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Central Park, New York City. It's not every day you see a dog wearing a camera on its back, but that's how we first meet Chelsea, an adorable 13-pound Shih Tzu who likes to flirt with other pooches and snack on the city's other prized dogs (hot dogs, that is). Chelsea's owner is Gayle Kirschenbaum, a single New Yorker and successful producer/filmmaker whose personal time is consumed with Chelsea: from dressing her up in mittens and foul-weather gear, to carrying her around on the subway in a shopping bag, to talking and "listening" to her as if she were human, to taking Chelsea all over town in search of a suitable mate (one of whom, hopefully, might have a handsome owner for Gayle).
Seeking inspiration for her/Chelsea's film, Gayle pays a visit to documentary pioneer Albert Maysles, who agrees that the subject is certainly a popular one; after all "Everybody loves dogs." Not convinced that "dogamentary" is a suitable subtitle (Gayle uses it anyway), Maysles takes a few camera shots of Chelsea, and bids her owner a fond adieu.
Many single people who own dogs, Gayle included, consider their strongest personal relationship the one with their pooch. Gayle, who was miserable as a single woman in Los Angeles, returned to New York committed to finding a mate if not for herself, then at least for Chelsea. She sets up a "blind date" with a dog named Mugsy, and the two pooches have an agreeable dinner at a local dog-friendly restaurant. Afterwards, Chelsea "tells" Gayle that she has to find a guy, too - and Gayle responds by flirting with a handsome European, and later with two French tourists. To stay in shape for possible romance, Gayle sneaks out to a local gym while Chelsea sleeps. Gayle pays the price for one workout when she returns home and finds that Chelsea left a malodorous "present" on the bathroom floor. Gayle is forgiving; after all, cleaning up is all in a (dog's) day's work for this devoted human.
Gayle's search for her own human companion (she has a web site, and has gone on her share of "Internet dates") is detoured when 9/11/01 changes every New Yorker's life. Putting their personal lives on hold, Gayle and Chelsea work at Pier 94 (near the World Trade Center) from September to January, and later become volunteers at St. Vincent's Medical Center and Cabrini Hospice, where Chelsea's true talents emerge: she's a natural, gentle therapy dog. The work gets Chelsea and Gayle plenty of attention; they're the subjects of a New York Times feature, and even appear with Katie Couric on The Today Show. More important, however, are the grateful people whose lives Chelsea touches, several of whom we meet in a hospice program. One woman sings Chelsea's praises for reviving her mother (once in a coma) before she died; another elderly patient, John, receives comfort and love from the dog in his final days.
A year after 9/11, Gayle reflects at how blessed she's been to have Chelsea in her life. Still, that doesn't mean there won't be time for human relationships - walking Chelsea by the river, Gayle finds another dog-loving prospect, and the two head off into the New York streets together. We later learn that Chelsea and her latest "love," Shanti have split up, since Chelsea's commitment to helping others leaves little time for romance. In a postscript, Gayle dedicates the film "to all our canine friends who provide us with unconditional love and long-lasting companionship."
CREDITS: Produced, Directed and Edited by Gayle Kirschenbaum; Consulting Editor: Max Weissman; Executive Producer: Michael Maitenaz. For Cinemax Reel Life: Coordinating Producer: Sara Bernstein; Executive Producer: Sheila Nevins.
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