By Travis Johnson
On the heels of their recent allegations against Hollywood animal supplier, Birds and Animals Unlimited, PETA has released a video purporting to show an animal handler from the company mistreating a German Shepherd on the set of the upcoming film, A Dog’s Purpose.
The video, above, shows the handler forcing the clearly distressed animal into artificial rapids in order to shoot an action scene for the film. After a cut, it appears the animal sinks under the water and crew members rush in to rescue it.
Actor Josh Gad, who voices the dog in the film, took to Twitter to voice his concern.
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) January 19, 2017
Meanwhile, director, Lasse Halstrom, has promised an inquiry in a series of tweets:
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.
We were all committed to providing a loving and safe environment for all the animals in the film.— lasse hallstrom (@HallstromLasse) January 19, 2017
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
We were all committed to providing a loving, respectful and safe environment for all the animals in the film.
— lasse hallstrom (@HallstromLasse) January 19, 2017
To all who saw the upsetting clip from the making of a dog's purpose: I DID NOT SEE WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE CAMERAS ROLLED!
— lasse hallstrom (@HallstromLasse) January 19, 2017
For many it’s a case of not good enough, with several petitions springing up on Change.org calling for the film’s boycott.
At the time of writing, A Dog’s Purpose is scheduled for an April 6 release in Australia.
