Humans are not the only ones in need of rescuing and in the city of Los Angeles, the members of SMART (Specialized Mobile Animal Rescue Team) have stepped up to save lives. Led by Armando Navarrete, this division of trained and passionate animal lovers risks life and limb to rescue every kind of creature in need, from horses to mountain lions to cats and dogs!

Follow Armando as he struggles to get his team off the ground, survives death-defying rescues and finds love, all in the midst of LA’s heartbreaking animal shelter system. Never giving up, Armando and his team have saved over 1000 lives and created new tactics, technology, and inspiration for similar programs to develop in more cities.

Shot over the course of three years, SMART is a great example of how a team of passionate and dedicated people can become real-life superheroes.

A few weeks ago, I featured an interview with the director of this film, Justin Zimmerman, and I am finally getting around to reviewing this exceptional documentary. I had the privilege of screening this film last year at the Artemis Film Festival, and I was quite moved by what I saw. If I remember correctly, I was crying (or near that) by the conlcusion of the movie.  Just as a word of warning in relation to the content, there are some perturbing scenes of animals (not that any rescues go awry, but this also deals with the issue of animal shelters, so just be cautioned). Also, there is some occasional strong language in the film. This is a documentary, and this is real life. Therefore, it is essentially raw and unfiltered when it comes to the life of Armando and his team. You may wish to preview this before showing it to your children.

Before seeing this film, I had no idea at all that groups like this existed. As I settled down to watch the first few frames, I was reminded of the time that our cat was stranded in a tree for a couple days in the snowy weather no less and how hard it was to wait with the realization that she may not come down. She was terrified (I recall her shrieks to this day), and there was no group nearby that we could call for aid. I breathed a sigh of relief when my mom informed me of the news that our cat had finally jumped down. Thus, I know from experience that animals can get caught in unusual places. Never in a million years would I have dreamed that a team like this would go out of their way and put themselves in harm’s way in order to rescue animals that got themselves in precarious, hazardous places.

At the heart of the film is Armando, and you couldn’t help but fall in love with this guy and respect the way in which he is devoted to these animals. Indeed, he often does endanger his own well-being and even his life in order to rescue these animals, and what you may not know is that he does this in addition to his “real” job at the animal shelter. He rarely has downtime, let alone actual time for a relationship and family. I don’t want to spoil anything, but just know that you will understand what I mean when you watch the film.

I am not going to highlight every person featured in the film, but I’ll also mention Annette Ramirez, nick named “Nett.” You will see a wide variety of members of the team, but Nett is just about as steadfast as Armando. And while female, she CAN do the job. She will risk her life as quickly as Armando, but maybe she thinks a little bit more before he does (well, the difference between a man and woman, okay?). I relished witnessing these two and the entire team work together to rescue an assortment of misguided, wayward animals and pets trapped in various places from under a house to quicksand to a simple tree to so much more I will not state. It is the story of the members of the team that sets this apart from the typical “animal documentary.”

But it’s true–the animals are the stars. Where else could you see a rescue like this? It is one of the most dramatic in the film. I appreciate the fact that the filmmakers didn’t have a massive budget, and yet they still got the ideal shots that give the viewers the sense that they are there with a front row seat to the action. Even at the most bone-chilling moments, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the scenes I was witnessing. There were times I was certain that something nefarious was going to happen, but the good news is that at least at the time I saw it last year, not one animal was ever lost. This team has a perfect record, as far as I know. And I salute them for providing a service that is more necessary than one might believe.

It’s almost ironic that I am writing this review in the wake of another feature film that is set to open in theaters this weekend–A Dog’s Purpose. While I realize that is a film where at least one dog was abused, I can declare with categorical assurance that NO animal was harmed in the making of the film. While the animal being rescued may have sustained some injuries that could not be helped, any afflictions were the result of the animal’s situation, not the rescuers. Every time this team rescues an animal, you can see the veritable love they foster for these animals in the way they speak to them and in the way they treat them. This team is undeniably unique, and I can only hope and pray that this documentary inspires more cities and towns in the USA and around the world to develop teams just like this.

Although the animals are the distinctive stars of this film, there is no doubt in my mind that the real heroes are this SMART team. If you want a film that will inspire you and remind you of the positive things in this world, be sure to check this movie out as it is now available digitally and on DVD. Be sure to check out the links below and follow the movie via social media for all the latest updates. I promise you will not be sorry!

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