About
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PUPPYCIDE is a feature length documentary that takes a journey with victims of puppycide, the dogs and their owners. From the moment they meet and seal their emotional bonds to the excruciating trauma of loss, we follow the dog owners' battles for justice with police culture and the legal system, both of which treat puppycides as acceptable collateral damage.
With your help, this film will examine why puppycides are increasing, why they are so devastating, and the tools available to prevent them.
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Introduction
Why We Began This Documentary
When we first learned about puppycide, we assumed that these must be cases of police responding to threats on their lives from dogs trained to attack by criminal owners. That couldn't be further from the truth. We found scores of videos and news stories about dogs who were laying down, tails wagging, even running away but still shot by officers who used lethal force as their first and only response.
We were very upset by the footage and stories and felt a documentary on the topic was in need. We took our cameras on the road, reaching out to victims and capturing their experiences.
We also began exploring the police perspective, which is a vital part of this story. While some incidents involve callous officers too quick with the trigger, we found the issue is much bigger than that. The lack of repercussions, policy changes, new equipment, or apologies, demonstrate how systemic this problem is. Experts have explained in interviews how police officers are not currently offered the simple training, tools, and support they need to change.
We've found countless people who don't know puppycide is going on and wish to know more about it. That is why we feel this documentary is so important, and why we need your help to tell these tragic stories in a feature length documentary so that PUPPYCIDE can reach the masses.
Original trailer.
What's Done & What's Left to Do
As you can see from our demo, a lot of work has already been done. We've flown across the country, from Nashville to Fort Worth to Washington DC and elsewhere, shooting interviews and conducting research. But there is much more to do to complete this project.
We need funding to allow us to: travel to incidents as they occur; step-up our inquiries through Freedom of Information requests of police records; shoot more interviews with owners, advocates, public figures and police; research and acquire footage of puppycides caught on tape; interview experts on dog behavior; participate in police ride-alongs and trainings; and find a home for the finished film.
Knowing how much we love our own dogs and how universal the bond is between every family and their dog, we believe that PUPPYCIDE will resonate with audiences and a shine a light on these tragedies.
Spread the Word
To help us spread the word about PUPPYCIDE like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Also, visit our website to sign up for email updates on our progress.
Thank you for supporting this documentary we are so passionate about!
- Oz & Patrick
Risks and challenges
Our biggest challenge is production: traveling across the country to research breaking stories, conducting interviews, making sure we cover the issue thoroughly and fairly, and ultimately making a documentary that's worthy of this important subject.
We want to have the film ready for viewing by December 2014. We'll do our best to ship all rewards as soon as possible. As with any film project, there may be delays because of interviewee availability or new developments in the story that we can't predict.
Beyond the challenges of production, we want this film seen by as many people as possible. Since it's an independent film, we don’t have marketing resources like a studio. So the money we raise will also go toward ensuring that the film reaches the widest possible audience.
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Funding period
- (25 days)