Following last week's controversy due to a leaked video of a distressed dog forced to perform a stunt on the set of "A Dog's Purpose", film producer Gavin Polone and the dog trainers in Birds and Animals Unlimited have spoken up on the issue and released their respective statements.
"A Dog's Purpose" producer Polone wrote an op-ed piece on The Hollywood Reporter on Jan. 23 to talk about "what really happened and who's to blame" on the movie's issue which resulted to PETA calling for boycott and the cancellation of their Los Angeles premiere last weekend.
Polone, who revealed he is an animal rights activist and a vegan himself, expressed his dismay on the leaked video by TMZ last Thursday which revealed a German Shepherd named Hercules forced to do a stunt by his trainer on the Winnipeg set of "A Dog's Purpose".
"I have participated in, helped pay for and written in this publication about animal welfare causes. My will is set up so that all I have shall be donated to charities benefiting animals when I die. I am a vegan... The most consistent and closest relationships I've had throughout my life have been with animals," he wrote on The Hollywood Reporter.
With the video circulating online, Polone started to receive messages and was not even surprised when PETA campaigned to boycott "A Dog's Purpose". In his editorial piece, the film producer talked about the measures he took such in the Amblin Entertainment office to check the video from trainers and still photographs.
Based on his observations, he agreed that the trainer's act in forcing the dog to submerge in the water was inexcusable. However, Polone also said that there is more about the story that people should know.
According to the "A Dog's Purpose" producer, TMZ's video and caption were misleading. He outlined the videos he saw and cited a footage rehearsal where the dog, being unafraid to jump into the water, did the "rehearsal without problem". Polone added that a safety diver and trainer were even present during the shoot.
Aside from the movie producer, the trainers in the film, Birds and Animals Unlimited, also released a statement regarding the controversy on Monday, The Huffington Post reported.
According to the news website, the trainers claimed TMZ "falsely edited" the video and maintained that Hercules, the 2-year-old German Shepherd in the video, was not harmed. They added that he was chosen for the role because of "his love of the water".
"The shot that Hercules performed began with his jumping from the end of the pool into the water as he'd been conditioned to do, then swimming out to a stunt actor and pulling her to safety," The Huffington Post cited the statement released by the Birds and Animals Unlimited.
Furthermore, they said that an American Humane Representative was always present to approve and document every shot they took with the animals.
Watch the official trailer of "A Dog's Purpose" in the video below.