Abby’s List: A Dogumentary Image

Abby’s List: A Dogumentary

By Tom Atkinson | June 16, 2025

There are films that pull at the heartstrings, and then there are those that gently reach into your chest, take hold of your heart, and carry it with them for the duration. Abby’s List: A Dogumentary falls firmly into the latter category. Directed, narrated, and lived by Mark Sutherland, this independent documentary charts an extraordinary journey with his elderly whippet, Abby, whose twilight years spark a cross-country adventure that’s as touching as it is quietly profound.

The premise is straightforward yet immediately touching: realising time with Abby is running out, Mark sets off on a bucket-list road trip across North America. But as the days pass and the bond between man and dog deepens on screen, the trip transforms into something much more resonant. What was intended as a three-week farewell becomes a three-year odyssey, thanks in part to what feels like a miraculous second wind for Abby, and the result is a film that transcends its simple concept through its sincerity.

There is something undeniably poetic about Sutherland’s direction. His camera doesn’t just point and shoot, it observes. With a mixture of humour, humility, and visual elegance, he captures not only Abby’s gentle spirit but his own emotional journey with unflinching honesty. There are laugh-out-loud moments – like Abby shamelessly peeing on a giant, ancient sequoia – alongside deeply moving sequences that may well leave viewers teary-eyed, especially those who have ever loved and lost a pet.

Mark Sutherland holds Abby the whippet outside Mount Vernon on their heartfelt journey

Filmmaker Mark Sutherland cradles Abby while overlooking the Potomac River at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate during their cross-country farewell in Abby’s List: A Dogumentary.

“…realising time with Abby is running out, Mark sets off on a bucket-list road trip…”

And make no mistake, this is as much about Mark as it is about Abby. Despite his attempts to keep himself in the background, his narration, quiet reflections, and interactions with fellow travellers reveal a man whose understanding of love and loss is evolving with each passing mile. Whether joined briefly by his calming friend Sophie or meeting wildlife experts and eccentric strangers along the way, each encounter adds another layer to what is essentially a gentle meditation on time, grief, and the joy of connection.

Visually, the film exceeds expectations for an indie doc. Shot across over twenty locations, from Yosemite to theme parks, the cinematography balances intimacy with stunning natural beauty. It’s clear that great care was taken to give this journey a cinematic texture. The sound design, too, is polished, and Sutherland’s voiceover is soothing, measured, and often poetic, guiding the audience like a campfire storyteller.

Abby’s List won’t be for everyone,e and only those passionate about pets will overlook the slower moments in the middle. But in a culture saturated with content, there’s something to be said for a film that wears its heart so openly. If you’re not a dog lover, it may test your patience. If you are, prepare to have it thoroughly rewarded.

Abby’s List: A Dogumentary is a warm, generous piece of filmmaking. It’s a minor-key triumph that reminds us that great stories don’t always need drama in the traditional sense. Sometimes they just need truth, love, and a whippet with a bit of wanderlust.

Abby’s List: A Dogumentary (2023)

Directed and Written: Mark Sutherland

Starring: Mark Sutherland, Abby Sutherland, Sophie Cole, Bill Farmer, Jack Hanna, Grayson Kelly, etc.

Movie score: 7/10

Abby’s List: A Dogumentary Image

"…a gentle meditation on time, grief and the joy of connection..."

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