Animals dying in Hollywood

[Calliegirl]

I've always thought they were being monitored for safety on the sets, but I guess not.

I like some of the suggestions of ways to help:

If you see a movie that uses animals in an improper way or portrays animals disrespectfully, walk out and tell the theater manager that you’d like a refund. For television shows or commercials, voice your concerns on the show’s or product’s Facebook wall!

Read more: http://www.peta2.com/blog/breaking-animals-dying-in-hollywood/#ixzz26IQBuavX

http://www.peta2.com/blog/breaking-...st&utm_source=peta2 Facebook&utm_medium=Promo

 

[Ansciess]

I've always thought they were being monitored for safety on the sets, but I guess not.

As soon as animals are involved in making a profit, the welfare of the animals will not be the first priority. That's a hard and fast rule.

 

[Calliegirl]

According to peta, some of the incidents reported were:

--specifically, the allegations involving the deaths of three horses during the production of 'The Hobbit', an incident in which a horse was swept downriver during the making of 'Lone Ranger', and the reported death of a horse on the set of HBO's 'Boardwalk Empire', among many others--

I was looking forward to The Hobbit, since I loved LOTR. But if this is true, I guess it goes on my do not see list.

 

[K-II]

Is that from another article? Or the .pdf?

 

[Calliegirl]

It was from an email and it's also on their website.

https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=4328

 

[K-II]

Oh. I was hoping they might have elaborated a bit, but I suppose it doesn't really matter in the context of 'if it's true that...'

Still, it's hard to know what more could have been done without more information. For instance with the series 'Luck', changes were made after the first two horses were injured* that had, for as long as they had a chance to work anyway, proven effective. The third horse was injured* when it reared and fell while being lead to a stable, which resulted in the program's cancellation, even though it was completely unforeseeable compared to the earlier injuries (suffered while filming a 'race', presumably under too much physical strain even with the initial precautions). So, depending on exactly what (supposedly) happened in the cases this article/email refers to, there may or may not be anything this AHA could have done.

*I find it a bit misleading to say the horses 'died', as they were actually euthanised rather than directly killed by their injuries. They seem as a species to be incredibly unfortunate when it comes to recovering from injury, compared to something like a human. It's a little old now, but I found this somewhat enlightening as to the sort of issues they face, even when recovery is successful. In a way I think maybe prevention isn't enough in cases like this... certainly a lot of horses make people rich enough, you'd think the money to research ways of treating their injuries would be around. I certainly don't worry too much that some stunt guy or actor might have broken his arm in a film and been put down because we don't have the capacity to save him without the rest of his life being some kind of hell...

On another note - isn't The Hobbit filmed in New Zealand? Do the AHA even oversee filming in locations outside of the USA?

 

[Calliegirl]

Still, it's hard to know what more could have been done without more information. For instance with the series 'Luck', changes were made after the first two horses were injured* that had, for as long as they had a chance to work anyway, proven effective. The third horse was injured* when it reared and fell while being lead to a stable, which resulted in the program's cancellation, even though it was completely unforeseeable compared to the earlier injuries (suffered while filming a 'race', presumably under too much physical strain even with the initial precautions). So, depending on exactly what (supposedly) happened in the cases this article/email refers to, there may or may not be anything this AHA could have done.

What they should have done, was to end it after the first injury.

They seem as a species to be incredibly unfortunate when it comes to recovering from injury, compared to something like a human.

This fact alone should be enough to not use them in an industry that is inherently dangerous for them.

Between stock footage and special effects, there isn't any good reason to be using live animals anymore.

 

[K-II]

What they should have done, was to end it after the first injury.

What 'they' are we talking about? The people doing the filming probably had no idea how much danger horses were or weren't in... those who were there for that specific reason (AHA included) and failed to set sufficient safety guidelines should have done what they were there for before there was any injury to speak of.

This fact alone should be enough to not use them in an industry that is inherently dangerous for them.

Between stock footage and special effects, there isn't any good reason to be using live animals anymore.

Well, if the problem is recovering from injury, everything is that much more dangerous for them. But as far as taking things up with the AHA goes, is this really an option? I'm somewhat unclear on whether they exist solely to reduce harm, or if they like reducing harm and they (as an organisation) like to exist. Because if it's the latter, they wouldn't want animals not to be used, as it would make them redundant.

 

[Amy SF]

On another note - isn't The Hobbit filmed in New Zealand? Do the AHA even oversee filming in locations outside of the USA?

Good question.

IDK if the AHA is permitted to monitor film productions in other countries. Is there a NZ counterpart to the AHA that is supposed to be monitoring locally filmed productions?