Our project, "Roots of Rescue," began in January 2012 when we traveled south to Alabama to film animal cruelty. It focuses on individuals across the state who are working not only to save dogs, but to change the culture of cruelty that exists in many areas. 

We traveled to Alabama not as animal activists but as journalists trying to learn more about a culture. A culture of animal cruelty that we, as Minnesotans, are unfamiliar with. We found that the issue is largely going unnoticed, but there are people fighting to bring it to the light. People pouring their retirement funds into helping neglected animals. People who seem to be in the cultural minority. 

The culture shock that we experienced was much greater than anticipated. We expected to see animals tied up improperly and some situations of abuse. We expected to have to look hard for the problem but instead it presented itself to us: we found dead dogs on the side of road everywhere (one nearby an elementary school). Those sights were new to us but common and overlooked by many who live in the south.

Now we hope to  return to Alabama to wrap up some much needed interviews with politicians, rescuers, and animal rights activists. Your donations will ensure that this very important project gets finished and the dark situation of animal cruelty sees the light.