Host a mutual rescue film festival

“Mutual Rescue: Our Story” [5:40] View Film

Mutual Rescue’s origin story, an engaging way to start your event and give context to the films that follow. Through sharing authentic stories in film and print, Mutual Rescue presents compelling evidence that when people adopt animals, their own lives are often dramatically transformed in positive ways as well.

“Bhuvana & Abhishek & Lollipop” [7:49] View Film

“Having one common thing that we both just loved changed things. We call the three of us a family.”

—Bhuvana Hariharasubramanian

“Jade & Trubs” [5:50] View Film

Trubs, an unadoptable cat with a chronic illness and Jade, an autistic girl, form an instant and unexpected bond. Trubs, who seemed to sense Jade’s challenges, helps her find peace in situations that formerly caused her anguish.

“As a parent of a special-needs child, your hopes are that they have a normal life. I never thought this would happen because of a shelter cat that no one else wanted.”

—Jessica Allen, Jade’s Mom

“Kim & Brian & Lana ” [7:41] View Film

Kim and Brian were devastated by the death of their newborn baby. While Kim began to heal, Brian remained locked in his grief. Adopting Lana, a German shepherd mix, gave Brian an outlet for his grief and helped the couple bond again.

“Grief is just love with nowhere to go, and Lana has given us a place to put that love.”

—Brian Rose

“Sarah & Domino” [5:45] View Film

Sarah’s chronic pain led her to become addicted to drugs. Rescuing a neglected dog became a catalyst for change in her own life. With courage and perseverance, Sarah recovered and begins again with Domino as her constant companion and source of inspiration.

“Even though I was in a really bad position myself, I was the better option by far for Domino. He was just broken, and I felt broken as well.”

—Sarah Coletti

“Patrick & Grace” [5:20] View Film

After taking in Grace, an abused pit bull, Patrick, a young competitive athlete suffers a debilitating stroke. This is the story of a strong dog and strong man both beaten down, building each other back up.

“I’ll never be the athlete I was, but Grace has changed my definition of strength.”

—Patrick Donovan

“Mike & Abbie” [6:15] View Film

When everything in Mike’s world collapsed around him he found Abbie, a shy kelpie pup traumatized from having been abandoned on a busy highway. Together they embarked on a remarkable journey of recovery that resulted in adventure, world records and joy.

“I would never have known my full potential if I hadn’t helped a shelter dog find hers first.”

—Michael Uy

“Jessi & Andi” [4:50] View Film

Jessi’s boyfriend was the life of the party. His unexpected suicide cast her into a downward spiral of anxiety and depression. When she happened upon Andi, a puppy at a local shelter, she found a path to a brighter future.

“While my life looks different than I thought it was going to, Andi made me start seeing that there could be another future. She really was the one that pulled me out of my darkness.”

—Jessi Burns

“Josh & Scout” [4:50] View Film

We follow a young soldier from a battlefield in Iraq, where he sustained traumatic injuries, to Fort Riley, Kansas. There, an unlikely savior appears and saves him from taking his own life and leads him into a life he never imagined possible.

“Even before he was my cat, before he even knew me that well, Scout saved my life. He put me on a different path. He gave me the confidence to try to come back from all the adversity that I was feeling.”

—Josh Marino

“Tracy & Jack” [5:20] View Film

When Tracy and Jack each suffered extreme injuries, they managed to heal each other. Jack’s positive attitude and spirit spread to Tracy, helping her along her own road to recovery.

“He has three legs and one eye...but it has no impact on him whatsoever. To Jack, everything is a source of joy.”

—Tracy Campion

“Kylie & Liza” [6:15] View Film

In her final days, Kylie, a young girl with cancer, was comforted by a rescue kitten named Liza. In the same way Liza bonded with Kylie when she most needed her, the kitten intuitively comforted the grieving family after Kylie’s passing.

“I’ve heard people describe animals like angels. I never really understood what that meant until Liza met Kylie.”

—Robin Myers, Kylie’s Mom

“Eric & Peety” [6:25] View Film

Eric weighed 340 pounds and was diagnosed with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and Type 2 Diabetes. His doctor told him he had 5 years to live. Then he met Peety—and everything changed.

“I’m still here because a shelter dog saved my life.”

—Eric O’Grey