Adam Sandler’s movie Zookeeper has just come under fire by Peta. The animal rights group has sent off a series of letters slamming the production which also stars Rosario Dawson, Cher, Kevin James, and Sylvester Stallone.
But the real star of the film are a number of exotic animals. Sandler’s production company Happy Madison hired California-based company Gary Gero’s Birds & Animals Unlimited for the movie. Only problem is that the company was cited by the US Department of Agriculture for “numerous animal welfare violations.”
That’s a huge no-no in Peta’s book! Petaa spokeswoman Amanda Schinke said in a statement, “We’re hoping to enlist the film’s stars to keep cruelty off the set. Exotic animals used as involuntary ‘actors’ are routinely subjected to rigorous and abusive training methods to coerce them into performing acts that are stressful, uncomfortable, confusing and even painful.”
A rep for Gary Gero’s has fired back at Peta, branding the organization irrational and misinformed: “When we did Batman, Peta said our penguins should have been kept cold, they were from South Africa! They don’t do their research and there’s nothing that can be said to change their minds. We’ve been in the business 45 years, we’re highly respected. We know our animals are well-treated and well-cared for and we can sleep very well at night.”
Cat fight! Peta definitely likes to take it to the extreme when it comes to animal rights, and we’re sure Gary has it under control with his animals if the company has been in business for 45 years!
