People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has accused a Georgia firm that supplies animals for movies and television shows of violating the Animal Welfare Act.
According to a video posted to the nonprofit’s website, PETA performed an undercover investigation into the Fairburn-located Atlanta Film Animals, a company that has provided animals to productions such as “Will Trent” and “Moonshot.” PETA alleges that AFA denied animals food, medical care, and kept the animals in poor living conditions, among other things.
A spokesperson for PETA said that the organization filed a complaint against Atlanta Film Animals with the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Feb. 21, accusing the firm of violating the Animal Welfare Act.
“Any production that partners with an abusive operation whose workers cage vulnerable animals, practice food deprivation, and yell and swear at them should be blacklisted by viewers, reviewers, and the entire Hollywood machine,” said PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange in a statement. “In this day and age of CGI, visual effects, and other 100% humane forms of technology, PETA urges the entertainment industry to think hard before hiring Atlanta Film Animals or any other cruel animal supplier.”
Atlanta Film Animals has denied the allegations put forth in PETA’s complaint. According to a spokesperson, the person who gathered this information started working at the company on Dec. 2 and worked for a total of 17 days before they were fired.
“We welcome any licensed animal welfare organization to visit our facility at any time,” reads the statement. “We have contacted both the Georgia Department of Agriculture and The Georgia Department of Natural Resources and asked that they perform an unannounced inspection.”
Among other accusations, PETA alleges that the company restricted food for two cats who were training for the television show “Will Trent,” claiming that if the cats were kept hungry they would be more likely to work. Atlanta Film Animals denies this claim.
The complaint also alleges that dogs were kept in unheated garages in cold weather, with some dogs left outside overnight when the temperature dropped below 14 degrees. Atlanta Film Animals claims that the garage temperature is set at or above 45 degrees, dogs are provided with heated dog beds, and dogs are not left outside when temperatures go to the extreme.
The aspect of the complaint regarding adequate medical care concerns two pigs named Herbie and Fiona, who are retired from a Universal Studios theme park show. According to the complaint, both pigs had trouble walking and Herbie had an abscess on his face.
A spokesperson for Atlanta Film Animals sent Rough Draft Atlanta veterinary records for Herbie and Fiona, both dated Feb. 23, 2024. According to those records, both pigs are on medication for arthritis and Herbie’s skin is “normal for a pig this age.”
The spokesperson for Atlanta Film Animals also provided Rough Draft Atlanta with an Animal Protection Inspection Report from the Georgia Department of Agriculture detailing a routine inspection of the premises on Feb. 28, 2024. According to that report, the animals on site appeared well cared for.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Agriculture said the department takes animal welfare complaints very seriously and is in the process of reviewing PETA’s concerns.
