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Anonymous
>When the American Humane Animal Safety Representative arrived on the set (on the first day of filming), the puppies were approximately eight weeks old. However, after initial investigations, it is believed that they were only approximately six weeks old when separated from their mothers and brought to the set by the trainer. American Humanes Guidelines for the Safe Use of Animals in Filmed Media state that productions intending to use puppies under the age of eight weeks must receive written permission from both American Humane and the USDA before filming. This permission was neither requested by production nor granted by either organization. Per the Animal Welfare Act, the USDA does not allow puppies to be transported under eight weeks of age. The USDA is still investigating the breeder who allegedly exported 25 puppies under eight weeks old out of the United States and into Canada -- puppies who might have been ill at the time of exportation. It is also unclear as to how the underage puppies were allowed to cross into Canada, since the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Import Requirements for dogs entering Canada for commercial use state, At the time of examination for health certification, the puppies must have been not less than eight weeks of age. The required travel health certificates do not support that this requirement was met and indicate the puppies were approximately six and a half weeks old upon examination. The breeder was from New York state and has been charged with fraud by the New York State Police for falsifying health documents.
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