Studio Animal Services

Studio Animal Services provides expertly trained animals and coordination services for various media productions, including motion pictures, commercials, television, web, and print work. They offer video casting support, where trainers source and create video clips of animal actors to match production goals. Their training takes place at a 70-acre ranch facility, developing animals of various species and temperaments for their roles.

Studio Animal Services provides expertly trained animals and coordination services for motion pictures, commercials, television, web, and print work. Owners Karin McElhatton and Paul Calabria have developed a large team of expert trainers recognized as some of the best in the field, including S.A.G. trainers who perform on-camera handling and animal-related stunts.

They offer production support, script breakdowns, and budget estimates, working from pre-production through training and filming. They specialize in video casting, sourcing and creating video clips of animal actors that match production goals, and organizing them online.

The company also provides on-location services, partnering with a professional travel broker to transport trained animals worldwide for productions. For over 30 years, they have ensured the safety and care of both animal and human talent, offering project consultation aligned with humane practices and legal guidelines.

Their training facility is a 70-acre ranch located an hour north of Hollywood, where they develop animal stars of various species and temperaments. Founding members of their training crew have over 40 years of on-set experience, and they rely on positive reinforcement as the main motivating factor in their training process. They give back to the animal community by adopting 75% of their talent from the Humane Society and finding homes for shy animals via social media.

Accomplishments

Studio Animal Services’ trainers are recognized as some of the best in their field, consistently developing award-winning animal actors. Owners Karin McElhatton and Paul Calabria have led the team for 35 years, with founding members possessing over 40 years of on-set experience.

They have a notable credit list, including the Taco Bell Chihuahua, Bruiser from the Legally Blond films, hundreds of Purina ads, and current work with Fancy Feast cats. Other industry classics include St. Bernard pups for Beethoven II, Chevy Chase’s retriever in Vacation, and Clint Eastwood’s bulldogs and rats in Interview with a Vampire.

They have worked on award-winning Super Bowl commercials, such as the Yellow Labrador puppies for Budweiser in 2014 and 2015, and the Cowboys Herding Cats commercial for EDS. The business is licensed by the USDA, US Fish and Wildlife, CITES, CA Department of Fish and Game, Los Angeles City Animal Regulation, Los Angeles County, and APHIS.