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( music playing )

( dog barking )

Betty Carmack: PEOPLE SPEAK OF THEIR ANIMAL

AS BEST FRIENDS.

THEY ARE SIGNIFICANT OTHERS.

THEY ARE LIKE CHILDREN.

Susanne Principato: THE LITTLE GIRL HAD HER EAR RIPPED OFF.

Robert Taffet: NONE OF MY DOGS ATTACKED ANYBODY.

Dennis McVeigh: WHAT MAKES YOU THINK, IN THE FUTURE,

THEY'RE GOING TO EXERCISE JUDGMENT

THAT KEEPS KIDS AWAY FROM THESE DOGS?

( dogs barking )

Woman: THERE'S THIS HORRIBLE,

NATIONAL, DIRTY LITTLE SECRET THAT EVERY YEAR,

WE'RE PUTTING DOWN MILLIONS OF DOGS.

Man: THE SHELTER IS DEATH ROW. IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

( dogs barking )

( dog baying )

( barking continues )

Shelly Castorino: WE WERE NEW TO HADDONFIELD,

AND IT WAS LIKE, "WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD?

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR CHILD?"

Jackie Castorino: FRESHMAN YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL,

LIZ TAFFET INVITED ME OVER TO HER HOUSE.

THE DOG WAS IN THERE,

AND WE WERE JUST PLAYING WITH IT.

I WAS PETTING THE DOG ON THE HEAD

WHEN LIZ TAFFET JUST WALKED OUT OF THE ROOM.

AND SHE--

ALMOST INSTANTANEOUSLY

AS SHE WALKED OUT OF THE ROOM,

THE DOG BIT ME ON THE SHOULDER.

( dog barking )

I FELL BACK AND I PUSHED THE DOG OFF OF ME,

AND ONE OF THE MOST VIVID IMAGES I REMEMBER

WAS MY, LIKE, FAT TISSUE--

IT'S ORANGE, AND I'D NEVER SEEN IT IN REAL LIFE BEFORE.

Shelly: I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL.

THERE WAS A MAN ON THE OTHER END OF THE LINE

SAYING, "THIS IS DR. TAFFET. GET TO MY OFFICE RIGHT AWAY."

I WENT TO THE OFFICE, AND I FELT LIKE

I WAS IN A FRANKENSTEIN MOVIE.

I'M STANDING THERE AND I SEE A MAN

STANDING OVER TOP OF MY DAUGHTER.

HE HAD A STICK AND HE'S PUSHING IT INTO HER SHOULDER.

INSTEAD OF SAYING, "I'M DR. TAFFET,"

IT WAS, "IF YOU GO TO THE POLICE,

THEY'LL PUT MY DOG DOWN."

THE NEXT DAY, HE CAME TO THE HOUSE,

SAT IN MY KITCHEN,

AND HE PACKED HER WOUNDS,

AND HE TOLD US,

"I WILL HANDLE EVERYTHING. DON'T TELL ANYBODY.

THAT'S THE AGREEMENT.

IF YOU DON'T TELL ANYBODY,

I'LL TAKE CARE OF JACKIE."

WE WERE NEW TO TOWN,

AND WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TYPE

OF A POWER PERSON HE WAS IN TOWN,

SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY WERE AT THE COUNTRY CLUB,

SO WE DIDN'T WANT TO...

GO AGAINST WHAT HIS WISHES WERE.

I KEPT IT QUIET, AND ONE DAY,

I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER DOG REPORT.

WE HAD BEEN LIVING HERE SEVERAL YEARS,

AND THERE WERE SEVERAL INCIDENCES OF THE DOGS

RUNNING OFF-LEASH THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD,

ONE DOG IN PARTICULAR BEING OFF-LEASH.

IT WAS-- IT HAPPENED WITH MY HUSBAND.

Bob Principato: WE HAD JUST GOTTEN A NEW DOG,

AND WE WERE TAKING HIM FOR A WALK.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD TRIED

TO SOCIALIZE OUR DOG WITH THEIR DOGS.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE CAME AROUND THE CORNER,

ONE OF THE DOGS KIND OF RAN OFF THE PROPERTY,

KIND OF WAS CIRCLING US,

AND HE WAS JUST KIND OF, LIKE, HUNTING US.

WHEN DR. PRINCIPATO AND HIS SON AND THEIR DOG

WERE WALKING DOWN COLONIAL RIDGE ON MY SIDEWALK.

AND THEY CAME ALONG THE CORNER,

AND THE DOGS WENT OVER AND WENT, "WOOF, WOOF," TO THEM

AND THEN RAN AWAY AND STARTED PLAYING LIKE THEY DO,

AND THEN HE TURNED THE CORNER

AND STOPPED NEAR THE FIRE HYDRANT

AT WHICH POINT BEAR WAS BARKING.

AND I WAS LIKE, "BEAR, NO,"

AND HE WENT THROUGH THE FENCE.

I LOOKED BACK AT MY SON,

AND HE WAS JUST COMPLETELY WHITE,

AND I SAID, "LOOK, JUST DON'T MOVE."

I PICKED UP OUR DOG QUICKLY,

HELD IT, AND DIDN'T MOVE.

THE OWNER'S WIFE CAME OUT.

I RAN OVER. I GRABBED BEAR'S COLLAR.

I APOLOGIZED, AND I SAID,

"OH, I HAVE TO UP THE ZAPPER."

AND WE CHATTED BRIEFLY, AND NOTHING HAPPENED,

AND I WENT BACK TO MY CLEANUP,

AND THEY PROCEEDED ON THEIR WALK.

WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THAT, HOWEVER,

IS PROBABLY WHAT PROVOKED THE REACTION

THAT AT LEAST SUSANNE HAD,

IS THAT, FROM WHAT I'M TOLD--

AND I'M JUST REPEATING WHAT I'M TOLD--

DR. TAFFET THEN WENT UP TO HER, UP TO HER HOUSE,

AND I THINK, IN ESSENCE,

TOLD HER, "YOU BETTER KEEP THIS QUIET."

Anchor: Let's go live to Susanne LaFrankie.

Crawford: SUSANNE IS A FORMER NEWS REPORTER.

HER TRADE NAME WAS SUSANNE LAFRANKIE.

I THINK SHE WORKED FOR CHANNEL 6 NEWS.

YOU DON'T TELL A NEWS REPORTER THAT YOU'VE GOT TO BE QUIET,

AND IT PROVOKED A REACTION ON HER PART

WHERE SHE REALLY THEN WENT TO TOWN.

MY NAME IS SUSANNE PRINCIPATO.

I LIVE AT COLONIAL RIDGE DRIVE IN TOWN, AND I'M HERE...

Susanne: I COME TO FIND OUT, IN THE PAST 10 YEARS,

THREE OF HIS DOGS FROM THE SAME BLOODLINE

HAVE ATTACKED AT LEAST SIX PEOPLE THAT WE KNOW OF.

DR. HARKINS WAS ATTACKED IN A LOCAL PARK.

HE HAD TO GET 30 STITCHES

BECAUSE DR. TAFFET ALLOWED HIS TWO RHODESIAN RIDGEBACKS,

PLUTO AND ROCKY, TO BE OFF-LEASH.

THEN THERE WAS DOMINIC DORAZIO.

HE WAS THERE AT A SLEEPOVER

AND ROCKY ATTACKED HIM.

HE WAS BITTEN ON THE BUTTOCKS.

HIS MOTHER TOLD ME THAT.

AND THEIR DOG HAD TO BE QUARANTINED.

THEN JACQUELINE CASTORINO

WAS BITTEN BY ROCKY IN THE SHOULDER.

THEY LOOK LIKE TWO BULLET WOUNDS. I'VE SEEN IT.

SHE REQUIRED PLASTIC SURGERY.

MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS LIVED IN FEAR,

AND OUR CHILDREN WERE TOO AFRAID

TO GO OUT IN OUR OWN FRONT YARD.

Mario Iavicoli: DR. TAFFET WAS SUCCESSFUL

IN CONVINCING THE PEOPLE NOT TO REPORT THESE,

BUT EVENTUALLY ONE OF THEM GOT REPORTED,

WHICH UNCOVERED THE OTHERS

AND A COURT CASE RESULTED

WHERE SUMMONSES WERE FILED

AGAINST DR. TAFFET AND HIS DOG ROCKY.

Robert: STAY, ROCKY.

NONE OF MY DOGS ATTACKED ANYBODY.

YOU GUYS, STAY.

THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DOG BITE AND A DOG ATTACK.

AN ATTACK IS PROLONGED, MULTIPLE BITES

AND SERIOUS INJURIES.

- EASY, HEY. - ( growls, barks )

THE STORIES WERE JUST SO FAR

FROM WHAT THE REALITY WAS

THAT I WASN'T GOING TO JUST SAY,

"I'M GUILTY," YOU KNOW?

Iavicoli: THE MATTER WAS TRIED

IN THE MUNICIPAL COURT OF HADDONFIELD.

Crawford: WE HAD FOUR DAYS OF HEARINGS

TO DETERMINE WHETHER ROCKY

WAS A: POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS

OR B: DANGEROUS.

IF YOU FIND A DOG IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS,

THE COURT CAN IMPOSE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS ON THE OWNER.

IF YOU FIND A DOG IS DANGEROUS,

THE DOG CAN BE EUTHANIZED.

COME HERE. ROCKY.

Susanne: IT TOOK THE JUDGE NINE MONTHS TO DECIDE

THAT ONE OF THE DOGS, ROCKY, WAS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS.

Iavicoli: DR. TAFFET APPEALED THAT

TO THE SUPERIOR COURT TRIAL DIVISION.

WHAT THE TAFFETS DO IS THEY HIRE A LOT OF VERY EXPENSIVE LAWYERS.

THEY SPEND THE MONEY AND GET THE RESULT THEY WANT.

JUDGE McNEILL--

THIS IS JUST INEXPLICABLE TO ME--

FOUND THAT ROCKY WAS DEFENDING HIMSELF.

I WAS VERY PLEASED WITH THE JUDGE'S DECISION.

Susanne: THE BOROUGH, UPON OUR URGING,

DECIDED TO APPEAL THAT DECISION.

IT JUST BECAME A WAR.

Michele: YOU JUST FELT LIKE EVERYBODY'S AGAINST YOU.

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR NEARLY THREE YEARS.

IT'S COST A LOT OF MONEY.

AT LEAST TWO YEARS' COLLEGE TUITION

AT A GOOD SCHOOL

AND MY REPUTATION.

Susanne: AFTER ALL THE BITES,

ALL THE DOGS, ALL THE APPEALS,

THE APPELLATE DIVISION FOUND

THAT ROCKY WAS INDEED POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS.

THE STATE LAW FOR A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOG

IS TO HAVE A DOG ENCLOSURE

WITH A SOUND BOTTOM AND SIDES AND A ROOF,

AND IT HAS TO BE SURROUNDED

BY A SIX-FOOT-HIGH PERIMETER...

ENCLOSURE OR FENCE.

IT IS TO BE USED OUTSIDE

WHEN THE DOG IS LEFT UNATTENDED.

I TELL PEOPLE WHEN THEY LOOK FOR MY HOUSE,

"WE'RE THE ONLY HOUSE ON THE BLOCK WITH A FENCE."

Michele: WE'VE BEEN PORTRAYED AS THESE

CRAZY, IRRESPONSIBLE, ECCENTRIC OWNERS

- WITH, YOU KNOW, NO DISCIPLINE. - SIT.

MAYBE WE DON'T FIT A CERTAIN MOLD.

SIT.

YOU KNOW? WE DON'T GO TO THE COUNTRY CLUB.

( Robert shushing )

Robert: THIS IS ABOUT THE DOGS,

MY KIDS, MY FAMILY--

THE DOGS AS PART OF THE FAMILY

AND, YOU KNOW, THE BOND BETWEEN THE DOGS AND I

AND THE DOGS AND EACH MEMBER OF MY FAMILY.

THEY'RE DEEP.

I DON'T THINK THAT 'CAUSE YOU DON'T FIT IN SOMEPLACE,

THAT YOU SHOULD--

I MEAN, THIS LADY-- THIS LADY TRIED TO--

HAS TRIED TO DRIVE US OUT OF TOWN.

Local resident: I CAN'T HELP FEEL

THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH A TERRORIST.

HE'S TERRORIZING NEIGHBORHOODS, CHILDREN.

- Woman: ABSOLUTELY. - AND I CAN'T BELIEVE

THAT WE'RE GONNA COMPROMISE AND DEAL WITH THIS TERRORIST.

OUR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT DOESN'T DEAL WITH TERRORISTS LIKE THAT

AND I DON'T THINK OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT

- SHOULD BEGIN TO DEAL WITH TERRORISTS. - ( applause )

( whistles )

Robert: THIS HAS BEEN A REAL LONG PROCESS

THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH...

DUKE.

...AND IT WAS...

...SEEMINGLY COMING TO AN END

WHEN THERE WAS AN UNFORTUNATE,

YOU KNOW, INCIDENT DOWN HERE.

Attorney: DR. TAFFET, WERE YOU PRESENT IN ALLOWAY

ON NOVEMBER 18th, 2009?

- Robert: YES, I WAS. - OKAY.

AND HOW MANY DOGS DID YOU OWN AT THE TIME?

AT THE TIME, FIVE DOGS.

OKAY.

WAS ONE OF THE DOGS NAMED DUKE?

YES.

WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DUKE AND ROCKY?

- DUKE IS THE SON OF ROCKY. - OKAY.

NOW THERE CAME A TIME WHEN YOU BECAME AWARE

OF AN INJURY THAT HAD OCCURRED ON THE PROPERTY.

- IS THAT RIGHT? - THAT'S CORRECT.

OKAY. YOU SAID-- I THINK YOU MENTIONED

YOU HEARD SOME CRYING OR SCREAMING.

- YES. - OKAY.

AND FROM WHAT DIRECTION DID THAT NOISE COME?

IT WAS COMING FROM WITHIN THE BARN.

( goats bleating )

( puppy barking )

MS. TAFFET, THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY.

YOU'RE HERE IN RESPONSE TO A SUBPOENA, I TAKE IT.

- IS THAT RIGHT? - YES.

OKAY. THE DAY THAT CLAIRE WAS INJURED,

CLAIRE WAS WITH YOU IN THE BARN, WAS SHE NOT?

- THAT'S CORRECT. - OKAY.

( puppy barking )

Elizabeth: WE WALKED INTO THE BARN,

AND THE PUPPY JUMPED UP ON THE PEN,

AND ONE OF THE FOUR DOGS BARKED

AS THE PUPPY JUMPED UP.

AND CLAIRE STEPPED BACKWARDS

AND TRIPPED OVER HER FEET,

AND THAT'S WHEN SHE FELL DOWN.

THAT'S WHEN I HEARD HER SCREAM.

Attorney: THAT'S WHEN YOU CARRIED HER OUT TO HER MOM?

- Elizabeth: YES. - OKAY.

- STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. - CINDY McVEIGH.

THANK YOU, MA'AM. YOU MAY BE SEATED. YOUR WITNESS.

MS. McVEIGH, CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DAUGHTER'S CONDITION

WHEN SHE WAS HANDED TO YOU BY ELIZABETH?

SHE WAS...

SCREAMING AND CRYING,

SHAKING.

SHE WAS BLEEDING HEAVILY ON THE SIDE OF HER HEAD.

Attorney: I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU

WHAT WAS MARKED S-1 FOR IDENTIFICATION.

CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT YOU BELIEVE THAT REFLECTS

OR WHAT IT IS?

THAT'S, UM--

( exhales )

THAT'S CLAIRE'S EAR.

OKAY. I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU

WHAT'S BEEN MARKED S-2 FOR IDENTIFICATION.

CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THAT IS?

THAT'S CLAIRE RIGHT BEFORE HER SURGERY.

THAT'S SHOWING HER EAR TAKEN OFF.

Susanne: THE LITTLE GIRL

HAD HER EAR RIPPED OFF HER HEAD.

SHE IS GONNA BE SCARRED EMOTIONALLY

AND PHYSICALLY FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE.

AND IF YOU READ THE STATUTE--

I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT IT,

IF YOU'RE PERMANENTLY DISFIGURED,

THAT'S A VICIOUS ATTACK

AND THE DOG SHOULD BE EUTHANIZED.

Attorney: WE VALUE PEOPLE OVER ANIMALS.

WHEN THERE IS A SERIOUS BODILY INJURY,

THE DOG IS TOO MUCH OF A RISK AGAINST SOCIETY,

AND THE DOG HAS TO GO.

Robert: THIS WAS A SERIOUS BITE, THIS LAST ONE,

AND SOMETHING THAT I STILL FEEL TERRIBLE ABOUT,

THAT THIS CHILD HAD A BITE LIKE THAT.

IT TOOK A WHILE.

I CAN STILL SEE IT

LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY

OR MOMENTS AGO. IT'S STILL--

I HAVE A VERY VIVID VISUAL RECOLLECTION OF THE EVENT,

- AND IT'S DISTURBING. - ( door closes )

ALL RIGHT, I HAVE MADE A DECISION IN THIS CASE.

WHAT I HAVE APPLIED IS COMMON SENSE.

WHAT I THINK COMMON SENSE DICTATES

IS THAT DUKE NIPPED THE EAR OF THE CHILD.

AS THE CHILD FELL,

THAT CAUSED THE INJURY TO BE MUCH MORE SEVERE

THAN IT OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE BEEN.

SO IN THIS CASE WHERE I HAVE TO DECIDE BETWEEN

POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND VICIOUS,

I CANNOT DETERMINE THAT DUKE IS VICIOUS UNDER THE STATUTE.

HAD HE BEEN VICIOUS, GOD FORBID,

THIS CHILD MAY NOT HAVE SURVIVED.

THIS IS A VERY LARGE DOG,

SUBSTANTIALLY LARGER THAN THE CHILD AT ISSUE.

THANK YOU.

- THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. - THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

NEXT CASE. WHAT IS IT?

Dennis McVeigh: WE'RE DISAPPOINTED,

AND WE REALLY JUST DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN.

IF WE HAD KNOWN ABOUT

FIVE OTHER INCIDENCES WITH THE DOGS,

WE WOULDN'T HAVE ALLOWED OUR KIDS AROUND THE DOGS.

WHAT MAKES YOU THINK, IN THE FUTURE,

THEY'RE GOING TO EXERCISE JUDGMENT

THAT KEEPS KIDS AWAY FROM THESE DOGS?

THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT WILL HAPPEN.

Newscaster: THE McVEIGHS HAVE 20 DAYS TO APPEAL THE JUDGE'S ORDER,

AND THEY ARE CONSIDERING THAT.

THEY'RE ALSO LIKELY TO FILE A CIVIL LAWSUIT AGAINST THE TAFFETS.

IN PILESGROVE TOWNSHIP, SALEM COUNTY,

I'M CATHY GANDOLFO, CHANNEL 6 ACTION NEWS.

( goats bleating )

Robert: THIS HAS BEEN AN EYE-OPENER.

I MEAN, IT MAKES YOU QUESTION YOURSELF

AND WHETHER YOU WERE RIGHT OR WRONG OR--

YEAH, THERE WERE...

...INCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED,

BUT I FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT

THAT THERE WON'T BE

ANY OTHER INCIDENTS.

COME HERE, BUDDY.

Vet: OKAY, COME ON RIGHT IN.

Robert: COME HERE, BUDDY.

( sharp exhale )

( crying )

Radio chatter: 33 down on McGill.

OKAY.

GOOD BOY.

Robert: ALL RIGHT, BUDDY.

- Vet: YOU READY? - HAVE A GOOD SLEEP.

( Michele crying )

Robert: COME HERE.

( Duke panting )

- OKAY. SHH, IT'S OKAY. - IT'S OKAY, BUDDY.

Robert: OKAY.

SHH.

( panting stops )

GOOD DOG. GOOD BOY.

- Michele: OKAY, BUDDY. - OKAY.

( crying )

( woman speaks faintly )

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

( music playing )

( creaks )

MY NAME IS VAL. LAST MONTH,

I LOST MY BEST FRIEND

OF ALMOST 13 YEARS.

I HELD MY LITTLE GUY IN MY ARMS,

AND I FELT THE LAST BEAT OF HIS HEART,

AND I NEVER FELT SO ALONE

AS I DID AT THAT MOMENT.

IT WAS THE HARDEST DECISION I EVER HAD TO MAKE.

SHORT OF DIVORCING MY FIRST HUSBAND.

( laughter )

AND THAT WAS MY LITTLE MORTON.

I REALLY MISS HIM.

THANK YOU.

Carmack: I RUN THE MONTHLY PET LOSS SUPPORT GROUP

AT THE SAN FRANCISCO S.P.C.A.,

WHERE PEOPLE CAN TALK ABOUT THEIR GRIEF,

TELL US THEIR STORIES,

SPEAK OF THEIR ANIMALS POSSIBLY IN A WAY

THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO ANYPLACE ELSE.

Man: I DID BRING A PICTURE.

IT'S THE ONE THAT'S BEEN ON MY BEDSTAND

- SINCE HE WAS ABOUT FIVE. - Group: AWW.

- THIS IS BAXTER. - Woman: BAXTER.

OH, BAXTER'S ADORABLE.

HAD HIM SINCE HE WAS THE SIZE OF MY HAND.

I GOT TO BE THERE IN THAT MOMENT WHEN...

THE MOST--

HE WAS JUST THE SUPREME MOMENT OF MY LIFE.

I GOT TO BE THERE NOSE TO NOSE

WHEN HE HAD TO LEAVE ME, AND--

AND IT'S ONLY BEEN 31 DAYS.

I'M JUST SO BROKEN.

I DON'T FUNCTION RIGHT WITHOUT HIM.

I DON'T SLEEP MUCH RIGHT NOW,

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND

OF SUSPENDED DISBELIEF I WAS IN LAST WEEK,

BUT I WENT TO THE STORE AND I BOUGHT DOG FOOD.

I DIDN'T REACH FOR DOG FOOD AND THINK SOMETHING.

I BOUGHT DOG FOOD.

WHEN I GOT HOME AND TOOK IT OUT,

I REALIZED THAT I'D BOUGHT DOG FOOD.

CLEARLY, I WAS IN SUCH DENIAL

THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT UNTIL I OPENED THE GROCERY BAG.

( chuckles ) I'M JUST NOT WELL.

BUT I MISS MY GUY

SO MUCH.

I LOST MY LITTLE GIRL.

HER NAME WAS ONYX,

AND I HAD HER FOR 14 YEARS,

AND THAT'S A THIRD OF MY LIFE.

AND SHE'S--

YOU KNOW, SHE--

SHE WAS WITH ME THROUGH...

JOB CHANGES AND RESIDENCE CHANGES

AND PARTNER CHANGES AND...

IT JUST-- THE RELATIONSHIP WITH ONYX,

IT WAS SO DIFFERENT. YOU KNOW?

I'VE NOT HAD RELATIONSHIPS WITH HUMANS

THE WAY THAT I'VE HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH HER.

YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T THE FAMILY DOG.

SHE WAS MINE.

Carmack: THERE'S A PHYSICAL PRESENCE WITH AN ANIMAL

THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE SAY THEY DON'T HAVE

WITH A HUMAN BEING.

SO NOT TO GET THE SUPPORT

AND TO BE EXPECTED TO BOUNCE RIGHT BACK

AND BE BACK AT WORK AND...

UM...

HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER,

THAT'S VERY HARD FOR PEOPLE.

Woman: I LOST MY DOG SHAMAN.

HE WAS A HUSKY WOLF-DOG MIX.

HE TAUGHT ME--

HE TAUGHT ME TO SIT, YOU KNOW?

I TAUGHT HIM TO SIT, BUT HE TAUGHT ME TO SIT.

YOU KNOW, WITH HIS NOSE IN THE AIR,

WITH EYES HALF-CLOSED,

JUST TAKING IN EVERYTHING.

AND I COULDN'T HELP BUT, YOU KNOW--

WHATEVER WAS GOING ON WITH ME,

I'D JUST SMILE, 'CAUSE EVERYTHING WAS RIGHT,

AND EVERYTHING MADE SENSE.

YOU KNOW, TO JUST--

TO BE THE ONE TO DECIDE WHEN THE MOMENT

THEY'RE GONNA STOP BREATHING AND BE GONE

IS DEVASTATING.

IT'S REALLY PAINFUL.

YOU KNOW, HE WASN'T MY CHILD.

HE WASN'T MY PARENT.

HE WASN'T MY PARTNER.

HE WAS MY DOG, MY DOG,

AND THAT'S MUCH MORE THAN--

WE DON'T-- WE JUST DON'T HAVE WORDS FOR THAT.

I BOUGHT THE PLOT FOR CLEO...

THE DAY I GOT HER.

IT JUST NEVER SEEMED THAT UNUSUAL

THAT YOU WOULD BURY YOUR PET.

Man: WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE HERE--

DOCTORS, LAWYERS, SENATORS,

AND JUST THE AVERAGE JOE.

I THINK THAT DOGS ARE MUCH BETTER THAN PEOPLE,

'CAUSE THEY'RE HONEST.

IF THEY CARE FOR YOU, YOU KNOW IT,

AND IF THEY DON'T, YOU KNOW IT.

THEY GIVE SO MUCH

AND ASK FOR NOTHING IN RETURN.

( crying )

Joanne: SHE'S SUCH A GOOD GIRL.

Kathy: SHE'S NOT SUFFERING ANYMORE.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT, OKAY?

YEAH.

Priest: DEAR GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR SENDING US CLEO

AND FOR ALLOWING HER TO BE WITH US FOR A TIME,

AND ACCEPT OUR MOURNING AS A FORM OF PRAISE

FOR THIS LOVE

THAT HAS ENRICHED OUR LIVES.

BUT THE LOSS OF A PET

CAN BE AS EMOTIONAL AND DISTRESSING

AS THE LOSS OF ANY HUMAN BEING IN OUR LIVES.

TODAY WE COME HERE

TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF CLEO

AND TO SAY GOODBYE.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO THROW THE FIRST SHOVELFUL?

Joanne: I'M GOING TO MISS CLEO UNTIL THE DAY I DIE

AND JUST HOPE THAT WE'RE ALL TOGETHER AGAIN.

M.C.: WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU

TO OUR EIGHTH ANNUAL DOGGIE BALL FUNDRAISER.

WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

WE HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT TIME.

I WOULD LIKE NINA AND ED OTTO

AND SIR LANCELOT UP HERE, PLEASE.

AND THIS IS SIR LANCELOT.

- THIS IS THEIR BABY... - SIT.

...AGAIN.

Woman: THAT'S SIR LANCELOT.

OH, MY GOODNESS.

Nina: HE'S THE SPECIAL--

- HE'S OUR HONORARY-- - HE'S THE MASCOT.

HE'S THE ONE. YEAH.

I AM SO EXCITED TO MEET THIS YOUNG MAN.

I'VE BEEN DYING TO MEET HIM.

NO, HIS NAME IS LANCELOT. HE'S ACTUALLY A CLONE.

- HE'S WHAT? - HE'S A CLONE OF MY ORIGINAL DOG.

- REALLY? - OH, I KNOW YOUR STORY.

- YES. - YES, THIS IS LANCEY,

- LANCELOT'S CLONE. - OH, MY GOD.

- WE NEVER THOUGHT-- - IT NEVER DAWNED ON US.

YEAH, THAT THERE WOULD BE SO MUCH COMMOTION

ABOUT A CLONED DOG.

Reporter: A SOUTH FLORIDA COUPLE

LOST THEIR DOG SIR LANCELOT JUST LAST YEAR,

BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO BRING ANOTHER VERSION

OF THAT DOG BACK TO THEIR FAMILY.

Nina: HE WAS THE FIRST COMMERCIALLY CLONED DOG.

Newscaster: THE OTTOS PAID MORE THAN $150,000

TO HAVE LANCELOT CLONED IN KOREA.

$155,000.

LESS THAN THE COST OF A BENTLEY.

LESS THAN THE COST OF A REALLY NICE BOAT.

WE CHOSE TO PUT IT INTO AN ANIMAL

THAT WE LOVED DEARLY.

WE HAVE 10 DOGS.

- Nina: LANCELOT! - ( barks )

COME HERE.

I THINK SOME OF MY CHILDREN

ARE A LITTLE BIT JEALOUS OF MY DOGS...

JACK-- OOH.

...BUT THAT'S THEIR PROBLEM.

I'M VERY GRATEFUL.

I MEAN, I CAN SIT HERE ALONE WITH MY DOGS

AND BE QUITE CONTENT.

LANCELOT WAS A PRINCE AMONG DOGS.

HE JUST ALWAYS SEEMED TO ME TO BE SPECIAL.

WHEN I HAD TO PUT HIM TO SLEEP,

I CRIED AND CRIED AND CRIED FOR WEEKS.

I REALLY MISSED THE FEELING OF HIM.

I KIND OF CHOKE UP STILL THINKING ABOUT HIM.

NOT THAT WE DON'T LOVE LANCEY,

BUT WE DO MISS LANCELOT.

Nina: HE DIED. WE LEARNED FROM HIM.

WE GRIEVED FOR HIM.

WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE ANOTHER ONE.

IT'S LIKE HAVING A TWIN,

EXCEPT THEY WERE BORN 12 YEARS APART.

WE TOOK HIS DNA

WHEN HE WAS APPROXIMATELY SEVEN YEARS OLD.

AS EDGAR ALWAYS SAYS,

"NOTHING VENTURED, NOTHING GAINED."

IN MAY OF THE YEAR LANCELOT PASSED AWAY,

I READ AN ARTICLE THAT SAID,

OH, THEY WERE CLONING DOGS,

AND I WENT RIGHT TO THE PHONE.

I SAID, "THAT'S IT."

THE TESTING, THE FREEZING WAS DONE.

WE AUTHORIZED IT, AND THEY TOOK IT RIGHT TO KOREA.

WE WENT DOWN TO THE MIAMI AIRPORT

TO PICK HIM UP

THERE HE WAS.

- THERE HE WAS... - RUNNING TOWARDS US.

HOW DID HE KNOW?

I MEAN, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO THINK WE'RE NUTSY, YOU KNOW?

I'M SURE THEY THINK WE'RE NUTSY ANYWAY.

THIS DOG RAN RIGHT TOWARDS US.

THIS PUPPY, ALL THE WAY FROM KOREA,

WALKED INTO THIS HOUSE

AND WAS ACCEPTED AS IF HE HAD NEVER BEEN AWAY.

YEAH. YEAH.

THERE IS NO QUESTION IN MY MIND

THAT THERE IS LANCELOT HERE AGAIN.

ENCORE!

Edgar: IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE YOUR FAVORITE DOG WITH YOU

FOR YOUR ENTIRE LIFE.

JUST KEEP CLONING HIM.

I HAVE ALREADY ASKED NINA

IF I COULD BE CLONED,

AND SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T WANT TO RAISE ME.

- NO, DEAR. - WHAT ABOUT CLONING YOU, DEAR?

I DON'T WANT TO BE CLONED.

( dogs barking )

( baying )

Julie Adams: HEY, KIDS!

HELLO, KIDS. AWW.

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. EASY.

COME ON, DOGS.

I'M LEAVING. COME ON.

COME ON, DOGS.

THAT'S A GOOD GIRL.

WELL, I'VE BEEN LIVING HERE ON THIS FARM FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS.

LOT OF THESE DOGS COME TO ME FROM PEOPLE DUMPING THEM.

HEY, KIDS. KIDS. HEY, LITTLE DUDE.

DOG STARTS GIVING THEM A LITTLE BIT OF A PROBLEM,

THEIR FIRST ANSWER IS TO DUMP IT.

YOU KNOW, I FIND THEM DUMPED DOWN HERE ALONG THIS ROAD A LOT.

HI, LITTLE BABIES.

OOH, MY LITTLE, BITTY BABIES.

THERE IS NO SHELTER HERE.

( whistles ) HI, BABY.

I'M THE SHELTER. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE CITY

AND ALL THE LITTLE CITIES SURROUNDING ME

COME TO ME WITH DOGS THAT ARE STRAY.

HI, DEBBIE.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST MOVED IN HERE,

I HAD 40 DOGS,

AND EVERY YEAR, IT GETS BIGGER AND BIGGER,

UNTIL NOW IT'S 110.

HI, DEBBIE. HEY, BETTY.

LOTS OF PEOPLE COME BY

AND SAY IF I DON'T TAKE THEIR DOG,

THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE IT AND SHOOT IT.

A MAN ONE TIME STOPPED DOWN AT THE FEED LOT

WHEN I WAS WORKING DOWN THERE,

KNEW OF ME, AND HAD A LITTLE BEAGLE IN HIS CAR

AND SAID THAT IF-- HAD A SHOTGUN

SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO THE BEAGLE,

SAID IF I DIDN'T TAKE THE DOG,

HE WAS GOING TO TAKE IT DOWN THE ROAD AND SHOOT IT.

AND I JUST SAID, "OF COURSE I'LL TAKE THE DOG,"

YOU KNOW, AND I DID, AND-- BUT, YOU KNOW,

YOU DON'T EVEN ARGUE WITH SOMEONE LIKE THAT.

THERE ISN'T ANY USE. YOU JUST HELP THE DOG.

EVERYTHING HAS GOT TO JUST BE FOR THE DOG.

GOOD BOY, DUKE.

WANT TO GET OUT FOR A WHILE?

OOPS. SORRY, BABY.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW ANYONE ANYWHERE

CAN SAY NO AND WALK AWAY

FROM SOMETHING SUFFERING AND STARVING.

I MEAN, I WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

- ( cattle mooing ) - ( laughs )

SOME OF THESE DOGS COME IN, YOU KNOW,

NEVER HAD A KIND TOUCH AND NOT BEEN FED,

AND SOME OF THEM, YOU CAN TELL

THEY'VE NEVER HAD A HAND ON 'EM.

EVERY ONE OF 'EM THAT I BRING IN,

EVERY ONE OF THEM, THEY JUST ARE SO THANKFUL.

YOU CAN SEE IT IN THEIR EYES.

WHEN I WAS YOUNG, GROWING UP, YOU KNOW,

THAT'S ALL I CARED FOR WAS THE DOGS,

AND WHEN I LIVED WITH MY GRANDMOTHER,

WHEN I WAS LITTLE, WE HAD TWO DOGS.

ME AND HER HAD A DOG.

WELL, WHEN I WAS NINE,

MY GRANDMOTHER PASSED AWAY.

AS WE WERE LEAVING,

MY DOGS WERE STILL IN THE DRIVEWAY.

MY PARENTS SAID, "NO, WE'RE NOT TAKING THEM,"

AND I SAID, "NO, WE ARE.

WE HAVE TO TAKE DUCHESS AND BUSTER BROWN."

YOU KNOW, AND I WAS JUST POUNDING

ON THE BACK GLASS TO, "GO BACK.

GO BACK AND GET DUCHESS AND BUSTER BROWN."

WE DIDN'T, BUT--

SO, YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST A LITTLE GIRL THEN,

BUT, YOU KNOW, YEARS LATER, I FOUND OUT THAT,

YOU KNOW, NO ONE DID. THEY JUST LEFT 'EM.

( chuckles )

I CAN'T EVEN HARDLY THINK ABOUT THAT TO THIS DAY.

YOU KNOW, I STILL--

SOMETIMES WHEN I GO BACK HOME,

I GO OUT THERE LOOKING FOR 'EM.

YOU KNOW, MY DAD WAS NOT LIKE ME.

YOU KNOW, THEY WERE NOT DOG-FRIENDLY.

YOU KNOW, MY DAD HAD SOME HOUND DOGS,

BUT THAT WAS FOR HUNTING.

I REMEMBER A PAIR OF 'EM HAD PUPPIES ONCE,

AND, OH, I WAS IN HEAVEN OVER THEM PUPPIES, YOU KNOW?

I LOVED THEM PUPPIES.

I DID SPOIL THOSE PUPPIES.

HE WAS SO MAD AT ME WHEN HE FOUND OUT I HAD SPOILED THEM PUPPIES

THAT HE WOULDN'T LET ME FEED THE DOGS FOR A MONTH,

AND THEN--

ANYHOW, HE DID END UP

TAKING THOSE PUPPIES AND KILLING THEM.

HE SAID I RUINED 'EM.

BACK THEN, IT WAS COMMON

TO THROW SACKS OF PUPPIES OVER THE BRIDGE

WITH A ROCK IN THE RIVER,

AND SO THEY--

PROBABLY WHAT HAPPENED.

TO THIS DAY, YOU KNOW,

I ALWAYS THOUGHT THOSE PUPPIES DIED

BECAUSE I LOVED 'EM, AND...

AND I GUESS I HAVE THAT TO MAKE UP FOR TOO.

( whistles )

CHEROKEE!

CHEROKEE.

COME HERE, BUDDY. COME HERE.

GOOD BOY, CHEROKEE.

GOOD BOY.

GOOD CHEROKEE.

WANT TO GO OUT WITH US?

OH, YES, HERE I AM.

OKAY, I FOUND CHEROKEE.

HE WAS UP THERE SUNNING HISSELF, WEREN'T YOU?

I DON'T HAVE ANY CHILDREN, AND--

BUT THE DOGS ARE MY CHILDREN,

AND THEY KNOW IT. ( laughs )

AND THE ONES THAT STAY END UP, YOU KNOW--

LIKE BAMBI IS A OLD DOG,

AND SHE'LL LIVE HERE THROUGHOUT HER LIFE.

AND I HAVE SEVERAL OLD DOGS

THAT THIS WILL BE THEIR HOMES UNTIL THEY PASS ON.

NOW THE OTHER DOGS, LIKE CHEROKEE,

HE'S GOING TO GO TO A HOME SOMEDAY,

AND MOST PEOPLE ARE GONNA SEE WHAT I SEE.

THEY'RE GOING TO FALL IN LOVE WITH HIM,

AND HE'S GOING TO GET A GREAT, WONDERFUL HOME.

I'VE HAD CHEROKEE FOR NINE MONTHS,

AND FINALLY TODAY,

HE HAS A CHANCE AT A WONDERFUL FAMILY.

A DOG THAT CAME FROM NEAR DEATH'S DOOR

IS FINALLY GETTING HIS CHANCE AT A WHOLE NEW LIFE.

YOU GOING TO GO WALKIE?

LET'S GO TAKE YOU FOR A WALK.

READY TO GO FOR A WALK?

I LOVE HIM, AND OF COURSE I LOVE 'EM ALL,

AND I'D KEEP 'EM ALL IF I COULD,

BUT THERE'S BETTER THINGS OUT THERE FOR 'EM,

BETTER LIVES.

AND HE SAYS HE'S READY TO GO, HUH?

EVEN THOUGH I HATE SAYING GOODBYE TO HIM,

I'M SO HAPPY FOR HIM.

OH, GOOD BOY.

OH, HE'S SUCH A GOOD BOY.

INSTEAD OF BEING ONE OF A HUNDRED DOGS,

HE'S GOING TO BE ONE IN A FAMILY.

( dogs yipping, barking )

GOOD BOY.

YOU KNOW, IF EVER THE DAY COMES,

YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY'LL ASK YOU IF YOUR LIFE WAS SUCCESSFUL,

I'D SAY, "YEAH, MINE WAS."

RASCAL.

YOU OLD RASCAL.

YOU DON'T GET THIS FEELING

JUST FROM GOING TO WORK EVERY DAY

AND COMING HOME, 9:00 TO 5:00.

IT'S NOT AS SPECIAL AS THIS IS,

SAVING SOMETHING,

LOVING IT, AND IT'S A LIFE.

IT'S MY LIFE.

COME ON, DOGS.

COME ON.

COME ON, SUGAR, ROSCOE.

GET UP OFF YOUR LAZY BUTT.

COME ON.

( laughs )

THEY'RE GOOD DOGS.

( dogs barking )

OKAY, LET'S DO THE BIG ONES FIRST.

( dogs yelping, barking )

( growls )

( whimpers )

HATE TO BE ROUGH.

- GOD. - WHAT A BIG OLD DOG.

SHOOT. ROTTEN TOO. I SMELL IT.

YEAH, SMELLS BAD.

( barking, yelping continues )

( tank squeaks, gas hissing )

( hissing continues )

( dogs whimpering in unison )

( yelping )

( yelping quiets )

( hissing resumes )

( puppies yelping )

( yelping quiets )

( rain pattering )

( dogs barking )

( thunder rumbles )

( grunting )

( truck beeping )

WELL, AT LEAST THEY WAS BETTER ON THIS ONE.

AT LEAST THEY DIDN'T THROW THE DOGHOUSE OUT AND THE FOOD AND WATER.

NOW THEY'RE GETTING SOAKING WET.

COME ON.

( kisses ) EASY. COME ON.

YOU CAN MAKE IT. COME ON.

I KNOW IT'S RAINING, BABY.

COME ON. THERE YOU GO.

COME ON.

BETTY, COME ON.

- ( dogs barking ) - WHERE WE TAKING HER?

- E-4. - HEY, BABY.

SORT OF LIKE SHE'S BEEN HIT.

YEAH, SHE WAS LIMPING EARLIER,

BUT SHE'S NOT LIMPING NOW.

( loud barking )

NO, STAY.

NO. STAY. STAY.

Terry Pool: I WENT OVER. I GOT A CALL ABOUT THIS DOG.

SOMEBODY HAD PUT HER OUT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD,

NO HOUSES AROUND, NO NOTHING.

WHY PEOPLE LET DOGS GET IN THIS SHAPE, I DON'T KNOW.

SHE'S ATE UP WITH THE MANGE.

IT'S A MITE THAT GETS INTO THEIR SKIN.

IT MAKES THEM ITCH. IT MAKES THEM HAVE DRY SKIN.

IT MAKES ALL THEIR HAIR FALL OUT.

SOONER OR LATER, IF IT'S NOT TREATED, IT WILL KILL THEM.

AS FAR AS BEING SWEET,

SHE'S THE SWEETEST DOG THERE IS.

AND SHE IS A PIT BULL, FULL-BLOODED,

BUT SHE IS VERY SWEET.

WE CAN'T KEEP IT FOR A LONG TIME.

DO YOU WANT A TREAT, BABY?

COME ON.

Shane Hooks: AND THE DIFFICULT PART IS PEOPLE,

HOW DIFFICULT PEOPLE CAN BE,

AND HOW PEOPLE CAN TREAT THEIR ANIMALS

THE WAY THEY DO SOMETIMES.

THEY'LL JUST THROW 'EM OUT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD

OR LET 'EM STARVE TO DEATH,

AND IT'S JUST AMAZING

HOW PEOPLE CAN TREAT THEIR ANIMALS.

IT'S JUST DEPRESSING TO COME TO WORK HERE.

PEOPLE WON'T HAVE THEIR ANIMALS SPAYED AND NEUTERED.

THEY THINK IT'S OKAY TO LET 'EM RUN LOOSE

AND CONTINUE TO MULTIPLY OVER AND OVER AGAIN,

AND IT'S TOO EASY FOR 'EM TO DROP THE PUPPIES OFF HERE.

I'LL TELL 'EM, "THIS LITTER OF PUPPIES IS GONNA GET PUT TO SLEEP,"

THEY'LL BRING A LITTER SIX MONTHS LATER,

SAME PEOPLE BRINGING ANOTHER LITTER.

WE'VE HAD 'EM BRING A LITTER OF ROTTWEILER PUPPIES.

IT WAS 92 DEGREES OUTSIDE--

ROTTWEILER PUPPIES IN THE TRUNK OF A CAR.

AND THESE PEOPLE SAID, YOU KNOW,

"WELL, WE'VE BROUGHT YOU PUPPIES BEFORE."

I KNEW EXACTLY WHO THE PEOPLE WERE.

I SAID, "YEAH, YOU'VE BROUGHT US 21 ALTOGETHER."

YEAH, WE HAVE TO EUTHANIZE 'EM IN FRONT OF THE ANIMALS,

'CAUSE THERE'S NO PLACE TO TAKE 'EM,

NO PLACE TO TAKE 'EM TO PUT 'EM DOWN

OTHER THAN RIGHT THERE.

THE OTHER ANIMALS, I THINK THEY SENSE WHAT'S GOING ON.

UM...

IT'S...

IT'S JUST REALLY HARD TO DO.

( dogs barking )

- Lori Frezza: HELLO, JOHN. - Gagnon: HI. HOW ARE YOU?

- LORI FREZZA. - HI, LORI. NICE TO MEET YOU.

- Frezza: DID YOU HAVE A GOOD FLIGHT? - YES, WE DID.

- Frezza: GOOD. - John: I'M READY TO TAKE A LOOK.

Lori: OKAY. LET'S GO.

( dogs barking )

THIS IS GOING TO BE ROW A,

AND WE HAVE A THROUGH E.

HI.

AND THIS WAS A STRAY

THAT WAS FOUND ON THE STREET, TURNED IN.

GOOD BOY, EH? GOOD BOY? YEAH.

OKAY. OH, GOOD BOY.

HI. HOW ARE YOU?

- Lori: THIS WAS ANOTHER STRAY. - HOW ARE YOU?

ALL RIGHT, SO THESE WERE BOTH FOUND.

- Lori: THESE WERE BOTH FOUND DOGS. - OKAY.

I TEND NOT TO PULL THE PUPPIES

AND THE SMALL DOGS AS MUCH, BECAUSE OTHERS CAN HANDLE THOSE...

- RIGHT. - ...AND THEY'RE HIGHLY-ADOPTABLE.

I REALIZE ALL THESE DOGS ARE IN A ROUGH SPOT,

BUT, AGAIN, THE SMALL ONES AND THE PUPPIES

ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO GO THAN THE BIG GUYS.

OH, BOY, THIS GUY'S IN ROUGH SHAPE.

YEAH. SOMEONE...

DUMPED HIM OUT IN A FIELD,

LEFT FOOD AND WATER FOR HIM,

BUT THEY DUMPED HIM OUT SO FAR

THAT HE COULDN'T GET BACK TO THEIR HOME

AND JUST LEFT HIM THERE.

AND HE JUST HAS HORRIBLE MANGE,

- WHICH COULD BE TREATED, BUT-- - IS IT BEING TREATED?

IT'S NOT BEING TREATED HERE,

SO HE'LL END UP HAVING TO BE EUTHANIZED.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S TREATABLE,

THE SHELTERS DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO THAT.

NOW I CAN'T TOUCH YOU, 'CAUSE YOU MIGHT BE CONTAGIOUS,

BUT WE'RE COMING BACK FOR YOU, OKAY?

YOU HANG IN THERE. HANG IN THERE.

WE'LL COME BACK, I PROMISE, AND GET YOU SQUARED AWAY.

I WANT THAT PIT, BECAUSE THAT PIT NEEDS A BREAK.

YOU KNOW, HIS WILL IS JUST BROKEN. I WANT THAT DOG.

AND THIS WAS AN OWNER TURN-IN.

GOOD GIRL. YOU'RE ALL RIGHT.

( growls )

YOU'RE ALL RIGHT.

YEAH, NEW LEASH.

SHE'S JUST STANDING HER GROUND, TERRIFIED.

IT'S CLEARLY FEAR-BASED,

BUT SHE'S STANDING HER GROUND AS IF TO SAY TO ME,

"YOU STAY THERE, I STAY HERE, WE'RE COOL.

YOU ADVANCE ON ME, YOU'RE GETTING BIT."

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LASSO HER,

AND I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S GONNA ALLOW ME TO DO THAT.

HI, SWEETIE. YOU A GOOD GIRL?

YOU'RE ALL RIGHT. YOU'RE A GOOD GIRL.

SHE MIGHT BITE ME AT THAT POINT OR SHE MAY CHILL OUT.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

OKAY. RELAX.

RELAX.

I KNOW. YOU'RE READY TO FIGHT, HUH?

GOOD GIRL.

YOU'RE BEING VERY PATIENT.

OKAY, ALL RIGHT.

( chuckles )

THE TAIL.

SOON AS I TOUCH HER, THE TAIL TUCKS RIGHT UNDER.

HI. HOW ARE YOU? YOU OKAY?

YOU ALL RIGHT? HMM?

HER BODY IS VERY STIFF.

HI. HI. GOOD GIRL.

THERE YOU GO. GOOD GIRL.

THERE YOU GO. ALL RIGHT.

I LOOK FOR DOGS THAT OTHERWISE MIGHT NOT HAVE A SHOT

BECAUSE THEY'RE SHOWING SOME BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS

IN THAT SHELTER ENVIRONMENT.

GOOD GIRL. THERE YOU GO.

I CAN SEE DOGS WHERE IT SAYS "BITER" ON THEIR CAGE

AND DETERMINE PRETTY QUICKLY

IF THEY TRULY ARE AGGRESSIVE OR NOT,

AND THAT'S A DOG WHO'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE OVERLOOKED

BY MOST PEOPLE PULLING OUT OF A SHELTER,

AND SO I CAN GRAB THAT DOG, AND I--

AGAIN, I CAN GIVE THAT DOG A SECOND CHANCE

THAT MAYBE SOMEBODY ELSE MIGHT NOT BE WILLING TO TAKE THAT RISK.

NOW WE'RE SEEING SOME SOCIAL SIGNS HERE.

ALL RIGHT? SHE'S MELDING INTO ME.

SHE'S KISSING MY HAND.

WE'RE SEEING A SWEET SIDE. ALL RIGHT.

IS THIS WHO YOU ARE? ALL RIGHT.

THE PAW IS STRETCHING UP TO TOUCH ME.

SHE'S LOOKING FOR PHYSICAL CONTACT BEYOND ME RUBBING HER.

SHE WANTS TO BE TOUCHING ME AS WELL.

SHE'S LOOKING FOR THAT PHYSICAL CONTACT. GOOD GIRL.

EVERYBODY NEEDS A SECOND SHOT AT TIMES.

YEAH, MORE KISSES? YEAH. YOU LIKE THE EAR RUBS.

WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER, I HAD A NASTY TEMPER,

AND I DIDN'T ALWAYS UNDERSTAND IT.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHY I WAS ANGRY.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHY I DID THE THINGS I DID AND ACTED THE WAY I DID.

BUT AS I GREW, I STARTED TO FIGURE IT OUT,

AND I STARTED TO GET AHOLD OF THAT.

GOOD GIRL.

I FEEL A LOT OF THESE AGGRESSIVE DOGS ARE THE SAME.

SHE'S ENJOYING THIS.

THEY DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WHY THEY'RE AGGRESSIVE.

MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THAT.

THAT'S JUST A GIFT I WAS GIVEN--

WHY IT'S HAPPENING, WHAT THE DOG'S MINDSET IS,

WHAT'S TRIGGERING IT, AND GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT,

AND MAKE IT GO AWAY.

NOW THAT DOG HAS A SECOND CHANCE, SAME AS I GOT.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU WERE GOING TO BITE ME A FEW MINUTES AGO.

HUH? YOU WERE GOING TO BITE ME A FEW MINUTES AGO.

GOOD GIRL? ALL RIGHT.

AND THIS IS WHY IT'S ALWAYS WORTH CHECKING 'EM OUT.

IN THAT ENVIRONMENT, YOU JUST DON'T KNOW. YOU JUST DON'T.

SHE OBVIOUSLY HAS JUST A LOT OF GREAT QUALITIES IN HER.

SHE JUST NEEDS TO BE NURTURED A LITTLE BIT,

EXERCISED DEFINITELY.

SHE NEEDS TO LEARN TO TRUST,

SO WE'LL GO SLOW WITH HER. HUH?

WE'LL JUST GO SLOW WITH YOU, THAT'S ALL. ALL RIGHT?

( music playing )

GOOD GIRL.

GOOD GIRL.

THERE YOU GO. GOOD GIRL.

GOOD GIRL.

ALL RIGHT, TIME TO CALL YOUR FOSTER FAMILY.

I THINK YOU'RE READY TO GO.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? YEAH?

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

I THINK YOU'RE READY TO GO TO YOUR FOSTER FAMILY.

YOU'RE DOING MUCH BETTER THAN THE LAST TIME I SAW YOU.

YOU KNOW, HER MANGE IS UNDER CONTROL.

HER FUR IS COMING BACK. SHE'S GETTING STRONGER.

GOOD GIRL.

HER SPIRIT, MORE THAN ANYTHING,

REALLY HAS JUST REDEVELOPED.

GOOD GIRL. ALL RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, THE TAIL MOVEMENT.

SHE'S BEEN GIVING KISSES THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

SHE'S BOUNCING, CHASING FLIES,

AND, YOU KNOW, SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT A BALL IS,

BUT THAT WILL PROBABLY COME IN TIME.

WHAT'S THAT? DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT IS? HMM?

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, DO YOU?

AND SHE'S REALLY DEVELOPING HER OWN LITTLE PERSONALITY.

GOOD CATCH. THATTA GIRL.

( snorts )

( chuckles ) YOU SNORT LIKE A PIG.

HEY, COME HERE.

COME HERE, GIRL. GOOD GIRL.

GOOD CATCH. GOOD JOB.

YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU BRING A DOG LIKE THAT INTO YOUR HOME

AND INTO YOUR LIFE, THEY APPRECIATE IT.

THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'VE GOT, BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN WITHOUT.

( gasps )

HELLO. OH.

YOU A GOOD GIRL?

- HI. HI. - GOOD GIRL.

GOOD GIRL.

OH, MY GOD.

THERE YOU GO. WHOA.

NOW WE CAN REALLY CHECK THINGS OUT.

COME HERE. COME HERE. ( kisses )

GOOD GIRL.

THIS ONE'S GOING TO WORK. YEP.

HOLD ON. HOLD ON.

GO!

- ( Ericka laughs ) - GOOD GIRL.

LOVE IT. LOVE IT.

- THANK YOU. - ( laughs )

OKAY, BYE.

BYE BYE. THANKS.

THERE YOU GO. HI.

CRYSTAL CAPTURED MY HEART WHEN I SAW HER PICTURE,

BECAUSE SHE HAS THESE AMAZING BLUE EYES.

YEAH.

I THINK THAT IT'S GONNA BE THE BEGINNING

OF A VERY LONG-TERM FRIENDSHIP.

CUTIE.

THERE YOU GO. THERE YOU GO.

YUCK.

( crowd cheering )

THERE YOU GO. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

- OH, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. - YEAH, GIRL.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Gagnon: THERE ARE SO MANY HOMELESS DOGS

THAT ARE KILLED IN THE UNITED STATES EVERY YEAR,

MILLIONS AND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS,

AND MOST OF THEM ARE GOOD, HEALTHY

ADOPTABLE DOGS-- GREAT PETS.

THESE DOGS REALLY CAN COMPLETE A FAMILY.

I MEAN, IT BENEFITS PEOPLE TOO.

( puppies barking )

AWW.

Woman: IN THE BACK.

THERE ARE SOME. ALL RIGHT.

- CAN I GET A HANDLER? - Woman: WE NEED A HANDLER.

Scotlund Haisley: WE ARE ON-SCENE OF A PUPPY MILL

IN WARREN COUNTY, TENNESSEE, AMONGST THE WORST CONDITIONS

I'VE EVER SEEN IN A PUPPY MILL.

THE SMELL, YOU CAN'T SEE ON CAMERA,

BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THE STENCH

IS PRETTY ROUGH OUT HERE.

GOT APPROXIMATELY 200 DOGS,

EMACIATED DOGS,

DOGS LIVING IN THEIR OWN FECES AND URINE.

NOT THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD TO CUT A DOG OUT OF A CAGE.

BOY, THIS DOG'S IN ROUGH SHAPE, MONICA.

WE'LL GO SEE THE VET.

Haisley: THE WEATHER IS SO INCLEMENT HERE

THAT THEY WERE WRAPPED IN PLASTIC.

SO EACH DOG WAS ESSENTIALLY BEING SUFFOCATED

IN A PLASTIC ENVIRONMENT.

WATCH OUT.

HELLO.

GROOMERS ARE COMING IN AND CUTTING OFF

TWO-INCH-THICK COATS OF MATTING.

THESE STRUCTURES, I MEAN, LOOK AT THIS.

CAN YOU IMAGINE?

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT SOMEBODY ACTUALLY PUT ANIMALS IN THESE THINGS?

WE FOUND DOGS LIVING WITH DEAD DOGS.

ONE DOG WAS USING THE TWO DEAD DOGS AS A BLANKET.

I SUSPECT THEY WERE DYING EVERY DAY.

GOOD.

Haisley: THEY'RE ALL EVIDENCE IN A CRIMINAL CASE.

WE'VE TURNED ALL OF THAT OVER

TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE,

AND WE BELIEVE WE HAVE A VERY STRONG CASE

OF ANIMAL CRUELTY HERE.

( dog barking )

( thunder rumbling )

Shawn South-Aswad: I NEED TWO RABBITS.

TWO RABBITS, TWO CHICKS, AND AN EGG.

Woman: TWO RABBITS, TWO CHICKS, AND AN EGG.

ALL RIGHT, GUYS.

HERE. YEAH, DO SOMETHING WITH THAT.

( overlapping chatter )

THE SIGN-- OKAY. AND, HEY, THERE'S ONE SIGN

- THAT'S NOT STANDING UP ON THAT BIG-- - I KNOW.

WHERE'S THE EASEL FOR IT?

I HAVE NO IDEA,

BUT THERE'S AN EXTRA EASEL BEHIND THE BAR I SAW.

ON THAT GREEN DRESSER BACK THERE.

THE SIGN IS ON IT, BUT IT'S NOT ON AN EASEL...

- OKAY. - SO WILL YOU STICK THAT UP?

THIS IS TOO PUFFY.

( squeaking )

OKAY, HAND ME A RABBIT.

South-Aswad: EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS,

WE HAVE A SHOW WITH THE ART AND FURNITURE

THAT WE BUILD AND CREATE HERE.

DO YOU WANT US TO PUT SOME OF THESE ON THE TABLES?

YEAH. GO SET THOSE OUT ON TABLES.

South-Aswad: WHEN WE MOVED INTO OUR HOME,

WE BUILT SO MUCH OF OUR FURNITURE FROM SCRAPS, FROM EVERYTHING WE FOUND.

AS PEOPLE CAME IN AND SAW THINGS, EVERYBODY--

"OH, GOSH, YOU NEED TO SELL THAT,

COULD SELL THAT. WILL YOU BUILD ME THIS?"

SO THAT'S HOW WE STARTED DOING THE FURNITURE.

I'D ALWAYS PIDDLED WITH ART.

THERE WAS A MOMENT WHEN I REALIZED

THAT, YOU KNOW, WE COULD TAKE

THIS MONEY THAT WE WERE MAKING

AND THAT WE COULD REALLY START SAVING A LOT OF LIVES.

SO THE ART AND FURNITURE SALE,

IT SUPPORTS THE RESCUE 100%.

EVERY OUNCE OF PROFIT GOES BACK TO THE DOGS.

AN AVERAGE SHOW,

WE CAN SAVE 20 TO 25 DOGS.

( blows raspberry )

I LOVE THIS. I LOVE THIS ART.

I LOVE THAT ART.

I DON'T REALLY GIVE A SHIT ABOUT THIS ART,

BUT THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY COMES FOR.

( overlapping chatter )

DO YOU LIKE THIS RABBIT?

OH, THERE THEY ARE.

OH, I LOVE THAT.

THAT'S SO CUTE.

WE ARE CALLED "SHAWN'S MERMAIDS,"

AND BETSY'S CALLED "EARTH MOTHER."

WE ALL HAVE OUR NAMES

WE ALL USE FOR DIFFERENT THINGS,

BUT WHEN SHE SAYS, "COME," WE COME.

WE NEVER KNOW WHAT SHE'S UP TO,

BUT SHE'S ALWAYS RESCUING SOMETHING.

WE ALWAYS COME. WE ALWAYS COME, NO MATTER WHAT.

PLUS WE LOVE ALL THIS STUFF.

IT'S HANGING UP IN OUR HOUSES AND CARS AND...

( laughter )

SHAWN IS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH IN A TINY BODY.

TEENY, TINY BODY.

TEENY, TINY BODY. ( laughs )

South-Aswad: I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A NEED

TO JUST TAKE CARE OF THINGS,

TO TAKE CARE OF WHAT CAN'T TAKE CARE OF ITSELF.

CAN YOU PUT THAT IN THE CASH BOX FOR ME?

South-Aswad: WHAT IS IT FOR?

- THE PUPPIES. - THE PUPPIES. ALL RIGHT.

- GRAB THE END OF IT. - I'M SORRY. THANK YOU.

( thunder rumbling )

South-Aswad: EVERY DAY, WE GET PHONE CALLS

FROM THE SHELTERS THAT WE WORK WITH,

WITH DOGS THAT HAVE 24 HOURS LEFT,

THAT THE NEXT DAY IS THEIR P.T.S. DAY,

WHICH IS "PUT TO SLEEP."

THEY'RE GONNA DIE

BECAUSE THERE'S NO SPACE IN THE SHELTER FOR THEM.

SOMEBODY ELSE HAS COME IN,

AND THEY'RE THE OLD MAN ON THE BLOCK,

AND SO THEREFORE THEY GO.

BY LAW, A STRAY THAT COMES IN

HAS SEVEN DAYS FOR SOMEBODY TO CLAIM IT,

AND THEN IT CAN GO UP FOR ADOPTION,

SO IF A SHELTER IS FULL OF STRAYS,

THEN WHEN AN OWNER BRINGS IN A DOG

AND SAYS, "I DON'T WANT THIS DOG ANYMORE,"

THE DOG GETS EUTHANIZED

BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A SPOT TO PUT IT IN,

BECAUSE THE STRAYS HAVE FILLED IT UP.

COME ON, YOU LITTLE BABIES.

YOU LITTLE BABIES.

LITTLE BABIES.

Woman: HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD 'EM?

- Man: ABOUT THREE WEEKS. - OKAY.

SO HOW MANY DO YOU HAVE TODAY?

- TWO. - JUST TWO?

OKAY.

AND THEY HAVEN'T BITTEN OR SCRATCHED

OR BROUGHT BLOOD TO ANYBODY OR ANY ANIMAL

WITHIN THE PAST 10 DAYS. CORRECT?

OKAY. AND YOU UNDERSTAND

THAT WE CAN'T GUARANTEE ADOPTION

AND THEY MAY BE EUTHANIZED UPON SURRENDER?

OKAY.

( train horn blowing )

( phone rings )

ANIMAL CONTROL.

IT IS.

- HEY, EVERYBODY. - HEY.

HOW ARE YOU? HEY, GUYS.

- GOOD. - HEY.

- OHH. - GOOD TO SEE YOU.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

- LET'S GO SEE SOME BABIES. - OKAY.

( dogs whimpering )

EVERYBODY'S BEING QUIET TODAY.

Patterson: THEY'RE EXCITED.

EVERYBODY'S BEING QUIET TODAY.

South-Aswad: YOU CAN'T ALWAYS CHOOSE WITH YOUR HEART.

SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT IT.

STILL DON'T THINK HE'S 16 YEARS OLD.

IS IT HIS TEETH?

Patterson: THEY PULLED SOME TEETH, YEAH.

MOCHA, MOCHA, MOCHA.

HEY, BABE.

I MEAN, YOU CAN'T JUST GO IN THERE

AND TAKE AND TAKE AND TAKE

IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BACK IT UP.

- THIS IS... - RAY RAY.

Patterson: RAY.

RAY RAY.

HEY, HEY. RIGHT HERE.

RIGHT HERE.

I LEAN TOWARDS THE SICK AND THE SENIORS.

THAT'S WHERE MY HEART IS,

BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GONNA GET A CHANCE.

RAY IS BLIND,

SO WE USE OUR SCENT AND SOUND

BECAUSE HE'S BLIND.

HE CLOSES HIS EYE

WHEN YOU MOVE YOUR HAND OVER IT.

- HE CAN SEE A LITTLE BIT. - LITTLE BIT?

OH, GOODNESS.

OH, YEAH, WE'RE DEFINITELY GETTING YOU OUT OF HERE.

WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU OUT OF HERE.

YOU ROCK. YOU ROCK.

LOOK AT ME.

IT'S THE EMOTION THAT'S OVERWHELMING,

KNOWING THAT YOU CAN'T TAKE EVERYBODY HOME.

YOU CAN ONLY SAVE SO MANY,

SO THEY END UP IN A GAS CHAMBER

WHERE, AT THE END OF THE DAY,

THE SWITCH GOES ON.

( dogs barking )

( kisses )

MOCHA COULD GO TO LISA,

SO WE COULD DO KIM, LISA.

OKAY.

BUT I REALLY, REALLY

WOULD LIKE MOCHA TO GO TO CHRISTY.

AND OF COURSE RAY.

AND THEN RAY'S GOING TO KELLY.

YEAH.

SO LET'S GO GET 'EM.

COME ON, MOCHA! COME ON, GIRL!

LET'S GO. LET'S GO.

OH. GOOD BOY.

GOOD BOY. WE GO HOME.

WE GO HOME. ( laughs )

LET'S GO.

ALL RIGHT, GUYS.

- BYE, MOCHA. - SAY, "BYE."

BYE, BABY.

SAY BYE, SWEET THING.

BYE, MOCHA. YOU BE A GOOD GIRL.

BYE BYE.

WE'LL GO HOME.

LOOK HOW PROUD YOU ARE.

"SO PROUD OF MY ONE LEG."

EVERY DOG I'VE EVER PULLED

KNOWS THAT IT'S BEING SAVED.

"I'M NOT SHAKY OR NERVOUS."

AND THEY INSTANTLY BOND

WITH WHOEVER PULLS THEM OUT OF THAT SHELTER.

THIS WAY, RAY. ( kisses )

COME ON, BUDDY.

THIS WAY, RAY.

HE GETS SCARED WHEN HIS FEET GET OFF THE GROUND, BUT--

OH, PEE.

- UH-OH. - PEE.

- AW, RAY. - YOU DONE?

- IT'S OKAY, BUDDY. - IT'S OKAY, BABE.

IT'S OKAY.

HEY.

YOU GO HOME, SWEET BABY.

YES, WE DO.

- YOU READY TO GO? - BYE, BABY.

- YOU READY TO GO? - ( barks )

LOAD 'EM UP. LOAD 'EM UP.

ALL RIGHT. I KNOW. SCARY TIME.

- OKAY. - LET'S RIDE.

THERE YOU GO.

TIME TO GO.

COME HERE. GET YOUR LEASH.

NO CRYING. TURN THE CAR ON IN A MINUTE.

BYE.

( radio playing )

THE BIGGEST MOMENT FOR ME IS JUST PULLING OUT,

PULLING OUT OF THERE

AND KNOWING THAT THERE'S NO MORE CONCRETE,

THERE'S NO MORE WET FLOOR.

WHEN I PULL OUT OF THERE,

I WANT TO GO 100 MILES AN HOUR.

( singing along ) ♪ I've been banking on a broken machine ♪

♪ Left unattended ♪

♪ Like most of my dreams ♪

♪ Rusty components ♪

♪ Of an unmarked song... ♪

IT'S THE EQUIVALENT, TO ME,

OF PULLING SOMETHING OUT OF RUBBLE,

PULLING SOMETHING OUT OF A WELL,

BECAUSE YOU TRULY JUST SAVED ITS LIFE.

Radio: ♪ We've been fighting ♪

♪ For the love of our lives... ♪

( horn honks )

YAY!

♪ AT THE DRAWING BOARD ♪

♪ THE HOPEFUL ONES STILL TRY ♪

♪ HOW CAN WE HELP IT ♪

♪ WHEN WE'RE FIGHTING FOR THE LOVE OF OUR LIVES? ♪

♪ TRYING MORE ♪

♪ THE HOPEFUL ONES STILL TRY ♪

♪ HOW CAN WE HELP IT ♪

♪ WHEN WE'RE FIGHTING FOR THE LOVE OF OUR LIVES? ♪

SAY HI.

( music playing )