Companions to None Documentary Airs Tues.

[Guest guest]

Frame of Mind

Companions to None

 

Tuesday, January 22, 10:00pm

 

CHANNEL 13 (KERA)

 

" Companions to None " examines the overpopulation and abuse of

companion animals in Mexico, featuring insights from Mexican TV

journalist Lolita Ayala and actors Diana Golden and Patricia Reyes

Spindola. Julio Cedillo narrates.

 

SYNOPSIS

Over three years in the making and filmed on-location throughout

Mexico and in selected areas in the U.S. and Rome, Italy, COMPANIONS

TO NONE examines the companion animal overpopulation and abuse crisis

in Mexico. As a Mexican veterinarian claims, " Dogs now outnumber

humans in Mexico - and there are a hell of a lot of humans in

Mexico. "

 

COMPANIONS TO NONE includes on-camera interviews with a number of

celebrities, including Lolita Ayala, Mexico's most popular television

journalist and news anchor. Ms Ayala, highly respected throughout

Latin America and well-known for the foundation she started for the

welfare of animals, is also actively working on behalf of the welfare

of children. Mexican film and television stars Diana Golden and

Patricia Reyes Spindola ( " Frida " ) are also among those who are

activists in the defense of animals, appearing in the film and

contributing their zeal to the solution of this crisis. Narrator of

the English version is Julio Cedillo, a rising star in the film world

whose most recent credits include the title role in Tommy Lee Jones'

award-winning film, " The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. "

 

The film reveals the causes, nature and extent of the crisis, as well

as the forces that enable it and delay its fundamental solution: pet

sterilization. " The tragic animal situation is a reflection of the

tragic human situation, " suggests an American animal advocate working

in Mexico to alleviate the pain and suffering endured by the

starving, disease-ridden street dogs and cats that roam Mexico's

cities and villages.

 

COMPANIONS TO NONE shines a harsh, truth-revealing light on how

Mexican authorities deal with the problem: capture as many of these

animals as possible, throw them into dungeons called " antirrabicos "

and kill them in three days or less, using unimaginably cruel,

barbaric methods. As bad as it is, there is hope on the horizon.

 

Filmmaker Bill Buchanan gets close to many of the people and inside

many of the organizations in Mexico and the U.S. that have struggled

for decades to reduce the surplus of animals without homes. Generally

it's women, often well-to-do, with the time and resources necessary

to devote their energies toward making the lives of these animals

better. They immerse themselves in work that lacks both prestige and

glamour. Truly a labor carved from love and compassion, they confront

overwhelming numbers and formidable resistance from Mexico's

government, economy, culture and dominant religion.

 

As a side note, while the film's primary focus is on the companion

animal situation, its context is Mexico's cultural richness and

physical beauty as well as the crushing economic conditions endured

by the majority of the nation's human population. This gives one an

instant appreciation and understanding of what lies beneath the

immigration crisis facing the U.S. today.

 

One outspoken Mexican veterinarian states in the film: " A little

ignorance goes a long way. I don't mean to insult anyone. But having

puppies or kittens in your home just to experience the miracle of

life is really not right. There is no miracle to that life if they're

going to end up in a shelter euthanized. " This film graphically

reveals that tragedy.

 

Mexico is hardly alone with this issue, however. Up to 10 million

healthy dogs and cats are euthanized annually in the U.S. because

they have no homes. It is truly a global problem. COMPANIONS TO NONE

is an important film that should be seen by audiences not only in

Mexico but throughout the world.

 

DOG WHISPERER: On a more positive note, Dog Whisperer had a episode

showing how they've rescued and improved conditions for dogs in

Mexico. Here's the link for the org that does that:

http://www.hope4animals.org/