A documentary by Primal Scream bassist Simone Butler and homeless charity Dogs on the Streets is set to be shown at a Manchester cinema this week.
Year of the Dog follows the Naked Lunch radio host through the streets of London, connecting with the city's homeless and the one thing that keeps them going - their dogs.
The bassist joined the team of Dogs on the Streets volunteers, who have been supporting the health and welfare of rough sleepers and their dogs for around five years.
While filming started before the pandemic, Covid-19 exposed just how vulnerable the UK’s homeless population really are, with the eye-opening documentary shining a light on their stories of survival during one of the most challenging years.
Sharing the news with her Instagram followers, Simone said: “It’s been 2 years in the making and we are excited to finally be able to show you the finished documentary which follows the tireless and life saving work of @dotslondon and challenges the misconceptions associated with rough sleepers and their dogs.
“Thanks to everyone for your support, it means so much and we are incredibly grateful.”
The animal-loving musician shared photos from the DOTS London sanctuary during filming - where volunteers take care of the dogs of those living on the streets when they need additional care or medical attention, or if their owners aren’t in a position to look after them - or have sadly passed away.
The documentary is being shown at HOME Manchester, near Castlefield, on Friday, December 3, with tickets costing £9.50. The 6pm showing will be followed by a Q&A with director Paul Sng and Michelle Clark, founding director of Dogs on the Streets.
The radio DJ told NME that she first came across Dogs on the Streets when looking into getting a dog of her own, and had the charity's Michelle Clark on her Soho Radio show to talk about their work.
She told the music site: “What they do is so amazing and I didn’t feel like it had enough coverage. I wanted to get something out there to challenge the stigma that comes along with homelessness and rough sleepers, and these people owning dogs.
“Having another life to be responsible for is an enormous comfort and help for someone sleeping rough because it gives them focus and responsibility. That in turn gives them a reason to carry on.
“It can be a very hopeless and devastating situation to be on the streets, so it really did give me an insight into just how much looking after a dog and that beautiful bond can be a lifeline to these people.”
