Toronto – There’s an epidemic in the US, and no it is not the Swine Flu (yet). Experts claim that there are more captive Tigers in the US then there are in the wild. Most of them are housed in shoddy conditions by breeders and despite the love that their owners have for them, many people have a different opinion. The documentary Tiger Next Door explores this issue, focusing on a particular individual named Dennis Hill, a self proclaimed tiger lover who houses 24 Tigers as well as cougars, black bears and lions on his acreage. The documentary explores why people like Dennis would house so many wild animals on their land as well as what the general reaction is of the people around him. Would you want to live beside someone who houses upwards of 50 man eating beasts in their backyard? Probably not.
The documentary is a fascinating one. You can see why an animal lover like Dennis would want to keep animals beasts captive (he loves them, there is no doubt), but at the same time, it’s incredibly frustrating to see such magnificent animals housed in small cages. A good documentary addresses the issues from all angles, and Camilla Calamandrei does that rather well, interviewing law enforcement agencies, nature types, other breeders and also friends and family of the breeders. The lead character Dennis also has an interesting back story that I will let you discover (no, it was not as an extra for zz top). All in all, a good documentary on a topic that not many people are aware of. Next time you drive by a road side zoo, you might think twice before going.
Schedule
10:00 pm Fri, May 8 – Royal Cinema
1:30 pm Sun, May 10 – Bloor Cinema