PRESS RELEASE: Wag’N Enterprises Takes On Hollywood

Pet safety company says movie makers should portray pet safety more responsibly.

Marley and Me, Bolt, Hotel for Dogs and Lassie are just a few of the films that glamorize irresponsible pet owner behaviors.  If dogs are supposed to be our best friends, why don’t we treat them like it?  Since the beginning of moviemaking, pets have starred in some of Hollywood’s most popular films. And since that same time, Hollywood seems to have taken the issue of pet safety all too lightly.
Virginia based Wag’N Enterprises, LLC is trying to change that. Founded in 2007, Wag’N offers pet
parents and first responders the necessary gear, supplies and training to effectively mitigate, prepare and respond to emergencies that impact pet health and safety.  Movies with dogs or cats in them often
portray these animals with their heads dangling out of car windows or jumping around unbuckled and
unsecured in vehicles.  These actions are not only dangerous for pets; they cause accidents that kill
people.  And by modeling these unsafe behaviors in their personal lives, some celebrities are sending the wrong message about pets as well.
Wag’N Enterprises would like to send a message to movie makers and celebrities – it’s not okay to
portray unsafe pet behavior anymore. The Wag’N mission: to make pet safety gear fashionable,
affordable and popular.  According to Chief Wag’N Officer, Ines de Pablo, “Our goal is to wake
Hollywood up and educate them about this serious issue.  Pets are members of our families and it’s time we protect them in that way.  We wouldn’t dare drive around with our children unbuckled, so why do we glamorize it with pets?”  

Just a few of the pet safety infractions regularly portrayed in movies and exhibited by celebrities include:
• Dogs riding with their head outside the car window
• Unbuckled and unsecured pet passengers in cars and trucks
• Dogs riding in the bed of a truck
• Pets in the front seat
• Pets on the driver’s laps while driving
• Pets rescuing humans out of burning structures yet only the human is treated for smoke
inhalation. No acknowledgement that pets suffer from smoke asphyxiation too.
• Pets are shown outside but are not wearing collars or identification.
• Pet parents panicking when something bad happens to their pet and owner never applies pet first
aid skills.

“I think it’s time that Hollywood take a stance and set a precedent for viewers and fans by safely
portraying pets in movies and on TV,” explains de Pablo.  “Pet loving celebrities are role models and are in a unique position to set this important example. Following some simple safety tips will undoubtedly save the lives of pets and their people.” 
Here’s what Wag’N considers safe and urges producers and celebrities to listen up:
• Pets should not be filmed or portrayed in the front passenger or driver seat. Riding “shotgun” is
dangerous for pets and children as airbags were invented for adult humans!

• Pets should not be buckled into the car’s safety belt.  These are made for humans and don’t
properly restrain pets alone. 
• When filming, safely restrain pets while driving by utilizing a full body travel harness, a pet carrier,
or by restraining pets in a proper cargo area. 
• Do not film pets sticking their head out of a car window or riding in the bed of a pickup truck
during a scene unless they will portray the damaging consequences and the lesson learned by the
human characters. 
• Always lock all car windows when traveling/filming with pets.
• When properly buckled in, keep a leash and identification on pets in the event of an emergency.
• Make use of pet oxygen masks when rescuing pets from burning structures—the emergency
preparedness industry is trying to raise awareness of the importance of pet resuscitation.

Instead of bringing sexy back, Wag’N is pleading with Hollywood to help bring safety back. America’s furry best friends will forever be thankful. 


About Wag’N Enterprises
Founded in 2007, Wag’N offers pet parents and first responders the necessary gear, supplies and training to effectively mitigate, prepare and respond to emergencies that impact pet health and safety. Chief Wag’N Officer, Ines de Pablo holds a Masters Degree in Risk, Crisis & Emergency Management from the prestigious George Washington University in Washington D.C. and has over a decade of extensive field training experience under her belt.  Wag’N Enterprises is a branded and extensive collection of purposefully designed and all-encompassing crafted tools and services giving people and their pets’ peace of mind in case of an emergency.