The live-action film 101 Dalmatians was first spotted in theaters on this day in 1996, featuring 101 of the furriest and funniest stars vs. the meanest, nastiest and most outrageous Disney villain of all, Cruella De Vil (Glenn Close). If you think 101 dalmatians seems like a monstrosity, this film utilized 220 very pampered pooches. While precautions are normally taken to insure animals’ comfort in films, usually monitored by the ASPCA or in this case the American Humane Society, filming in the U.K. added additional pressure from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. To keep the canines coddled required 24-hour veterinary care, with a throng of trainers, sterilized settings, and hundreds of pounds of kibble. A 2,000-square-foot climate-controlled dog-housing unit was built for the pups at the English studios, insuring that, at least for the duration of the film’s shooting, these dogs would live in the lap of luxury.
