Geelong rescue dog lands lead role in Australian film

GEELONG’S newest and cutest movie star is a cheeky and energetic mixed-breed terrier who goes by the name of Squid.

The two-year-old is the star of newly released Australian independent film Runt, which is based on Craig Silvey’s bestselling novel of the same name.

The flick follows the story of 11-year-old Annie Shearer and her canine companion, a stray dog called Runt – played by Squid – who set out to save the family farm after it comes under threat from drought and another local landowner.

For young Squid, her movie debut has proven to be the opportunity of a lifetime.

At just 10 months, Squid was surrendered to Geelong’s Yellow Door Rescue, after three previous failed attempts at finding her a forever home.

Yellow Door director Lisa Davis said Squid came to the rescue as a high-maintenance pup, lacking in training, direction and structure.

“We could recognise that she needed a home that had a job or wanted to put the time into training her,” she said.

Squid quickly caught the eye of Rebecca Faulkner, a film industry animal trainer and co-founder of We Do Animals.

“We couldn’t have dreamt up Bec’s application, and where she ended up, if we tried,” Ms Davis said.

“We’re so thrilled for her, and Bec and for everybody involved in Runt that they found exactly what they were looking for, and we’re so thrilled that we can showcase what a rescue dog can be when put in the right environment.

“They’re not broken. There’s a lot of people that think rescue dogs must be broken, there’s something wrong with them, but it’s just that they’re in the wrong environment.”

Ms Faulkner said Squid was now thriving.

“She’s such a feisty little terrier. She’s also incredibly intelligent. She learns things very fast…she’s smarter than me.

“The way she observes her environment and learns things and learns patterns is so fast. I’ve never seen a dog like it.”

She said when bringing a new dog into the home, everyone needs to learn how to be with each other – a process that can take some time – and advised people to consider if the animal they have their eye on is an appropriate fit for their lifestyle.

Behaviours like digging holes in the garden and chewing up furniture which are often viewed a “problematic” can often be a sign that dogs aren’t quite the right fit for a family’s lifestyle, she said.

Just like lifestyle compatibility considerations are made with choosing partners and friends, Ms Faulkner said similar considerations also need to be made when adopting a dog or other rescue animals.

Squid is now firmly part of Ms Faulkner’s family, and further movie roles may well be on the cards.

“She’s going to go on to do really great things,” Ms Faulkner said.

Runt is now screening throughout the school holidays at Geelong Village Cinema, the Pivotonian Cinema and Waurn Pond’s Reading Cinema.

Like many rescues, Yellow Door – which launched in April last year – is eager to connect with community members interested in fostering animals with surrenders remaining at all-time highs.

“With us and other rescue groups, they’re in home environments, so we really know what they need and can match them [to the right family]. As we have shown, when in the right environment, they are absolutely amazing.”

For more information on Yellow Door or to express an interest in fostering, head to the rescue’s Facebook page or email [email protected]