Dog Gone

Opening Shot: The sun peeks through the leaves of the trees on a college campus. Fielding Marshall (Johnny Berchtold) sits with a friend munching on ...

In a photo epilogue at the end of the film, a picture of the actual Gonker is displayed, and beneath it, it reads, “Gonker was never separated from the Marshalls again.” A second photo, of Fielding, then reads “Fielding now lives in Chile… Parting Shot: The story of Fielding and Gonker is a real one. The premise could go in a million different ways, from Oscar bait to Hallmark movie, and Dog Gone falls somewhere in the middle (okay, a smidge closer to the Hallmark end of the spectrum). Fielding searches to no avail and comes home devastated, telling his parents the dog is gone. John’s also not happy that Fielding has tethered himself to a dog (instead of a job or a new apartment), and he’s not charmed when Gonker jumps on him and chases animals in the yard. Shortly after Gonker’s diagnosis, Fielding takes a hike with Gonker on the Appalachian Trail near his home in Virginia, and the dog scampers off.

The father-son team set out on a quest down the Appalachian Trail to search for Gonker. Will they find success? It's part of the new Netflix family-centric film ...

(A homeless man tells them to turn to Jesus, and the father responds, “We’re a member of the church. (“Is atheism a religion?”) Fielding faces a life-threatening illness. Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. (He even oversleeps and misses his graduation.) His place in life contrasts with that of his friends and his father, a career-driven man. (By searching for Gonker, a community comes together, and a family grows closer.) Another major part of the story also is true: Fielding hiked the trail with his father in search of Gonker, with his mother running a “command center” back home. Fielding’s father is frustrated with and embarrassed by his son but nevertheless agrees to walk the Appalachian Trail, fully believing the two will be successful in their venture. When we lovingly care for our canines – or, if you prefer, our cats – we are following God’s will in caring for and tending to His creation. It is only by watching Fielding interact with strangers on the trail – he is always kind – and by watching Fielding’s devotion to Gonker that the dad learns better to appreciate his son. (In the film, Fielding is racing against the clock to find his dog.) Like the film, Gonker went missing on the Appalachian Trail during a hike with Fielding. Although the film changes a few less-important parts of the plot, the core of the story is true. He sleeps with Gonker.

Netflix "Dog Gone" is about the bond Fielding and his family shared with Gonker and how losing him, in a way, brought them closer together.

He was taken to the hospital, and his parents learned that he was suffering from ulcerative colitis. John had the perfect solution; he snuck Gonker into the hospital, and Fielding was more than happy to have his buddy by his side. After losing Gonker once, the Marshall family ensured that he was never separated from them again. He was off-leash, and he went into the woods to chase a fox. Fielding’s decision to adopt Gonker was perhaps one of his best decisions in life. He had initially planned to gift the book to the family during Christmas, but it ended up becoming a published book. John wanted Fielding to become a responsible adult, and he struggled to accept that his son was taking a break to figure out his life. He was rushed to the pet hospital, where they were informed that he was suffering from Addison’s disease. Fielding went out with Nate to the Appalachian Trail, and he took Gonker along. The transition from carefree college life to being out there in the world to make a living was not easy for Fielding, and the growing urgency to find a job did get to him. His father, John Marshall, ridiculed his decision to adopt a dog at a time when he was clueless about his future. His parents learned about Gonker when they traveled to his university to attend his graduation ceremony.

Dog Gone on Netflix stars Rob Lowe as the dad of a young man whose dog goes missing. But does the dog live? Does the dog die? Read our Dog Gone ending ...

The film's credits are peppered with photos of the film's cast and crew with their beloved pets. Then, Gonker goes chasing after a fox while on a walk with Fielding and his friend on the Appalachian trail and doesn't come back. While recovering, John sneaks Gonker into the hospital to snuggle with Fielding in his bed. In the film, Fielding is a college student on the brink of graduation who picks up a dog from the pound to help him get over a breakup. Separate from the fate of the pooch, how much of the film is true? However, the film is still emotionally wrought — sometimes manipulatively so thanks to its score and heavy-handed dialogue — and this is your warning to grab a box of tissues before starting.