Commentary on Hotel for Dogs

Hotel For Dogs is a cute movie, but it disturbed me a few times in how it portrayed foster parents and the foster care system. The two main child characters are in foster care and the family they are placed with is so totally inappropriate. Their social worker seems to care, but leaves them in a situation that I would never wish to place a child in. The children (16 year old female and 11 year old male) are siblings who have apparently lost their parents. They are sharing a room in the home of wanna-be performers. They have a dog named Friday that is seen as a puppy in a family photo they have displayed. Apparently where they are placed will not allow a pet, so they sneak Friday in and out and actually resort to stealing or becoming young con artists to buy food for Friday.

In trouble with the law, they are rescued from detention by their caseworker who then takes them to their foster home. The foster parents are busy practicing their music and angry to be disturbed. Their attitude is one that would not be acceptable to any licensing social worker that I have ever met. The home is not the greatest, but would be acceptable by 'minimum standards' - until it becomes apparent that there are locks on the cabinets and the children are given food (when they are given any) that is inedible. There is no attempt at caring or nurturing on behalf of the foster parents. No involvement in the children's activities or schooling. The foster home is totally inappropriate.

The children are creative and pretty much care for themselves. They become involved in rescuing stray dogs and once again have a run-in with the law. This necessitates their separation and placement into group environments. Now, I have considered that maybe in a larger city, this could be a more accurate representation, but was appalled at some of what they displayed in the movie. Children grabbing food and none being left for the eleven year old, some strange looking and behaving teenage females, and a total lack of any apparent supervision at either facility.

The most disturbing thought is that if there is any truth in the treatment of foster children in any community, then we must continue to advocate and implement positive changes for the children of our nation. Foster parents have to be screened thoroughly and social workers have to have ongoing training and support systems to provide safe homes for children. To give him his due, the social worker in the movie did seem to care and did take action in the latter half of the movie.

We do have wonderful foster families who care deeply for children entrusted to their care. The media never seems to portray the positives of foster care. I do realize that the Hotel For Dogs story line depends on the negative portrayal of where the children are staying.... It just seems a shame that foster families are always getting a bad rap in the public eye. I will not spoil the ending of the movie by typing any more....

One parting thought; when will a movie be made about a foster family or any family who does the right things and takes care of children in a loving and nurturing manner? A family who is involved in school, counseling, visits, soccer, cheerleading, vacations, church, etc etc etc? Maybe that should be my next project. Write a novel that can be made into a movie?
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The very sad truth is that negative, violent, criminal, and grotesque sells tickets.