Video Report: Dog Terrorized, Locked In Cage, And Plunged Into Frigid River for Movie

PETA Demands Answers on Where Dog Is Now and Urges Director to Cut Scene and Never Work With Live Animals Again

For Immediate Release:
March 16, 2018

Contact:
Moira Colley 202-483-7382

Following the release of deeply disturbing whistleblower footage showing a young German shepherd locked in a cage being suspended in the air, spun around on a crane, and then plunged into a frigid, fast-flowing river, PETA is calling for the scene to be cut from Chinese director Hao Ning‘s upcoming film Crazy Alien. PETA is also asking the cast, including Glee actor Matthew Morrison, to donate their salaries to animal-protection charities in China and for Ning to commit to never working with live animals again.

The video was taken in the early hours of the morning in Changsha, and a log from the whistleblower reads, “On November 28th, 2017 I witnessed first hand one of the worst animal cruelty acts I have ever seen. … The second the dog cage rose into the air the dog stopped barking instantly as the cables were used to spin the cage out of control in circles. …The director took many takes and this was just awful to witness as the torment went on.”

The whistleblower, who describes watching “[w]ith huge disbelief,” continues, “[T]he cage was completely submerged with the dog in it landing in a 10mph current. After 5–8 seconds the director yelled out ‘cut.’ … A final decision was made by the director to shoot a second identical take. I could not believe my eyes.”

“2018 is the Year of the Dog, but instead of being celebrated and respected, this poor dog was tortured,” says PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange. “In a movie already using special effects, why was this animal subjected to fear and suffering? Because there are no laws protecting animals on film sets in China, PETA is urging the actors to hold the production accountable and asking the public to boycott this hideously cruel film.”

PETA’s motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment.” For more information, please visit PETA.org.