- DogTown
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Dogtown Format Reality television Country of origin 
United StatesBroadcast Original channel National Geographic Channel Original run January 4, 2008 – March 12, 2010 External links Website
DogTown is a National Geographic Channel series set at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, a 33,000-acre (130 km2) animal facility in southern Utah.[1] It is a documentary-style program that profiles staff and volunteers as they care for dogs in need of a home. Many animals featured are severely abused or neglected, or in need of specialized medical treatment. The goal is usually to secure each dog an adoptive home but if this is not possible, animals are cared for at the sanctuary for the remainder of their life.The show first aired on January 4, 2008, and continued for four seasons. The final episode was broadcast on March 12, 2010. By participating in the series, the sanctuary aimed to raise public awareness of issues in animal welfare as well as funds for their life-saving work.[2] Best Friends Animal Society has credited the show with dramatically improving membership, volunteer, and visitor numbers, as well as helping secure homes for many dogs featured on the program.[3]
Contents
Program Format
Each episode usually features three different cases. Veterinarians Mike Dix and Patti Iampietro treat dogs in need of medical care, while behavioral issues are addressed by trainers/behavioralists John Garcia, Pat Whitacre, Ann Allums, Michelle Besmehn or Sherry Woodard.[4]
Michael Vick Dogs
In its second season premiere, Dogtown profiled the rehabilitation of four American Pit Bull Terriers rescued from the property of NFL player Michael Vick in April 2007. The dogs' placement with Best Friends was the subject of some controversy. Following their removal from the dogfighting compound both PETA and the Humane Society of the United States advocated the dogs be euthanized; a court ruling, however, allowed twenty-two of the most badly abused dogs to be placed at Best Friends for rehabilitation.[5] Following remarkable progress, one of the dogs, Georgia, went on to make several media appearances with trainer John Garcia, including the Ellen DeGeneres Show.[6]
The two hour episode featuring the Vick dogs rated well, becoming the National Geographic Channel's highest rating Friday night premiere, and highest rating second season premiere, in network history.[7]
Episodes
Season 1
Ep # Total Title Airdate 1 1 "Crisis Dogs" January 4, 2008 2 2 "Second Chances" January 11, 2008 3 3 "The Outsiders" January 18, 2008 Season 2
Ep # Total Title Airdate 1 4 "Saving the Michael Vick Dogs" September 5, 2008 2 5 "New Beginnings" September 12, 2008 3 6 "Project Rescue" September 19, 2008 4 7 "New Lives" September 26, 2008 5 8 "Road To Recovery" October 3, 2008 Season 3
Ep # Total Title Airdate 1 9 "The Survivors" March 20, 2009 2 10 "Against All Odds" March 27, 2009 3 11 "Starting Over" April 3, 2009 4 12 "New Hope" April 10, 2009 5 13 "A Fighting Chance" April 17, 2009 6 14 "Friends In Need" April 24, 2009 7 15 "Will To Survive" May 1, 2009 8 16 "Life After Dogtown" May 8, 2009 9 17 "A Fresh Start" May 15, 2009 10 18 "Rescue and Renewal" May 29, 2009 Season 4
Ep # Total Title Airdate 1 19 "Dogfight" January 1, 2010 2 20 "Bright Futures" January 8, 2010 3 21 "Homeward Bound" January 15, 2010 4 22 "Sanctuary" January 22, 2010 5 23 "The Road Home" January 29, 2010 6 24 "Close Calls" February 5, 2010 7 25 "Search and Rescue" February 19, 2010 8 26 "Chance For Change" February 26, 2010 9 27 "Puppy Mill Rescue" March 5, 2010 10 28 "Dogs In Need" March 12, 2010 DVD Releases
Dogtown
Season Release Date Comments Season 1: Second Chances July 1, 2008 Features all three episodes from Season 1, plus bonus features 'Doggy Updates: Where Are They Now?' and 'About Best Friends Animal Sanctuary' Season 2: New Beginnings January 6, 2009 Features all five episodes from Season 2, plus deleted scenes. Season 3: Friends In Need October 27, 2009 Features all ten episodes from Season 3, plus bonus features 'Rescue Dogs', 'Archie & Electra's New Rug', and 'About Best Friends Animal Sanctuary' External links
References
- ^ National Geographic Channel's Dogtown Returns With Season Premiere Following the Rehabilitation of the Michael Vick Dogs
- ^ "Utah's 'Dogtown' takes center stage in TV series," "Deseret News," January 4, 2009
- ^ "We Had A Good Run," "Best Friends News and Top Stories," April 12, 2010
- ^ "Dogtown Cast," "TV Guide," September 19, 2011
- ^ "Lucky Dogs: National Geographic Rescues Michael Vick's Pit Bulls" "TV Guide," September 5, 2008
- ^ "DogTown's John Garcia Shares His Story," "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," December 15, 2008
- ^ "Dogtown' ratings gold for National Geographic Channel," "Monsters and Critics," September 8, 2008
Categories:- National Geographic Channel programs
- Television series about animals
- Dog training and behavior
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