A Dog's Purpose author defends film following disturbing footage leak

The 'video mischaracterises what happened' according to W. Bruce Cameron

Last week, PETA called for a boycott of the upcoming film A Dog's Purpose after TMZ released footage seemingly showing a German Shepherd being pushed into and pulled out of a rushing stream of water against its will.

Soon after, the footage was shared across the Internet leading to Universal cancelling the film’s scheduled premiere and press junket.

Actor Josh Gad and director Lasse Hallström have both spoken out against the incident, the source material’s writer - W. Bruce Cameron - has defended the film.

“I found the video we’ve all seen to be shocking because when I was on set, the ethic of everyone was the safety and comfort of the dogs,” he said in a statement.

“If the people who shot and edited the video thought something was wrong, why did they wait fifteen months to do anything about it, instead of immediately going to the authorities? I have since viewed footage taken of the day in question, when I wasn’t there, and it paints an entirely different picture.”

Cameron added that the “video mischaracterises what happened” on the day, saying the dog - named Hercules - has been gleefully playing around in the water earlier in the day.

“When he was asked to perform the stunt from the other side of the pool, which was not how he had been doing it all day, he balked. The mistake was trying to dip the dog in the water to show him it was okay — the water wasn’t his issue, it was the location that was the issue, and the dog happily did the stunt when he was allowed to return to his original spot.”

Speaking about the final moments of the released footage in which Hercules is seen being plunged underwater, Cameron explained: “I also didn’t like it when Hercules’s head briefly went under water, but there was a scuba diver and a trainer in the pool to protect him. He loves the water, wasn’t in danger, and wasn’t upset.”

PETA has since responded to Cameron’s reaction, with the organisation’s VP, Lisa Lange, saying: “It takes a cold heart not to find this footage disturbing, so PETA asks whether A Dog’s Purpose was written from the heart or just to make a buck.

“Whistleblowers invariably fear for their jobs, but this footage was bravely made public after PETA exposed cruelty to animals at the film’s reported dog supplier. If additional footage exists, it should be made public, but it won’t change the footage of a terrified dog forced into churning water any more than nanny cam footage of a bedtime story changes footage of a caregiver hitting a child.”

A Dog’s Purpose - based on the book of the same name by Cameron - reaches UK cinemas 21 April.