In March of 2024, Purina Dog Chow announced that they were adding a new category to the New York Dog Film Festival. In its ninth year, Dog Chow made the decision to add in a category that would help to shine a spotlight on PTSD Service Dogs.
On October 23, the New York Dog Film Festival took place and Justin Baldoni took part in highlighting the addition of this new category. And prior to the festival taking place, we had the opportunity to chat with the actor and writer about not only his partnership with Dog Chow, but why this was so important to him.
Considering the New York Dog Film Festival's latest category was all about shining a light on how PTSD Service Dogs can have a major impact on the lives of veterans, this is definitely a topic that we wanted to learn more about. And we wanted to know why Baldoni wanted to work with Dog Chow on this partnership, as well as his own thoughts on raising awareness for the need for PTSD Service Dogs.
Justin Baldoni talks about his Dog Chow partnership, the importance of PTSD Service Dogs, and even gives us a glimpse into who he is as a person
Dog O'Day: What was it about Dog Chow and this particular partnership that made you want to work with them and why was this important to you to be a part of?
"Well, it's a beautiful thing when I can, in my work, combine what I do with service. I really try to do that with every film I make and the films that we produce, and even the partnerships that I choose. I really just always want to be of service in some capacity. And when Purina approached me with the service dog salute program, I learned a lot, and I was instantly on board. Because, you know, I've been advocating for healthy masculinity for a long time.Justin Baldoni
I've worked with men, and specifically, PTSD is something that I don't think is talked about enough. I think we see it a lot in movies. It's represented. You know, you see the people that are struggling with it, but I don't think we're doing enough for our veterans who suffer from PTSD. I mean, the numbers are very high, talking about one in seven veterans suffer from PTSD, and I personally believe that that number is very low. I think there is a lot of under-reporting in the military, which coincides with my work with masculinity and stigma around mental health and the importance to be strong and brave, and the feeling like we're broken if there's something wrong with us. And then, the question is, well, what can we do? How can we help these veterans?
And I love that Purina is really putting their money where their mouth is with this program. And service dogs are a real, tangible way to help. The problem is that they're expensive, and it seems like we oftentimes go to the cheap fix, versus the one that's sustainable, and I think with a service dog, you're looking at years and years and years of actual support for somebody who really needs it. And the data and the research are very clear, it makes a profound impact in people's lives, especially those that are suffering from PTSD.
So for me, it was just a no brainer in terms of a partnership. It's how can I help? How can we get the message out, and anytime that I can bring something that isn't often talked about into the light, and maybe help get the word out, I feel like I'm being of service. So I was very grateful that they wanted to partner with me."
Dog O'Day: What did you learn from this project?
"I'm so curious, and I love learning. And you know, I personally didn't know that only 1% of veterans who apply to get a service dog can actually get one. That broke my heart. So we're talking about men and women who risk their lives for our country, who have suffered because of the things they've either done or seen or had happened to them, and they need help.Justin Baldoni
I try to put myself in their shoes. I'm somebody who has experienced what I've experienced, and now I'm realizing that I have PTSD, I have a mental disorder, and I need help. That's a very hard thing to ask for help, and then you choose to ask for help, which is hard, and you apply. You actually take the time to apply to get a service dog. And 99% of those people who already like push through each of those emotional barriers to try to find a way to get a service dog. 99% of those people get rejected, right? That's heartbreaking that I didn't know, and we spend so much money on so many things in our country. To me, it's like, well, if the research shows that we could help our veterans by training more service dogs, then why aren't we doing that? And so I love that a big brand like Purina starts a program like this, and is trying to make service dogs more affordable and convenient for veterans. So I didn't know that, and I learned that. And you know, I'm clearly very passionate about it."
Dog O'Day: I know you are a dog owner, so I would love to know what having a dog means for you in your life.
"We have Happy. Happy is our family dog, and there's a lot of responsibility that comes with it. It's like having another child. I'm very lucky that my parents live just a few minutes away, and they're really helpful. You know, especially with us traveling a lot, Happy's with them a lot of the time. I joke my dog has a lot of anxiety. Happy, he's got a lot of anxiety. It's funny that his name is Happy. So my dad has become our dog's service dog. So my dad is like this sweet, calm, just like beautiful soul and Happy and him are just like best friends. And it's really sweet. He just lost, him and my mom, just lost their dog of 21 years.Justin Baldoni
So when we go, and I was making It Ends With Us for months and months and months, I was gone for most of the year, Happy's with them. And he loves being there, and loves my dad, I think, more than me.
I think dogs are so important. I love that a dog is 100% authentically themself in every situation they're in. If they're scared, they'll show you. If they're excited, they'll show you. If they're happy, they'll show you. I love that, and I think we could learn a lot from dogs."
Dog O'Day: In our final minute, I want to ask, is there one thing that you wish people knew about you?
"I wish people knew how imperfect I am and how often I make mistakes, but that one of my greatest strengths is acknowledging my mistakes and trying to do better and repair."Justin Baldoni