“Scooby” is the newest addition to FilmSavage.com our New Office Dog.

Of course he was a rescue and the People at Second Chance Animal Rescue (SCAR) took amazing care of him during the four months of surgery he need to remove the chain embedded into his neck. It looks as if he was left on a chain until it grew into his neck but, he is totally healed now and thanks to the kindness of strangers he is well on his way to being a great office dog.

Second Chance Animal Rescue is a wonderful rescue organization who needs our help to not only adopt animals but, foster them until they can find a good home. Please see how you can help by clicking on the link below. They need donations for pet food, supplies etc. But mostly the need is to foster so many dogs that have come from the recent Hurricane in Louisiana.

www.petfinder.com/shelters/secondchancenm.html

Here are a couple of Foster Needs right now for Foster care or adoption!

Animal: Chihuahua
Slogan: Yo quiero Taco Bell (I want Taco Bell)

Taco Bell’s successful ad campaign launched in September of 1997. Played by Gidget, a Chihuahua born two years earlier, the spokesdog is voiced by Carlos Alazraqui. Mr. Alazraqui’s voice can also be heard in television shows such as “The Fairly Odd Parents,” “Rocko’s Modern Life,” “SpongeBob SquarePants,” “Futurama,” and “Reno 911!”

Speaking with the aid of CGI, the dog’s slogan “Yo queiro Taco Bell” has become part of our lexicon, as has “Drop the chalupa!” Toy figures of the tiny dog were produced and in 2002, Gidget made a cameo appearance in a Geico commercial featuring their spokesgecko!

Some Hispanics decried Gidget’s campaign, calling it stereotypical. Taco Bell denied this, but stopped running the ads in 2000 for another campaign.

Top 10 Animal Movies of All Time

10. Dr. Dolittle (1998)
In this family-friendly remake, Eddie Murphy plays a doctor who can talk to animals — and, boy, do they talk back! From rats to racehorses, the good doctor is called upon for more medical advice than he can handle. Featuring an all-star chorus of voice talent (including Chris Rock, John Leguizamo, Norm MacDonald, Albert Brooks, Gary Shandling and Ellen DeGeneres), The New York Times says, “This wild and woolly free-for-all is your prescription for hilarious hijinks and mischievous fun!” We couldn’t agree more.
9. That Darn Cat! (1965)
Cat lovers, this one is for you. This kitschy classic stars a mischievous Siamese whose new collar unwittingly makes her the prime informant in a kidnapping case. Hayley Mills plays the kitty’s dedicated owner, and proves to be a charming would-be sleuth who aims to help the FBI agent on the case. Wouldn’t you know it, he’s allergic to cats. Complete with jealous boyfriends and nosy neighbors, it’;s screwball hilarity at its best. Fun like this never goes out of style.
8. Free Willy (1993)
The tagline says it all: “A 12-year-old street kid. A three-ton Orca whale. A friendship you could never imagine. An adventure you’ll never forget.” And what’s not to love? Lessons abound, from family to friendship to gorgeous creatures of the deep — both onscreen and off. The huge international success of this movie inspired a letter writing campaign to free the real Willy (Keiko) from captivity in an amusement park in Mexico City. He was eventually released near Norway. The movie remains a top family feature, and along with its two sequels is now available in a three-DVD box set.
7. Eight Below (2006)
When you’re not mesmerized by the panoramic views of glaciers and northern lights, your heart will be rooting for the dogs who steal the show from the start. That’s what puts this movie on our list. Based on a true account of a 1958 Antarctic expedition gone wrong, Eight Below tells the story of a devoted dog-sled guide, Jerry (played by the handsome Paul Walker), who is forced to leave behind his beloved team of eight dogs due to extreme weather conditions. The dogs are left to fend for themselves in the snowy wilderness for nearly six months. From here, it’s about adventure, courage, determination and ultimately a rescue.
Honorable mention in the adventure category: Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)
6. The Jungle Book (1994)
“Born of man, raised by animals, destined for adventure.” The movie’s tagline sums it up! In this live-action version of Rudyard Kipling’s classic, a strapping Jason Scott Lee plays Mowgli, a young man raised by wolves after his parents were killed by a tiger. It’s packed with vine-swinging adventure with friends Baloo the bear and Bagheera the panther. That is, until Mowgli becomes enchanted with an Englishwoman visiting on safari. It’s a fish-out-of-water story when he follows her to the city and “civilization.” It turns out that polite society may have more in common with the jungle than anyone ever thought.
Honorable mention for wild animals at their best: Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
5. The Yearling (1946)
It’s old-fashioned. It’s charming. And it stars Gregory Peck. Ta da! The oldest movie and the only one on our list based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning book, this is the story of a small family struggling to make a life in Florida just after the Civil War. These are tough times but comfort comes to 11-year-old Jody, an only child who yearns for a pet to love, in the form of an orphaned fawn. The two become inseparable but as the deer grows, a heartbreaking choice becomes inevitable. Like other family-on-the-farm movies of its time, the story ends sadly; however, the pleasure is in the grace, kindness and diligence that the family conducts displays every day. They may not have had running water, but they sure had good manners.
4. Fly Away Home (1996)
Sometimes a “family movie” is actually a good movie, and this is one of those gems. Starring Academy Award Winner® Anna Paquin as a suddenly motherless 13-year-old who is relocated to Canada to live with her bohemian dad (Jeff Daniels), it’s a metaphor for losing your way and trusting someone to help you find it again. For its sweeping vistas of sun-kissed farmland, dappled marshes and sunny skies, you’ll like this movie. But the moment Amy’s dad teaches her to fly an ultralight in order to guide a flock of orphaned geese south for the winter, you’ll fall in love. Best of all, the movie is based on a true story; the movie raised awareness of wetland preservation, plus revenue earned from the film helped fund even more migratory projects.
3. Babe (1995)
It’s a challenge not to like a movie that’s both adorable and poignant at the same time. That’s just what this story is — and why it ranks so high on our list. The star of this show is a young pig named Babe who finds himself alone in an English barnyard. But that’s where the fun begins. He’s embraced by Farmer Hoggett and defies the odds — not to mention everyone’s expectations — by learning to be an award-winning sheep dog. Performances are wonderful, by man, pig and sheep alike. About 500 live animal actors were used, then blended with stunning animatronics. Thanks to the Jim Henson Creature Factory, the film won an Academy Award® in 1995 for “Best Visual Effects.” Described by critics as “a humorous look at the limitations and lunacy of a preordained society,” it’s a refreshing message about breaking down barriers and accomplishing anything you want.
Honorable mention: Charlotte’s Web (2006)

2. The Black Stallion (1979)
If you saw this movie as a kid, you’ll love it now as much as you did back then. Adapted from the children’s book by Walter Farley, this exquisitely filmed family classic tells the story of Alec, a young boy who survives a shipwreck and befriends an Arabian stallion on a deserted island. When they return home, the unlikely duo finds success as a jockey and thunderbolt of a racehorse, coached by a washed-up trainer played by Mickey Rooney, who won an Oscar for “Best Actor in a Supporting Role” as a result. The story is great, but the cinematography steals the show. This film has been called “a visual feast from start to finish.” If you don’t love the breathtaking island scenes, your heart will pound when you root for the “Mystery Horse” in the racing sequences.
Honorable mentions: Flicka (2006) for the sheer number of scenes including horses; National Velvet (1944) starring a young Elizabeth Taylor and bonus Mickey Rooney sighting.
1. Old Yeller (1957)
It’s not hip but even after 50 years, Old Yeller is still “the best doggone dog in the West.” That’s what earns it the top spot in our countdown. It’s a simple story of a poor family living on the Texas frontier in the 1860s, but told through a charming 1950s sensibility. The father is away at work. The two boys banter, but mind their mother. And above all, everyone works hard. But the heart of the story is the adorable love affair between Travis, the oldest son, and his beloved yellow dog. The two see each other through thick and thin, until ultimately Travis must make a heart-wrenching decision. It’s not a happy ending, but there’s something magical about this movie that makes it worth it after all.

Shining Animal Stars

People love watching animals on the big screen. Perhaps they see something of themselves in these captivating animal actors. Who can forget Lassie’s loyalty, Trigger’s strength or Morris the Cat’s fussiness? Take a look at some of the brightest animal stars in film and television history, and find out what makes them so special.

                                                                                                                                                          

Lassie, a.k.a. “Pal,” 1940-1958 Breed: Rough collie
Breakthrough role: Lassie, Lassie Come Home (1943)
Pal, the first dog to play Lassie, was originally brought to the Weatherwax family to cure him of his habit of chasing cars. The Weatherwax family, renowned for training animals for film work, saw potential in Pal and took the collie in. When they found out a film version of the popular book Lassie Come Home was being made, they sent Pal to the set. At first, he was hired as a stand-in to film a difficult river scene. Pal outshone the dog he was standing in for so much that he took over as the lead dog. All of the nine Lassies since Pal have been his descendants. They’ve also all been male. Even though the character of Lassie is female, male collies were thought to look better on camera due to their thicker coats and larger size.

Eddie, a.k.a. “Moose,” 1990-2006
Breed: Jack Russell terrier
Breakthrough role: Eddie, Frasier (1993-2003)
Moose, a Jack Russell terrier, was the youngest of his litter. Evidently, he was quite a handful. His original owners complained that he constantly dug holes, barked and even climbed trees! Moose was sent to Los Angeles to Mathilde de Cagny of Birds & Animals Unlimited, a company that trains animals for showbiz work. Mathilde found him to be a very good pupil and ready for work. Moose spent eight years in the role of Eddie on the Frasier sitcom, often stealing the show from his human co-stars. After he retired, his son Enzo took over his role as Eddie. Moose also wrote an autobiography entitled My Life as a Dog with a little help from Brian Hargrove.

Trigger, a.k.a. “Golden Cloud,” 1932-1965
Breed: Golden Palomino
Breakthrough role: Trigger, Under Western Stars (1938)
Often referred to as “the smartest horse in the movies,” Trigger had a very long and successful career. Trigger, formerly known as Golden Cloud, was handpicked by Roy Rogers for his 1938 movie Under Western Stars. Roy actually liked the horse so much that he bought him for $2,500. Their partnership would continue through 80 movies and numerous television roles. Roy Rogers said of his favorite horse, “He could turn on a dime and give you some change.” After the end of Trigger’s movie career, he spent the rest of his days with Roy and his wife and frequent co-star, Dale Evans.

Morris the Cat – actor in the late 1960s and early 1970s
Breed: unknown
Breakthrough role: Spokescat, 9Lives® (1969)
Animal trainer Bob Martwick knew what he was doing when he adopted a large orange tabby from a Chicago-area animal shelter in 1968. This cat would become one of the most recognized animal stars in the United States. Within the next year, Morris would land a job as the spokescat for 9Lives® cat food. He would also become a feline champion for shelter adoptions, with all of the subsequent Morrises being shelter or rescue cats. Like Moose, Morris tried his hand at literature, writing three books of his own: The Morris Approach, The Morris Method and The Morris Prescription. Several other Morris cats have stood in for the original and still represent 9Lives® today.

Willy, a.k.a. “Keiko,” 1976-2003
Breed: Orca
Breakthrough role: Willy, Free Willy (1993)
Keiko, an orca captured off the coast of Iceland in 1979, gained worldwide celebrity with the Free Willy films and subsequent campaign to “Free Willy.” He was discovered and featured in the first Free Willy film and then returned to a marine park. After living most of his life in marine parks, sometimes in horrible conditions, a campaign was started to return Keiko to the wild. He was rehabilitated and prepared for his return for many years, finally reaching his new home off the coast of Norway in 2002. It was a very difficult process for the orca because he had become too familiar with humans. After one year on his own, he succumbed to pneumonia.

Benji, a.k.a “Higgins,” 1959-1975
Breed: Poodle, schnauzer, cocker spaniel mix
Breakthrough role: Dog, Petticoat Junction (1963-1970)
Benji, also known as Higgins, was a mixed breed found at the Burbank Animal Shelter by legendary animal trainer Frank Inn. Frank trained many other showbiz animals, including Arnold the Pig from Green Acres. Higgins knew many tricks, from sneezing to yawning on cue. After a long run as “Dog” on Petticoat Junction, a popular 1960s sitcom, Higgins retired. In 1974, after four years of retirement, he was ready to go back to work as the loveable mutt Benji. Higgins was a very special dog to Frank Inn. His ashes were buried with his owner after Frank’s death in 2002.

Toto, a.k.a “Terry,” 1933-1944
Breed: Cairn terrier
Breakthrough role: Toto, The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Terry, a spunky Cairn terrier, got her first acting role in the 1934 Shirley Temple movie Bright Eyes. Her big break would come several years later when she would become Toto in the 1939 MGM film The Wizard of Oz. Earning $125 dollars a week, Terry was paid more than many of the human actors in this film. Terry also shared a home with Judy Garland for several weeks so they could get to know each other. She appeared in 12 other movies in her successful Hollywood career.

Old Yeller, a.k.a. “Spike” – actor in the late 1950s
Breed: Mixed
Breakthrough role: Old Yeller, Old Yeller (1957)
Spike was a shelter rescue discovered by Frank Weatherwax, part of the famous Weatherwax family of animal trainers. Frank saw potential in this big, goofy yellow dog. According to the Weatherwax family Web site, shortly after Spike’s adoption, the Weatherwax family heard about auditions for a Disney version of Old Yeller. They thought Spike would be perfect for the role. Initially, Spike was turned down for being too sweet and playful. Old Yeller had to be able to act vicious for the part. After a little extra training, Spike nailed the part, becoming one of the most memorable dogs in screen history.

_______________________________

When soft-spoken Guy Small says he’s going to a movie, he doesn’t mean that he’s heading into town for a couple of hours at the local theatre. And getting ready to go involves a lot more than cleaning up and pulling on a fresh pair of jeans. For him, “going to a movie” entails packing for a considerable stint, and loading up livestock that will be used in the film.

A ranch-raised Montana native, Small got his first taste of the film business back when the far-from-typical western, The Missouri Breaks, was shot at Billings. The movie company needed some loose horses. Small, whose family owned a local rodeo company, leased them some bucking broncs – and he got to do some wrangling.

After that came the ABC mini-series, Son of the Morning Star. By now, Small was hooked, but it was the Ron Howard film, Far and Away, that set the hook. Big time.

“They hired me to wrangle,” he recalls, “but I turned out coordinating two hundred wagons and teams. We did a land race, with sixteen cameras, a helicopter, and a cannon. That was the most exciting thing I’d ever experienced. The boom of the cannon – the roar of the wagon wheels. It was wild.”

He laughs. “About half the teams ran off, so in the second take, all the guys who had started out in front were in back. But by the third take, everything was under control.”

Maybe one reason that memory stays so clear for Small is that it’s the sort of thing that can’t happen again. As he explains, there aren’t that many wooden wheeled wagons around anymore. At the time, though, Wyoming and Montana had both just celebrated their centennials. Howard’s timing couldn’t have been better. .

Since then, Small has evolved into one of the most respected horse and cattle wranglers in the business. He’s made eighteen movies in eighteen years, became a member of Hollywood Local 399 along the way, and has racked up experience in a variety of locations, including New Mexico. Not bad for a guy who can honestly say that he still manages to have a life. (He has the same wife he married a quarter century ago, two grown kids, and a dog — an Australian shepherd that he says is more a house dog than a stock dog.) To top it all off, he gets to spend his time between movies on his own ranch, doing what he loves most. Training horses.

“I used to train for the public,” says Small, “but now I just train my own stock. I try to always have some broke to pull wagons, and some gentle ones, for riding. I feed with my teams, so they don’t just stand around. They get used a lot. I don’t go to a movie with all new stock.”

For animal lovers who tend to worry about the plight of the livestock used in films, Small points out that things have changed a lot since the old days.

“I got in on the tail end of that era,” he says. “They used to use trip wires, and do things that were hard on the animals. But it’s been cleaned up since then. We teach them to lie down, and how to fall. Some of them actually like it. And there’s a representative from the American Humane Association on every shoot.”

Not all of Small’s training goes to four-legged creatures. Part of his job is teaching actors to ride. “Some actors are already good,” he says. “Duvall, Hackman, Tommy Lee Jones, Redford. They can all really ride. Others need help. I like to get ‘em before the movie starts. It’s like a couple of weeks of camp.” And if that doesn’t happen? Or happens, and doesn’t work out? “Then you just have the actor ride into a shot, and you use doubles.”

While acknowledging that it’s getting tougher for newcomers to get into the union, Small is convinced that there’s plenty of work for everybody, and that those who want it badly enough can make a place for themselves.

“Get a job with the head wrangler in your area,” he advises. “You don’t have to know a lot, but you have to be willing to learn. The main thing is to pay attention. To make a good wrangler, you need to know horses, know who has them, and develop good people skills. Everything’s easier if everyone is working together, helping each other. I’ve been around people who screamed and hollered, and I made up my mind that I’d never be like that. You accomplish a lot more with people if you treat ‘em right.”

Asked what changes he’d like to see in the film industry, Small admits to being bothered by two things: that more westerns aren’t being made these days, and that so many people assume that western movies have to follow old formulas.

“Everything doesn’t have to be about cowboys,” he says. “I just worked on The Burrowers, which was shot in Santa Fe. It’s a period piece about creatures that came up out of the earth to feed on this western town – and it was great. We need more young people to come into the business with a new way of looking at things. We need a new set of young actors to take hold.”

Although wrangling obviously isn’t for everybody, Small doesn’t see a time when he’d want to stop doing it.

“When you’re on location,” he explains, “you’re up at 3 a.m., and you work hours you wouldn’t necessarily enjoy if you were at home, working a regular job — but you don’t mind. It’s not like anything else.”

He pauses for a moment, then adds, in a voice that says he means it:

“I love it. I just love loading up and going.”

~~Story by Jenny Wingfield

                                                                                                                                      

Uvalde Texas / Socorro NM – March 22 – Take a small town named Uvalde suffering from a prolonged drought, decaying downtown buildings and local ranches sparse with cattle waiting for rain. Add a wild horse preserve with stunning mountain views near Socorro on a similarly dry ranch in the Rio Grande Valley. Stir in a deserted Grand Opera House on Uvalde’s town plaza, once alive with cultural events and activity in the wagon yards outside its doors — waiting patiently for revival. Add an enthusiastic film producer who doesn’t know the meaning of words like “can’t” or “impossible”. Finally, add a population of hardworking folks who still believe they can achieve anything if they work together. And you have the recipe for creating a new and very special motion picture.

Uvalde, Texas is the town. It had the opera house and industrious locals. Socorro County’s New Mexico Horse Project near Escondida provided local wild horses, rolling hills and mountains as a backdrop for the film. The movie Road to El Paso is the delicious pastry producer Shiloh Richter pulled out of her video production oven and released for sale to the public last week.

Socorro County’s Cindy Rodgers LoPopolo Horse Preserve is just a year old but has made a great start. The preserve located on three sections of land near Escondida and Socorro is named after the late wife of Carlos LoPopolo of Los Lunas. Both Lopopolo and his wife Cindy had an abiding interest in saving wild horses — the offspring of horses brought here by Spanish explorers centuries ago.

The first wild Spanish mustangs were released at the preserve in June 2006. A month later a stallion, mare and foal were added to the herd after being bought at the State Cattle Board auction by preserve founder Carlos LoPopolo and a New Mexico wild horse advocacy group — the Wild Horse Observers Association (WHOA).

Asked how Socorro County’s horses and scenery contributed to the film, Shiloh Richter smiled and said, “When I look at the footage I am amazed by the New Mexico landscape and the shots we got at the preserve. The wild horses are the symbol for the story told in the film.” Then she concluded, “We’d love to bring the video back to New Mexico, to show there what we’ve done.” To enjoy Steppin’ Out’s versions of the preview for the film, click here.

Like Socorro, Uvalde is a community, enriched by two cultures — Southwest Texas and Mexican-American — that was just waiting for a chance to show its true colors. So, when opportunity knocked the community eagerly adopted the Road to El Paso project. Over time, Uvalde proved it was more than just a movie set. The town put its heart to every aspect of production writing, acting, set design, costuming, and wrangling. Costumes stored at the old Opera House came off hangers to get washed, ironed and repaired; an empty downtown building was reborn as a 19th century saloon. Even city leaders took roles as Texas Rangers and explorers to bring this two-era western — a full-color modern story and an 1800s sepia-toned western — to life.

Along the way, the town’s creative impulses were reignited. As many know, art can become the heart of a town. Helping make this film gave many – who had few roots in Uvalde’s past – chances to become part of its history. The project gave place to old values and a new outlook. Ranchers and hunting lodge owners opened their gates to help characters come to life. Even horses, normally used only for ranch work and shows got their moments in the spotlight too.

Retired teacher Jama Brown, who was film star Matthew McConaughey’s kindergarten teacher, delighted in the fact that a western was being made in her town. “That’s what children are missing these days, the heroes of westerns. The values westerns taught.” Local University students took roles, sewed costumes, stayed up late hanging chandeliers and tea-stained curtains, polishing old barstools or rubbing dirt on actors’ faces. Local businessmen and women offered restaurants, props, drinks and buckets of encouragement. It seems movies aren’t just for Hollywood anymore. The heart of creativity belongs in towns where stories like this are born, can be nurtured, provide opportunities, stimulate more stories, and reflect community values. Such stories are important for any town to tell. Keeping the stories alive also brings new life to the communities where the stories were originally born.

On the last day of filming, after nearly two years of production, the community stopped to honor the history of entertainment in the area, pooling their funds to buy bronze plaques for Dale Evans, Matthew McConaughey, Dana Andrews and Grammy Award Winning group Los Palominos to place in Uvalde’s Plaza, the heart of a town where cultural activity and events can once again dance the night away on the Plaza, rejoicing in the community’s spirit of creativity and the knowledge of what people can achieve when they work together.

Now that the movie is ready to sell, local stores in Uvalde proudly display the product of their town’s labor of love. Road to El Paso is available on DVD at www.thetexasranch.net. Steppin’ Out looks forward to hearing retailers in Socorro are also selling this modern-day western with strong local roots too.

A portion of the profits from the film will go to Socorro’s New Mexican Horse Preserve to help protect what became the symbol of the story – the wild horses that, like creativity and the spirit of the West itself, should always run free.

For more information about Road to El Paso, or to buy your own copy of the movie, visit www.TheTexasRanch.net, contact producer Shiloh Richter at 830-988-2804, or send email to shiloh@thetexasranch.net. A short preview of the film is available on the front page of www.TheTexasRanch.net. If you’re from the Socorro or Escondida New Mexico area, be sure to look for the smiling wild horses from Socorro County. Those mountains in the background should look familiar too.

Be sure to say you found them in Steppin’ Out. That ALWAYS makes our supporters smile. Remember, they’re the ones who make this site possible!

*Your pet must be well trained and socialized, sets can be a lot of action to take in for your pet.

*Your pet should be healthy and up to date on immunizations and check-ups

*You must be available to bring your pet to auditions and go-sees and actual shoots

*These shoots can be at anytime during weekdays but overnight or weekend shoot are not unheard of.

*Before an audition, you may want to get your pet familiar with the product they’ll be pitching, or action they will be performing.

*You must be available on short notice and have a flexible schedule or a very understanding boss.

*Many pet actors live with, and are owned by, their professional trainers. These animals may receive several hours of attention and training each day.

*Keep in mind that show business is highly competitive, for pets and humans alike. Be prepared for disappointments.

*Some pets really enjoy doing tricks and performing, and they’re likely to be more successful than pets who are cajoled into the spotlight. If your pet would rather stay home with the family, let her – don’t be a pushy Hollywood parent.

*Keep your pets happy.

The American Humane Association has overseen movie sets since 1940 to make sure animal actors stay safe while portraying heroes, villains, companions, and comedians. American Humane’s Film & Television Unit is designated by the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) as the only animal welfare organization with on-set jurisdiction. As such, the Film and TV Unit considers animal safety its primary goal.

Located in Los Angeles, American Humane’s Film & TV Unit has traveled to productions worldwide to protect animal actors. The presence of our Certified Animal Safety Representatives is an important reassurance for conscientious producers, actors, and animal trainers.

American Humane maintains a deep commitment to ensuring the care and safety of animals used in filmed entertainment. To survive and thrive for more than 65 years, the Film & TV Unit has continued to evolve in order to better serve our constituents–animal lovers and movie buffs alike. Always seeking ways to improve our effectiveness, American Humane regularly examines the strengths and needs of our Guidelines for the Safe Use of Animals in Filmed Media, ratings and reviews, and end-credit language to ensure that we are providing the best service we can to the animals — and to the public who cares about their well-being.

To learn more about the evolution and advancements of American Humane’s Film & TV Unit, please click here.