Hurricane Katrina was easily one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the United States.  The storm was responsible for leaving 80% of the city of New Orleans underwater, inflicting over $125 billion in damages, and claiming the lives of over 1,800 people.  Even almost 5 years later, residents are still just returning to the lives that were destroyed by the storm.  But what about the lives that weren’t forced to evacuate?  The lives that were left behind to brave the storm alone?  The lives of the pets that could not join their families in the rush to safety?  Their story is told in the emotional and informative film, Mine.

Mine (directed by Geralyn Pezanoski) tells the story of several New Orleans residents who were forced to evacuate before the storm hit, but told they could not bring their animal family members to safety with them.  Some left food and water, others refused to leave their companions until the National Guard forced them out.  Regardless, almost every family pet in New Orleans remained in New Orleans throughout the entire storm.

The story begins by focusing on the relief efforts of volunteers who set off for New Orleans to rescue the stranded dogs and cats.  One volunteer mentions that when she called the National Relief hot-line to find out what was going on with the animal relief effort, they told her to relax – that they had at least 30 people working on rescuing the animals.  Something didn’t sit right.  For weeks and weeks (even during the ill-timed Hurricane Rita), volunteers from across the country spent countless hours getting into flooded homes and rescuing thousands of animals, who were then transported to shelters around the country. Then the reuniting process began…for the most part.

The New Orleans residents that are highlighted in this film all have separate but equally powerful stories.  They all had to leave their dogs behind during the storm with full intentions of returning to the city when the coast was clear to be with their scared animal buddies.  What they experienced after the storm, however, was an entirely different situation.

Mine tells a powerful story of companionship and heartbreak.  Most of the dogs in the film were adopted out to new families after the shelters had not heard anything from the original owners.  However, these adoptive families were unaware that their post-Katrina puppy actually belonged to someone else.  The original owners are unable to re-connect with their pets because after months of living in a shelter, the animals are given the opportunity to live in a better place.  What can be done?

The film is very moving.  The entire time I could not put myself on one side or the other when each person’s story would unfold.  On the one hand, I think the owners should be reunited with their pets that they were forced to leave behind.  On the other, what’s the best for the animal that has just gone through a terrible tragedy and is connecting with a new, loving adoptive family?

Mine views animal cruelty from a different angle.  It sheds light on a dark area of society that treats animal companions as family members in the home but as “property” in the eyes of the law.

This is not a “feel-good” film but it is a film that is definitely worth seeing.  I give this movie 3.5 stars for that reason.  For anyone who loves their family pet as much as I love (and have loved) mine, Mine is a movie that you will share an emotional connection with.

(Netflix subscribers, this is an Instant Queue title!)