PETA Boycotts ‘A Dog’s Purpose’ After Questionable Video Surfaces

Source: Flickr
PETA has asked dog lovers everywhere to boycott A Dog’s Purpose after video surfaced of one of the film’s dogs performing under duress.
The group, whose acronym stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, issued the boycott request after TMZ released footage which they say was shot on scene. It featured a trainer trying to push the dog into a pool of rushing water, as the animal repeatedly claws to stay on land. The video shows the dog sinking in the pool as a crew member yells “cut” and other crew members rush to help the German Shepherd out of the water.
In a statement, PETA senior vice president Lisa Lange said, “New footage shows a terrified dog who is forced into churning water on set. At one point, a dog who is in danger of drowning has to be rescued.” Source: YouTube/A Dog’s Purpose
The film is set to hit theaters on January 27. Peta is asking people to boycott the film “in order to send the message that dogs and other animals should be treated humanely, not as movie props.”
The American Humane Society, who monitor movie sets, promised USA Today they would launch a third party investigation into the video, telling USA Today, “American Humane has reviewed the video and we are disturbed and concerned by the footage. When the dog showed signs of resistance to jumping in the water, the scene should have been stopped.”
The director for A Dog’s Purpose, Lasse Hallstrom, took to Twitter telling fans, “I did not witness these actions. We are committed to providing a loving and safe environment for all the animals in the film.”

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

Hallstrom also added, “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 for both myself and everyone else on the set.”

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