Vancouver animal handlers called in last-minute for Drake music video in Maple Ridge

Darthenan Therrien, head trainer for Action Animals, says he received just six hours notice when a “high profile rapper” requested some animals to help shoot a music video in Maple Ridge.

Abbotsford-based Action Animals trains animals for TV, film, music videos and more, according to Therrien. Normally, the company would have days to weeks to prepare for a shoot, and ample time to scout out the location they’re working in, he says.

But due to the short notice, he says his crew did the best with what they were given. Therrien says the shoot took place a day or two after Drake performed in Vancouver on Aug. 30.

When the team arrived, Therrien says they didn’t even know the video was for Drake until someone told them.

“We drive in and there’s a McLaren with Christmas lights all over it, so we figured it had to be somebody, like Drake or Travis Scott,” he said.

Once they realized it was Drake’s video, he says they wished they had more notice, but ultimately, it didn’t matter.

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“We came with the most experienced wolves we had,” he said. “We get there and realize it’s Drake’s video and think ‘Oh no, I wish we had more time to prepare,’ but everything worked out really well.”

Therrien says the amount of time they put into training every day really payed off for this high profile shoot. He says the animals they work with are often rescues or orphans whose parents have died or abandoned them.

Brendan Sandu, a handler for Action Animals, says not having any time to scout out the location beforehand proved to be a challenge.

He says he was in charge of figuring out how the wolves could be positioned per Drake’s request, which was more difficult than usual because the wolves were unfamiliar with the area.

“We pretty much made a triangle for Drake to stand in front of them, at a safe distance where they couldn’t reach him, and he was pretty happy with that,” Sandu said.

Therrien adds, “He was a very nice guy, a very down to earth dude.”

Overall, Therrien says the shoot was a success and a lucky break as the Hollywood writers strike has led to cancellations for many of the other shows they’ve been working on.

“It’s been hard, but we just take the time to spend more time with our animals and be prepared for when we get back to work,” Therrien says.

-With files from Maria Vinca