Unconditional

A veterinarian journeys throughout Northern California, providing free animal care to help domestic violence survivors and their pets escape abuse together.

While Mikko endured domestic violence for years, her dog was a source of unconditional love and strength. However, there is an underreported barrier preventing survivors from escaping their abusive partners and bringing their beloved animals with them. Witness veterinarian Sarah Reidenbach as she journeys around Northern California in a retrofitted ambulance, attempting to eliminate that barrier and shed light on the importance of the human-animal bond in crisis situations.

Directors’ Statement

Upon learning how often domestic violence survivors stay with their abuser if they cannot bring their pets with them, we knew we wanted to shed light on this under-reported barrier. We followed Dr. Sarah Reidenbach, a veterinarian whose organization addresses this issue directly. Our cinematic vision was to create an immersive film that allowed audiences to observe Dr. Reidenbach’s work and to witness the women she helps escape abusive situations with their pets. It was incredibly moving to hear poignant stories of abuse, resilience and unconditional love. Thank you to the survivors who bravely shared their stories. We hope you enjoy being immersed in a new world and come out on the other side with a new outlook on the power of the human-animal bond, especially in crisis situations.

Meet the Filmmakers

Albert Gregory

Co-Director

Albert Gregory has worked as a journalist since 2018, and his experience reporting on issues such as sex work, child marriage in the U.S. and deaths among San Francisco’s unhoused population aided him in covering the topic of domestic violence, a subject matter which often only occurs behind closed doors. Gregory has a passion for nonfiction filmmaking and its ability to allow the viewer to witness the human condition. He is determined to keep reporting on sensitive topics and to shine a light on underreported issues in society.

Danica Simonet

Co-Director

Danica Simonet has believed in the transformative power of nonfiction filmmaking since she started producing films in undergrad about the global harms of electronic waste, the spiritual and cultural significance of water and the concept of home and belonging for migrant and receiving communities. During a brief pause from the world of filmmaking, Simonet worked as the Director of Development and Communications for a Minnesota nonprofit focused on empowering survivors of sex-trafficking to rebuild their lives after escaping trafficking. The stories she heard in her work motivated her to return to the power of film. Her stories now focus on underreported social issues and barriers, especially those preventing women from living free lives.