“Reggie The Egyptian Rescue Dog” :The Final Cut: The Making of Disney’s “Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog”: The Terrifying Stink of Cairo: This Will Not Be a “Lady and the Tramp Story!: Chapter Thirty One (31)

The contracts with Disney have been signed. Bob as co-producer and screenplay writer is in Los Angeles Monday-Friday at Disney Studios working on the Disney animated film “Reggie The Egyptian Rescue Dog” production. Dillie the Westie and I miss him and the walks he took us on in the neighborhood. Fay is more likely to put us out in the backyard which we enjoy but we love catching up with our circle of canine friends and leaving our pea mail to mark our territory. I spend most days training our security team The Mookster, Ollie, Penny and Kit Kat.

Bob returns for the weekends frazzled from the 5-hour flight from Los Angeles to Toronto and the three hour time difference. But we benefit from “guaranteed walks” at the local golf course! It is late autumn and the golf course is closed so we can run around off leash chasing birds and squirrels with Bob keeping on high alert for coyotes. Many rescue dogs, not me, are bolters as they specialize as escape artists from humans who have treated them so badly. In fact, some 90% of dogs reported missing in Toronto are rescue dogs. I could be mean and say what silly dogs they are not knowing how lucky they are to be under the care of masters and mistresses but frequently many dogs are guided by instinct and the instinct of a street dog in Egypt is to escape from humans who cause so much canine suffering. Instinct rarely knows logic.

Bob has written my story but wanting to visit Cairo to speak with rescue societies and animal activists about the life of street dogs in Cairo he spent some two weeks there learning how accurate his fictional portrayal of some of my life was. He was quite accurate say the Egyptians his time there allowing him to fine tune the screenplay. When he returned to Toronto I could smell the stink of Cairo on his jacket and his skin terrifying me so much so I started shaking and hid under the bed upstairs. My mind has been scarred by my time there but I know my story is about the story of many street dogs in Cairo and Alexandria. My story must be told!

Bob told Fay about the “nightly firecrackers” and cheering in Cairo. In a shaky voice tinged with rage and shame he explained that these were not firecrackers but rather soldiers shooting street dogs and barbaric Egyptians celebrating the death of each animal. I hate these barbaric Egyptians but Bob reminds me I survived and came to Canada because of a small group of caring Egyptians like the policeman that brought me to the animal hospital after the Rottenwhiler took a chunk out of my leg.  And the dedicated animal doctors that rely on medicine sent to them from Canada so dogs can be cured of diseases and live to hopefully see better days.

Bob tells Fay he is constantly debating with the other screenplay writers and producers at Disney wanting “Reggie The Egyptian Rescue Dog” to be sweet and childlike but my story is not so sweet. At best it is bittersweet. Bob has had to compromise so as not to frighten the audience many who will be children but he swears this will not be a “Lady and the Tramp” syrupy feature but one with a cutting edge that will educate its viewers of the rough life street dogs endure in Egypt. After 8 weeks of being in Los Angeles and two weeks in Cairo Bob has taken his production role as far as it can go and agrees to have his story finally transformed into a Disney animated film. What a paradise it is he is at home with us although he is back two days a week to supervise the animation and voice overs and ensure the script is as agreed upon by the producers and writers. And he is also involved with the musical score to sure it sets the right tone.

In 16 weeks, the final version of “Reggie The Egyptian Rescue Dog” is ready for distribution meaning me Bob, Fay and Dillie the Westie are going on a promotional tours along with our security team. Bob is exhausted but wants to ensure the success of the film not for pecuniary reasons but to accurately portray my life in Cairo and the life of street dogs there and to show the dedication of some kind souls in Egypt and Canada that work to rescue me and my bothers and sisters. All of us in this household are going to Los Angeles for the film premiere!