For the Animals

Anything that promotes awareness of the fact that policy change is vital to addressing the terrible state of animal welfare is a positive. That said...

This was an odd documentary.

As I watched, I found myself distracted from the imperative - helping animals - because of how much attention was put on (demanded by?) the well-heeled protagonists.

I was honestly unable to tell whether this film was a self-congratulatory ode to two sisters or a heartfelt film meant to inspire action.

Ultimately, one has to conclude the women mean well and have simply been disconnected from the daily reality of the bottom 99.99% of Americans to know how to relate to viewers. That said, this is unfortunate for a documentary.

Compared to the amazingly powerful "The Cove" - a film that left me mad as hell about Japanese cruelty toward dolphins + told me exactly how to put my checkbook into action to support the cause - "For the animals" simply left me knowing that that two very well-fashioned women in Houston care a lot about dogs (and are supporting a candidate for mayor). The end.

IN A NUTSHELL:

Sadhvi Siddhali Shree and Sadhvi Anubhuti co-directed and co-produced the film with the support of human and animal rights activist Alyssa Milano as an Executive Producer.

With catastrophic numbers of stray dogs roaming the streets of Houston TX, twin activists and philanthropists Tena Lundquist Faust and Tama Lundquist lead the charge and take matters into their own hands to save the animals they love. As more and more strays plague the city causing a public health crisis and attacking its residents, the sisters take to the streets for a hands-on approach.

There are too many citizens not caring for their pets and this problem has gone unchecked for decades, resulting in the worst animal crisis the city and county have seen. Through community outreach, direct work with local shelters and stray dog "feeders," the sisters rescue strays right off the street, run weekly programs to provide free spay and neuter services to the community and work with politicians to take on the dark practices of Houston's largest shelters that euthanize due to overcrowding. This was all exacerbated by COVID and the new policy of "managing the animal intake/limiting animal intake" in the shelters. As Tena and Tama seek to create a better life for the animals they love, they fight to prove that it takes just one person caring to make a difference.

Although For The Animals is set in Houston, it reflects the same issues cities across the U. S. face where approximately 6.3 million companion animals enter shelters yearly, according to the ASPCA. The film highlights both the grassroots efforts and the multiple animal welfare organizations struggling with the complex nature of solving this overwhelming issue where lack of resources and local bureaucracy each play a role.

THINGS I LIKED:

On a personal note, I have a twin sister too, so I was excited to see what this dynamic duo is doing. I'm also a dog lover.

Those who are interested in nonprofit organizations can get tips on how to collaborate with other organizations to reach your goals faster.

It's inspiring to watch how only 1 or 2 people can make a huge difference when they involve community members and use their voice to recruit the help of politicians.

It's sweet to see how the twins pray with specific requests and that allows them to immediately see the answers.

Keep watching during the final rolling credits to see an impressive list of things these 2 women have done to help animals in their community.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:

It would have been fun to see the process where a dog was rescued and then placed in a home with a loving family.

People who watch this will want to know how they can help. It would be helpful to have a specific website to go to or have someone tell viewers where they can go to volunteer.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Surprisingly, there is a lot of profanity, including an F-bomb.

We see a lot of stray dogs in bad shape.

We hear about many dogs that are euthanized.