Dakota
I'm just back from Seattle and the thrill of bringing the Dog Film Festival there, with a phenomenal turn out! Fully half the audience members had four legs and brought along their enthusiastic and appreciative humans! During the showings of short films, all of which included dogs, the dogs in the audience made sporadic barking commentary; the people laughed and cried and applauded every film, including the excellent PSAs with wonderful adoption stories from the Petco Foundation, the presenting sponsor that made it possible for me bring the Festival across the country.
Our beneficiary partner was Seattle Humane, which had terrific volunteers on hand giving out biscuits and encouraging donations to help build their new shelter. They were already pretty happy because our Founding Sponsor of the Dog Film Festival --- Halo, Purely for Pets --- had sent the shelter 10,000 bowls of food through Freekibble.com. Seattle Humane was already ahead of the game before the lights went down in the theater --- but the big triumph was yet to happen!
A lovely van arrived transporting three darling adoptable dogs, who came out of their crates a little rattled from the trip, but putting on a brave face. They stood with their volunteers on the Green Carpet wearing hopeful smiles. You could see they were imagining that one day they, too, might be a fully loved dog, who got to go to the movies with their people like everyone on the line that wrapped around the block.
Abel
Able was a darling, energetic 10-month-old Boxer mix, and Dakota was a sweet Chihuahua mix. You could see how much they craved attention and did whatever they could to get a little love. As it turned out, they both got a whole lot of it: the Dog Film Festival changed their lives forever! I felt privileged to bring the Festival to Seattle. It was gratifying how receptive the audience was to the canine-themed films; it was wonderful to be in the position to help support the growth of Seattle Humane. But the highlight of the whole trip for me was to know that because of the Festival, two lovely dogs would not have to return to the shelter and sleep behind bars in a public place. Abel and Dakota were going home! Two families that had come to see the films wound up finding a new four-legged family member; Able and Dakota would never have to go back into a shelter cage. They would be curled up cozily with their new people, the circle of love that is adoption, complete.
Thank you Seattle for showing what a big heart you have!
---Tracie Hotchner
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