PETA protests A Dog's Purpose opening day in Winnipeg
Animal rights advocates demand boycott of film after video of star dog in distress went viral
A handful of animals rights activists with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals gathered outside the Scotiabank Theatre Winnipeg on Friday night asking people to see anything but A Dog's Purpose.
The dog appears distressed and tries to scramble up the side of the pool trying, seeming to want to avoid the water while its handler pushes it into the pool.
In another clip the dog is seen swimming and its head goes under the water before the video cuts out.
The footage was allegedly filmed on the movie's Winnipeg set in November 2015.
"It must have been terrifying for that animal," Emily Lavender, a campaigner with PETA who took part in Friday's protest in Winnipeg.
"We're just asking compassionate moviegoers to send a message to the film industry that animals shouldn't be abused for film," she said.
She said new technology, like CGI, eliminates the need for putting any animals at risk to make movies.
"There's no use for animals in film anymore," she said.
A couple heading into the movie's premiere Friday said they wanted to make sure people see both sides.
Megan Tedham and her husband Eku Malcolm said they've been watching the media coverage about the leaked behind-the-scenes footage, including statements from actors and the movie writer that contend the dog wasn't abused.
"When people aren't doing the research to find out the whole story, you're harming a movie that's meant to help animals," Tedham said.
"They decided this was abuse after a 30-second clip," Tedham said of the protesters. "Why ban a movie when you don't know the whole story?"
"As a vet assistant for eight years ... seeing actual abuse ... seeing something like this, where a dog is obviously cared for — you see the trainer holding onto him the entire time, reassuring him afterwards — that hurts me. Because there are actual abuse cases out there."
Producers for A Dog's Purpose cancelled the film's Hollywood premiere amid the controversy.