January 14, 2009

The film "Hotel for Dogs," which debuts Friday, may be based on a fictional tale, but it still drives at the heart of a very real issue: animal homelessness in the United States. (Photo Courtesy of Dreamworks Pictures)

The soon-to-be-released film "Hotel for Dogs" is technically geared toward children, but the flick may sneak its way into the hearts of animal lovers, too, with its pro-adoption message. The movie comes out on Friday in theaters nationwide.

NEW YORK -- For many films, the mantra "it's just a movie" holds true, but one new film, "Hotel for Dogs," defies the norm with its revealing look at the stray animal epidemic in the United States.

The Dreamworks Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies' film debuts Friday in theaters nationwide.

Seventeen-year-old Emma Roberts co-stars in the movie, which tells the tale of a young girl named Andi and her younger brother Bruce, two dog lovers to the end.

At first, they struggle to find a home for their dog, Friday, who is no longer permitted in the family's urban apartment. The battle for Friday's life and well being soon transforms into a fight for many strays across the city -- a mission big enough to span the film's 100-minute length.

"Everyone was very into rescues and shelter animals and wanting to make sure that they portrayed a message. It was all about the dogs," said Beth Langhorst, a senior animal safety representative with the American Humane, which monitored the treatment of the animals on set.

Though marketed as a children's film, "Hotel for Dogs," based on the book by Lois Duncan, can appeal to all ages, actor Troy Gentile says.

"It's also for the animal lovers this film -- every person who has a dog at home, who loves animals, will absolutely adore this movie," Gentile, who plays the character "Dave," said.

Thirty to 35 dogs were on the set each day, and many of them were initially adopted from shelters, according to Langhorst.

The canine presence added slight complications to the production process.

"It definitely takes more patience, because even if we do it right, if the dogs don't do it right then the take is just bad," recalled Roberts, whose aunt is Oscar winner Julia Roberts. "And sometimes the dogs will do it perfect, but then other times, the dogs will just start wandering around and you have to think, 'Oh, they are dogs,' know what I mean?"

After all, as Ivan Reitman, the film's executive producer,

said, "It's not special effects. It's real dogs, doing real tricks in real time."

The dogs can't help but foster a candid presence on screen.

"Their real personality comes out on film. It's hard to make the dogs 'act' different than they are," said Mark Forbes, the film's chief animal coordinator.

It took three months for Forbes to train the 70 canine actors, who had to first master the basic commands of sit, lie down and stay. From there, the pets advanced their training, focusing on retrieving and quirkier tasks, like waving hello with their paws.

"It's all about the cookies," said Forbes, explaining his treat-based training.

While dealing with such a large canine cast, trainers had to remain just as vocal as their furry pupils.

"They're all barking our commands for the dogs," said actor Kevin Dillon, who played "Carl Scudder." "It gets a little trick with all that's going on."

Playing Dillon's wife, "Lois Scudder," actress Lisa Kudrow described the "behind-the-scenes" as "a room full of stay, stay, rebound."

The party really got going, though, during one New York City shoot, which required 70 dogs to run through the urban streets, weaving in and out of moving traffic. Forty dog trainers were on hand to make sure the scene unfolded smoothly.

Langhorst stood by throughout the unprecedented scene, and every scene, to ensure no animals were harmed in the making of the film.

"It put a little bit more of a stressful situation onto it, just because there's other factors you know you can control only to a point," Langhorst said. "In the end, you're not the foot on the break."

The task was daunting, but the pets made up for whatever lack of traditional professionalism with their good looks, which the actors found irresistible.

"We've grown to very much love them," Roberts said.

Kudrow agrees.

"This dining room with bistro tables and chairs filled with dogs, and ooh, I almost couldn't concentrate from the cuteness," she recalled of a scene. "They're so cute!"

Cute as they may be, the stars of "Hotel for Dogs" play an equally important role off-screen -- reminding moviegoers of animals everywhere who don't have a home, or a hotel, in which to rest their heads come nighttime.

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Pet Pulse Team Coverage included contributions from Amy Lieberman, Nancy Perla and Robin Wallace on this article.