UNDERBELLY
Underbelly is an investigative documentary that dives deep into the heart of the US dog breeding industry. Led by an unflinching undercover investigator exposing layers of cruelty, deception and greed, the film threads these uncomfortable truths into a riveting and persuasive narrative that aims to captivate audiences and inspire change.
Every year hundreds of thousands of dogs are euthanized in the U.S.,
…while millions more are bred in U.S. puppy mills.
Summary
Undercover private investigator Pete Paxton serves as our guide through the troubling world of commercial breeding in this hard-hitting film. Through Paxton's harrowing work, we expose a slew of transgressions and unveil the disturbing connection between for-profit breeding and euthanasia. Showcasing the efforts of activists and non-profits across the nation, the film follows their tireless work to reduce animal suffering and euthanasia, and it highlights significant victories over a deep-rooted industry. Ultimately, the film posits that regular people hold the power to solve these profound issues.
We shadow Paxton as he probes suspected puppy mills, risking his safety to collect evidence and disrupt their operations. His investigations uncover an industry shrouded in deception, and they reveal a real-life hero dedicating his life to a cause at great personal sacrifice.
At the Humane Society in Washington DC, we explore coordinated efforts to outlaw the commercial sale of puppies and kittens, linking these bans to significant reductions in euthanasia rates. We then travel to Wichita, KS, where despite huge numbers of strays and overrun shelters, pet stores continue to introduce new animals into the community, many secretly sourced from the country's worst puppy mills. Here, amidst activists striving for a local ban, we witness the concerted resistance from a national pet-store chain and its associates.
The film concludes with a family's heartwarming journey to adopt a new dog. As they embrace their new family member, we witness how this single act not only saves a life and discourages commercial breeding, but is also the best possible decision for them.
Will you join us?
Save lives and reduce animal suffering by helping us spread this message!
The Goal
While producing this film, we’ve become convinced that the quickest, most effective solution to the problem of commercial breeding lies hidden in the hands of American consumers. While millions of dogs enter American homes each year, the truth about puppy mills remains veiled from public view. Underbelly aims to inform regular people and motivate change in consumer behavior by making a comprehensive and convincing argument against breeding and for adoption. Our goal with this film is to produce a lasting resource that will help raise awareness, disincentivize breeding, and help save the lives of the hundreds of thousands of shelter dogs set to be euthanized in the next year.
Our Approach
We want to create essential viewing for prospective dog owners, to persuade regular people to withhold their support from commercial breeders, and to compel our audience to share this message. We can’t get there by forcing viewers to wallow in suffering. A film focusing squarely on the horrors of puppy mills may be too disturbing for many to watch, let alone share. Instead, we will focus on the people and organizations working for change, their insight and their victories. Featuring a strong and sympathetic character in the form of an undercover private investigator, we will take our audience on a thrilling journey, keeping them engaged and entertained while we lay out our arguments.
