I don't exactly remember when, but there has been a boom in nature and animal related tv which poses an interesting question to me; This question being how the animals are being treated in these tv shows and movies? While on this search for the answer i stumbled apon an article on BBC which talked about HBO's new show "Luck" and how it was attacked by animal rights groups over two horses dieing during production.
As i read further i also noticed that prior to the horses deaths PETA, an animal rights group had "repeatedly reached out" to give proper guidelines. The show "Luck" which takes place withing the world of horse racing, there is also talk that the show was already working with the AHA to set up proper animal safety proticols. This shows that the buzz was really stirred by the fact of PETA criticizing how HBO and AHA conducted themselves with their procedures.
After reading further i noticed how in this article from the NY TImes also talks about the rise in animal oriented shows and movies. This also led me to think with this rise it also causes for groups to slack in what they feel is "Safe" for animals to do and what isnt. As i read futher i have also concluded that with the rise in animal tv, there is also a different portrayl of animals to viewers as well. With this change in how people view animals it mixes the mass's opinion, which leads to maybe not the mistreatment but the overusage of animals in the all media sources as a whole.