The new live-action take on the beloved Clifford the Big Red Dog apparently has some upset. In particular, PETA has claimed that the film condones animal cruelty due to its treatment of real capuchin monkeys and other animals used in Clifford the Big Red Dog.
As noted by PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange,
“While other movies opt for CGI that allows monkeys to stay with their families, instead of being dragged onto film sets and forced to perform, Clifford the Big Red Dog doubles down on old-school cruelty,” they stated.
“Clifford is a big red flag, and kind audiences should skip the flick in favor of productions that don’t exploit animals.”
They also noted that the film credits an animal trainer and wrangler who is associated with Birds & Animals Unlimited. This organization, otherwise known as BAU, is a Hollywood supplier in which PETA claims “filth, neglect, and deprivation are the name of the game.”
They’re previously investigated the organization and alleged that the “animals were denied adequate veterinary care for illnesses and injuries, forced to live inside filthy enclosures, and denied food so that they would be hungry while being trained to do tricks.” This was further confirmed when the US Department of Agriculture cited BAU for violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act.
While Clifford the Big Red Dog depicts its character by means of digital animation, it seems the use of real animals in the film like capuchin monkeys was too much for the likes of PETA. And considering the involvement of BAU, it’d be interesting to look into just how the animals were treated. In any case, the film has been received quite popularly since its release in both theaters and on Paramount Plus on November 10.
The newly released film was directed by Walt Becker and based on the iconic children’s book series written by Norman Bridwell.