Denali - a tribute to man's best friend [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

A film about the bond between Denali the dog and adventure photographer Ben Moon.


A film by Ben Knight, Skip Armstrong and Ben Moon.

Made possible by Patagonia
with generous support from First Descents, Ruffwear and Snow Peak

In order of appearance: Ben Moon & Denali
Directed / edited / written: Ben Knight // Felt Soul Media
DP: Skip Armstrong // Wazee Motion Pictures
Second Camera: Page Stephenson
Co-Writer: Katie Klingsporn
Wet Camera: Justin Harris
Sound Recordist: Jim Hurst
Music Supervisor: Ben Knight and Ian Anderson
Sound Mix: Justin Harris
Narrated by: Ben Knight

Music by: Odesza, It's Only [feat. Zyra]
courtesy of Counter Records 2014

Still Photographs by: Ben Moon, Lisa Hensel, Carli Davidson, Miranda Moon, Vivian Moon, Jean Redle Dawn Kish, Lisa Skaff, Pete Rudge, Kristen & Ian Yurdin, and John Sterling

[katydid]

“It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life, gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they

thank you and blessings

[skynowak]

i cry every single time i watch this video

[dohcsmr]

My wife battled cancer for 5 years before it took her life. Our Lab Was with my wife for those 5 years of chemo. I recently had to put him down. It was almost as difficult as losing my wife. There was not a better dog for my wife. He brought peace and comfort to her during her most painful time. I hope he is with her now. All my love to my wife. And to Beau. I will see you two soon.

[OhheyRonnie]

The reason why there are 23 dislikes is because those 23 people had tears in their eyes and couldn't tell which button was the like button. That has to be the only logical explanation.

[christinemarie]

8 years later and I still come back here to grieve Denali and now my first baby Yoda. No matter how many times I rewatch this, I still cry and a complete mess. I like to think that these same spoken thoughts from Denali are the same thoughts of my Yoda when he passed. There's something so different about losing a dog you've loved since they were born. An unspoken love and tie that no one can put into words but you and them.

[loquatmuncher]

I come back to this vid every now and then. Still hits me in the gut after all these years.

[kelseybordeaux]

I just had to put my dog down this morning...had him for 15 years. I had him since I was 8 years old..being 23 years now it's hard to see him gone. We grew up together, he was one of the toughest little dogs I've ever met. I thought maybe there was a way to save him, but...on the car ride there, I held him and watched him look out the window, one of this favorite things too do, but..he kept looking at the sky. That's when I knew...he was ready too go. I know they can't live forever...but it doesn't make it any easier. RIP Rusty...you we're always my rotten little monkey..

[bchappy]

I made the mistake of watching this at work on my lunch break. When I got to the part “When someone you love walks through the door, even if it happens five times a day, you should go totally insane with joy.” I just broke down into tears. Not a cool thing for your co-workers to see, especially if you are a fifty-something year old man.

But that quote fit our dog Penny to a tee. We lost her last April, and I'm still not over it. No matter how bad my day was, I knew I had Penny's welcome to look forward to when I got home. And that always made everything better. Now I have a new pup, Zenobia. And she is the same way. It's like I got our Penny back and am getting a do-over. First thing I do is hug my dog when I get home. Everyone else can wait their turn.

[dannythegough]

This is the truest form of love and friendship I have ever seen.

[octmunguia]

If there are no dogs in heaven then, when I die, I want to go where they went.
--Will Rogers

[Tileabylan]

I'm a veterinarian and surprisingly for 20 years never owned a dog. When I had to euthanize someones pet it was a sad time but I was always surprised at the depth of sadness their owners felt. That was until I got a dog of my own! He is my world, luckily for me he is still a young 'un so hopefully will have him for many more years, but just watching the first few minutes of this film had me bawling! I can't imagine life without him. My eyes have truly been opened. This was a great, great tribute to mans best friend. RIP Denali.

[southwestxnorthwest]

This was me, in April of 2013. A cold water surfer in Washington who took my yellow lab Max with me everywhere in my Tacoma. He died from kidney disease and 3 years later I still lose it from time to time. I could have a bad day at work and he would always be excited to see me. a fight with my gf? He'd always bury his head in my lap to let me know it would be ok. Goddamn I miss him.

[LilyPeregrine]

Our sweet dog died yesterday. He was only five. We did everything we could but I could not shake off the guilt.
Love you to the moon and back, dearest Helios. ❤

[JubbaheyChannel]

When i was 10, at school I had a strange feeling that my dog had just died, a wave of emotion that was not much really, just different. Never thought about it rest of the day. Mum picked me up in the car and she said "Sorry son, got some bad news to tell you"...I blurted out that I knew, Husky had died and I started crying and didnt stop till I got home.
Tis funy how you develop a relationship with a dog that can't (literally) talk to you, yet you know everything he says and him too.
50 years on and I still get a lump in my throat thinking about him.
Films like this just choke me up something rotten and I love it, makes me feel alive again inside.

[Sensobtw]

"There was this really smart scientist guy who said that people can learn a lot from dogs. He said that when someone you love walks through the door, even if it happens five times a day, you should go totally insane with joy." Best line of the whole video in my opinion <3

[sagrammyfour]

I loved a man once, and I adored his dog, Wilson, who adored me back.. The man didn't love me, so we parted. Funny, I don't really miss him, but I still cry for Wilson.

[DennisCrouse]

I just had to put my doggy down last night. Thank you for this video. I am supposed to be the strong one in my house so I can't tell anyone that I know, just how much it hurts that I held her head as she took her last breath. Somehow, telling a bunch of random strangers online seems to help so, thank you.

[blakemmoseley]

So many years later I still find myself coming back to watch this beautiful film. It gets me every single time 😢

[dawnanngallagher]

I was so touched by this film, especially after losing my brother this year to pancreatic cancer and our dog watched over my brother when he would rest in the living room. Mikey the Greyhound would follow my brother outside in the heat and he hates the heat, but he knew he had a job to watch over my brother when I wasn't in the room.  Dogs are so amazing an Denali was just as incredible.

[simmersonwheels]

Five years after I first saw this- it’s still my favourite short film. Beautiful on so many levels. Thanks for making it.