“Hearts of Valor” will tell story of World War I “Mercy Dogs”

Feature animated film currently in development tells story of a loyal Mercy Dog.

From the years 1914 to 1918, much of the fighting took place in a desolate, dangerous and muddy area called No Man’s Land between the opposing trenches on the Western Front in Europe. Filled with twisted barbed wire, land mines, craters, remnants of lethal, tear gas and constant gunfire and explosions, it was a scary place to be for any soldier.

Now just imagine…if you were a dog.

Adventure on ice.

Against this historical backdrop is Hearts of Valor, my feature animated film currently in development about a loyal Mercy Dog who leads his canine companions on an inspiring journey to rejoin their British unit. Set in the closing days of World War One, our former stray sees himself as a soldier and dreams of a home and family while forging an unwavering bond of friendship with his army handler. Along the way, our protagonist hero overcomes daunting challenges and obstacles while encountering new, thrilling adventures and meeting new friends. It is an epic, heartwarming story of courage, devotion and sacrifice for the entire family.

But who were the Mercy Dogs?

Columb and his British Army handler Sgt. Fitzsimmons.

As a writer, professional storyboard artist in animation and pet lover, I was intrigued and emotionally moved by the accounts of these amazing animals from diaries written by World War One veterans. For the first time in military history, canines were taught to locate the wounded on a battlefield. This practice began with Jean Bungartz, a German author and painted, who trained dogs in the 1890s to assist combat medics. Soon after, Lieutenant Colonel E.H. Richardson started a British facility in Shoeburyness, Essex just before the Great War.

Enduring six weeks of intense schooling, the dogs ignored the sounds of battle and received a signal from their handler to navigate across No Man’s Land at night. Sometimes, they would bring back a helmet or a piece of clothing for the stretcher-bearers in the trenches. Other times, the Mercy Dogs would sit with an injured soldier until help arrived, often risking their own lives.

Frank Detrano’s wife Denise, and their border collie Bonnie, who is the model for one of the Mercy Dog characters in the upcoming film.

Over fifty thousand canines were drafted into the combined armed forces of Germany, Great Britain, France and the United States. Most of the dogs were strays or recruited from shelters while others, if you can believe it, were donated by their own families in a patriotic gesture towards the war effort. They left behind homes and loved ones and, when called upon to serve their respective countries, they were soldiers too.

Although other WWI films such as War Horse and Sgt. Stubby have dealt with service animals before, Hearts of Valor takes a different approach and tells a story in an animation format from the animal’s point of view. We see their hopes and fears with moments of loneliness and eventual victory on a battlefield. This was my motivation in writing the screenplay and has become what content creators call “a passion project.” I sought to bring home, on a more personal level, the dedication these animals unselfishly gave to us. We asked so much of them and they answered ten fold. It is a legacy that continues to this day with K9 units all over the world.

Frank Detrano at the National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C. with Nancy Schaff, president of the Descendants & Friends of the 314th Infantry, 79th Division.

Right now, I’m busy raising funds and awareness for the movie through grant opportunities while meeting with an east coast animation studio interested in producing the trailer.  Also, I’ve just completed a draft of the first volume in a children’s book trilogy series that follows the screenplay. This will all be posted in a forthcoming YouTube video that hopefully will garner more support towards a Kickstarter campaign.

In retrospect, I am grateful for the love and support I’ve received from my wife Denise, our border collie Bonnie (who is the model for one of the Mercy Dog characters in the film), my family and friends and the assistance from the animation community and especially organizations like the Descendants and Friends of the 314th Infantry and the Doughboy Foundation.  Being invited to participate in their weekend WWI Living History event following the dedication of the National World War I Memorial  in Washington, D.C. last September was indeed a highlight for me.

To learn more about the film project, watch the trailer and inquire about donations, please visit my website at: www.heartsofvalormovie.com or you can contact me directly at: [email protected].  Together we can produce an entertaining film for both kids and adults that captures a moment in time and will honor and preserve the memory of these heroic, four-legged soldiers.

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