Dog

I am a dog lover - fiercely protective and dedicated to my awesome dog who gives me so much joy and love. So, imagine how excited I was to hear about an upcoming PBS doc and catch a few other ones recently on the wonderful waggies who enrich our lives. Pretty darn excited.

Tomorrow night, PBS is airing Through the Eyes of a Dog, about service dogs for people with special needs. Based on the book with the same name, the film takes a look at the incredible bonds that form between canines and humans, and the work of an exemplary national service dog organization. If you don't feel anything after this one, you may want to check your pulse.

I also recently watched Mine, about the animals that were left behind in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. At times both heartbreaking and heartwarming, the film chronicles the stories of several frantic owners who are trying to track down the dogs and other pets they abandoned in the wake of the storm - either out of necessity, understandable thinking that they would quickly return, or due to possible negligence. The number of animals that ultimately perished from the disaster are too large to think about. Many other animals were heroically rescued by dedicated volunteers and adopted out to new owners. This sets up some complex and compelling custody battles for people still trying to rebuild their lives from the storm - leading to the inevitable ethical and legal questions of what constitutes pet ownership. Love is not always enough. Check it out on PBS Independent Lens.

Finally, I watched War Dogs of the Pacific on the Military Channel in preparation for watching The Pacific miniseries on HBO. The documentary tells the true story of the brave dog soldiers that faithfully served alongside U.S. Marine platoons in WWII. This one tugs at the heartstrings too, as it documents the stories of the bonds between these amazing dogs and their handlers in the fury of combat.

Now go hug a dog today.