Wranglers: Hobbit Production Responsible for 27 Animal Deaths
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You people are stuck on the PETA aspect of this story. PETA could cure cancer and you guys would find a way to spin it as a bad thing.
Yes PETA is a very misguided and in almost all aspects terrible organization, however, 27 animals seems like way too high of a number to me. I suppose if some of these animals have naturally short life-spans they could see a high death toll over the course of a few years, but it still seems way out of proportion.
Yes PETA is a very misguided and in almost all aspects terrible organization, however, 27 animals seems like way too high of a number to me. I suppose if some of these animals have naturally short life-spans they could see a high death toll over the course of a few years, but it still seems way out of proportion.
If only it would be scantily clad women doing the protesting, other than that, this story does nothing too me and I will be going to see the movie as I planned.
Basically, you put spoiler tags around the image tags so that the picture doesn't show up automatically and make your post gigantic. That way people only have to load the image if they click the spoiler box.
Angel Molina said:As soon as I finished reading the paragraph were PETA decides to go ahead and protest (even if Jackson adopted three pigs after the incidents), I couldn't help but remember this web comic:
(Also, I know this img. is too big, but i don't know how to make it smaller, does anyone know how to shrink images? Thanks in advance)
Basically, you put spoiler tags around the image tags so that the picture doesn't show up automatically and make your post gigantic. That way people only have to load the image if they click the spoiler box.
[/spoiler ]
On the one hand, avoidable animal deaths sound horrible and probably should be investigated to ensure that anyone who can be held accountable *is* held accountable. On the other hand, PETA routinely kill animals on purpose and pointing their blackened fingers at other kettles is just some of the most laughable bull I can imagine.
+1 sethisjimmy reminding us that even the devil can sometimes speak the truth, if only by coincidence. So while we merrily sharpen our pitchforks to skewer that atrocious farce of an organisation, let us not forget that if there is a kernel of truth to this story, then whatever its *lack* of a connection with the actual filming practices of Peter Jackson et al. we should still say "hey hang on, innocent fluffies shouldn't be randomly destroyed! INTENTIONALLY destroyed for food, sure, but by accident is just mean and sloppy!"sethisjimmy said:
Shame that the animal deaths were avoidable but happened anyways.
Coming from PETA though? They need to get their heads out of their ass and fuck right the hell off. When your organization spends more money on ads, protests and the killing of animals more than actually SAVING the fucking animals you're doing it wrong.
Coming from PETA though? They need to get their heads out of their ass and fuck right the hell off. When your organization spends more money on ads, protests and the killing of animals more than actually SAVING the fucking animals you're doing it wrong.
Because vested interests will get outraged about anything they need to. It's PETA for god's sake, they're nuts.thesilentman said:
Yeah thousands of animals die on a daily basis to sate many peoples hunger for meat or to keep their feet warm and now that a few die during the production of a film people go crazy. I mean a lot more goblins and orcs will have died as a direct result of filming, I don't hear anyone standing up for their rights!
I came here expecting to read many many preaching posts about treatment of animals and yet find myself thoroughly underwhelmed by the amount of post in support of these animals. Is this really the same website where I found myself reading about people defending the the ethical treatment of cockroaches?
[link]http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.387582-Researchers-Remotely-Control-Cockroaches-With-Electronic-Backpack?page=1[/link]
OT: The mandatory joke about how many of the animals were killed for Peter Jackson to munch down.
[link]http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.387582-Researchers-Remotely-Control-Cockroaches-With-Electronic-Backpack?page=1[/link]
OT: The mandatory joke about how many of the animals were killed for Peter Jackson to munch down.
Peter Jackson just updated his facebook page with his own post about the allegations.
http://www.facebook.com/notes/peter-jackson/animal-allegations-on-the-hobbit/10151300381651558
Going to post the entire thing in a spoiler as well as the link.
http://www.facebook.com/notes/peter-jackson/animal-allegations-on-the-hobbit/10151300381651558
Going to post the entire thing in a spoiler as well as the link.
Animal Allegations on The Hobbit
by Peter Jackson on Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 12:25am
The Hobbit production has always instituted swift and immediate investigations in to any concerns of any kind over the treatment of animals under its care. A prompt and thorough investigation into the recent unsubstantiated allegations by the American organisation, PETA, in to the ?hobbling? of a horse during the making of The Hobbit was undertaken. No evidence of such a practice was found to have occurred at any time. Further, the production contacted the owner of the horse concerned who provided the following statement: ?I am 100% happy with the return of Shanghai and his condition. In the term that he was leased he was picked up and returned to me two times. On both occasions there was not a mark on him and he was healthy and happy. He has shown no signs of ill-treatment. I would not hesitate in leasing him to the movie again.?
To date, the only horse wranglers whose treatment of animals fell below the production?s standard of care seem to be the two wranglers who have chosen to level this new accusation on the eve of the premiere of the first Hobbit film and who were dismissed by the production over a year ago. Reports of their actions are documented in several written statements dating back to October 2011.
The production regrets that PETA has chosen to make such a serious accusation, which has distressed many of the dedicated Kiwis who worked with animals on the films - including trainers, wranglers, care-givers, farm workers and animal health care professionals - without properly vetting the source from which they received this information.
The production has been inundated with calls of support as regards to this matter, including the following statements:
FROM: DR JULIA BRYCE BVSc
?From December 2010 till July 2012, this practice was the primary Veterinary care giver for the horses and livestock in the care of ?Three Foot Seven?.
During this period we were consulted promptly in cases of injury and illness. We were also consulted routinely about ongoing veterinary care and preventative medicine.
If referral was required to a specialist clinic or Massey Equine Clinic, this occurred promptly. As occurs in normal practice there are incidences and injury which may result in an unfavourable outcome and others that recover completely; like the young goat who fractured a front leg but recovered completely after 6 weeks in a cast and hospital rest, or the rooster who spent two weeks at our clinic with a foot infection.
These and other animals in the care of Three Foot Seven Limited received the best available treatment to ensure their recovery, their welfare and return to good health was paramount to those in charge. At no time were we concerned about the welfare and on-going treatment of animals under our care.?
FROM: JOY GRAY - FARMER
?I was appalled to hear of the wild claims being made in the media by PETA. I and my family own the farm which the Hobbits used to train their animals. Myself, my manager, my children and grand-children saw nothing to make us uncomfortable or give us cause for concern. We all had totally free access to all activities at all times. In fact, the animals were wonderfully looked after, being well-fed, well-housed, and well-treated. As both farmers and dedicated horse people ourselves we would have stood for nothing less. I myself ride horses, all my children rode competitively and now my grandchildren ride.
I was involved in Pony Club for many years and was District Commissioner for the Wellington Pony Club. My manager was totally aware of all that was happening with the Hobbits and he is outraged at these false claims.
The sixty horses, the cattle, oxen, sheep, goats, dogs, pigs, hens etc. were given professional and humane treatment.?
FROM: JED BROPHY - ACTOR (NORI)
?As an actor and animal trainer who has worked on large scale productions here in New Zealand, in particular The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and more recently, The Hobbit, I am flabbergasted to read this morning of the accusations levelled at the production by PETA. With a production as large as The Hobbit, filmed over such an extensive period the care of the animals used in filming was exceptional. The entire time we were on set, and when we were training with the animal wranglers employed to look after and train the animals for filming, I observed no mistreatment - in fact the opposite is true.
The animals were treated with the utmost care and responsibility. The farm in which they were housed had excellent facilities for the care and maintenance of the animals? health. So much so that I moved my own horse on site so I could ride him for training exercises. At all times on set we had experienced Wranglers and Animal health Authorities on hand and Vets to monitor the welfare of the Animals working for the film. It has been my experience working for this film company that they take every conceivable precaution and employ the very best practitioners in every department and that includes the animal department.
I feel that there is a certain amount of personal vindictiveness levelled at the production from individuals with their own agenda. As is often the case in these situations, organisations will leap at the chance to gain publicity for their cause without seeking the truth. Being an experienced horseman and having worked as a wrangler and rider in the past, I would not have allowed myself to be a part of any production that knowingly employed unsafe practice in the workplace in this way. I can say with absolute certainty the production went out of their way to treat animals with the upmost respect and care.?
by Peter Jackson on Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 12:25am
The Hobbit production has always instituted swift and immediate investigations in to any concerns of any kind over the treatment of animals under its care. A prompt and thorough investigation into the recent unsubstantiated allegations by the American organisation, PETA, in to the ?hobbling? of a horse during the making of The Hobbit was undertaken. No evidence of such a practice was found to have occurred at any time. Further, the production contacted the owner of the horse concerned who provided the following statement: ?I am 100% happy with the return of Shanghai and his condition. In the term that he was leased he was picked up and returned to me two times. On both occasions there was not a mark on him and he was healthy and happy. He has shown no signs of ill-treatment. I would not hesitate in leasing him to the movie again.?
To date, the only horse wranglers whose treatment of animals fell below the production?s standard of care seem to be the two wranglers who have chosen to level this new accusation on the eve of the premiere of the first Hobbit film and who were dismissed by the production over a year ago. Reports of their actions are documented in several written statements dating back to October 2011.
The production regrets that PETA has chosen to make such a serious accusation, which has distressed many of the dedicated Kiwis who worked with animals on the films - including trainers, wranglers, care-givers, farm workers and animal health care professionals - without properly vetting the source from which they received this information.
The production has been inundated with calls of support as regards to this matter, including the following statements:
FROM: DR JULIA BRYCE BVSc
?From December 2010 till July 2012, this practice was the primary Veterinary care giver for the horses and livestock in the care of ?Three Foot Seven?.
During this period we were consulted promptly in cases of injury and illness. We were also consulted routinely about ongoing veterinary care and preventative medicine.
If referral was required to a specialist clinic or Massey Equine Clinic, this occurred promptly. As occurs in normal practice there are incidences and injury which may result in an unfavourable outcome and others that recover completely; like the young goat who fractured a front leg but recovered completely after 6 weeks in a cast and hospital rest, or the rooster who spent two weeks at our clinic with a foot infection.
These and other animals in the care of Three Foot Seven Limited received the best available treatment to ensure their recovery, their welfare and return to good health was paramount to those in charge. At no time were we concerned about the welfare and on-going treatment of animals under our care.?
FROM: JOY GRAY - FARMER
?I was appalled to hear of the wild claims being made in the media by PETA. I and my family own the farm which the Hobbits used to train their animals. Myself, my manager, my children and grand-children saw nothing to make us uncomfortable or give us cause for concern. We all had totally free access to all activities at all times. In fact, the animals were wonderfully looked after, being well-fed, well-housed, and well-treated. As both farmers and dedicated horse people ourselves we would have stood for nothing less. I myself ride horses, all my children rode competitively and now my grandchildren ride.
I was involved in Pony Club for many years and was District Commissioner for the Wellington Pony Club. My manager was totally aware of all that was happening with the Hobbits and he is outraged at these false claims.
The sixty horses, the cattle, oxen, sheep, goats, dogs, pigs, hens etc. were given professional and humane treatment.?
FROM: JED BROPHY - ACTOR (NORI)
?As an actor and animal trainer who has worked on large scale productions here in New Zealand, in particular The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and more recently, The Hobbit, I am flabbergasted to read this morning of the accusations levelled at the production by PETA. With a production as large as The Hobbit, filmed over such an extensive period the care of the animals used in filming was exceptional. The entire time we were on set, and when we were training with the animal wranglers employed to look after and train the animals for filming, I observed no mistreatment - in fact the opposite is true.
The animals were treated with the utmost care and responsibility. The farm in which they were housed had excellent facilities for the care and maintenance of the animals? health. So much so that I moved my own horse on site so I could ride him for training exercises. At all times on set we had experienced Wranglers and Animal health Authorities on hand and Vets to monitor the welfare of the Animals working for the film. It has been my experience working for this film company that they take every conceivable precaution and employ the very best practitioners in every department and that includes the animal department.
I feel that there is a certain amount of personal vindictiveness levelled at the production from individuals with their own agenda. As is often the case in these situations, organisations will leap at the chance to gain publicity for their cause without seeking the truth. Being an experienced horseman and having worked as a wrangler and rider in the past, I would not have allowed myself to be a part of any production that knowingly employed unsafe practice in the workplace in this way. I can say with absolute certainty the production went out of their way to treat animals with the upmost respect and care.?
Umm... Shouldn't PETA be glad about this? You know, so those poor, little animals no longer have to suffer under their abusive owners? Right?
Oh, wait, I forgot. PETA is absolute bonkers. Their so insane, they can't even support their own agenda.
Is it bad that I kinda want them to protest at our local theater? (They won't, 'cause our town's much too small and insignificant, but still... it would be entertaining)
Oh, wait, I forgot. PETA is absolute bonkers. Their so insane, they can't even support their own agenda.
Is it bad that I kinda want them to protest at our local theater? (They won't, 'cause our town's much too small and insignificant, but still... it would be entertaining)
