The Puppy Mill
Getting a new puppy? Then you must see this documentary.
The Puppy Mill is a new documentary on the pet industry in Australia. While the title suggests this could be an unpleasant film to watch, The Puppy Mill is actually a very enthralling and entertaining dog documentary.
“As a dog owner, I am interested in the welfare of animals. As a film maker, my passion is about revealing truths that would otherwise pass us by”, says William Wolfenden, who has produced and directed the independent documentary through his company, Seawolf Productions. “We have a lot to celebrate about our relationship with dogs, and this documentary looks at that history”. But he ads, “there’s a lot we don’t know about the breeding, treatment, and sale of puppies through pet stores, and it’s nothing short of animal cruelty”.
It is not an activist film, but addresses the abuse of innocent animals for commercial gain, and looks at the significant progress that has been made overseas to help alleviate the issue. “I think Australians will be shocked by what goes on in this industry”, says William. “The real price of that doggy in the window is it’s future, and I think it’s important to understand what can be done to eliminate cruelty, and learn more about our history”.
While The Puppy Mill does show actual Australian puppy mill footage, it doesn’t dwell on this or show any gratuitous abuse; although it’s quite clear it takes place. This is a good decision on the directors part as it has allowed him to get a PG rating on the film, he moves quickly on to what we can all to do help, keeping the viewer engaged.
Interviews read like a who’s, who of dog behaviour; the father of positive dog training Ian Dunbar, Associate Professor Paul Mcgreevy, Dr Kersti Seksel and author Raymond Coppinger who really steals the show with his insightful and humourous manner.
Interestingly the documentary also compares community sentiment in the United Kingdom and commercial practice in the USA. ‘We should be able to adopt the lessons learnt by other western nations, we need to conduct our pet business’s so they both protect consumers and the welfare of animals’.
This film is absorbing from beginning to end and if you’re a dog enthusiast, you’ll find it doubly so. Everyone who loves their pets needs to know the truth about the problems with the pet industry so we don’t allow this kind of farming to continue. The director William Wolfenden may have, with the help of the country’s most distinguished dog authorities, changed the way this country views their pet purchases forever.
Getting a new puppy? Then you must see this documentary.
The Puppy Mill is a new documentary on the pet industry in Australia. While the title suggests this could be an unpleasant film to watch, The Puppy Mill is actually a very enthralling and entertaining dog documentary.
“As a dog owner, I am interested in the welfare of animals. As a film maker, my passion is about revealing truths that would otherwise pass us by”, says William Wolfenden, who has produced and directed the independent documentary through his company, Seawolf Productions. “We have a lot to celebrate about our relationship with dogs, and this documentary looks at that history”. But he ads, “there’s a lot we don’t know about the breeding, treatment, and sale of puppies through pet stores, and it’s nothing short of animal cruelty”.
It is not an activist film, but addresses the abuse of innocent animals for commercial gain, and looks at the significant progress that has been made overseas to help alleviate the issue. “I think Australians will be shocked by what goes on in this industry”, says William. “The real price of that doggy in the window is it’s future, and I think it’s important to understand what can be done to eliminate cruelty, and learn more about our history”.
While The Puppy Mill does show actual Australian puppy mill footage, it doesn’t dwell on this or show any gratuitous abuse; although it’s quite clear it takes place. This is a good decision on the directors part as it has allowed him to get a PG rating on the film, he moves quickly on to what we can all to do help, keeping the viewer engaged.
Interviews read like a who’s, who of dog behaviour; the father of positive dog training Ian Dunbar, Associate Professor Paul Mcgreevy, Dr Kersti Seksel and author Raymond Coppinger who really steals the show with his insightful and humourous manner.
Interestingly the documentary also compares community sentiment in the United Kingdom and commercial practice in the USA. ‘We should be able to adopt the lessons learnt by other western nations, we need to conduct our pet business’s so they both protect consumers and the welfare of animals’.
This film is absorbing from beginning to end and if you’re a dog enthusiast, you’ll find it doubly so. Everyone who loves their pets needs to know the truth about the problems with the pet industry so we don’t allow this kind of farming to continue. The director William Wolfenden may have, with the help of the country’s most distinguished dog authorities, changed the way this country views their pet purchases forever.
