Toast: An Underdog-umentary

- Little Pocket Pictures Presents -

After going viral on social media, narcoleptic golden doodle, Toast, and his “service human”, Laura, turn to the community and use their platform to transform stories of struggle into stories of hope for special needs animals around the world.

By: Grace Garrett and Luke Jaworowski

Documentary Kickstarter Launching 10/11/2025. Go to Get Involved to subscribe to our Newsletter and recieve an email when we go live!

What’s This all About?

The Jaws household is no stranger to pets. With seven of their own and more than 250 kittens fostered and homed over the years, animals have always been an essential part of their lives. At the heart of this mission is Laura, a nurse and experienced animal rescuer who often favors the special-needs, disabled, or even “grumpy” kittens that others might pass by.

While some volunteers may not have space or time for the extra work, Laura sees something different: possibility. She knows that what these animals need isn’t perfection—it’s a chance. Through fostering, the Jaws family discovered that special-needs pets aren’t all that different from any others. Yes, they sometimes require more effort or creativity, but their joy, resilience, and love are just as boundless.

So, when Laura’s middle son Luke, a veterinary assistant, shared a foster-to-adopt pitch for a narcoleptic golden doodle named Toast, she felt an instant pull. Within weeks, Toast became a permanent part of the Jaws family. Despite a few difficult adjustments (and lots of naps), Toast quickly found his place in their lives.

Laura began sharing videos of Toast online simply to spread a smile. Within 24 hours, millions had viewed, liked, and shared his story. With that growth came a realization: Toast’s story could be more than heartwarming—it could be life-changing.

Laura envisioned a foundation dedicated to supporting special-needs and overlooked animals worldwide. She shared the dream with her family, and together with Luke’s friend, independent filmmaker Grace Garrett, the idea for a documentary was born. A film about Toast wouldn’t just tell his story, it could help launch what Laura calls “Team Underdogs”, an organization and community dedicated to helping the overlooked.

In this short film, we’ll revisit Toast’s early days through the voices of doctors, technicians, and fosters who helped him. We’ll meet his groomer, his brothers, his biggest supporters—and, most excitingly, Rupert, the resilient pup from Canada whose story first ignited this mission. Above all, this documentary will capture the very first steps toward turning Laura’s dream of The Underdog Foundation into a reality.

Meet the Film Crew

Meet Grace and Luke, best friends since childhood, and the powerhouse of the documentary.

Grace has a BFA Degree in Film at Belmont University in Nashville. She has worked as a director, cinematographer, and editor on a variety of student short films, music videos, and documentaries.

Luke works full time at the animal hospital as a Veterinary Assistant. Enrolled with the University of Illinois, he is working towards a degree in animal science with the ultimate goal of one day becoming a veterinarian.

Together, they are working on documenting Toast’s journey and making sure his dreams come true!

Two young people sitting outdoors on wicker chairs, smiling at each other in a backyard with a small red dog house in the background, sunlight filtering through trees.

Gallery

A woman grooming a large, light-brown dog with curly fur that is sitting on a grooming table. The woman wears headphones and a purple shirt, looking down at her tools. The dog wears a pink bandana around its neck and a pink hood, and is looking at the camera. The room has white walls, a bulletin board with photos on the left, and shelves with various items on the right.
Two dogs in a dimly lit living room, one a brown dog sitting on the floor and the other a light-colored dog lying on a couch.
A woman with reddish hair in a bun holding a tabby cat close to her face, both with eyes closed, in a room with sunlight and curtains.
Woman sitting on a beige couch with a dog on her lap in a dimly lit living room with brick fireplace, decorated with candles, lanterns, plants, and curtains, with two large dogs resting on the floor.
A tabby cat wearing a pink sweater with ruffles, sitting on a kitchen counter, with a woman standing behind it, reading a book or a recipe. The kitchen is warm and dimly lit with white cabinets and a microwave.