Unfortunately, "Shot Dog Film" was inserted by an unknown person into the repeating programming cue on Manhattan Cable TV instead of the normal cartoon programming for children. It was also shown on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, 1978, and caused an instant outcry, leading to calls to prosecute Otterness. The film has continued to haunt Otterness, engendering continued controversy. "Shot Dog Film" was briefly mentioned as having "provoked a small scandal 1980" in a 1997 "New York Times" article which dismissed it as "a seemingly uncharacteristic gesture that he has since declined to discuss." It was brought back into the public conscience in 2004 by journalist Gary Indiana, who criticized Otterness for the killing. Since then, Otterness has attracted criticism and protests for the 1977 film, apologized for his behavior, and lost a number of commissions from the continuing criticism. Otterness's studio released a statement blaming his "anger at and the world" for the film.