Stray dog in Bangkok
This week, I saw a great kids’ movie – Hotel for Dogs. With four young children, I often have to watch films about which I am not interested in the least. There are several good things going for Hotel for Dogs, however: (1) its not animated; (2) Lisa Kudrow is a funny supporting actress and Don Cheadle will draw me into any movie, and (3) adorable dogs. Who cannot watch the movie and not want to go to a shelter? In fact, during the movie’s opening weekend, our town operated a special shelter near the theater. The streams of people going to check out stray dogs and cats (including us, of course) was nothing short of amazing.
The Humane Society works hard across the United States to adopt out unwanted pets to deserving families. The stories are often heartbreaking. If you have a soft spot for animals in your heart, then you will thoroughly enjoy Hotel for Dogs. I will openly admit that I cried a few times. I mean, who cannot watch a film about unwanted dogs and their potential euthanasia without weeping?
Can you save a life?
Hotel for Dogs tugs at your heartstrings in a number of ways. The hero kids are themselves homeless…. shifted from foster home to foster home. Yet, they risk everything to help a number of dogs that would otherwise end up at the pound with a very short-lived fate.
In a perfect move, Pedigree Dog Food, agreed to donate money for every ticket to Hotel for Dogs that is sold. The Pedigree Foundation will help stray dogs find loving homes with your help, regardless of whether you attend the film or not. In many theaters, booths and tables were set up this weekend at which people can get adoption information, free dog treats and more.
We all know that the problem of stray dogs can be solved in large part by being a responsible owner. Spay and neuter your pet. It is truly the green thing to do. Too many animals result from irresponsible ownership, and the world simply is not big enough – or big-hearted enough – to care for them all.
Go and see Hotel for Dogs, and be sure to make a donation to the Pedigree Foundation. Spread the word about responsible pet ownership. Spay and neuter to stop the overpopulation of pets. These lessons may be too big to explain directly to children, but they will still likely come away with the underlying message of the film.
I’m watching my two great dogs sleep while I work on this post. Garrett is a lovely ex-shelter dog, and Earl is a little mutt himself. I won’t open a Hotel for Dogs, but my heart is certainly large enough for a few more great pets!
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