The organization behind the famous “No Animals Were Harmed” end-credit disclaimer on film and TV productions, American Humane Association, celebrates its 130th anniversary this year.
To commemorate the occasion, Turner Classic Movies will air a series of films featuring some of Hollywood’s most beloved animal characters every Monday night throughout April.
Featured films include “Benji,” “A Dog’s Best Friend,” and “A Dog of Flanders.” For a complete schedule, visit http://www.tcm.com/index.jsp.
The American Humane Association has monitored animal welfare on movie sets since 1940. Productions earn the “No Animals Were Harmed” disclaimer when they meet certain guidelines, which are enforced through on-set monitoring by AHA personnel.
AHA introduced a codified set of the guidelines, called Guidelines for the Safe Use of Animals in Filmed Media, in 1988. Since that year, animal accidents, illnesses, and deaths on movie and TV sets have sharply declined, according to AHA.
Prior to 1980, the organization listed 107 films as “Unacceptable” because of deliberate neglect or malice. From 1980 to 1988, when the Guidelines debuted, 31 films were found “Unacceptable,” and since 1988, only 16 films have received that ignoble distinction.
For more information, visit www.americanhumane.org.