Steinbach rescue cat Dory makes her film debut in new Stephen King movie A Steinbach cat with a unique look is stepping into the spotlight this weekend with the release of the new Stephen King movie The Long Walk. Dory, a nine-year-old cat with no eyes, will appear on the big screen after being chosen by the film’s director last summer for a scene shot near La Rivière. From rescue cat to movie star Michelle Neufeld, President of Steinbach and Area Animal Rescue (SAAR), has been Dory’s owner since the cat was just three weeks old. She says the unusual opportunity came through a supporter of the rescue who also trains animals for movies. “The director was looking for a cat with either one eye or no eyes. And I just happened to have a cat with no eyes, which is rare. I sent her headshot to the trainer, she sent it to the director, and he loved it,” said Neufeld. Production crews brought Neufeld and Dory to the film set last August, putting them up in a Winkler hotel to ensure Dory was well rested before filming. “It was so cool. They were very, very conscious about Dory being comfortable. As soon as we pulled up, they covered our van with heat-resistant material because it was so hot that day, and they made sure she had lots of breaks,” Neufeld explained. On set at Holiday Mountain Dory’s role was small but memorable. She was placed on a custom-built mailbox for a scene where young characters walk past her with large machinery behind them. “They had a harness built into the mailbox to make sure she didn’t fall, but she didn’t even need it. She just sat there perfectly,” said Neufeld. “She follows sound with her ears, so it looked like she was watching the kids walk by. The director was so excited about that, I heard him say a few times, ‘Yes, that’s perfect.’” Animal safety was a priority on set. A video call with a film industry animal welfare organization was kept open throughout filming to monitor conditions, and Neufeld remained just feet away as Dory’s designated handler. “If I thought she needed a break, they would have stopped production right away. But she was a trooper,” Neufeld said. A cat with two lives Outside of her film debut, Dory has long been an ambassador for SAAR. Before developing travel anxiety, she frequently visited schools, daycares and preschools to help children learn about animal rescue and disabilities. “For many years we took her to classrooms and emphasized that everybody’s different, and that’s okay. She was the perfect pet for that because she loves everybody,” Neufeld said. That makes Dory’s Hollywood image all the more surprising. In The Long Walk, the sweet-natured cat is expected to be portrayed as a mysterious or even creepy stray. “Every time there’s a new trailer, we laugh so hard. Sometimes she’s in the preview with captions like ‘bloody violence,’ which is just hilarious because she’s literally the sweetest cat ever,” Neufeld said. The perks of stardom Like any professional actor, Dory was paid for her work. Neufeld was also compensated for serving as her handler. Together, their earnings helped fund a vacation. “Dory sent her mom and dad to Mexico,” Neufeld joked. The experience also gave Neufeld a new appreciation for the film industry. She says they were told not to approach the actors or director, but the opposite happened. “Literally every actor came over to us because they wanted to pet Dory. Even the director came by, and he was very impressed with her,” Neufeld said. Looking ahead Now nine years old, Dory may not be destined for a long Hollywood career, but Neufeld says she wouldn’t rule out another role if it was close to home. “She’s not the best at traveling, so it would have to be something local. But if the right situation came up, I’d definitely pursue it,” she said. For now, the focus is on celebrating Dory’s big screen moment and what it represents. “She was a stray that a lot of people would have dismissed because of her disability. But she’s no different than any other cat. She’s awesome,” said Neufeld. She hopes Dory's fame will result in positive attention to the work shelters do, and that there's value in the pets they take in, even those with disabilities. The Long Walk opens in theatres this weekend and is expected to arrive in Steinbach within the next few weeks.