fao clairebearnz re: Hobbit

[Lisa in Plymouth]

Hi

Love the Tally update, glad to hear he's recovering from his lami episode.
Thanks also for the lovely Hobbit pics!

I didn't want to hijack your other thread but I wanted to ask what was reported/heard in NZ about the complaints about the animals used in the Hobbit. I went to see the film and loved it but have since read that 27 animals died, not during filming, but due to dangerous housing. What, if anything, was heard over in your neck of the woods?

Hope you don't mind me asking.
Lisa

[clairebearnz]

It was all over the news here, but died down basically because I (personally) think it was overblown in the media. I don't trust PETA to provide accurate, or even real, information, and the wrangler involved had been fired for using spurs when they weren't allowed and other incidents.

www.facebook.com/notes/peter-jackson/animal-allegations-on-the-hobbit/10151300381651558

That was Peter Jackson's response. The 'dangerous housing' involved paddocks that (gasp) had hills, one statement I read actually stated that horses should only be kept in flat paddocks, and I think a dog got into some chickens. From what I have heard, everything that occurred could have happened in a normal situation, not because there was mistreatment or neglect.

I know people involved with both LotR and The Hobbit, and there's no way they would've stood for any neglect or mistreatment. Animals are injured and die, even in the best situations.

That's my view on it, TBH.