Report Animal Abuse in Film and Television
Animals used in film or television are sometimes physically harmed or deprived of food during training sessions, and their living conditions off set are typically dismal. Abuse can and does occur during filming, too, and animals rely on caring people to blow the whistle if they witness cruelty to animals on set. Cast and crew members have an opportunity to help change the entertainment industry for the better.
See Something? Say Something
If you witness animal abuse or neglect during the production of a film or television show or at an animal-training facility, please get in touch right away by filling out the form below.
Anonymity will be taken very seriously.
By submitting this form, you’re acknowledging that you have read and agree to our privacy policy and agree to receive e-mails from us.
You can also report abuse by leaving a detailed message on PETA’s film and television whistleblower hotline at 323-210-2233 or e-mailing us at [email protected].
If your concerns are not related to the production of a film or television show or to an animal-training facility, please follow the instructions on this page.
Lights, Camera, Take Action
Whistleblowers have long been the lifeblood of PETA’s efforts to expose abuse and seek some measure of justice for animals in the entertainment industry, including when three horses died during the making of HBO’s Luck, when 27 animals died during the filming of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, and when a giraffe died during the filming of The Zookeeper.
A viral video captured by a whistleblower on the set of A Dog’s Purpose shows a handler trying to force a dog into a pool of rushing water. Later, apparently in a different scene, the dog is seen being pulled underwater, prompting a group of people to rush over, seemingly in an attempt to rescue the animal.
On the season two set of Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, a horse died of cardiac arrest under suspicious circumstances. And in 2022, when a horse died on the set of HBO’s The Gilded Age, multiple damning whistleblower reports—including one alleging that this horse and others were being overworked—forced HBO to issue a public statement confirming that the horse had collapsed and died while pulling a carriage on set.
More recently, a whistleblower from the set of Starz’s BMF reported that a real dead chicken had been used and beheaded on set and that the production also had plans to use a real dead deer and have a horse present during a violent shootout scene with explosives. After hearing from PETA, the production stated that it would rely exclusively on props in the future and canceled plans to use any real animals moving forward.
Crew members have also reported incidents or concerns involving animals on several other film and TV sets, including those of The Devil All the Time, Yellowstone, and Crazy Alien.
The more that cast and crew members report abuse and speak up for animals on set, the less that animals will suffer for entertainment. Whistleblowers have the power to stop exploitation in its tracks and hold productions accountable.