Mary Cummins Animal Advocates Los Angeles California Wildlife Rehabilitation Real Estate

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Wednesday, November 12, 2014

American Humane Association guilty for dead horse in Flicka movie


American Humane Association guilty for dead horse in Flicka movie

Flicka, American Humane Association, Tim McGraw

Here is the letter from the Department of Animal Services Los Angeles about the investigation into the dead horse on the set of the movie "Flicka." Link to actual pdf below. The City determined that the death was preventable. They let the horse run with a long dangling lead. He stepped on it, his neck went down and he died. Everyone knows you NEVER let a horse run around with a dangling lead that they could step on. American Humane Association is responsible for allowing the horse to run with a dangling lead.

City of Los Angeles 
CALIFORNIA 
ANTONIO R. VILLARAIGOSA   
MAYOR 
DEPARTMENT OF 
ANIMAL SERVICES 
221 North Figueroa Street 
5th Floor 
Los Angeles, CA 90012 
(888) 452-7381 
FAX (213) 482-9511 
______ 

EDWARD A. BOKS 
GENERAL MANAGER 


October 17, 2006



Karen Rosa
Director
American Humane Film & TV Unit
15366 Dickens Street
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

Dear Ms. Rosa:

I am responding to your inquiry into Animal Services’ investigation into the Flicka
Incident.  This incident involved the death of a horse with a painted number 23 on its
hindquarters.  The horse was running with another horse inside the Hansen Dam Arena
at the time of death.

A special task force investigated the following allegations that arose following this death:
1) the horses involved were from the Bureau of Land Management; 2) the horses did
not have halters and lead ropes on; 3) cattle prods or other devices were used to incite
the horses to act wild; 4) the horses were abused; and 5) the cause of death was the
result of abuse.

Animal Services’ findings to these allegations are as follows:

1. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT (B.L.M.) HORSES USED ON THE “FLICKA”
MOVIE SET:  After extensive interviews it was confirmed that the horses were
professional bucking horses provided by Bill Agin and were not from the Bureau of
Land Management.

2. THE ABSENCE OF HALTERS AND LEAD ROPES ON THE HORSES:  Halters and
lead ropes were used in the “Wild Horse” race scenes.  All of the horses had halters
and lead ropes on them during the filming of the “Wild Horse” race scenes.

3. CATTLE PRODS OR OTHER DEVICES WERE USED TO INCITE THE HORSES TO ACT
WILD:  There is no evidence that any cattle prod or any other electrical devices were
used on any of the horses at any time.   The “Wild Horse” race footage was
observed and there was no evidence of any cattle prods, hot shots, handheld
shockers or whips used on any of the horses. The film footage was observed from 5
different POV’s (Point of View) and included footage before and after each take.
Witnesses directly on top of the chutes during the filming also stated that they did
not observe any of the handler’s using any type of electrical device or whip to agitate
the horses.

4. THE HORSES WERE ABUSED:  There is no evidence that the horses were abused
at any time.  The film footage showed the activity before and after each take and at
no time is there any evidence that the horses were hit or abused.  The photos and
necropsy of the deceased horse showed it to be in excellent shape and weight with
no apparent signs of being overworked.

5. THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS THE RESULT OF ABUSE:  The necropsy report
concluded the horse died from tripping on its lead rope causing it to fall and break its
neck, which caused asphyxia due to diaphragmatic paralysis.  The report
characterized the cause of death as accidental.

After hundreds of hours of investigation Animal Services has determined that this was a
preventable accident.  Animal Services contends this accident could have been avoided
had the horses not been allowed to gallop or cantor freely with a dragging lead line and
without an outrider to control them.    

The “Wild Horse” race film footage showed a horse with a painted number 23 on its
hindquarters running with another horse inside the Hansen Dam Arena.  The horse
apparently tripped on its lead rope causing it to fall violently headfirst.  Once on the
ground the horse kicked its hind legs out for approximately three seconds then lay
motionless having died instantly.  Horse number 23 was not being chased by anyone
and both horses were alone at one end of the arena when the incident occurred.

The conclusion of this investigation is that the death of the horse, number 23, on the
“Flicka Wild Horse” race scene was a preventable accident but there was no violation of
the California Penal Code 597(a) or 597(b) or Los Angeles Municipal Code 53.65.
It is the responsibility of LA Animal Services to inspect and investigate the use or work
of animals in theatrical, motion picture, television and other performances and
productions and enforce the City of Los Angeles’ humane laws.  In the future Animal
Services should be contacted in advance time to fully monitor such filming and should
be provided unlimited access afterwards to conduct thorough investigations when
required.

Sincerely,




Edward A. Boks
General Manager
LA Animal Services

Cc: Tarriq Khero, LA Animal Services, President Commissioner
       Jim Bickhart, LA City of Los Angeles, Mayor’s Office
       Dov Lesel, LA City of Los Angeles, Deputy City Attorney
       David Diliberto, LA Animal Services, Field Ops Director

Flicka Incident
Page Two

Link to actual document obtained in a FOIA request.
http://www.animaladvocates.us/Flicka_Incident.pdf

BOARD OF 
ANIMAL SERVICES 
COMMISSIONERS 
______  
TARIQ A. KHERO 
PRESIDENT 
KATHLEEN RIORDAN 
VICE PRESIDENT 
MARIE ATAKE 
GLENN S. BROWN 
DEBORAH ANN KNAAN 


The movie is "Flicka." 

"Flicka is a 2006 movie adapted from the 1941 children's novel My Friend Flicka by Mary O'Hara. The film is directed by Michael Mayer. A previous adaptation, directed by Harold D. Schuster, was released in 1943.
This time, the plot focuses on a female protagonist, played by Alison Lohman. In previous versions, the main character was a male. The movie also features Maria Bello, Ryan Kwanten and Tim McGraw, who also served as executive producer of the soundtrack album.
Two horses died during the production of this movie. The death of the first horse occurred at Big Sky Ranch in Simi Valley, California. E Online has reported, "According to the AHA's [American Humane Association's] report, a horse broke its leg 'after a misstep' and suffered a 'very rare' injury requiring the animal to be euthanized." The second horse died two weeks later on April 25 during filming.[4]
After investigation, the American Humane Association declared that the deaths were not the fault of the filmmakers. However, the usual "No animals were harmed in the making of this film" statement would no longer appear in the end credits of the film.[4] "

In AHA's website they state the LAAS Flicka Incident report stated the death was an "unavoidable accident." "The City of Los Angeles Department of Animal Services (LA Animal Services) conducted its own investigation into the incident at Hansen Dam and concurred with American Humane Association's findings." Obviously AHA is lying about this as you can see from the official report.

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.
Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


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