Dog Gone spoilers follow
Dog Gone is out now on Netflixtelling the true and adventurous story of a pup named Gonker who goes missing on the Appalachian Trail and the father and son who go on a trek to find him. But if you, like this author, are an animal lover you might be hesitant to delve into a film that seems poised for an ending of animal death.
Savvy to this, Netflix themselves decided to assuage people’s anxieties and, perhaps, wanting to make sure viewing numbers didn’t drop in anticipation of a dead dog, released a statement. Don’t worry, Gonker lives! However, the film is still emotionally wrought — sometimes manipulatively so thanks to its score and heavy-handed dialogue — and this is your warning to grab a box of tissues before starting.
Still, knowing Gonker lives comes as a great relief. Separate from the fate of the pooch, how much of the film is true? If you want to know without shedding the tears to find out, read on.
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The true story was also made into a book called Dog Gone: A Lost Pet’s Extraordinary Journey and the Family Who Brought Him Home by Pauls Toutonghi, the brother-in-law of the story’s protagonist Fielding, who adopted the dog to help heal from the trauma of losing his infant daughter. The real story took place in 1998, while Dog Gone is set in present day.
In the film, Fielding is a college student on the brink of graduation who picks up a dog from the pound to help him get over a breakup. There’s also a backstory of Fielding’s mom Ginny who got an Akita puppy named Oji as a gift, but her military father and strict mother were less than enthusiastic. (This also comes from the true story, in which Ginny had a dog named Oji, and confirms Ginny was a victim of parental abuse.)
Similarly, Fielding’s father John (Rob Lowe) has doubts about the dog and his hippie-ish son’s ability to care for him. However, over time Fielding’s parents learn to love Gonker, which is precisely when he is diagnosed with Addison’s disease (the disease the real Gonker also had).
Netflix
The family continues on happily with Gonker getting his shots and living a happy life (except for the tension between a go-getting father and his laissez-faire son). Then, Gonker goes chasing after a fox while on a walk with Fielding and his friend on the Appalachian trail and doesn’t come back.
In flashbacks, we see Ginny as a young woman being chastised by her strict parents for wanting to bring Oji inside in a snowstorm and we later learn that he escaped and got hit by a car, to which her parents were less than sympathetic.
Meanwhile, Fielding and his parents launch a search plan to find Gonker.
Netflix
Cue the heartwarming montage of the search for Gonker! (Including a weird scene in which they prey with a homeless man selling religious artefacts, and they buy a St Anthony, the patron saint of lost things — ‘can’t hurt’, is the idea) Journalists get on board, and people from towns and cities all across the Appalachian Trail.
They are eventually joined by Fielding’s friend Nate. While searching, it becomes apparent that Fielding himself isn’t well, though we don’t know what with, and he refuses to confide in John. Eventually, it becomes apparent he’s unwell so they go home.
While home they get a call from a man who says a stray that looks just like Gonker has been eating out of his garbage and doing tricks with doughnuts — one of Gonker’s signature moves — so they rush out to get him.
Netflix
When they return home with him he runs to Ginny, who briefly sees Oji in Gonker, before embracing the dog; however, as he’s getting out of the car Fielding collapses. They rush him to the hospital where he’s diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and undergoes emergency surgery.
While recovering, John sneaks Gonker into the hospital to snuggle with Fielding in his bed. The film ends with a picture of the real Gonker, with a coda that reads “Gonker has never separated from the Marshalls again.”
In real life, Fielding now lives in Chile with his partner and their two children. Gonker lived a full and happy life. The film’s credits are peppered with photos of the film’s cast and crew with their beloved pets.
Dog Gone is now available to watch on Netflix
