4 months ago

War Tails

a review by Daniel Fine

 The film seemed to cover so much of the destruction of the country, and how it has affected the poor animals that have been left behind. This is is heartrending. I would like to see this film dubbed in other languages and shown throughout Europe and also the United States. It is uplifting to see the absolute dedication of the UWARF team of volunteers that do their utmost to vaccinate and neuter as many of these abandoned pets as possible to prevent a rabies outbreak.  I was captivated by the War Tails film from beginning to end. I was anticipating an informative and heart wrenching film, butI didn’t expect such a professional and well narrated documentary. Halfway through, I realized this production should be nominated for an Academy Award.  Dan Fine’s narration was compelling. While the focus remained on the animals, Dan’s first-hand knowledge of the atrocities of Russia’s drive to bury all life under the rubble of their intense bombing brought to the fore the insane acts of a mad man.  My heartfelt appreciation goes to all of the brave souls who touched this historic film.  The film is heart-rending and powerful in terms of how it depicts the huge humanitarian problems from the war. Seeing this from the animal-rescue standpoint and taking into account the critical goal of preventing a rabies infestation throughout all of Ukraine, leaves unforgettable images and concerns in my mind in a way that is much more powerful than the Ukraine war footage we see on the network news.
 Wonderful work, wonderful animals and people!  Both animals and people in Ukraine desperately need our help. Our politicians in Washington DC need to see this film.  The visuals and audio of the impact of the war - along with the commentary, are incredibly moving! I cannot imagine living in that brutal scenario. Great job showing the destruction, and hearing from the local people and who directly see the impact on both people and animals there.  There is an urgent need for UWARF to continue its great work to keep both pets and humans safe from the ravages of rabies. This is something I didn’t know about until watching this film. The work that UWARF’s people are doing is so courageous in such dangerous circumstances, and their devotion to the animals is beyond words..  Our US Congress needs to see this film.
 The film was truly moving and brought to life the struggles in war-torn Ukraine, the plight of all the abandoned pets left behind, and the brave and tireless people feeding, vaccinating and caring for them. It was heart rending. The scenes of blown-up towns and houses just populated by dogs and cats were haunting. It is shocking to see this. i.  It was very powerful seeing real footage of the consequences of the Ukraine war that was not as scripted like news on TV can be. As awful as the suffering is for humans and animals in Ukraine, it was eye-opening to think about the spread of rabies among the abandoned animals and how easily the disease could spread to humans.  I guess I knew that animals suffered in war zones. What never occurred to me is that the resultant animal overpopulation, combined with the threat of rabies, presents an even larger problem to both animals and humans. My heart goes out to the dedicated people who put themselves at risk to rescue animals, give them love and care, and do what needs to be done to avert a rabies crisis.  I also walked away thinking how vulnerable this effort is. It seems like a very small group of people are leading this effort both physically and in terms of fund raising. Without these key people, what happens to this program? I hope this film gets aired broadly to make people aware that their help and funding is .  I was totally blown away by the role this animal rescue effort plays in reducing stray animal populations and preventing the spread of rabies to humans. To me this was the overwhelming lesson and why animal rescue is so critical.
 The cinematography and the narration were excellent. It is very impactful and really shows the devastation that is happening for animals and humans.  The film is a good reminder that there are good people in the world doing their part to make things better for others. I found the film to be inspiring and heartbreaking. It reminds us that while we can’t fix everything, we can make a difference by taking any action that we are able to.  War Tails depicts some of the most loving and compassionate people I have ever seen. Humanity is on the brink of a crisis and something must be done.  This film is powerful! It shows in a dire situation the best of humanity through people’s connection with animals. The Ukrainian loss is depicted well by scenes of destruction. Hungry and scared animals are mostly all that remain. Our minds fill in people and a way of life lost. I was afraid there might be graphic scenes of animal’s bodies. That would have been hard for me to watch. Russia is targeting the civilian population which your pictures & video make so clear. Everybody needs to see this film, including our Congress! Seriously.  The Film should be shared with U S House of Representatives. Much more help is needed.  The film should be on a Netflix documentary. Thank you for sharing this emotional and important film.  Absolutely EXCELLENT  The people highlighted in the film are true heroes! Such courage, caring and commitment is exceedingly rare and extremely inspirational.  This film needs to be shown everywhere as it is a real eye opener. More people must be educated on what is happening in Ukraine.  These are the messages from War Tails: the horror of the war in Ukraine, the terrible destruction of an entire country, the insanity and cruelty of Putin, the amazing empathy and love for animals the Ukrainian people have, and the danger posed by rabies to not only Ukraine but Europe.  This is not simply a story about providing veterinary care to stray dogs in a war zone. It is really about humans and their strong relationship with dogs, and how the potential of a rabies infestation underscores the strong link between animal health and human public health.