Home Entertainment Third-party Investigation finds no cruelty in treatment of dog on set of A Dog’s Purpose

Third-party Investigation finds no cruelty in treatment of dog on set of A Dog’s Purpose

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A Dog's Purpose third-party investigation finds no abuse 2

A few weeks ago a video surfaced which sought to show animal cruelty and mistreatment on the set of a film exactly about the opposite, A Dog’s Purpose. The video showed a scene being filmed where a visibly scared dog attempting to be put in rough, simulated waters. The video then cut and showed the animal in the water, before being taken below the surface and divers rushing to its aid. The video sparked mass controversy days before the film’s premiere, but an independent investigation has found no harm in the shooting.

After the video surfaced, American Humane (the body that ensures good treatment of animals in films) suspended their representative on set during the depicted shoot and launched a third-party investigation into the matter. The investigation concluded recently, finding that the video had been purposefully edited to make it seems as though the animal was forced into the water. The opposite was true, with the investigation concluding that the two shoots happened on different days (as claimed by the film studio previously), and that no animal cruelty took place.

The entire statement can be found on the Animal Humane website, where the body confirms that the dog on set was notably comfortable with getting into the water on the day of the actual shoot. They do note however that signs of distress during the first attempt should have been picked up quicker, and that treatment on the animal in this state should have been more gentle. Irrespective of that, the body concludes that the proper procedures were followed thereafter, and that no harm came to the dog even after plunging beneath the surface of the water.

At the same time, American Humane believes that the handling of the dog in the first scene in the video should have been gentler and signs of stress recognized earlier. That being said, it is important to note that this was recognized and the scene did not proceed as insinuated by the misleadingly edited video.

It still doesn’t answer questions of where there still is a need to put animals into potentially dangerous situations for filming when other alternatives exist (explored even in the same film, with a scene involving digital fire instead of the real deal). But for now it’s comforting to know that at the very least the dog in question is just fine.

Last Updated: February 7, 2017

20 Comments

  1. Good.

    And fuck the person that did this, because they’ve just made it harder for anything like this in the future to be taken seriously.

    Reply

  2. konfab

    February 7, 2017 at 10:46

    • konfab

      February 7, 2017 at 10:54

      This was a perfect example of fake news. You lot were caught hook line and sinker.

      Reply

    • HvR

      February 7, 2017 at 11:07

      Preach it

      *joins the smug circle*

      Reply

  3. Captain JJ

    February 7, 2017 at 11:01

    How was it edited though?

    Reply

  4. HvR

    February 7, 2017 at 11:01

    Hey what do know? PETA and TMZ lies.

    Next time can CH journalists please take a step back and evaluate the situation before getting the pitchforks.

    #told_you_so

    Reply

    • Captain JJ

      February 7, 2017 at 11:03

      I still maintain it wasn’t right. Regardless of being on the day or not on the day of shooting. Or any of that.

      Reply

      • HvR

        February 7, 2017 at 11:06

        Actual facts in the article were absolute BS.

        The video was very dodge as pointed out on the day by me and konfab.

        We literally pointed there was a swimmer/trainer with the dog in the water and at the dog within seconds within submersion. Which CH journalist and other commentators refused to see.

        Dog under the water is for few seconds is not the end of the world, much worse abuse and shit going on.

        Reply

        • Captain JJ

          February 7, 2017 at 11:07

          Nope. Don’t care. Use CGI.
          I have respect for animals. There’s no need to do this. It’s not he 90s anymore.
          And trying to classify a crime of cruelty by severity is not how it works.

          Reply

          • HvR

            February 7, 2017 at 11:31

            Rather see a big working dog work and enjoy itself than have it cooped up in cage or 30m square meter backyard being frustrated its whole life.

            And seriously a crime of animal abuse?!?!?!?!?!
            Better lock up all people who use hunting retrieval dogs, people who take their dogs to river and dam for exercise and definitely arrested every swim teacher for child abuse.

          • RinceThis

            February 7, 2017 at 11:40

            People who go hunting and need to use dogs can drown themselves in the same waters that dog didn’t want to get into 😛

          • BakedBagel

            February 7, 2017 at 12:52

            Its not the 90’s dude

            Fuck blind people, they can use VR XD

          • BakedBagel

            February 7, 2017 at 12:52

            “Nope. Don’t care. Use CGI”

            hahahaha give more tearz pl0x

          • Captain JJ

            February 7, 2017 at 13:02

            I repeat. Nope. Don’t care.

          • BakedBagel

            February 7, 2017 at 13:03

            Cool.

    • BakedBagel

      February 7, 2017 at 12:50

      Some CH writers pen articles before any information is released mainly for clicks because everyone else is doing it? *GHASP*

      Reply

      • HvR

        February 7, 2017 at 12:56

        Actually hold them to the high standard they set for themselves. Which I’m glad they still maintaining

        And that is precisely why I rarely read the news sites and pretty much take anything from a “proper” news with a sack of salt filtered 3 times with a bullshit filter.

        Especially since I’ve been on the other end of absolutely BS reporting in a local paper. And last month seen the effect it has on the family of man that passed away in December that is now painted as a criminal by dodgy SAPS officials , EWN and their ilk about an admin error that is being blown waaaay out of proportion.

        Reply

        • BakedBagel

          February 7, 2017 at 13:03

          Completely agree.

          If i feel strongly about something i try my damn hardest to get atleast a left and right perspective.

          You know what happened to waiting for information to come out? Waiting for a statement from the cops or people?

          Nah stuff that. Lets “boycott” this because i feel strongly against this.

          Its laughable. I read CH for tech reviews and game reviews. Das about it. Get an RSS feed and you wont need much else.

          Oh the food section is fucking mooi btw, whoever added that deserves a bunny chow (inb4 bunnies arnt meant to be eaten)

          Reply

  5. HvR

    February 7, 2017 at 12:38

    So CH going to do a proper retraction of the false allegations and unbiased reporting or at least link this story to the original?

    Reply

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