Stray Dog Drama in Detroit: Canceled TV Show Founders Are Still Fighting for Homeless Animals

Mar 23rd 2011

A reality TV show about stray dogs in Detroit, canceled after officials denied the Discovery Channel permission to film, may still help the Motor City's needy canines.

In frustration at the decision by Mayor David Bing's film office, two of the filmmakers have continued the fight -- online, on the airwaves and onto the streets of Detroit.

Executive producer Monica Martino and location scout Dan Carlisle -- a local rapper known as Hush -- began by posting a short but shocking video about the problem on YouTube on Jan. 31, shortly after the city's refusal to grant the permit.

The four-minute film has since drawn more than 70,000 hits and the pair claim to have received more than $7,000 in donations to their newly created animal rescue charity, Detroit Dog Rescue.

Martino, who appeared on MSNBC to highlight the issue earlier this month, has quit her producing job to spearhead the cause alongside Hush. The pair held their first town hall meeting in Detroit on Feb. 27 and are now aiming to raise $50,000 to build a no-kill animal shelter in the city.