The New York-based TV and film distributor FilmRise has acquired the U.S. rights to Cindy Meehl’s feature documentary “The Dog Doc” about the innovative and unconventional veterinarian Dr. Marty Goldstein, it was announced Wednesday by FilmRise CEO Danny Fisher.

Dr. Goldstein, who has been called everything from a maverick to a miracle-worker to a quack, runs a clinic in South Salem, New York, that has made him and his staff famous for their integrative and even holistic approaches to pet health issues.

Meehl, who directed the 2011 documentary “Buck,” directed the documentary film that debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival last year. FilmRise will release “The Dog Doc” theatrically in select markets in March followed by a national theatrical and theatrical-on-demand rollout.

Also Read: 'Roseanne,' '3rd Rock From the Sun' Land on Sinclair's OTT Service Via Deal With FilmRise

“This documentary will no doubt have audiences realizing an alternate approach to pet healthcare. Meehl’s intimate look at Dr. Goldstein’s practice offers an insider’s view at how he and his clinic uniquely treat and heal people’s most precious pets. A film all audiences can enjoy and relate to,” Fisher said in a statement.

“The Dog Doc” follows the founding father of integrative veterinary medicine, Dr. Marty Goldstein and his colleagues at the Smith Ridge Veterinary Center. They have created a mecca for holistic care, offering hope to scores of previously hopeless animals (and their owners). Combining conventional medical training with cutting edge alternative therapies, the Center’s deeply empathetic philosophy offers a vital example of how improving overall health rather than merely treating disease is transformative for all living things. As the staff interact with animals, the stakes are high and it is often touch and go as viewers watch the owners, some who have traveled great distances, struggle with the reality of whether or not their pets will live to see another day.

“The Dog Doc” poses a serious question about whether we are over medicating our pets, our children, and ourselves, while offering an immersive view into a seldom seen world to paint a complete picture of the dedication and joy of being a veterinarian.

Also Read: Thor the Bulldog and 6 Other Very Good Boys and Girls From the 2019 National Dog Show (Photos)

Dr. Goldstein has been a practicing veterinarian for more than 45 years and has appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” “The Martha Stewart Show” and “Good Morning America.” He’s the author of the book “The Nature of Animal Healing” and is currently working on a follow-up.

Meehl is best known as the director and executive producer of the 2011 documentary feature “Buck” about the horse whisperer Buck Brannaman. She also founded Cedar Creek Productions in 2008 and is the executive producer of “The River and the Wall,” which premiered at SXSW last March, as well as the Tribeca entry “Rewind” also from 2019.

The deal was negotiated by Max Einhorn of FilmRise and Ben Schwartz, Josh Braun and Matt Burke of Submarine.

FilmRise

FilmRise