The Los Angeles Times
February 10, 2001

Questions Raised About Animal Rights Group
Ralph Frammolino

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More recently, AHA officials waited months to weigh in about persistent reports that horses were abused during the New Zealand filming of "Lord of the Rings," part of New Line Cinema's long-anticipated $270-million trilogy. The allegations sparked local news reports and investigations by New Zealand government officials, who found nothing.

Despite receiving dozens of e-mails since October alleging mistreatment on the set of "Lord of the Rings," AHA officials did not contact or initiate a meeting with New Line executives until mid-January.

Barrett said the AHA is stretched too thin to look into the non-SAG production--among Hollywood's most expensive projects ever. "We frankly didn't have the resources to go and beat down the door and try to argue with them about it," she said.

In a meeting last month, AHA officials "asked questions and we answered all of them," said New Line spokesman Steve Elzer. "They were more than satisfied with our answers." Nevertheless, Barrett said that none of the three "Lord of the Ring" films will receive the association's endorsement, since no AHA monitor was invited to the set.

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