Certified Animal Safety Representative

Responsible for representing American Humane Hollywood’s “No Animals Were Harmed®” program, on motion picture, television, commercial, and new media locations, to assure the humane treatment of animal performers, to document how the animals are housed and cared for, how various scenes and /or stunts using animal performers are accomplished. To advise regarding animal safety issues and uphold AH’s Guidelines for the Safe Use of Animals in Filmed Media. Work includes critical and sensitive contacts with animal trainers, production executives, crew members and occasionally the media.

Responsibilities and Duties:​

• Monitoring Animal Action in Filmed Media

Educate film personnel in humane matters, assist in any manner that pertains to the animals that are performing in the film, and ensure the safety and welfare of the animal(s) involved.

• Report Writing

Timely and accurate report writing is critical; the report must be detailed in a manner that gives the reader a comprehensive understanding of the animal action, how it was achieved, and all safety precautions that were set in place to achieve the safety and welfare of all animals involved.  Reports enable post production staff to determine whether a production will receive the AH end credit certification, “No Animals Were Harmed®”, provide information for the written review and determine a rating. Reports also serve as an accountability record regarding the treatment of the animal(s).

• Communication and Diplomacy:

Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential, along with diplomacy to work effectively with Hollywood program staff and production personnel, including: producers, directors, assistant directors, special effects personnel, pyrotechnics personnel, firefighters, wranglers, trainers, veterinarians, and local enforcement agencies, if an incident requires adjudication.  May need to act as liaison to local agencies that have jurisdiction over animal welfare issues.

• Location of Work Assignments:

NAWH CASRs are needed to work in their local and larger geographic regions as noted above as well as be available for travel to various locations throughout the country on an as needed basis.  Additionally, international travel requiring a passport may be requested at times and is optional.  Work assignments are often given on short notice and are subject to change.  Production assignments vary greatly in length, from one hour to several months at a time on location.  Production days may be 10-12 hours. CASRs must be equipped with various types of gear to adapt to extreme and changeable weather conditions that may occur during the filming of a production.

• Research:

The Hollywood program will make every attempt to schedule a CASR that has experience and knowledge of the type of animal/animals that are scheduled to perform. At times the CASR may need to research a species to perform effectively on an assignment.

If there are questions, requests for further information regarding an assignment, the CASR is expected to contact the Hollywood program’s scheduling department to assist with any information i.e. species specific requirements for humane care and treatment, housing, safety precautions and filming specifics with which the CASR may not have adequate experience. 

Dangerous animal action, i.e. explosives, stunts, pyrotechnics or any type of animal action that has the potential for serious injury requires the CASR to contact the Hollywood program office for instruction and/or experienced advice. 

The general process is as follows:

• The script will be read to determine the animal action that is being filmed.
• Time permitting, the trainer and/or production will be called to determine how the scripted animal action will be achieved.
• The pre-production information will be logged in the Hollywood program database.
• The Hollywood program’s scheduling department will contact an CASR that is capable and available.
• The available information will be given to the CASR assigned to the production.
• The scheduling department/production will arrange for housing and transportation when necessary.
• The CASR will be instructed with all the available, necessary information re: production contacts, geographical locations, potentially dangerous animal action, wrangler / trainer information, prior problems (good or bad) with the company/trainer/animal species/etc. as the information applies to their work with American Humane.
• All the necessary paper work will be given to the CASR.
• The CASR will be asked to sign confidentiality papers regarding the production, but these should be vetted through AH’s legal department.
• The Hollywood program’s goal is to educate film personnel in humane matters, assist in any manner that pertains to the animal / animals that are performing in the film, and most of all to ensure the safety and welfare of the animal(s) involved.
• All reports must be turned in on time and complete per the Report Writing policy.

Essential experience, knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Must have one or more of the following qualifications:
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
  • Registered/Licensed/Certified Veterinary Technician (RVT/LVT/CVT)
  • B.S. in Animal Science or related field from an accredited school, or equivalent combination of experience and education
• Diversity of experience in animal health and behavior preferred
• Commitment to animal welfare
• Equine knowledge and experience preferred
• Broad knowledge and familiarity with range of animals, from horses to snakes and spiders, fish, dogs, birds, goats and cats
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; active listening
• Adept at building collaborative relationships and demonstrating diplomacy
• Knowledge of special effects and stunts involving animals preferred
• Work effectively without direct supervision in the field
• Detail-oriented and organized
• Excellent judgment
• Must be able to analyze situations and make recommendations within a short period
• Adept at using computer for email and writing reports
• Successful completion of the American Humane Certified Animal Safety Representative Training Course is required

 Physical demands and work environment: 

To become a CASR, all selected applicants must complete and pass the CASR training during their probationary period of employment.  This training lasts approximately 5 weeks and consists of approximately 1 week of classroom training and 4 weeks of on-set training.

 The work environment principally consists of motion picture production sound stages and off-lot motion picture production interior and exterior location sets in various types of buildings and/or outdoor locations.  Requires the ability to work outdoors in rough terrain, and the ability to work in a variety of climatic conditions. 

• The physical working environment is primarily outdoors and may require working in extreme cold, extreme heat, wet and/or humid weather conditions.
• Walking, climbing, balancing and standing while on location during the production of motion pictures, lifting on occasion 10 kg or more.  Reaching, handling, stooping and bending when observing and recording related duties.
• Excellent vision from 6 meters or more.
• Valid driver’s license required and ability to provide own transportation to production location.
• Local, national and/or international travel will be required on-call, sometimes on short notice.
• Monitoring of production work can occur at any time of day or night and is subject to change; starting and ending times vary based on production schedule. A production day may be 10 to 12 hours.

Materials and Equipment Used:

• Required uniform
• Computer
• Paperwork/Guidelines
• Proper Identification
• Automobile
• Digital camera
• Binoculars
• Cell phone
• Flashlight
• Batteries
• Proper weather equipment
• Change of clothes
• First aid kit - (personal)