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Julieboo
| Friday, January 23, 2004 - 1:08 pm
This will be on January 24th on HBO. In December 1999, filmmaker Cynthia Wade, interested in making a film about ethics, approached shelter owner Sue Sternberg and asked if she could document the events at Sue's facility. Sternberg not only offered unrestricted access to everything that happened at the shelter, but she also entrusted Wade with complete editorial control over the project. For more than two years, Wade filmed pet surrenders, staff meetings, temperament tests, adoptions and euthanasias. The film took approximately eight months to edit and was completed in February 2003. Each day, hundreds of thousands of stray and unwanted dogs are born around the world. How society should care for these homeless animals -- many of whom end up at animal shelters -- is a controversial topic with significant humanitarian and public health implications. At one rural animal shelter in upstate New York, founder Sue Sternberg and her staff respond to this crisis -- one animal at a time. As a seemingly endless stream of homeless dogs arrives at their doorstep, Sternberg and her staff navigate a world in which there are no simple solutions, and where decisions are often of a life-and-death nature. Some of the dogs are immediately placed in wonderful, permanent homes. But there are also troubling moral dilemmas surrounding some of the "gray area" dogs. If a dog bites a shelter worker, is it ethical to adopt him out to the general public? If a dog guards his food, can he be trusted in a family with children? And what about the dogs that never find homes -- is it more humane to sentence them to a lifetime in the shelter or to euthanize them? Filmed and edited over the course of three years, this award-winning documentary provides a fresh, provocative look at the complex, morally ambiguous world of animal sheltering. With breathtaking footage of the Catskill Mountain region, deeply intimate scenes, and a gripping exploration of real-world ethical choices, it is certain to move both dog lovers and the general public alike.
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Hippyt
| Friday, January 23, 2004 - 1:10 pm
This sounds great,Julieboo,thanks for posting.
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Julieboo
| Friday, January 23, 2004 - 1:15 pm
I wish I had HBO. I would appreciate it if anyone who sees it could comment here on it. I bet it might go to video. Anyone know? Also I hope it prompts people to adopt shelter animals instead of going to breeders, newspaper ads and pet stores. Makes me sad--all these unwanted, yet perfectly good animals. Fine, kill the mean ones, but there are so many, many, many, good, sweet animals out there.
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Whoami
| Friday, January 23, 2004 - 1:36 pm
I don't know if I could watch this. Our local TV channel had a special on the local animal shelter a few years back. And they showed a euthanasia of a vibrant healthy husky pup whose time had been used up. That image disturbs me to this day. I get that they want people to be disturbed. I get that they want to get more people to care. But I don't find it likely that the ones who don't care (and are the height of the problem) would watch this show anyway.
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Jagger
| Friday, January 23, 2004 - 1:38 pm
It is too bad any dogs need to end up in shelters, and some never get adopted. Every time I walk into my local shelter I want to take all the dogs home, but I know better. It is just so hard to walk in there and see all these animals locked up in cages just waiting for someone to take them home. I only wish my dog got along better with other dogs, I'd probably have a house full of them, but he has a hard enough time just putting up with my roommates dog. I will have to try to remember to watch the show tomorrow. Is it called Shelter Dogs?
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Spygirl
| Friday, January 23, 2004 - 1:43 pm
I will not be able to watch. I can't even watch 95% of the shows on Animal Planet.
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Bob2112
| Friday, January 23, 2004 - 1:47 pm
Julieboo, I'll record it for you and dump a copy to tape. Then I can use the tape to motivate you to pick a day for lunch! 
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Calamity
| Friday, January 23, 2004 - 2:37 pm
Read a small blurb about this program just the other day. It warned that only 5 minutes into the documentary a dog is put to sleep. I know someone who could tape this for me and while part of me believes it's important to watch this, I would find it terribly upsetting to see any animal put down. I don't believe animals should have to suffer for people's bad choices. The majority of "vicious" dogs wouldn't be aggressive if they hadn't been abused, neglected, or trained to attack by humans.
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Pamy
| Friday, January 23, 2004 - 4:12 pm
Evreyone should check with their local shelter about fostering animals. We do it and it is so rewarding. We fostered and had adopted over 50 pups and 1 dog last year. We started 2004 with 1 pup, now we have a mom and her 8 pups, she adopted the first pup and lets her nurse. We will have them for 4 weeks and then the go up for adoption. It is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done I am with Spy..I can't watch animal planet either!
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Missy2
| Friday, January 23, 2004 - 4:28 pm
Hey - I actually contacted my local shelter yesterday about working as a volunteer on the weekends! I'm going to fill out an application tomorrow. It breaks my heart seeing those poor babies locked up so maybe I can bring some happy play time to them.
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Pamy
| Friday, January 23, 2004 - 5:06 pm
Cool Missy!!!!
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Julieboo
| Friday, January 23, 2004 - 7:05 pm
I don't watch animal palnet either. But this one sounds like it is okay. The fact of the matter is there are too many animals. And many are put to sleep. I cannot stand watching one bit of animal abuse, so that's why I stay away from those animal cops shows. Hiding your head from it does not help the situation. Honestly, I have no idea what would help. Maybe if everyone spayed/neutered their animals and only got their pets from shelters or rescue groups. (hint: petfinder.com) I wish there were an answer. I think I will be able to watch this program cuz (well at least I hope) I won't see any abuse. And I think I will see some happy endings. And since I know perfectly good animals are put to sleep every day, it won't shock me. It won't be easy to watch, but maybe it will inspire me to do more than I am right now. Okay Bob, that will make me pick a day. How about Monday? I can't commit totally til mid morning on Monday (I have yet another doctor appt. and ya never know if it'll go too long.) But I will call ya. Missy and Pamy-you guys rock!!!
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Bob2112
| Friday, January 23, 2004 - 9:59 pm
Julieboo, Tivo does not show Shelter Dogs on 1/24. It shows it playing on 1/27, 1/28, 1/31 and 2/4, so I'll record it one of those days and then put it on tape. I'll let you know when I have it.
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Chewpito
| Friday, January 23, 2004 - 10:46 pm
i cant even stand to see animals get hurt in a movie, i have 2 dogs and other pets, they are my best friends, i hate when people get pets when they are little then dump on them...if i had a lot of land , id have a santuary for all unloved animals...but since i dont, i do as much as i can for the ones around me. yes, every one should spay and nueter your pets...and if your a pet owner with out spacious land, give them a safe environment at home and a walk and lots of love, they will give it back , ten times over.
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Starfire
| Saturday, January 24, 2004 - 5:15 am
I will be watching this show. I know what goes on at shelters and putting some animals down can't be helped. People need to be responsible for their pets. I adopted a dog (Tia, shepard/boxer mix 6 months). She was a naughty puppy so instead of getting rid of her I had her obediance trained. She can be naughty at times now but controable. I have another dog (maggie-pooh 4 yrs old, adopted at 5 months). These are my fur-face kids. I also give $ every month to the shelter. Go to petfinder.com to find someone to love in your area. You'll be glad you did!
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Starfire
| Saturday, January 24, 2004 - 5:21 am
Oh-oh I forgot, Maggie-pooh is a Fox terrier. Don't think its not interesting at my house at times! Maggie-pooh weighs 19 lbs. and Tia(moosey) weighs 90 lbs.!
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Daydreamer
| Saturday, January 24, 2004 - 6:34 am
Thanks for the heads up on this. I'll try watching but I'm one of those that can't watch Animal Planet either because I always end up in tears. My life long dream is to have a place where unwanted animals can live out their lives without being caged up all day. I know I'll never have the money to do it but I think about it every day.
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Julieboo
| Saturday, January 24, 2004 - 8:23 am
Then do something small. Even if it is just going to a shelter and letting a caged up dog go for a walk and a nice long pet.
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Bob2112
Member
08-16-2002
| Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 10:45 pm
I recorded the show and half watched it while checking out the new board. I'll have to watch it again when I'm less distracted, but from what I've seen I would guess there are about 7 people on the board who could watch this show without getting extremely emotional. (you know who you are!) It definitely deals with the issue of euthanasia head on and since this shelter believes in euthanasia, there is more than instance shown during the 75 minute documentary. There are also scenes of successful adoptions and healing an injured dog instead of putting it down. Julieboo, I may not get the show dumped to tape until the weekend, so I can get you a copy anytime next week.
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Seamonkey
Member
05-13-2002
| Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 3:56 pm
It was very well done. Sad but also realistic. And this group treats the dogs with great dignity. They are loved and treasured. They do test the dogs to see if they show traits that would lead to biting and/or just being shuffled to another shelter. Yes many behavior problems are due to lack of training. So many people should not be dog owners. I used to be a breeder of Labrador Retrievers and I probably did more to discourage the wrong people and to also discourage the breeding of the dogs I sold or placed than to encourage more breeding. Good breeders spend much time working to produce pups who are healthy and sound of body and mind and then to place them with caring people who don't take that position lightly. Anyway, I also urge people to consider adopting from shelters and to consider adopting dogs and cats who may not be cute babies but have so much love to give. And with an adult, you know what you have.. looks, size, temperament.. then have them neutered and take them home and enjoy them.
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