Dogs are cool, there's no doubt about that. But how do you bring that across to the general public who think dogs are, well, just dogs?

Filmmakers Barry Stone and Kim Webster think they have the answer with Sniff - The Dog Movie. They wrap a serious "dog-umentary" with a comedic story line of two out-of-work British actors who discover that dogs are not just wonderful critters, but can save lives and make it easier for people with disabilities to get around in the world.

The heart-warming real-life dog stories help the film go beyond the rather weak subplot of likeable buddies Neil (Neil Morrisey), and Richard (Richard Huw), who land a job at a posh San Francisco dog hotel as canine-costumed greeters for Juliette (Amanda Plummer) and her uptight husband, Derek (Maurice Godin).

The "odd couple" hit upon the idea of making a movie about dogs as a way of enhancing their American sojourn and along the way find out that dogs have much more to offer than simply "sniffing bums." Through their eyes we learn that dogs not only make great family additions and can master the California prerequisites of surfboarding and skateboarding, but also can learn valuable skills like saving humans from natural disasters or bonding with visually impaired people for a lifetime of service.

Even those Santa Feans who are addicted to Animal Planet and author Temple Grandin will likely find something new about the canine world in Sniff. And while it might offer a superficial glimpse of assistance dogs, it doesn't shy away from what many neglect to point out — the plight of senior service dogs. It's a sad fact that many disabled people don't have the resources to hold on to their beloved companion when they are too old to do their "job."

I wanted to preview this film to a group of animal-welfare advocates at an Oscar party I co-hosted Sunday night, but the night got late and there was too much sniffling about the Avatar snubbing. So I showed it to my four rescue dogs. Zach, the only actor among the group, snubbed his nose at it while Gypsy, a Northern New Mexico black dog, barked appropriately at the sad parts. Jimmy, the ever-adolescent bully-breed pup, wanted to swim or play along with the movie dogs, jumping at the screen with them. Olivia, the elegant Chihuahua, simply watched the screen while sitting on my lap, occasionally requesting a close-up.

On-screen or off, it's great to be part of the canine world.

Catch a screening of Sniff with filmmakers Stone and Webster at 5:30 or 7:30 p.m. Thursday at The Screen, 1600 St. Michael's Drive. General admission is $10; children under age 12 or seniors over age 62, $8. Ten percent of the DVDS of the film sold at the screening will benefit Santa Fe-based Assistance Dogs of the West.