.Americans have had a long love affair with dogs, with many of us referring to our canine companions as best friends, significant others, soul mates, even children. But lost amidst all the pampering and pedestaling are hard and often tragic truths surrounding dog ownership, care and commerce, not to mention the daunting odds continuing to face millions of unwanted shelter dogs. Divided into three parts – “Fear,” “Loss” and “Betrayal” – this 73-minute documentary is comprised of eight case studies that probe the complicated and conflicted relationship we have with canines. Collectively, the segments reveal the sobering realities behind our relationship with dogs, showing not only how far some dog lovers will go for their pets, but how far we as nation have to go in order to treat all dogs humanely.
There is a dog euthanasia scene toward the end of the first segment. It’s sad, but nothing scary or haunting, and it is done behind closed doors. We do hear panting then silence.**My next description may need a trigger warning itself.** I would like to add to the other review about the puppy mill gassing scenes, that the screams from the dogs in the gas chambers, including puppies, are the types of haunting sounds that really can’t be unheard easily. As important as the information is in this documentary about why you should only adopt shelter animals, this scene is going to be extremely hard for the average dog lover to see and hear. Turn down the volume or fast forward if you get triggered by real life animal pain.
An up-close shot of a pet dog after euthanasia at the vet’s office is shown during the first segment. A deceased pet dog is shown in a coffin before a funeral and burial at a pet cemetery. Long shots, lots of grieving from the owners/pet parents.
Gas chamber euthanasia is definitely considered abuse in the United States, so I am saying yes, due to the very real footage shown and the suffering heard.
It is a documentary that features animal neglect from puppy mills and abusive euthanasia strategies, like the antiquated use of gas chambers, so the footage is very real and so is the pain. But no animals were harmed by the filmmakers just for the purpose of the film, which is what this category implies.