thelazypetowner:

I don’t usually post drama and I know a lot of people stopped caring after the initial video, but I want to know all the facts and I figured I’d share them for anyone that just wants a summary. So here’s a summary list of updates and some facts so far that were “conveniently” left out of the video:

• Hercules was trained to jump on one side of the pool, but in the video he was on the other side. He “joyfully” jumped when he was returned to the original spot.
• There was a scuba diver in the water.
• There were two jets on opposite sides of the pool with calmer water in between. He briefly went under because he crossed the jet before the diver pushed him up.
• There are raised platforms under the water.
• There was a crew of safety people on the side not shown in the video.
• The producer believes “whomever cut the video and made it appear the dog was in danger and ‘probably sold it for money’ to fulfill’s PETA’s stated agenda of ensuring no animal is ever used on a TV or movie set again.“
• Lots of people/news questioning why the video wasn’t released for 15 months and why two clips were spliced together
• A reduced crew was there that day, not the full crew (but not sure why).
  
• We don’t know who the 3rd party investigator is.
• Saturday premier for the movie cancelled.
• PETA is calling for no animals to ever be used on set and to use CGI instead. Counter arguments say it would be cost-prohibitive. Some are saying the American Humane Association needs to be checked.
• Two released videos of Hercules from yesterday (since apparently some people think the dog died?) here and here (if second video leads you to a subscription, type in “Watch: ‘A Dog’s Purpose’ star Hercules - USA Today“ on google).

Anyway, at the moment, what I want to see is a statement from the handler/trainer on why he thought forcing Hercules in the water would make him want to jump (instead of reconditioning him on that side of the pool), to see the unedited video, who the 3rd independent party is that’s investigating the situation, and who waited 15 months to release an edited video and why they waited that long (there’s speculation it was PETA).

One news was told when the full investigation by the studio and the production company is over, the unedited video likely will be released to the public.