have to admit that I'm sympathetic to those who feel some dogs have to be put down. Sometimes that's just the right thing. This film shows how hard it is for the shelter staff to make these decisions. And for those that feel a dog should never be put to sleep under any circumstances, watch the film then go to a shelter and adopt a older dog, but don't criticize the shelter staff who make the hard decisions that others can't. A compassionate story. Seek it out if you've ever loved a dog.

had me in tears...

[BigTimeMovieDude · 10/10 · 18 September 2004]

I almost NEVER cry at movies but this one was just too much. It wasn't so much the sad moments as it was the sweet ones that leave you so emotional, such as when a dog that would normally be considered "unplaceable" is rescued by some good-hearted soul who sees the beauty in them, even though they may not be perfect or a "puppy" that everyone seems to want. The older dogs like Agnes who get shunned simply because they're older are the ones that break your heart.

On one hand, this is a very tough film to watch -- I've never seen a dog put down before and to see it as it happens (and how fast the injection kills them) is heart-wrenching. On the other hand, it is a very necessary film -- as someone who has worked with rescue groups and has a rescue of his own, I feel for the people and dogs involved in these tough situations.

The lesson to be learned is that if you are thinking of adopting an animal, remember that it is a COMMITMENT FOR LIFE -- the life of the animal, that is. In the grand scheme of things, it's not that much work to care for a dog but if you absolutely must give yours up, do not delude yourself into thinking that it will find another home, because the truth is most of them do not. The sad reality is that there is no one out there looking for your dog and they will most likely meet the same heartbreaking fate as most of the dogs in this movie.

5 million per year are homeless... and most stay that way.

A fascinating look at the chaos and drama of life in an animal shelter.

[pbdcny · 3 May 2003]

Fascinating and haunting. What happens when the family dog turns out to be a ticking time-bomb? This is an intimate look at the world of cast-off pets, and the people who shelter them, and make the hard decisions about whether and when to euthanize the hopeless cases. Although it might sound depressing and morbid, it isn't, mainly because the film focuses on Sue Sternberg, who runs the shelter, and brings lots of insight, humor and hope to a job that must rank high on the burn-out scale. Lots of credit also to the filmmakers, for capturing the chaos and drama of daily life in an animal shelter, and the special breed of people who live and work with dogs.

A starkly honest, but sympathetic film that lives up to the best documentary traditions.

[orr1551 · 10/10 · 18 April 2003]

"Shelter Dogs" forces viewers to confront a very real moral dilemma--how we treat "man's best friend." It's a tough film with some very emotionally wrenching scenes, but it's also a tender film, filled with compassionate people who do their best to patch up the problems that society ignores. Told in the best tradition of social-issue documentaries, the film spends a year in the lives of animal shelter workers as they make life and death decisions about the pets that other people discard. But unlike many so- called "hard-edged films," this one runs the gamut of emotions-- from poignant to funny--, with lots of room for reflection. I liked it a lot, even if the subject matter disturbed me. To me a great film is one that takes me someplace I've never been, entertains and touches me along the way, before depositing me back home a little wiser for the journey. Shelter Dogs does that. It reveals people and pets at their most vulnerable and, like "Hoop Dreams," surprises us by the outcome. I highly recommend it for anyone who owns a pet, or ever held a puppy and delighted in its affection.

A power film about the trials of Animal Sheltering

[origin20 · 10/10 · 5 February 2004]

A powerful film that captures the highs and lows of life in an animal shelter. The film forces one to question no-kill shelters and ask oneself whether death might be the more humane option for many animals in our sheltering system. Set in the beauty of the Catskill mountains, it will appeal even to non-dog lovers.

For anyone who loves animals

[indieflm · 6 May 2003]

I highly recommend Shelter Dogs for anyone who loves animals, dogs especially, and has an interest in animals living in shelters, animal adoption, humane treatment of our pets, and no-kill shelters. Shelter Dogs will inform you and challenge your beliefs about how to best care for our pets.