PETA calls for boycott of ‘A Dog’s Purpose’ after disturbing video surfaces

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Bryan Alexander , USA TODAYPublished 6:33 p.m. ET Jan. 18, 2017

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People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has called for a boycott of the family film A Dog’s Purpose, after video surfaced Wednesday that appears to show one of the movie’s star dogs performing under duress.

TMZ posted the video with the headline “Terrified German Shepherd forced into turbulent water.” The video, which TMZ says was shot on the set in 2015, purports to show a rescue scene in which the trainer looks to be forcing the dog into a pool of rushing water, as the dog repeatedly claws to stay on land.

The edited video then shows what appears to be the same German Shepherd sinking in the pool as one crew member yells “Cut it!” and others rush over to help the animal.

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 “New footage shows a terrified dog who is forced into churning water on set,” PETA senior vice president Lisa Lange said in a statement. “At one point, a dog who is in danger of drowning has to be rescued.”

Lange called for a boycott of the film, which opens Jan. 27.
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