"A lot of people don't get a chance to do what they want to do in their lives, like a dream," says Flynn-Amato, who has spent years driving between New York City and Lancaster County's puppy mills. "It's a pretty nice feeling."
Flynn-Amato figures she has pulled about 2,000 dogs from breeding facilities operated by Amish and Mennonite farmers, who supplement their income by selling puppies to pet shops. She, and almost everyone else in the film, would like it if nobody ever bought a dog in a shop.
Miss Patti Page, the Singing Rage makes an appearance, in her mid-80s, still looking great. She doesn't exactly apologize for "(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?", one of the biggest hits of the early '50s, but croons an updated version reflecting her enlightenment about the source of most window doggies. It's called "Do You See That Doggie in the Shelter?"
One of the nation's most prominent shelters, Main Line Animal Rescue in Chester Springs, plays a big role in the film, too, with executive director Bill Smith among the many talking heads.
Flynn-Amato also works extensively with Rawhide Rescue, in north-central New Jersey. One of their alumni, Woody the Dog, was plucked from the Staten Island Animal Care Center one day ahead of the executioner and has lived with a certain Philadelphia TV critic and his wife for almost 10 years.
So you could say I have a dog in this fight, too.
Woody lifted his head several times to look at the TV while Madonna of the Mills was playing, which is more than he does for Glee or The Good Wife.
