HBO's Premiere of 'One Nation Under Dog'

This is a tough one. As a dog lover, it's difficult for me to absorb the dire circumstances that dwell within animal shelters everyday. Even the commercial with Sarah McLaughlin singing mournfully over visions of sweet eyed dogs and cats incarcerated behind the bars of a homeless shelter has always been too much for me to bear. I know cruelty among these defenseless creatures exists. I know millions of innocent dogs who could not find a home are euthanized. I also know the sadness of losing a beloved hound, the mourning, the loneliness, that horrible stillness in the house when you come home and that little buddy is no longer following you from room to room. Yet to see the reality on television is a pain that goes beyond comprehension.

That is why HBO's upcoming documentary One Nation Under Dog: Stories of Fear, Loss and Betrayal is going to be difficult, yet so important to watch. Premiering Monday, June 18th at 9pm, this three part documentation will explore the relationship humans have with their dogs, and the lengths this country must go for these animals to be treated humanely. 

Part one "Fear", will focus on Dr. Robert Taffet, a man devoted to his dogs who is brought to court when his Rhodesian Ridgeback bites off the ear of a little girl.

Part Two "Loss" deals with people mourning the loss of their deceased pets, and visits one of the oldest pet cemeteries in the U.S. (Hartsdale, NY, by chance? I used to live a block away from that historic place).

Part Three "Betrayal"features the most unpleasant aspect of the state of canines in this country: overpopulation, rescue and euthanasia. 

There will be some graphic footage that will undoubtedly be difficult to see. HBO will present edited versions for daytime audiences at the time indicated by *.   See info below:

 Other HBO playdates: June 22 (7:30 a.m.*), 27 (10:00 a.m.*, midnight) and 30 (8:15 a.m.*), and July 8 (4:00 p.m.*) and 16 (5:15 p.m.*)

HBO2 playdates: June 20 (8:00 p.m., 4:45 a.m.) and 24 (6:30 a.m.*), and July 2 (12:50 a.m.), 4 (9:45 p.m.), 10 (noon*) and 19 (4:45 a.m.)

To find out more about One Nation Under Dog and other upcoming HBO Documentaries, please visit http://www.hbo.com/#/documentaries.