From executive producer Anjelica Huston, the new documentary Breaking the Chain introduces viewers to a nationwide crisis of abused and neglected dogs, cats, and other animals through interviews and behind-the-scenes footage following PETA’s dedicated team of fieldworkers, who live in hope as they respond to cases and calls for help around the clock and in all weather extremes.
The film directed by Neel Parekh, tells the animals’ stories, including those living in underserved areas of the South, and highlights efforts to improve and save their lives or, when needed, alleviate their suffering.
“It’s one thing to hear about the animal neglect and overpopulation crisis and another to see for yourself how dogs are left to shiver, pant, limp, and suffer in backyards, where they’re confined to wire cages or chained to pieces of junk,” says Huston. “This is what PETA fieldworkers see every day, and I want everyone else to see it, too.”
From Zena, an emaciated German shepherd who spent years chained in a backyard swarming with flies, fleas, and mosquitoes, to Edith, a gentle chow mix who was chained outdoors for nearly a decade, these animals’ stories will make viewers ask what they can do to help – and heartwarming moments and hard-won victories will show them how lives can change when people refuse to give up.
“Breaking the Chain allows viewers to join PETA’s first responders on the front lines as they persist and often prevail against all odds,” says PETA Senior Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. “It shows how each one of us can change the world for animals in our own communities so that one day, no one is condemned to a life sentence of isolation and deprivation without love, respect, or even basic care.”
Bless PETA’s fieldworkers for coming to the aid of animals who are neglected, suffering, and sometimes even dying right in their owners’ backyards. Without their assistance, many more dogs would die alone on the ends of chains, shivering in the cold, many more cats would languish with fatal diseases and broken bones, and many, many more unwanted puppies and kittens would be born, worsening this crisis. Seeing the conditions that so many animals are languishing in will surely be an eye-opener for many people and a reminder of why it’s so vital for everyone to spay, neuter, adopt, and always report cruelty.
I’ll never understand how people can treat animals cruelly. I’m so grateful for the people working to help them.
PETA’s fieldworkers do vital, lifesaving work. Looking forward to watching this documentary.
I can’t wait to see it. It shouldn’t take a documentary to point out the obvious–that everyone should be kind to animals–but I’m so glad that PETA’s fieldworkers are working to stop animal abuse. Very cool of Angelica Huston to lend her support, too!