The Animal is a short film collaboration between Poet, Erin Carlyle, and artist, Dana Leigh Snyder. Based on the poem of the same name, The Animal explores poverty and alienation. The title character is a little girl whose gender, place of birth, and socioeconomic status determine her life trajectory. The adult figures in her life never taught her how to live in the world. This collaboration couples the poem’s original themes with Snyder’s own dedication to animal rights and welfare. Drawing a direct connection between human suffering and animal abuse, the film makes a bold statement: we are all animals, and we all deserve safety, security, and respect.