function onPlayerReadyVidible(e){'undefined'!=typeof HPTrack&&HPTrack.Vid.Vidible_track(e)}!function(e,i){if(e.vdb_Player){if('object'==typeof commercial_video){var a='',o='m.fwsitesection='+commercial_video.site_and_category;if(a+=o,commercial_video['package']){var c='&m.fwkeyvalues=sponsorship%3D'+commercial_video['package'];a+=c}e.setAttribute('vdb_params',a)}i(e.vdb_Player)}else{var t=arguments.callee;setTimeout(function(){t(e,i)},0)}}(document.getElementById('vidible_1'),onPlayerReadyVidible); On Wednesday, video footage from the set of A Dogs Purpose was leaked online, leading many to call the films treatment of animals into question.Among those who spoke out about the video was actor Josh Gad, who voices the dogs in the film. In a post on Facebook, Gad said he was shaken after watching the video.As the proud owner of a rescue dog and a fervent supporter of organizations like PETA, I have reached out to the production team and studio to ask for an explanation for these disturbing images, he wrote. In the clip, which was obtained by TMZ, a crew member or dog trainer is seen forcing a German shepherd into rushing water. The dog appears visibly distressed as it attempts to claw its way out of the situation.The dog continues to resist the trainer but eventually gets in the water. It then ends up submerged for so long the handlers rush over to the dog in the stream, telling the crew to Cut it!The films director,Lasse Hallstrm, also spoke out about the footage.I am very disturbed by the video released today from the set of my film A Dogs Purpose. I did not witness these actions, which are unacceptable and would never happen with my knowledge, he said in a statement. We were all committed to providing a loving, respectful and safe environment for all the animals in the film. I have been promised that a thorough investigation into this situation is underway and that any wrongdoing will be reported and punished.According to Deadline, the dog and handler seen in the video were hired by Amblin Entertainment (the production company behind the film) from Birds & Animals Unlimited.The Huffington Post has reached out to BAU for comment and will update this post accordingly.BAUs practices have been called into question before by PETA. The animal rights organization has also called for a boycott of A Dogs Purposeafter seeing the footage.PETA is calling on dog lovers to boycott the film in order to send the message that dogs and other animals should be treated humanely, not as movie props, they said in a statement obtained by People.After the video surfaced, a representative for Amblin told TMZ the dog, named Hercules, was not forced to complete the stunt in the scene and that he had several days of rehearsal of the water scenes to ensure [he] was comfortable with all of the stunts.The production company added, On the day of the shoot, Hercules did not want to perform the stunt portrayed on the tape so the Amblin production team did not proceed with filming that shot.You can read Amblins full statementbelow:A DOGS PURPOSE, produced by Amblin Entertainment and distributed by Universal Pictures, is a celebration of the special connection between humans and their dogs. And in the spirit of this relationship, the Amblin production team followed rigorous protocols to foster an ethical and safe environment for the animals.While we continue to review the circumstances shown in the edited footage, Amblin is confident that great care and concern was shown for the German Shepherd Hercules, as well as for all of the other dogs featured throughout the production of the film. There were several days of rehearsal of the water scenes to ensure Hercules was comfortable with all of the stunts. On the day of the shoot,Hercules did not want to perform the stunt portrayed on the tape so the Amblin production team did not proceed with filming that shot.Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the American Humane Association, the group responsible for ensuring the safety of animals on film and TV sets,told The Associated Press they are investigating the situation.Universal Pictures did not respond to The Huffington Posts request for comment. -- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
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