No animals harmed in making of A Dog's Purpose, American Humane investigation concludes

The group that determines whether a film can claim "No animals were harmed in the making of this movie" have given A Dog's Purpose the all-clear.

The January Hollywood premiere of the movie shot in Winnipeg was cancelled after a viral video, apparently taken on the set of the movie, showed what appeared to be a distressed German shepherd being forced into turbulent water.

The group American Humane now says "an independent, third-party investigation conducted by a respected animal cruelty expert" has debunked the claims of the video.

CBC has requested the full report from American Humane.

A Dog's Purpose under fire after animal cruelty allegations

8 years ago

Duration 1:49

A national animal welfare group filed a complaint with Manitoba authorities after a video surfaced online showing a dog being forced into churning water during the production of the soon-to-be released film A Dog's Purpose.

"It is disappointing that the public was misled by a manufactured controversy promoted by a radical organization like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals with a mission to remove animals from films and other parts of our lives. We are the first to address and fight cruelty and abuse, and no such things happened on the set of 'A Dog Purpose,'" said American HumaneveterinarianKwaneStewartin a release.

American Humane did have an animal safety representative on set, who was placed on administrative leave while they investigated.

• Safety rep suspended after animal cruelty allegations on A Dog's Purpose film set
• Animal rights group complaint alleges 'blatant animal cruelty'
• A Dog's Purpose Hollywood premiere cancelled

American Humane's release also said that "Although the dog was momentarily stressed," a veterinary behaviourist concluded these was no lasting stress response for the dog,"based on studying additional footage not included in the video, body posture, and the fact that he quickly and willingly went into the water and performed the scene soon afterwards."

The group also said, "Eyewitnesses also report that following the water scene, the dog was wagging his tail and wanted to goback into the water."

American Humane says that the signs of distress in the dog could have been recognized sooner, but as soon as they were recognized, the film shoot was stopped. But, the group said, the video was edited together to make it seem otherwise.

The film premiered in Winnipeg Jan. 27, along with most other major centres, despite the Hollywood premiere'scancellation.

PETA protested in Winnipeg and in other centres.

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Gavin Polone, one of the movie's producers, previously told CBChe was on the set for about 70 per cent of all scenes filmed, but did not witness the incident depicted in the video.

He added that he found it curious that the footage allegedly shot in November 2015 would surface just as the film preparedto hit cinemas.

"Why not come forward with this immediately after it happened so that if people were doing wrong, they could be stopped?" he said.