Hollywood Paws: Agent? Or scam?

July 7, 1:50 PMShowbiz Pets ExaminerLorraine Goodman

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Hollywood Paws, the training and animal talent agency operating in the prestigious Los Angeles Center Studios offers a wide variety of classes – from Good Canine Citizen training to workshops for canine and feline movie work as well as seminars for budding studio trainers.  The agency’s stated mission statement is to “… provide animals from loving homes and their owners with the necessary training to work on television and movie sets, in addition to other entertainment industry settings.”

And yet one has to wonder what kind of promises they make when their two-level intensive training program costs upwards of $3000!

In 2006, HollywoodPaws was sued for breach of contract, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and other bad business practices in the Superior Court For The State Of California, County Of Los Angeles. The plaintiffs alleged that the company’s training and other services would guarantee some degree of fame or success in the entertainment industry. Two-years later, in August, 2008, the Los Angeles County Superior Court found no evidence of fraud or negligent misrepresentation as alleged by former students.

There is a lesson to be learned, however. A recent bill passed by the California Assembly and currently before the California State Senate (A.B. 1319) would prohibit talent agents and managers from charging advanced fees for representation or requiring clients to invest in various training, counseling or other promotional materials as a condition for preferential treatment. The Screen Actors Guild Deputy National Executive Director, Pamm Fair, commented that “SAG continues to take a leadership role in ensuring actors … are protected from nefarious companies seeking to profit from unsuspecting actors…”

While this law probably does not cover dog and cat owners, it should. But forewarned is forearmed. Ask around before investing hundreds or even thousands of dollars and always be wary when someone approaches you and says they can make your dog a STAR!