“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”
That quote by author Josh Billings gets me every time because I know that unconditional love he is referring to. I feel it from my dog, Ernest, every morning when he wakes me up with kisses only a mother could love. Most pet owners have a special bond with their animal, but there is something unique about the relationship between man and dog (they don’t call them man’s best friend for nothing). This sentiment is the perfect preface to Pick of the Litter, a documentary about the selflessness of working dogs- specifically as guide dogs for the blind.
Directors Dana Nachman and Don Hardy follow five dogs, from newborn puppies to adults, as they go through the laborious 20-month process of training to become certified guide dogs. Throughout the film’s swift 81-minute runtime, Pick of the Litter is as heartwarming as it is educational. Aside from the obvious aww-inducing moments that are to be expected from a film about puppies, Pick of the Litter is full of interesting facts that prove how coveted the role of “Service Dog” is. One mind-blowing statistic reveals that, for the 800 dogs that are born as potential guide dogs every year, only 300 of those dogs will make the final cut as official service dogs. It further explains how dogs who are cut from the program, due to various qualities that make them unfit for service, are politely considered “Career Changed.”
“…it is evident that these dogs mean the world to their owners and, as Josh Billings would argue, vice versa.”
The film leads with a heavy hand, the opening sequence is extremely emotional as interviews with the vision-impaired portray incidents of how their previous service dogs saved their lives. Whether it was preventing someone from walking into oncoming traffic or leading them down 78 flights of stairs in the Twin Towers on 9/11, it is evident that these dogs mean the world to their dependent owners and, as Josh Billings would argue, vice versa.
Pick of the Litter is sincere in its mission to show the challenges and ultimate gift that a service dog is- an ability and freedom for the blind to explore the world. Lives are transformed as recipients are given the ability to live more independently, and while the process is not without occasional heartache, its beauty far outweighs the fleeting times of sadness. Pick of the Litter is a quintessential feel-good movie that is perfect for children, optimists, and dog lovers everywhere.
‘Pick of the Litter’ is not rated. 81 minutes. Opening this Friday at Laemmle Royal Theatre in West L.A.
