Bandit, an alleged pit bull from Stanford, CT, was sentenced to death for biting. 

After a long legal battle, a Superior Court judge issued a 90-day stay of execution, giving an old dog one last chance to learn new tricks under the tutelage of dog trainer / philosopher Vicki Hearne. A Little Vicious tells the story of this reprieve, and its ironic outcome.

The New York Times praised the “literary quality of this offbeat documentary” which “pays rewarding attention to the little peculiarities of all involved”

The New York Post called it a “superb...splendid little comedy” that “shows how racism and class prejudice affect our perceptions of something as seemingly uncomplicated as a dog.”

A Little Vicious played theatrically in several cities after premiering at New York City’s Film Forum. It aired nationally on P.O.V. (PBS) and overseas broadcasters including Channel 4 in England.