Dog that's subject of book, film will be at Jackson school

The producer and author of an award-winning film and children's novel about bringing an end to bullying will visit West Lane Elementary School in Jackson today along with the star of the film -- her dog named Marshall.

Marshall is a three-legged, scar-faced rescue dog from Marshall, Missouri. He was rescued by producer and author Cynthia Willenbrock, who now tells his story all across the state.

Her book, "Marshall the Miracle Dog," was published in 2012 and inspired a movie of the same title that won the Audience Choice Award for Best Film at the St. Louis International Film Festival. The national release for the movie is set for fall.

Marshall was found in 2010 while being filmed by Animal Planet's "Confessions: Animal Hoarding," according to Marshall's website. More than 60 dogs were found on the grounds of an abandoned property. Marshall had been attacked by other dogs, resulting in bite marks all over his body, a broken and infected front leg and a hole on the side of his face. A medical team amputated the dog's injured leg and nursed him back to health, where he was adopted by Willenbrock.

The therapy dog goes from school to school on his "kindness tour," focusing on bullying prevention and being kind to animals. He has toured about 300 schools.

From 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Monday, Marshall and Willenbrock will visit with students and show a sneak peek of their movie at West Lane Elementary.

The movie will be shown at Cape West 14 Cine on March 7 and 8, and 10 percent of all ticket sales will benefit Missouri 4-H.

On March 7, Marshall is promoting his "Commit to Be Kind" event, a statewide effort focused on bullying prevention and the mistreatment of animals. Hundreds of schools, organizations and animal shelters from all 114 counties in Missouri are participating, and students are encouraged to get involved by organizing supply-item drives for local animal shelters, an official news release from The Marshall Movement stated.

For more information about Marshall, visit marshallthemiracledog.com.