b'Canine Companions for Independencetrains four kinds of assistance dogs: Heart of a Dog. A Film by Laurie Anderson.After the death of her husband Lou Reed, it shouldnt come as asurprise that performance artist and musician Laurie Anderson wouldwant to make a film about grief and loss. What is surprising is that insteadof offering a tribute to herlate husband, Andersonchose to make the filmabout her dog, Lolabelle.Heart of a Dog isAndersons 2015 filmloosely centered aroundher experiences with herPhotograph by Sophie Calle.dog, a Rat Terrier sheadopted. Hello LittleA Service Team dog is paired with an adult or Bonehead. Ill love youadolescent with physical disabilities - paraplegics, forever, is how Andersonquadriplegics - and performs tasks such as calling greets her dog in the filmselevators, opening doors, picking up dropped items opening scene.that a person in a wheelchair cannot reach. Her stories aboutA Skilled-companion Team dog is matched Laurie Anderson and Lolabelle.Lolabelle lead Andersonwith a child or an adult having a physical or into observations on adevelopmental disability, and with that persons variety of other topics: life in post-9/11 America, her relationship withprimary caretaker, usually a parent. The dog helps her mother and harrowing memories from her childhood, her studies ofwith various tasks but primarily provides compan- Buddhism, and the nature of dreams. ionship, establishing a deep bond of love. The effect The film guides us through the confounding and illuminating stagesthese dogs can have on an autistic child is nothingless than miraculous, author Dean Koontz write in of love, death and loss, writes LA Times film critic Robert Abele ofhis book, A Big Little Life (reviewed on previous Heart of a Dog. Anyone who has cared for another being, human orpage). canine, will relate to this eloquent film. A Hearing Team dog alerts his hearing impaired Combining Andersons narration with sound effects and music, thecompanion to alarm clocks, smoke alarms, door- soundtrack is just as beautiful. She does not leave Reed out of her tribute,bells, and other sounds. gracefully giving him the last word with his song Turning TimeA Facility Team dog is paired with teachers, Around at the end of the film. The last image on film is of Reeds facerehabilitation specialists, caregivers in hospitals, next to Lolabelles. She dedicated her film to Reeds magnificent spirit.or in classrooms full of kids with developmental LaurieAnderson.com Udisorders.The organization has an eight-acre SoutheastRegion Training campus in Central Florida. For A Dogs Purpose, the film.more information: CCI.org/SoutheastBradley Cooper has signed on to voice the part of the dog in the filmadaptation of W. Bruce Camerons book, A Dogs Purpose. LasseHallstrom, who directed Chocolat and The Cider House Rules, is directingthe film, which also stars Dennis Quaid and Britt Robertson. Theremarkable story is about one dogssearch for his purpose over the courseof several lives. More than just anothercharming dog story, A Dogs Purposetouches on the universal quest for ananswer to lifes biggest question: Whyare we here? Reborn as a puppy againand again, the dog wonders if he will ever find his purpose.Heartwarming, insightful and funny, the story is a dogs eye commentaryon human relationships and the unbreakable bond between man and hisbest friend. The moving and beautifully crafted story teaches us that lovenever dies and that every creature on earth is born with aBradley Cooper with Samson and Charlotte. purpose. The film is scheduled for a 2016 release. Uwww.TheNewBarker.com Winter 2016 THE NEW BARKER 75'