Vancouver Film Festival: "Shelter dogs"

A valuable contribution to the dialogue on "no kill" policies versus euthanasia that challenges us to consider whether or not it is more humane to kill a dog than to cage it behind wire and concrete for life, Cynthia Wade's documentary captures the views and practices of the staff of Roundout Valley Kennels, a model nonprofit shelter in upstate New York. At the heart of the film is Sue Sternberg, a shelter innovator and respected author, who argues that unmanageable, aggressive dogs and those who deteriorate mentally in shelters are better served by ending their lives than by imprisoning them for life.

We meet both the staff and the dogs at this innovative shelter, and get a candid view of the staff's own debates on euthanasia, as well as their efforts to find homes for the unwanted. This is an emotional documentary offering insight into the operations of a shelter as well as moments in the lives of a few of the more than 5 million animals that are turned over to US shelters each year. Some dogs find new homes, but others do not because of age, looks, behaviour, or simply the large number of dogs available. For all dog owners this documentary is a challenging reminder of our responsibilities; witnessing Sternberg's aggression tests may even be an eye-opener. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the Director's View Film Festival and the Audience Award at the Newport International Film Festival in 2003, this is a completely engaging look into the lives of shelter dogs and those who care for them.

Screening Schedule

Wed, Oct 1 6:00 pm Granville 7 Cinema 5 $9.00
Fri, Oct 3 1:40 pm Granville 7 Cinema 5 $7.00

http://www.viff.org
Or charge by phone:
604-685-8297

From: http://www.cbc.ca/passionateeyesunday/feature_051003.html

SHELTER DOGS
Sunday, October 5, 2003 at 10PM ET (10pm PT)
repeating Friday, October 10 at 10PM ET

"When I die, will I meet the animals that I have made judgements on? How would they judge me? Would they want me to go to heaven or hell?" - Sue Sternberg, private animal shelter owner

Each year, more than five million animals are brought to shelters across the United States. A lucky few find homes, but the majority of these animals are euthanized. For the people who work in animal shelters, emotions vacillate between passionate hope and bitter disappointment for the animals in their care. Shelter Dogs is a provocative and heartrending look at the complex issues surrounding animal sheltering woven through the tale of one shelter and its staff.

At the heart of the documentary is Sue Sternberg, a world-renowned animal expert and an animal welfare pioneer who has created Rondout Valley Kennels, a model animal shelter in the Catskill Mountains of Upstate New York. At Rondout Valley Kennels, dogs live in suites decorated with rugs and chairs. They listen to piped-in music and attend classes to make them more adoptable. Each dog is carefully assessed and temperament tested. If a dog is mentally deteriorating in the shelter or shows aggression, Sternberg will euthanize the dog, believing that it is a more humane option than a lifetime in the shelter. As Sternberg agonizes over each animal, faces rising debt, and becomes increasingly worried, the viewer is given a first-hand look at the difficult ethical choices the shelter staff face every day.

Staff members race against time to keep their charges healthy and sane before these animals deteriorate in the stressful shelter environment. The warm feelings of placing animals in new homes are offset by the deep frustration over the countless animals waiting to be placed. While some animals may quickly find homes, others - because of illness, behavior, age, looks, or simply because there are too many - are difficult if not impossible to place in homes. These animals often are left to live out their lives in shelter cages, or they are put down. How do shelter staff members manage the swelling tide of pet overpopulation, limited funding, crowded facilities, and the growing controversy over euthanasia? The ethical dilemma is deeply troubling. Is it more humane to sentence unwanted dogs to life in a chain-link cage, or is it more humane to euthanize them?

Shelter Dogs is produced by Heidi Reinberg and Cynthia Wade.