WHY CHOOSE APA

Thank you for considering The Animal Protection Agency. APA is readily available to meet with you at any time to discuss your needs.

Be Sure to Have The Animal Protection Agency on Your Set Because We Offer the Following Capabilities and Differentiations for Animal Safety & Welfare Oversight:

FREE ON-SET SERVICES

  • APA offers free of charge services to productions working under the SAG-AFTRA agreement. No fees are incurred for on-set working days, idle days, travel days, or prep/rehearsal days, as well as no mileage charge when an APA Coordinator utilizes their own vehicle. Production costs are only for travel expenses when necessary and per diems while away on location. Please see our “Services and Fees” page for more in-depth details here.

DAILY ANIMAL ACTION REPORTS

  • APA is the only animal safety organization which provides production with Daily Animal Action Reports detailing all safety and welfare measures which were put into place to protect the animals and ensure their well-being. These reports also supply a comprehensive record of any issues, how they were corrected and demonstrate productions commitment to humane treatment of their animal actors.

FULLY INDUSTRY SANCTIONED

  • You have a choice when it comes to animal safety. APA is a fully industry sanctioned Animal Safety & Welfare Oversight organization and is officially approved in the SAG-AFTRA Codified Basic Agreement.

WE’RE GLOBAL

  • APA has been there to protect animals on features and episodics filming in both the US and Internationally. From across America and Canada, throughout the UK and Australia, to Germany, the Caribbean, Hungary and Spain, as well as Romania, Argentina, Jordan and Italy; you name it, we are happy to bring our safety oversight competence wherever you, and importantly the animals, need us!

IMPORTANT DUAL SKILLSET

  • APA mandates that each of our staff possess a dual skill-set combining broad and deep animal knowledge along with a background in working on set. Productions find this two-fold comprehension to be a distinct advantage and advancement allowing for an increased ability to reduce safety risks on set for the animals as well as all those who interact with them.

A Dog’s Journey (2019)

EXPERT SPECIALTIES

  • Each species of animal requires different safety and welfare protocols to keep them safe and sound, both while working on set and off. APA’s exemplary staff consists of specialists in the areas of Equine, Marine Life, Avian, Hoofstock, Wildlife, Exotics, Domestics, Lagomorphs and Reptiles, along with four staff veterinarians, so you can be assured of outstanding professional assistance in every animal area.
    • APA’s Animal Safety Coordinators have also worked as trainers, handlers, zookeepers, veterinary technicians, certified humane officers, animal welfare professionals, animal law advisors and wildlife rehabilitators. We possess a level of insight about animal behavior and animals’ needs that can only be achieved with many decades of hands-on experience. Our Coordinators have a deep understanding of animal welfare with the ability to predict and mitigate inherent risks involved on set.
    • Our Coordinators have by far the most horse experience of any animal welfare oversight agency. Hands-on experience is vital to predict horse behavior and to understand the special considerations that come with working with horses, as well as the specific yet varied equipment used with horses. We take great care that those assigned to work on horse sets are equestrians and current horse owners/riders; a commitment which sets us apart from other companies.
    • APA is particularly conscientious about who we hire as our Coordinators. We do not advertise or randomly onboard our Coordinators; rather we hand-pick our field staff only from those whom we personally know or who come highly recommended by those we trust.
    • APA has Coordinators in the following areas – the majority of whom are available to travel wherever and whenever needed:  California, Atlanta, Texas, New Mexico, Michigan, Oregon, NY Tri-State Region, North Carolina, Canada, Australia, The UK, and South America. We also have Coordinators who are bi-lingual in Spanish, French, German and even some Japanese.

PROFESSIONALLY COLLABORATIVE

  • APA understands that each situation involving animals is unique and presents various challenges. Therefore, our general philosophy is that each instance of animal action requires a thoughtful case-by-case perspective. We believe it is in the best interest of the animals for our on-set Coordinator to use their extensive knowledge and background to evaluate the needs of the animal, as well as production’s expectations, based upon what is optimal in each circumstance, rather than be stiffly wedded to guidelines which may not be pertinent in real time. We do not take an authoritarian approach and are committed to working hand-in-hand with you to ensure that both the animals’ needs and your production’s needs are met.   

VIDEO MONITORING AND LAST-MINUTE NOTICE

  • In certain rare instances where on-set coverage in-person is unachievable due to last minute notice, or if unusual travel necessities preclude in-person attendance, APA is available to discuss accommodating these scenarios by providing our Animal Safety & Welfare monitoring via video connectivity.

PRE- & POST-PRODUCTION SUPPORT

  • Your production is not just a number to us. APA is known for its helpful acumen throughout the entirety of production from pre-to-post. We are committed to being there for you throughout with astute recommendations and advice regarding all stages of animal care, including script analysis, risk assessment, transportation, off-set housing, pick-up shots, and oversight from time the animals arrive until they are fully wrapped.

LEGACY PROFICIENCY

  • APA possesses competency in both animal law and crisis management to provide productions and studios insight and guidance in those areas if needed. We are able to ensure production is in compliance with US and International animal welfare laws, which are in effect anytime animals are used in production.

PUBLIC PERCEPTION

  • The general public and your audience want to know the animals you utilize in production are safe and humanely treated. Unlike other animal monitoring agencies, we are present for all scenes filmed with animals. APA does not perfunctorily sign-off on unmonitored animal video clips or supply a confusing partial disclaimer, leaving your production open to skepticism. By safeguarding your animals, we safeguard production. We are dedicated to attentively helping your production by overseeing all animals, both while on and off camera.
    • In this time when “everyone has a camera phone” any animal-related event brings heightened awareness and scrutiny. We are an assurance to the public that your company complied with the highest humane industry standards while filming with animals.
    • Some people and organizations believe animals should not be used in film at all and closely follow any productions which include the use animals. We give your production peace of mind by assuring the public (including a notarized document if requested) that all animals were treated humanely, and we can vouch for all aspects of animal safety on your set, whether on camera or while resting/waiting while on hold for a scene.

CONSISTENCY

  • Your Animal Safety Coordinator will be assigned in advance of filming so you will know exactly who you will be working with. We do not arbitrarily rotate a number of staff throughout filming – instead a primary and backup APA Coordinator will be assigned, permitting establishment of an efficient, productive and effective working relationship benefitting both the animals and production.

CERTIFIED ANIMAL SAFETY DISCLAIMER

  • Our sign-off is accepted by all networks, studios and distribution companies, assuring the public that you consider the safety and humane treatment of animals to be a priority on your set. We always deliver your Disclaimer and your Animal Safety Logo in a timely manner upon animals being fully wrapped on your production.

OUR CLIENTS LOVE US

  • Our clients, including Disney, Netflix, Lionsgate, 20th Century, Amblin, Apple, Amazon/MGM, Hulu, Imagine and others, have called us “highly professional,” “a joy to have on set,” “a knowledgeable, respectful and caring presence,” and a “breath of fresh air.” We understand that you have an option, which is why we work so hard to please our clients while maintaining the highest industry standards in animal welfare. We’d love to work with you and prove that we are the best Animal Safety & Welfare Oversight choice in the industry.

Ready to book us for your shoot? Call us at (+1) 818-421-3623 or 336-521-0461 or e-mail us at JoneBouman@apagency.org OR JamiLoVullo@apagency.org

You can also easily register your production online by clicking here.

We look forward to hearing from you!


Jami LoVullo – President – APA (+1) 818-667-0495
Jone Bouman – Executive Director – APA (+1) 818-421-3623