--- description: On-set footage from A Dog's Purpose obtained by TMZ showed a German Shepherd being forced into turbulent water title: 'A Dog's Purpose' Video Shows German Shepherd Forced Into Water image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [movies](/tag/movies/) ## movies Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # PETA Calls for _A Dog's Purpose_ Boycott After Video Shows German Shepherd Forced Into Water by [Mahita Gajanan](/author/mahita-gajanan/) ## Mahita Gajanan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Gajanan is an editor at TIME. Updated: Dec 13, 2023 1:18 PM CUTPublished: Jan 19, 2017 12:49 AM CUT by [Mahita Gajanan](/author/mahita-gajanan/) ## Mahita Gajanan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Gajanan is an editor at TIME. Updated: Dec 13, 2023 1:18 PM CUTPublished: Jan 19, 2017 12:49 AM CUT **Correction appended Jan. 19 2017** [PETA](http://time.com/4629357/tilikum-seaworld-blackfish-death/ "undefined") has called for a boycott of the upcoming film [_A Dog’s Purpose_](http://people.com/movies/dogs-purpose-filmmakers-under-scrutiny-video-dog-being-forced-into-water/ "undefined") after [on-set video footage](http://www.tmz.com/2017/01/18/a-dogs-purpose-german-shepherd-abuse-video/ "undefined") obtained by TMZ showed a German Shepherd being forced into turbulent water. In the video, the dog resists going into the water during shooting for the film in Winnipeg, Canada, according to [TMZ](http://www.tmz.com/2017/01/18/a-dogs-purpose-german-shepherd-abuse-video/ "undefined"). The German Shepherd was one of at least 5 dogs used in the film production. “He wants to get away, just throw him in,” a voice off-camera says in the video. PETA has condemned the movie in a statement, [_People_ reported](http://people.com/movies/dogs-purpose-filmmakers-under-scrutiny-video-dog-being-forced-into-water/ "undefined"). “PETA is calling on dog lovers to boycott the film in order to send the message that dogs and other animals should be treated humanely, not as movie props,” the organization said. In a series of tweets on Wednesday night, the film’s director, Lasse Hallstrom, [distanced himself](https://twitter.com/HallstromLasse/status/821906258894749696 "undefined") from the video, saying he was “very disturbed” by the footage and that “any [wrongdoing](https://twitter.com/HallstromLasse/status/821906842913742848 "undefined") will be reported and punished.” “I did not witness these actions,” he said. “We were all committed to providing a loving and safe environment for all the animals in the film.” A representative from the American Humane Association who was on the film set to ensure no animals would be harmed has been suspended, the organization told TMZ. The AHA said an independent third party would investigate the matter after officials saw the video. In a [statement](http://www.tmz.com/2017/01/18/a-dogs-purpose-german-shepherd-abuse-video/ "undefined") to TMZ, Amblin Partners and Universal Pictures said they had seen the video and would look into the incident. “Fostering a safe environment and ensuring the ethical treatment of our animal actors was of the utmost importance to those involved in making this film and we will look into the circumstances surrounding this video,” they said. **Correction**: The original version of this story misstated the name of the organization which had a representative on set to ensure no animals were harmed. 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