Performing Animals

Welfare of Animals in Film and Television Production Today

Modern film and TV production increasingly uses CGI and animatronics, but trained animals remain widely used with welfare protections varying by country and production.

Key Facts

American Humane Association monitors on-set animal welfare in US film productions under a formal agreement
Productions outside the US often lack equivalent third-party oversight
The phrase No animals were harmed in making this film has specific and limited criteria
Animal deaths and injuries on productions have occurred even where monitors were present
CGI replacements now make live animal use unnecessary for most film scenarios

Welfare Considerations

The welfare of animals in film production has improved significantly in countries with strong monitoring programs, but remains uneven globally. Trained animals spend long hours on set, experience unfamiliar stimuli, and may be subjected to aversive training off-camera without production oversight. The availability of high-quality CGI for virtually all animal roles makes continued live animal use increasingly unjustifiable from a welfare perspective.

What You Can Do

Support productions that commit to CGI-only animal portrayals
Ask streaming platforms and studios about their animal welfare policies
Support organizations that monitor on-set animal welfare globally
Avoid productions known to have caused animal harm or to use providers with poor welfare records