How to Certify a Production

Welcome! We look forward to working with your production. American Humane Society is the only industry-sanctioned organization monitoring animals in filmed media and enjoys a rich history of working in coordination with productions to ensure the highest levels of animal actor safety. Let us share our expertise with you.

All productions filming with animals must register with American Humane Society.  To be eligible for the No Animals Were Harmed certification, a Certified Animal Safety Rep (CASR) on set is required. CASRs monitor all animal action filming dates, regardless of action intensity or animal type, including insects, background animals, unscripted animals, and animals provided by extras and/or private parties.

Don’t expose yourself to risk. If any animal is going to be on your set, you need American Humane Society there monitoring the action. Let us work with you and protect your animal stars!

Representative’s Location and Travel

CASR Travel: If the Film Unit Office determines an out-of-town CASR is required, you will be provided their contact details once one has been assigned. Non-Union productions must have a signed contract in place before a CASR can be scheduled. Out-of-town CASR assignments are typically scheduled a week prior to filming. We schedule the most appropriate, closest CASR available. Productions cannot place holds on CASRs.

Coordinating Travel: Travel expenses associated with on-set supervision are free of charge for SAG-AFTRA productions shooting in the U.S. and internationally. SAG-AFTRA productions will be reimbursed for any incurred travel expenses. Non-Union productions pay travel expenses directly. Incidental travel expenses like per diem, ground transportation to/from airport, mileage, etc., will be included in the final invoice. If it is not feasible for your production to make the travel arrangements, American Humane will book travel and include travel expenses in the invoice.

Fees for Animal Monitoring

SAG/AFTRA Productions

Through the generous support of our grant funders, SAG-AFTRA Producers Industry Advancement Cooperative Fund (IACF), program services, including travel costs, are available at no-charge to SAG-AFTRA productions filming within the United States and Internationally.

Non-SAG/AFTRA Productions

• A daily flat rate of $1200/day or $600/half-day for each “CASR” to monitor animal action.
• A half-day is defined as 6 hours on set or fewer in a day.
• Commuting to set mileage, at the current IRS standard mileage rate. CASR commuting time, $35/hour (not to exceed 2 hours).
• For idle days, when a CASR has traveled to a location and there is no animal action, you may travel the CASR back home or keep him/her on location for a charge of $600/day per CASR.
• Travel time (not to exceed 8 hours) is billed at $35/hour for any days when a CASR travels, but is not on set.
• Travel expenses for the CASR are paid by the production company. Mileage reimbursement at the current IRS standard mileage rate for CASR personal vehicle use plus reasonable expenses for hotel, air, ground transportation, and per diem.

Download Fees for Animal Monitoring PDF

Budget For All Live Animal Filming Dates

This includes scripted animal action, unscripted animal action, background animal action, and animals provided by private parties. American Humane cannot guarantee CASR coverage and may miss days due to CASR availability, but our intention is to monitor all live animal action. Although CASR presence for rehearsals and prep is generally at production’s discretion, American Humane may require a CASR present for rehearsals or prep involving intense action and/or stunts.

• Full Day vs. Half Day: A full day or half day is not set in advance of the shoot. The CASR needs to be present for the duration of time the animal is on set. If that is six hours or less, the half day rate will be invoiced.
• Mileage, Travel and Commuting Time: Time is calculated portal to portal from the CASR’s residence. We are unable to provide mileage estimates ahead of the filming date because specific CASR assignments are not confirmed until the evening prior to filming. Commuting time is charged on days the CASR is on set, a maximum of two billable hours per day. Travel time is charged on days the rep is traveling only, a maximum of eight billable hours per day.
• Idle Days: Idle days apply when an out-of-town CASR has been traveled to location and there is no animal action. Idle days apply to a five-day workweek, and weekends are not subject to idle day fees. Idle day fees do not apply to productions assigned a local CASR.
• Travel Expenses: All expenses related to travel are charged to production, including airfare, auto rental, gas, hotel, parking, mileage, tolls, and per diem.

Next Steps After Registering

Production Documents: Email applicable production documents (script, storyboards, schedules, crew list) to [email protected].

• Scripts/storyboards must be reviewed by Film & TV Unit office, no exceptions.
• American Humane will sign NDAs. NDAs must be submitted to Film & TV Unit office prior to filming date for review by our General Counsel, based in Washington D.C.
• Add [email protected] to script/schedule/call sheet distro so the Film & TV Unit office can stay up to date with changes.

Film & TV Unit office will be production’s main contact: regardless of the specific CASR assigned to set. All documents and correspondence should be sent to [email protected].

• Update Film & TV Unit office ASAP in the event of a schedule change, even if a specific CASR has already been assigned to set.

Pre-Production Planning & Consultation: Film & TV Unit office will review production documents and may email you with questions and/or send additional guidelines/advisories regarding specific animal action.

• Prompt attention to these emails will ensure your production is fully prepared for a safe, efficient shoot.
• American Humane may require a pre-production meeting to discuss intense animal action.
• Crew working with the animals are welcome to contact Film & TV Unit office for advice/guidance.

Scheduling a CASR: The Film & TV Unit office will schedule the most appropriate, closest CASR available to location. The assignment will ultimately depend on CASR availability.

The “No Animals Were Harmed^®” program is a mission-based, grant-supported program, and may not be able to monitor all productions requesting service. Should there be more requests than available CASRs, set coverage determinations are based on animal intensity.

Receiving Certification

Screening Requirement: Before certification is issued, American Humane must view a final cut of the project. The entire project must be screened, not just footage of the animal action. There are no exceptions to this requirement. American Humane will sign NDAs, if required.

• Post-production can send a picture-locked cut via a link or a physical DVD. Production should send the cut prior to locking credits. For feature films and television shows, an in-office/editorial screening can be arranged (Los Angeles area only).
• American Humane will screen the project and match the filmed animal action with the CASR field reports, ensuring all featured animal action is accounted for and safely achieved.

Certifications:

• Motion Pictures and Episodic Series are eligible to receive the No Animals Were Harmed® certification mark to include in end credits.
• Commercials and short-form projects are eligible to receive the “No Animals Were Harmed®” certification letter documenting the safe treatment of animals.

Turn-around Time: Once submitted, commercial certifications are generally issued in one to two business days, episodic certifications in three to four business days, and film certifications in five to seven business days.

Not Monitored, Production Compliant: If a production requests a CASR on set (and completes contract requirements), but a CASR is unavailable, the production is considered compliant and may be eligible for a Not Monitored Production Compliant letter. For commercials, Not Monitored Production Compliant letters can be submitted to network standards and practices.

Don’t forget. Ensure your post production department has American Humane’s Film and TV Unit contact information prior to wrapping production!