Renting a movie for the kids? Skip 'Snow Buddies'
I am not a fan of movies featuring talking animals. Let me clarify that — I don’t really mind the ones where the animals are shown ‘speaking’ via a kind of internal monologue, but the ones where the animal’s mouths are digitially manipulated to make it appear as if they’re talking freak me out. It also annoys the crap out me that the girl dog always has to wear a bow on her head, because, you know, a girl isn’t a girl unless she’s wearing something frilly and pink.
Based on this revulsion, and the fact that I don’t have kids under the age of 10, Disney’s new movie ‘Snow Buddies’ wasn’t ever tops on my ‘must rent’ list. This news release seals it for me, however — if I had kids, the last movie they’d be watching is “Snow Buddies”.
Here’s the press release from American Humane, the people who give the ‘No Animals Were Harmed During the Making of this Film’ certification —
http://www.americanhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=nr_news_r%20eleases_snowbuddies
Snippet:
The American Humane Association is conducting an investigation after five puppies died while on location for the filming of the movie Snow Buddies. As many as six others have fallen ill after exposure to parvovirus. Twenty-eight puppies are being treated after being exposed to the virus. Earlier in the production, 30 puppies were removed from the set when 15 of them showed signs of illness, eventually diagnosed as giardia and coccidia. Three of these puppies were euthanized due to intestinal complications. Parvovirus, also known as parvo, is a highly contagious viral infection in dogs. It causes fever, vomiting, diarrhea and lack of appetite and it can be fatal.
American Humane is the authority behind the “No Animals Were Harmed” end credit on movies. An American Humane Certified Safety Representative visited the Snow Buddies set in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Feb. 19, 2007, the first day of shooting. Fifteen golden retriever puppies were on set, and American Humane learned that 15 others had been treated by a local veterinarian since Feb. 7. The Safety Representative requested that all the puppies receive additional veterinary checks before proceeding with filming. Twenty-five of the puppies were from an American breeder and five were from a Canadian breeder.
At the time they were seen by the American Humane Safety Representative, the puppies were approximately 8 weeks old. However, it is believed that they were only 6 weeks old when they were separated from their mothers and brought by the trainer, Anne Gordon, to the Snow Buddies movie set. American Humane has recommended that Snow Buddies only import puppies that are older than 14 weeks. All vaccinations have to be done by a veterinarian, along with thorough check-ups. American Humane was unaware that the puppies were underage when they were transported by the trainer from the breeders.
American Humane will investigate the breeder who allegedly exported 25 puppies to Canada under the age of 8 weeks. Per the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it is illegal to transport puppies under the age of 8 weeks. American Humane has contacted the Canadian authorities and is working with the U.S.D.A. Investigations and Enforcement division.
To continue filming the movie, Snow Buddies hired 28 older replacement golden retrievers after the first 30 were removed for treatment. Unfortunately, this second group has been exposed to parvovirus.
American Humane learned recently that one litter of the older puppies used after the first became sick was vaccinated for parvovirus at the Canadian border by a veterinarian contacted by the puppies’ trainer, and the first sign of the parvo was from that same litter. We have also learned that, unbeknownst to the production, the filming location in the lower mainland of Vancouver has witnessed an outbreak of parvo dating back as far as six months before production began. In this case, the puppies from Washington State were removed from their mother (breeder) too early and vaccinated. The vaccine takes two weeks before it is effective. Sometimes when puppies are vaccinated early there is still a risk of infection. High levels of maternal antibodies present in a puppy’s bloodstream will block the effectiveness of a vaccine. Despite being vaccinated, puppies can still contract parvovirus because the window of susceptibility can be several days to a couple of weeks.
American Humane is conducting a full investigation on the trainer and breeders and following the progress of the puppies that have been retired from the production, many of whom have been placed in new adoptive homes. The company producing Snow Buddies has complied with each request from American Humane and has made changes so that working puppies will not be put in any position where they may fall ill. The film production company has been very cooperative and has suspended filming until further notice. All of the dogs in the production now have been checked and are being cared for by a veterinarian. We will continue to monitor the production and release our findings once the investigation is complete.
Here’s the link to American Humane’s final rating for the movie ‘Snow Buddies’ —
http://www.ahafilm.info/movies/mr.phtml?fid=7893
Snippet:
American Humane has rated this film “Monitored: Unacceptable” due to the numerous deaths of young animals and the unlawful and fraudulent behavior that we believe impacted their fate. Although the producers may have been victims of unscrupulous people in their hire, American Humane, as an animal protection organization and the animals’ safety representative, finds the outcomes for these animals unacceptable.
Thursday Thirteen – Top 13 Dumbest Dog Lies I've Heard
A recent thread on a pet forum inspired this entry, which is pretty much self explanatory. Feel free to add your own in comments.
1. “My Frenchies don’t shed”
Really? I wish I could say the same. I have a feral herd of dust bunnies the size of my head living under my couch, and they are breeding.
2. “French Bulldogs are sweet little pets that never fight”
I have a three inch scar at the webbing of my thumb and forefinger that resulted from breaking up a fight between two girls, neither of whom weighed more than 20 pouinds. It took fifteen stitches to close, and I lost my fingernail.
The dogs, on the other hand, were just fine.
3. “I show my dogs for the betterment of the breed”
When ‘bettering the breed’ includes clipping your dog’s palate, shaving his face, dyeing his nails, and gluing his ears, I have to wonder just what it is that’s being bettered. I like to win as much as the next person — well, unless the next person is a professional handler — but I don’t pretend that a ‘Ch’ in front of my dog’s name is an automatic ticket to genetic soundness and breed worthiness.
Dog shows are to animal husbandry what the Miss America pageant is to IQ testing.
4. “Every dog in the ring has a chance of going on to win Best in Show”
Sure they do – and little Susie from East Podunk has as good a chance of winning Miss America as that slick, polished, professionally prepped contestant with 200 local titles under her belt. Miracles might happen in movies, but in the real world? Not so much.
5. “Membership in the National Club is the best sign of ethics in a dog breeder”
Until National breed clubs start instituting mandatory health testing, rigorously enforced codes of ethics, and vigorous policing of their members, breed clubs will remain social clubs that exist to hold specialty shows. It’s like saying that membership in the Elks Club makes you automatically a better parent.
6. “I don’t need to health test my dog, because I’ve never had a problem”
We call this the ‘ostrich’ approach to dog breeding – if I pretend to never see it, it can’t possibly exist.
7. “There’s no such thing as a back that’s too short in a French Bulldog”
Sure there isn’t – and while we’re at it, let’s counter sink their noses into their skulls and put their tails up on top of their backs. Every single examination of basic physiology text book tells us how wrong this — do we really want to encourage it just because it’s cute?
8. “I offer a written health warranty”
Yes, technically you do – so long as the buyer returns the dog to you if anything ever goes wrong. I like how you stuck in a line about how ‘returned dogs will be euthanized’. What a convenient ‘get out of jail free’ card — you know no one will ever return a dog to you under those circumstances.
Best of all, since you live on the west coast, and the buyers on the east coast, you know they couldn’t ship the puppy back to you even if they wanted to, because no vet would sign a health certificate saying their dog is healthy enough to fly.
After all, most people don’t have access to the kind of ‘lenient’ vets you use to get your health certificates done.
9. “I breed dogs because it lets me show my love for Jesus. God bless!”
How nice for you – but do you really think Jesus wants you to keep 400 dogs in rabbit hutches in your back yard? I mean, isn’t this the same Jesus who said “Whatsoever you have done to these the least of My brethren, you have done unto Me”? I’m pretty sure Jesus would have a few choice words to say about your approach to animal husbandry – but hey! I’m sure he’ll get to tell you himself, eventually.
Also, could you please get rid of the blinky text and Midi hymns from your website? Bad graphic design makes the baby Jesus cry.
10. “Our pet store gets all its puppies from caring breeders”
Sure it does — and that ‘free’ bulldog really is in Cameroon with a missionary, and yours for $300 in shipping fees.
It’s hard to feel sorry for anyone who stills believes claims this blatantly stupid, but since they’re out there, let’s clarify – breeders who care are crazy people.
If we could, we’d do CIA background checks on potential puppy buyers before we let you take our babies home. I know breeders who do credit checks on potential buyers. I personally call veterinarians and check references and have a ten page lawyer checked contract that makes buying a house look like a walk in the park compared to getting a puppy from me.
Good breeders are the most paranoid people alive – do you really think we’d turn our puppies over, in bulk, to pet stores where they can be fondled by germ carrying strangers and sold to anyone with an Amex card?
11. “We import puppies from Russia because the dogs there are healthier”
You import puppies from Russia because you can buy them for $500, and re-sell them for $2500. The fact that the puppies will be traumatized, under aged, parasite infested and sickly are all just bonus points.
12. ” You don’t need to come and pick your puppy up – we’ll ship it at 8 weeks. Puppies don’t mind being shipped”
Well, sure! Eight week old puppies, which are emotionally the equivalent of two year old children, enjoy being stuck in a crate, placed in a cargo building, and then loaded into the belly of an airplane. The six hour flight, complete with plane transfer, doesn’t bother them in the least, even though new airline regulations mean you can’t ship them with water, food or blankets.
Hey, let’s ship the kids to Grandma’s house by cargo next Christmas!
13. “We don’t need to give our puppies shots, because naturally reared animals don’t get rabies or parvo”
The last time I checked, raccoons don’t eat take out food – and yet they still somehow manage to get rabies. And yes, canine rabies still exists, and is still killing dogs (and possibly people). Commercial dog food has been around since the 1940s, but distemper was the number one killer of puppies – puppies raised on table scraps and human grade food – at the turn of the century, with parvo a close second. I know a lot of ‘naturally reared’ puppies, that have broken out with parvo in their new homes, or have been crammed with worms.
Here’s a hint – all medicine isn’t bad medicine. Stop acting like raw meaty bones can cure anything – you’re making the rest of us who feed raw look like crazy people.
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How DARE they?
Great Danes get Obama, but we get stuck with Rudy? Shrill, desperate, “I rescued New York from 9-11” Rudy?
You bastard.
Mutts
Mutts, a blog by John Woestendiek of The Baltimore Sun
« If candidates were dogs: Mike Gravel – Samoyed | Main | If candidates were dogs: John Edwards – Golden Retriever »
If candidates were dogs: Rudolph Giuliani – French Bulldog
Description: An active, intelligent, muscular dog with an alert, curious and interested expression; compactly built with ears that are broad at the base, elongated, and round at the top.
Behavior: The French Bulldog is well-behaved and adaptable, with an even disposition and an affectionate nature. They have an independent mind and can be both stubborn and manipulative.
They will tolerate well-behaved children but can get jealous and even destructive if they do not have all the attention, or if left alone for long periods. They love to be included in family activities. French Bulldogs are playful, but not unduly boisterous.
Tendency to bark: Low
Level of aggression: Low
Suitability as guard dog: Low
(Candidate photo by AP; sketch by Susan Donley, petspictured.com; breed photo by AP)
(To see the full Dog Lovers’ Guide to the Presidential Election click here.)
