Just hours after publicly expressing horror over footage that appeared to show a German Shepherd being mistreated on the set of A Dog’s Purpose, producer Gavin Polone has revised his initial reaction after reviewing the complete, unedited footage.
Polone, known for producing films such as Ghost Town, Zombieland and Premium Rush, has long been recognized as a supporter of animal welfare. His first statement—an emotional response to the widely circulated clip—was prompted by the edited video that many viewers found disturbing. After further investigation and watching the fuller footage, Polone says his perspective changed. He described what he saw and explained why the clipped cellphone video gave a misleading impression:
“I care about the truth, and I care about animals. I want to use this to figure out how to benefit animals. I know the movie helps to benefit animals because it shows the deep relationships that form between people and dogs. I looked at the video of all of this. [The dog] gets under the froth of the water, but he is lifted up by the diver. He came up and he was fine. If your stated goal is to never use any animal on a movie set ever again, then they are trying to use the video that someone probably sold to TMZ to get a commitment for that. I’m not saying there were no mistakes made, but the whole thing is becoming untrue and unfair, and I feel like they and the person who cut the cellphone video together are using the media for their own agendas. It’s a cellphone video that was cut in a certain way. There are so many things that you don’t see … there are raised platforms under the water. There is a (scuba) diver under the water. You don’t see the safety people on the other side. The person who cut it probably wanted to sell it, and it doesn’t sell if it looks like the dog is OK. (The person) made it look like the dog could die … or did die. I’ve done more investigating and also had more conversations with PETA. Whoever was in control of the set should have told them to stop, but the dog was not in danger and the dog was and is OK.”
Polone’s clarification followed decisions by Amblin Entertainment and producing partners to cancel the film’s premiere and associated press junkets amid the controversy. The studio, along with Universal, has sought public release of the full, unedited footage so that audiences can see the complete context and assess the situation for themselves. The companies maintain that releasing the raw footage will show that proper safety procedures were in place and that the edited clip painted an incomplete picture.
The novel’s author, W. Bruce Cameron, who wrote the book that inspired the film, also addressed the matter on his Facebook page. His statement reiterated confidence in the production’s safety standards and echoed the view that the short, edited video mischaracterized what actually happened on set. Cameron thanked the many people who reached out in support and shared his observations after watching more extensive footage taken during the day in question.
“First I want to thank everyone—and there have been literally thousands of you—who have written to express support. Your words and thoughts mean the world to us.
I found the video we’ve all seen to be shocking because when I was on set, the ethic of everyone was the safety and comfort of the dogs.
If the people who shot and edited the video thought something was wrong, why did they wait fifteen months to do anything about it, instead of immediately going to the authorities?
I have since viewed footage taken of the day in question, when I wasn’t there, and it paints an entirely different picture.
The written commentary accompanying the edited video mischaracterizes what happened. The dog was not terrified and not thrown in the water—I’ve seen footage of Hercules earlier that day joyfully jumping in the pool. When he was asked to perform the stunt from the other side of the pool, which was not how he had been doing it all day, he balked. The mistake was trying to dip the dog in the water to show him it was okay—the water wasn’t his issue, it was the location that was the issue, and the dog happily did the stunt when he was allowed to return to his original spot.
I also didn’t like it when Hercules’s head briefly went under water, but there was a scuba diver and a trainer in the pool to protect him. He loves the water, wasn’t in danger, and wasn’t upset.
On a movie where the mantra was the safety and comfort of the dogs, mistakes were made, and everything needs to be done to make sure those errors are not repeated. But the reason American Humane certifies that no animals were harmed during the making of the film is that no animals were harmed during the making of the film.
I celebrate animal rescue and am proud of the values that show up in A Dog’s Purpose. ”
Source: Deadline
The episode sparked an intense public debate about on-set animal safety, media responsibility and how short, edited clips can shape public opinion before all facts are available. Producers and filmmakers face increased scrutiny over animal handling on productions, and advocacy groups continue to stress the importance of transparency and independent verification when incidents are alleged. In this case, the parties directly involved—including the producer, the studio, and the book’s author—have called for release of the uncut footage to provide full context.
As the discussion continues, key points that emerged include the need for clear safety protocols, the role of trainers and safety personnel during stunts, and the importance of verifying the provenance and editing of any footage used to make public accusations. While mistakes on set should be acknowledged and addressed, those responding to controversial clips have urged care in how footage is presented and interpreted. The situation highlights how quickly public outrage can grow and the responsibility of media outlets, filmmakers, and advocacy groups to ensure accuracy and fairness when animals’ welfare is involved.