Free Puppies!

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1:38

Free Puppies!

2022

1h 10m

Documentary

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Popcornmeter

100%

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15 Reviews

100%

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

Although transports have moved dogs from the South for decades, when Hurricane Katrina left more than 250,000 pets stranded, the infrastructure of modern pet transport for a nation-wide dog rescue effort was born. Since then, individual volunteers, transporters, shelters and rescue groups have created a movement to place millions of southern dogs in areas of the country with high demand for adoption but low supply. By following a group of women dog rescuers from Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee, FREE PUPPIES! reveals the challenges that contribute to the rescue dog crisis in the first place. These women not only save dogs from euthanasia, but also organize affordable and accessible spay and neuter, reform local ordinances, advocate for humane education, and fight urgent and complex challenges facing underserved areas of the rural South.

Claire Shaffer

New York Times

08/11/2022

The film achieves its goal in raising awareness for these volunteer efforts, casting a spotlight on a chronically overlooked crisis.

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Sandie Angulo Chen

Common Sense Media

12/21/2022

4/5

Free Puppies! isn't always easy to watch, but the women and the filmmakers are empathetic about some folks' reasons for not spaying/neutering their dogs, which makes it easy for countless unintended extra litters to be born.

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M.V. Moorhead

Less Hat, Moorhead

12/19/2022

I was braced for a miserable time going into this one, but while the movie's implications, both cultural and logistical, are certainly sad, it's not depressing to watch.

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Stephanie Archer

Film Inquiry

12/17/2022

A grassroots documentary, Free Puppies! is an exemplary showcase of hope and perseverance, delivering a platform to those most in need.

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

12/14/2022

While itself often giving the impression of a DIY effort with more heart than finesse, Free Puppies! is worthwhile for anyone who cares about pets...

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Jennie Kermode

Eye for Film

12/12/2022

4/5

It will strongly appeal to those who want to educate themselves and work towards making animals’ lives better

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dave d

@RT34924333 04/04/2023

If you watch 'Free Puppies!', you're probably not a dog hater. This a documentary feature about the United States rescue dog process. At 67 minutes, it is fast paced. The puppy mill issue is an epidemic in certain southern states and those dogs generally get shipped north when they become unwanted. It is a low-budget doc that should scratch you where you itch. This is essentially an advertisement for pet rescue and that isn't terrible. It will pull at your heartstrings and does exactly what it intends. Final Score: 9.3/10

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liz s

08/23/2022

This film is lovely. I learned so much about the world of rescue dogs!! The incredible efforts animal lovers across the country go through to rescue and find forever homes for abandoned dogs are truly inspiring. The work is heartening, heartbreaking and inspiring. It would be nice if this film could produce a framework to solve this issue! Kudos to the filmmakers!

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08/14/2022

This film is fantastic. I learned so much!! The incredible efforts made by animal lovers across the country to rescue and re-home abandoned dogs are truly inspiring and it was eye-opening to see how huge the problem is. What may have touched me most was to see rescuers with completely opposing political views working together to save animals in need. I walked away thinking of what a beautiful metaphor these animals were for American citizens. If we could get over our political differences to solve problems for humans the way these American heroes solve problems for animals, we'd be in a much better place as a country. This film is a reminder that, if our government won't do anything to help people, we can make great change ourselves as long as we work together.

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08/12/2022

The greatest real footage of dogs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Samantha Wishman

Director

Christina Thomas

Director

Samantha Wishman

Producer

Carter McCormick

Cinematographer

Eliot Popko

Cinematographer

Samantha Wishman

Film Editor

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Free Puppies!: Trailer 1

1:38

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Synopsis

Although transports have moved dogs from the South for decades, when Hurricane Katrina left more than 250,000 pets stranded, the infrastructure of modern pet transport for a nation-wide dog rescue effort was born. Since then, individual volunteers, transporters, shelters and rescue groups have created a movement to place millions of southern dogs in areas of the country with high demand for adoption but low supply. By following a group of women dog rescuers from Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee, FREE PUPPIES! reveals the challenges that contribute to the rescue dog crisis in the first place. These women not only save dogs from euthanasia, but also organize affordable and accessible spay and neuter, reform local ordinances, advocate for humane education, and fight urgent and complex challenges facing underserved areas of the rural South.

Director: Samantha Wishman, Christina Thomas
Producer: Samantha Wishman
Distributor: First Run Features
Production Co: Hollydale Productions , Failed Pilots
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 12, 2022, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 12, 2022
Runtime: 1h 10m