Animal Trainers Confront Studio City Agency About Harm of Animals on Film Shoots

Some animal trainers went in to protest the No Animals Were Harmed office in Studio City recently, The New York Times reported.

According to a story about the cozy relationship between animal rights advocates and the film industry, the newspaper reported:

Trainers, who are already heavily regulated by state and federal officials, are particularly incensed by the idea that the association might seek to extend its authority beyond film sets, to include certification of those who house and supply animals — something they see as an attempt to bolster funds by tapping them for fees.

“It feels to us that they’re becoming an animal rights organization no longer interested in what’s right and wrong in the industry, but only in collecting money,” said Benay Karp, an animal-keeper whose company is equipped to supply trained skunks, prairie dogs, hummingbirds or, if the scene calls for it, a rhinoceros.

See the entire story by Michael Cieply here.

Recently, Karp and some fellow trainers (an estimated three dozen), went to the Studio City offices and complained to the group that is supposed to monitor animals used in movies. 

The group of trainers says the agency doesn't back them up with aggressive directors or producers who want to push the limits on filming with animals.

Another Studio City company, Hallmark Channel, was mentioned in one incident for a show called the “2011 Hero Dog Awards.”  A dog that was not specifically trained for film was used in the filming, against protests of trainers. 

Karen Rosa, from the agency, said, "For some people, we’ll always be too tough. For others, we’ll never be tough enough.”