​The film opens by addressing a dog’s most basic and important need: a safe and secure home. Each year, nearly 6 million dogs experience homelessness in the United States. Close to 3 million entered shelters in 2024 alone. Behind these numbers are stories of neglect, confusion, and preventable misunderstanding.

 

Through interviews with experts and frontline advocates, We Can Do Better examines how a nation that deeply loves dogs has arrived at this crisis and asks an essential question: if humans helped create these problems, can we not also be the source of the solution?

​

Our journey unfolds in Fauquier County, Virginia, at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, just an hour from Washington, D.C. Through the eyes of rescuers, shelter workers, veterinarians, adopters and behaviorists, we witness the full arc of a dog’s journey: from crisis to safety, from uncertainty to belonging, as we meet the extraordinary people whose collective dedication, resilience and heart give each dog another chance at a new family and a forever home.

​

We ride along with seasoned rescuer Jessica Cook as she locates and secures stray dogs. We take to the skies on a Seuk’s Army rescue transport flight with pilot Kley Parkhurst. We witness the difficult realities of animal welfare alongside Animal Control Officer Deputy Chris Hubert during the seizure of a neglected dog. These frontline perspectives reveal both the urgency of the problem and the compassion of those fighting to solve it. Through these moments, the scale and emotional weight of the crisis comes into focus.

 

From the field, the story moves inside the Fauquier County Animal Shelter where viewers step behind the scenes and see the formidable challenges dog shelters face to rehabilitate dogs, prepare them for adoption, and guide families toward successful, lasting matches. We meet Facility Director Devon Settle and Manager Maddy Garrison and we witness their extraordinary dedication to give each dog another chance at a forever home with a loving family.

​

But rescue is only the beginning.

 

As we watch the dogs move into adoptive homes, the film shifts from advocacy to education. The misunderstandings that lead to abandonment and the trauma of the resulting journey must be overcome to break the cycle of failed dog adoption. Through the insight and work of veteran dog behaviorist Brian Kerchner, we begin to understand a deeper truth: many “problem behaviors” are not signs of bad dogs, but reflections of a dog’s unfulfilled needs.

 

By reframing the human-dog relationship, Brian demonstrates how small shifts in perspective can transform frustration into partnership. When we stop viewing dogs as possessions and start seeing them as intelligent, emotional teammates with specific needs, we unlock the potential of a harmonious transformation where families learn, dogs thrive, and we all grow stronger together.

​

We Can Do Better ultimately serves as both a wake-up call and a roadmap, offering viewers not guilt, but guidance. It reminds us that loving dogs is not enough. Being responsible for them is essential.

​

And the good news is: we can do better.