Puppies died for this movie - Snow Buddies (2008) Discussion

If this is true, then that's f_ucked up.

Proud Member of the Anti-FLAW Movement and the TNLAME Fan Nation.

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it is true

my mother (a breeder of siberian huskies) was contacted by the company filming this movie
they wanted puppies at a very young (too young) age and would not let the breeder(s) go with the puppies the whole thing raised all kinds of red flags but i'd bet the breeder they got dogs from may be of the "puppy mill" variety

makes you wonder if the "no animals were harmed" bit is in the credits for this one

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[–] randyippolito 16 years ago

"makes you wonder if the "no animals were harmed" bit is in the credits for this one"

in the credits it says:

"Head puppy trainer - Jordan Heppner"

"AHA on set monitor - Chris Obonsawin"

"American Humane monitored the animal action (AHA 01549)"

The credits do also list a couple of animal coordinators.

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[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] tatteredleaf 16 years ago

The pups contracted Parvo--and were taken too young, transported too young, etc. Puppies shouldn't be removed from their mom until 8 weeks at least. Some of the puppies did survive and are doing well thank heavens with caring rescuers--one never knows for sure with Parvo. Once the puppies made it to Disney I am sure they were well taken care of (so that disclaimer will apply--believe it states 'during the making of this film' -- all this horror happened before) but the breeder who sent them is the one ultimately responsible. His statement that he didnt' realize they were so young is downright evil. C'mon, Dude! Still, the article I read stated that Disney specifically asked for very young dogs. It is wrong, all the way around.

I have two Siberian Huskies--they are not easy dogs to take care of. Wonderful, for those prepared, but they are not your average pup (I have 2 of those, too). I just walked my puppy--for the first time, I heard not "is that a Snow Dog?" but "That's a snow buddies dog!" Rescue people are girding their loins for an influx of Shastas... Sigh.

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[–] fyrekat76 16 years ago

**Another thing... how can ANYONE claim that this movie is crap without ever seeing it?**

Maybe because it's an idiotic concept that proves, yet again, that Disney is more interested in making money than making good movies?

These "sled dogs" are PUPPIES!! Puppies aren't going to win the Iditarod ! It's over 1100 miles long, in horrid conditions. I don't care what breed they are, *puppies* aren't going to survive. http://www.iditarod.com/

As for the puppies dying on set, yes, it did happen. The ASPCA has some good information on it. The people on the set were *extremely* irresponsible for brining in puppies as young as 6 weeks to use. Puppies shouldn't even be used in filming until at least 12 weeks, especially in conditions like that.

http://landofpuregold.wordpress.com/2007/03/20/golden-retriever-puppy-deaths-on-snow-buddies-set/

This whole thing makes me ill.

"But he's ruining the soup!"

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[–] wolfgirl_nicbol 16 years ago

it's a *beep* kids movie. so relax. i agree they can't make it. but it's for like 8 and under.

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[–] Alzatia 16 years ago

Let Disney know that killing animals for entertainment is not acceptable.

You call this movie entertaiment? Its a bastardization of the original movie.

And if this is true,that just boils my blood and makes me despise Disney even more,killing a poor defenseless animal for a piece of sh!t "movie". >.< Those puppies could had done more for children than this crap movie ever will.

...

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[–] choctawdogmusher 16 years ago

I am disgusted that they got them from puppy mills. Supporting puppy mills is just sick.

I don't even want to start ranting about puppy mills. Sick, sick, sick.

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[–] jpennell-4 16 years ago

Bite Me. You can not blame Disney for the puppies contrating this disease. If they were from a puppy mill then they probably had the disease before Disney bought them. The symptoms just didn't appear before filming started. And besides if it was from a puppy mill (which doesn't suprise me) then the puppies probably wouldn't have lasted very much longer if Disney had gone witha refutable bredder instead, if a dog falls sick at a puppy mill then it is pretty much done for. And don't get me wrong I'm not saying that I don't like animals or don't care about the puppies that died, I have a 6-month old poodle puppy right now. I just don't think that it is right for everyone to blame Disney when the puppies probably were sick before the movie started.

You only go around life once so you might as well spend it smashed

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[–] Rena_Mahone 9 years ago

You can not blame Disney for the puppies contrating this disease. If they were from a puppy mill then they probably had the disease before Disney bought them. The symptoms just didn't appear before filming started.

Which is precisely why no one should ever buy puppies from puppy mills. Dumbass.

🐺 Boycott movies that involve real animal violence (& their directors) 🐾

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[–] vis666 16 years ago

Let Disney know that killing animals for entertainment is not acceptable

Agreed, I'm still shocked by the death of Bambi's mom. This is just continuing the tradition.

if you are reading this signature, it means that i had to have a bitch-session.

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[–] manordrive 16 years ago

"Agreed, I'm still shocked by the death of Bambi's mom. This is just continuing the tradition."

LOL Nice 1

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[–] jhc202 16 years ago

Don’t forget Mufasa.. or the tormented mother of Dumbo (gets me every time! - soo sad!).

But actually.. when you think about it. Hasn’t Disney saved a lot of animals this way? Would these cute little puppies not eat thousands of birds, cows, pigs and many more animals during their lifetime? Ever heard of a canine vegetarian?

Of course.. im not condoning killing for any sort of entertainment.. I find it disgusting. And I am actually a member of several animal rights organisations. Im just asking for a little perspective here! Sometimes I get really angry at people who sob and whine about cute animals being mistreated, while they themselves eat their steaks and pork chops of animals who are being tortured through most of their lives only to be killed for YOUR PLEASURE (you know who you are)! Don’t get me wrong again.. Im all for "nature laws" like "eat or get eaten" (and I DO eat meat ;) – and in principle.. also puppy meat.. why not?).. I just think we should treat our "meat" a lot better than we do! Most people live in denial about where their food actually comes from, and how it was most likely treated before it went on the plate.

I consider that to be a much larger concern than some puppies dying of an ILLNESS (its not like they stabbed them for fun). Maybe this was bad luck? And yes.. it is sad about the puppies - but please - a little perspective.

I say: Release the film.. don’t let the puppies die in vain.

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[–] dtown333 16 years ago

I agree with Jesper. Lighten up people.

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[–] datawrong 16 years ago

***Don’t forget Mufasa.. or the tormented mother of Dumbo (gets me every time! - soo sad!).

But actually.. when you think about it. Hasn’t Disney saved a lot of animals this way? Would these cute little puppies not eat thousands of birds, cows, pigs and many more animals during their lifetime? Ever heard of a canine vegetarian?***

idiot. animals are not here to be mistreated by us, or used as little toys to entertain us, be that a lion at a zoo, a *beep* dancing bear or your pet dog that u have doing a dance for you to get a cookie.

have a little compassion and think about the feelings of something other than yourself.

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[–] jhc202 16 years ago

"idiot. animals are not here to be mistreated by us, or used as little toys to entertain us, be that a lion at a zoo, a *beep* dancing bear or your pet dog that u have doing a dance for you to get a cookie."

I agree completely.. except of course the "idiot".. which I think shows a lot more about you - than me ;) Anyways.. as I stated just a couple of lines lower (reading out of context is never clever) I despise all kinds of animal mistreatment (I am a long time member of WSPA, so I DO something for the dancing bear.. DO YOU?) - but I am merely asking for a little perspective! I am happy to see so many people care about animals, as do I, but I strongly feel that the energy you put into the bashing of this movie/and disney for something that seems "out of their hands" could be a lot better spent, if you used it to further the rights of meat products: U Know - what you eat for dinner!

What I despise is the "If its cute and cuddly, then we must save it!" I believe all animals deserve a good life! And I am 100% percent certain that a lot more meat-producing animals are having a *beep* life - compared to dogs, cats and lions. But it seems like nobody really cares about them.. because they're not all that cute when they're packed in plastic in the supermarket.

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[–] datawrong 16 years ago

the idiot comment was in regard to your comment about vegatarian dogs.. of course there are no vegetarian dogs, that im aware. my point is simple, a lion will eat every damn thing that breathes, but putting it in a zoo for our entertainment, can not be justified by that logic.... "that lion being in teh zoo saved the lives of 20 zebras....." thats nonsense, the lion is sposed to eat the zebra, thats nature, thats life. but a PUPPIES from a PUPPY MILL, does not have any benefits, except for disney who got teh dogs "cheaply" and the breeders who made some blood money of the back of the now dead animals.

also, it was not "out of thier hands" yes possibly, MR. DISNEY did not know they came from unlicensed and unregistered breeders, but the disney corp did, i mean the wee guy in the office who made the call to teh breeder knew exactly what he was doing.

also, your meat is murder attitude is noble, but again thats life, i mean, when the cavemen where sitting round with the big rocks shouting UG, they ate meat. that is why we as humans now eat meat. and why our bodies "need" to eat meat. yes u may think that its evil, and the method of keeping chickens, and otehr animals in farms is cruel, (we only use free range chicken, dont buy eggs or meat from teh major stores, so yes, i try and do my bit), but this argument has got simply nothing to do with the point in hand. we are talking about disney's needless use of illegal puppy farms, and the fact that the dogs died just so your kids and mine can watch a *beep* cutesy film.

high horses dont belong in this argument, we should all stand together and let everyone know just what happened during the making of this film. i for one wil tell everyone i know, and hopefully the parent wont spend their hard earned money on this crap.

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[–] jhc202 16 years ago

"..we only use free range chicken, don’t buy eggs or meat from the major stores, so yes, i try and do my bit"

Happy to hear that ;) - that's where there is a need to "stand together".

But if you think that I have a "meat is murder attitude" - then you haven’t read any of my posts thoroughly (cant say I blame you completely.. they are long). I pretty much have the opposite attitude!

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[–] lsdazrael 16 years ago

This idea might hold weight if anyone actually ATE the puppies.

The fact that someone is an omnivore does not negate his arguments against animal cruelty. The point is unnecessary pain, suffering, or death. And, while you can make a valid point about veal, perhaps, most animals that are killed for food do not suffer as much as wild animals of the same type - especially in lean winters. And animal protein is necessary for human health.

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[–] jhc202 16 years ago

"And, while you can make a valid point about veal, perhaps, most animals that are killed for food do not suffer as much as wild animals of the same type - especially in lean winters."

I don’t at all believe for one moment that wild animals suffer more than meat-products, these animals are kept in unbearably small spaces with no light and deprived of their natural needs, such as socialization: ie. pig farms where pigs literally bite pieces of each other in frustration and boredom, or get soars from the inhumane small spaces (typically 0,65m2 per pig and NO out door quarters, which is fundamental for all animal wellbeing.. imagine to yourself live in such a box for your entire life). Or chicken, hen or mink/fox farms where the space is even smaller, with animals getting soars on their feet from the ammoniac in their own leftovers.

I call it pure torture. Of course.. there is difference.. some food brands (ecologically) are produced with special care to the animals natural needs. But most conventional farming is done as a "machine" where animals are treated as nothing but "product" because these methods are most profitable. I've seen some of these farms and I don’t know what the animal is thinking, but I imagine its gone mad already from the beginning. These are purely from legal farms.. I wont mention the things that happen in farms that disregard the rules against animal cruelty.

Animals in the wild may have it tough.. but (a side from the above) I see two things apply here: 1. They have been conditioned to these environments they live in (if its cold and lean, the animals grow fur ect.) 2. Its pure natures law.. the farms are under human laws. And since we take advantage of these animals - the least we can do is treat them to a descent life and death. An animal in its natural environment is most happy.

If you are talking about the actual "kill", then yes.. domesticated animals probably have a quicker/more painless death.. but im most concerned with the quality of life.

And yes.. we do need protein (and can actually get it without meat.. lots of healthy vegans out there ;) ). And I personally think its okay to be an omnivore - if the creatures you eat are treated humanely in life.. which sadly generally is not the case. Anyways.. im not at all attacking the “being omnivore” part of most humans lifes, but the matter of perspective between large scale animal cruelty which is ignored (conventional farming) and the single case suspected/possibly(but unlikely) cruelty which is insanely hyped because the animal is cute and fuzzy and its in the movies.

Back on topic: As I said before, its sad about these puppies, but I very much doubt that it can be called animal cruelty. Its a know deadly virus, and the animals were treated by a veterinarian. Its not like the humans meant to kill the puppies. It was an unfortunate accident. So I think its an overreaction to begin a champagne against disney over this. What I think people should do, is look at the actual large scale animal cruelty in our societies - that which can only be changed politically and via consumer power (buy meat from animals that had a good life). Its a matter of barking up the right tree IMO ;)

Anyway.. again: good to see so many caring about animals :)

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[–] weblogictm 16 years ago

jesperc20:

well put...more perspective is needed in these scenarios, your post does this well..

thanks..

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[–] greenlikejuly22 16 years ago

*And animal protein is necessary for human health.*

Just need to make a quick point... Animal protein is actually what causes a lot health problems that meat contributes to and is linked to cancer. It has also been shown to leach calcium from the body (which is why you don't see the "milk builds strong bones" Got Milk ads anymore).

*most animals that are killed for food do not suffer as much as wild animals of the same type*
I suggest reading up on or watching videos of slaughterhouses before you make such comments. I'm pretty sure in the wild piglets don't get their teeth ripped out with pliers. Nature is fairly merciful considering the hell we put living creatures through. At least they have a chance for happiness.

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[–] paul-tandy1 16 years ago

I agree. Disney should donate 10% of profits to start up a humane puppy killing factory in SE Asia.

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[–] daddyd-2 16 years ago

Good, thought out points you make. My brother served in the army and was stationed in Korea. Over there they will not eat beef because the cow is a sacred animal but they do eat dog. So what is really considered cruel and what isn't? While true that puppy mills are horrendous, what about the slaughter of cattle and chickens and other animals all for the sake of keeping us fed well enough to be able to argue the mistreatment of dogs.

Why aren't more of you concerned about the mistreatment of children around the world? I personally am more concerned about children being abducted and sent into slavery than I am about the treatment of dogs in a film. That does not mean I condone that treatment...it just means I am more concerned about the children.

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[–] cotterlesscrank 16 years ago

Do you have any proof to back up this allegation?

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[–] datawrong 16 years ago

not so sure about proof, but this is what i get when i google "vancouver puppy death snow buddies"

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=vancouver+puppy+deaths+snow+buddies&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a

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[–] trudy-handel 16 years ago

Yes, this is absolutely true. We live in the area and it was a major scandal here. They got the puppies from a breeder in the US and then they housed them in an SPCA facility in North Vancouver and were surprised when most of them became ill. I've heard parvo and I've heard kennel cough as the cause of death - anyway many of them died. I can't imagine why a professional trainer would take puppies with no immunity to an SPCA facility with dogs going in and out all the time. The survivors were adopted out to local people. Yes, it would be interesting to know if they say "no animals were harmed" at the end of this movie.

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[–] rob_din 16 years ago

Well if this is true Disney should be punished somehow. Isn't against the law to hurt animals while making movies?

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[–] mikei70 16 years ago

Hurting animals and animals getting sick are two different things.

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[–] carnifx 16 years ago

If animals die in their care AND CONTINUE TO DO SO, in the name of continuing filming.. then NO, there isn't.

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[–] craig-884 16 years ago

Once parvo virus is in the cage, holding room or wherever, only strong bleach and time will get rid of it. Any unvaccinated puppies brought into contact with that environment while other puppies are sick will catch parvo and probably die of it. That's how parvo works.

Is the production crew for Disney responsible for multiple puppy deaths, if it went as people believe here? Unless they moved the whole production to a clean location free of recent parvo exposure, then yes. Damned straight they are.

On the up side, Disney saved all the money it would cost to move or delay the production by the simple expedient of stocking up with more puppies. And all those entertainment mafia types with too much money will have even more money.

Wait. That's pretty ugly for an up side, isn't it...

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[–] rogerbrent 16 years ago

Wow its true:

http://landofpuregold.wordpress.com/2007/03/20/golden-retriever-puppy- deaths-on-snow-buddies-set/
http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/disney_pups
http://www.americanhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=nr_news_release s_snowbuddies

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[–] marcelovieira 16 years ago

The puppies got sick you morons. Parvovirus is a disease.
Disney does not have the power to inflict diseases in puppies yet..
Go read a little and stop the idiotic whining.

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[–] stormsabre-1 16 years ago

Dear sir you seem to be intelectually challenged and your post is troll like.

I suggest you do a little light reading to find out that you represent only yourself with that post.

http://www.americanhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=nr_news_releases_snowbuddies

Laws and safety protocols were broken for the sake of greed.

And to quote the great Samuel L. Jackson in regard to the ones who are responsible for this tragedy :

"Yes they deserve to die and I hope they burn in hell"

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[–] Lokimkul 16 years ago

yikes people...

beating animals is one thing. them getting sick and passing it on to another is mother nature. the movies already done anyway. go donate 65 cents a day to the Animal rescue commercials if you care so much.

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[–] plucko 16 years ago

I agree marcelovieira. But they should've been vaccinated for it and if they haven't, it's the dogs' owner's fault, not Disney's. But I'm pretty sure the puppies getting parvo wasn't Disney's fault.

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[–] stormsabre-1 16 years ago

Laws and safety protocols were broken for the sake of greed.

You people don't really get it right ?

Must be too hard to read one page.

Underage puppies we're used and brought illegaly from the USA.

There was an outbreak there for 6 months of parvovirus.

Dogs we're vaccinated but the vacine needs 2 weeks to be effective and they tottaly ignored that for the sake of a stupid movie.

How would you like to go the hospital for a simple check up and be held in the contagious diseases part of the hospital ?

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[–] adam4105 16 years ago

I am quite sure that "Disney" didn't know the issues with the parvo virus in the area, nor were they aware of the ages of the puppies when they were taken away from their parents. Don't blame Disney for everything! As read in the American Humane SOciety article, Disney did everything in their power to correct the situation and work with the vets for the sake of the animals.

Another thing... how can ANYONE claim that this movie is crap without ever seeing it? That is like hearing that "War and Peace" is about killing so it is crap! Come on people!!!

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[–] heatypetey 16 years ago

talk about a weak arguement...
you're saying that the puppies fell ill, as in like a disease or something, then you're trying to put the blame on the film company? that doesn't make any sense at all. the puppies fell ill because that's just something unexpected that happened, the company wouldn't really have anything to do with it other than the fact that maybe they didn't look after them as carefully as they should have, but who's to say they hadn't? what you're trying to say sounds like they deliberately murdered these puppies for the camera for a certain scene in the film, than that would be absolutely wrong.
all i'm saying is get your message clear. did the film company really killed the puppies, as in inject them with something to make them sick? or did the puppies just fell ill, as in a natural disease/ illness where the company had little or no controll over?

"I trust everyone. It's the devil inside them I don't trust." - John Bridger

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[–] skreetsceene 16 years ago

Oh no puppies died!! Oh no what am I gonna do!!

"Have you ever tried to masturbate with a ghost hand....Nothing!!"

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[–] Posiv6 16 years ago

Ok...Disney did not give the puppies parvo, but if the puppies would've been older and vaccinated at the appropriate age (which for Parvo is 8-9 weeks and boosters at 12 and 16-20) there's an extremely slim chance they would've gotten sick. They could've atleast waited until the puppies had their first booster before bringing them to where they were making the movie. True it's a natural disease in dogs, but that doesn't mean it can't be prevented. And it's very easy to prevent parvovirus. Someone, or some people, are responsible for what happened to those puppies.

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