Video Shows German Shepherd Being Forced Into Water For A Dog’s Purpose Film
New on-set video for the film A Dog’s Purpose has got PETA reeling. The video, obtained by TMZ, shows a German Shepherd being forced into dangerous, turbulent water.
The video reveals a dog resisting being put into water for a shoot for the film in Winnipeg, Canada, said TMZ. The German Shepherd was just one of at least five dogs used int the video production of the movie.
TMZ got the video of a scene shot in a pool outside of Winnipeg in November 2015. The trainer forcibly shoves the German Shepherd into the rising, bubbling water. The dog wanted no part of it and repeatedly clawed at the pool’s edge to get away from the water.
“He wants to get away, just throw him in,” a voice off-camera says in the video, reported TIME.
TMZ sources connected to the production said there were eight outboard motors used to churn the water and recreate a rushing river.
Video shows the dog eventually got into, or forced into, the water, but quickly submerged in it.
Someone immediately yelled, “Cut it!” and handlers rushed to the dog. It was not clear if the dog submerging was scripted or not.
PETA condemned the movie in a statement made to People.
“PETA is calling on dog lovers to boycott the film in order to send the message that dogs and other animals should be treated humanely, not as movie props,” the organization said to People.
TMZ reported that sources told them director Lasse Hallstrom was present during the whole filming and that at least one member of the crew was extremely disturbed by the dog’s treatment during the shooting of that particular scene.
On Wednesday night, Hallstrom distanced himself from he video in several tweets. He said he was “very disturbed” by the footage and “any wrongdoing will be reported and punished.”
I am very disturbed by the video released today from the set of my film A dog’s purpose.
— lasse hallstrom (@HallstromLasse) January 19, 2017
“I did not witness these actions,” he said. “We were all committed to providing a loving and safe environment for all the animals in the film.”
I have been promised that a thorough investigation into this situation is underway and that any wrongdoing will be reported and punished.
— lasse hallstrom (@HallstromLasse) January 19, 2017
I have been a lifelong animal lover and A DOG’S PURPOSE is my third film about dogs. The animals’ safety was of utmost priority.
— lasse hallstrom (@HallstromLasse) January 19, 2017
According to TMZ, the organization said there was a representative from the American Humane Society present on set to ensure no animals would be harmed and has since been suspended.
Amblin Partners and Universale Pictures released a statement to TMZ:
“Fostering a safe environment and ensuring the ethical treatment of our animal actors was of the utmost importance to those involved in making this film and we will look into the circumstances surrounding this video.”
