One day this past week, I found myself mindlessly scrolling through my Facebook news feed, as I usually do when I need to find a few moments of free time and collect my thoughts (don’t we all?). I love to see what my friends and family are up to and laugh at hilarious memes, photos and videos. However, one video I watched made my blood boil so badly that it still irks me to the core. I refuse to keep my mouth shut over the inhumane and abusive treatment of a German Shepherd by a “professional” film crew while filming the new movie, "A Dog’s Purpose."
First and foremost, a want to express a huge thanks to TMZ for posting this video and raising awareness for animal abuse, especially in the film industry. This issue has been all too common in film and television production for decades. According to "Eluxe Magazine," the American Humane Association undoubtedly has an issue doing their job correctly. For instance, A Husky was hit over and over in its diaphragm in Disney’s "Eight Below." Hundreds of dead fish and squid washed up on shore during the filming of "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" due to negligence toward taking precautions to protect marine life in the area they were filming. Moreover, a giraffe died on the "Zookeeper" set. The worst part about all of these examples is that the AHA had monitors on set at the time of these incidents! Tragically, these examples took place in the United States alone. Treatment of animals is even worse in many international film and television productions.
Secondly, I want to address Dreamworks, Walden Media and Amblin Partners directly. I have more questions for you than you will seemingly ever give the time of day to answer. Where do you find it in your heart that forcing a terrified dog into water is okay? Furthermore, why does the man behind the camera find it amusing that the poor German Shepherd is scared and attempting to protect itself? He was not being violent. He was not a threat to anyone around him. So why not have a little compassion? Fighting with honey instead of vinegar works wonders. Why not have a crew member with treats in the water to make the dog comfortable jumping in? That’s just one common-sense worthy suggestion. Clearly, you aren’t as qualified to work with animals as you think you are. It is also heartbreaking that you all as professionals could not conduct enough research to realize the breed of dog you chose to showcase in your movie does not do well in water. Do I really have to do your job for you? Why did it have to go so far as animal activist groups calling you out on your royal screw-up?
Simply put, those of you involved in this distressing video and those of you involved in this kind of treatment toward animals should be absolutely ashamed of yourselves. Not only will I not support this movie, but if I see the “No Animals Were Harmed” disclaimer associated with your film in any way, be ready for the storm you stirred up among animal lovers all over this country. Please join me and stand up for animals. We are their voice.
