Jackie Ducci’s new documentary explores the powerful connections between people and animals
For Jackie Ducci, the inspiration for a documentary began with a simple truth: some of life’s most profound relationships happen without words.
As founder of the Human-Animal Alliance, Ducci has spent years witnessing the powerful connections between people and animals. “There are stories everywhere of people whose lives have been changed because of a connection with an animal, but we don’t talk about it enough, says Ducci, who decided to share some of these stories with a larger audience.
The result is Unspoken Bond, a documentary that premiered in Wellington in March 2026. Created by Ducci and filmmaker Don Hardy, the film explores the emotional and often transformative relationships between humans and animals through three compelling stories.
The first follows Jason Gaver, a U.S. military veteran struggling with severe trauma and PTSD after returning home from service. At one point, he walked into a Veterans Affairs office and admitted he was considering harming himself or others. Through a service dog organization, he was paired with Woodrow, a dog that helped him reconnect with his daughter, his community, and ultimately himself.
“He’s a big, masculine guy, but when he talks about his dog, it’s incredibly moving,” Ducci says. “That dog gave him a life again.”
Another segment focuses on Shannon Dueck, a top dressage rider who lost her beloved Angel, the horse she raised from birth. After an accident following Angel’s return from Europe, Dueck slowly healed, thanks, in part, to the healing power of the other horses in her life.
“It’s a story that shows how deep that bond can grow,” says Ducci. “Anyone who has lost an animal understands that level of grief.”
The film’s third story introduces viewers to Nicole Navarro, a Key Largo woman who runs Pawsitive Beginnings. After overcoming 18 years of addiction, Nicole recognized the urgent need for a sanctuary for these animals while volunteering at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Animal Farm in Key West. At the sanctuary she created, foxes rescued from the fur trade now assist trauma survivors in their healing journeys.
“The foxes remain wild animals”, Ducci says, “but the connections they create are remarkable”.
Throughout the documentary, personal stories are complemented by expert commentary from veterinarians and specialists in the growing field of human-animal connection research, grounding the film’s emotional narratives in science.
Ducci serves as creator and executive producer, overseeing casting and helping shape the project’s vision from concept to screen. The title reflects the central theme.
“There’s no spoken language between animals and us,” she says. “But they’re some of the closest connections we can feel. It’s so deep that it transcends words.”
Following its successful premiere, Unspoken Bond is embarking on a screening tour, with upcoming showings planned in Key West, Key Largo, and Fort Lauderdale. Ducci hopes the momentum will eventually lead to a streaming deal with a major platform.
More than anything, she hopes the film reminds audiences of the importance of empathy in an increasingly disconnected world.
“We can’t lose that,” she says. “Animals help us remember what connection really means.” Visit unspokenbondfilm.com for upcoming screening dates and locations.
