Cesar Millan, known as the “Dog Whisperer” is being investigated for possible animal cruelty because of an incident on his TV show “Cesar 911.”
Viewers complained about a segment of the show in which a pig was used in a training exercise,
NBC Southern California reported. A dog known to have attacked pet pigs before bit the pig's ear, drawing blood.
Millan was out of town when sheriff’s deputies and investigators with LA County Animal Control visited his Dog Psychology Center in Santa Clarita on Thursday, and officials issued a 24-hour notice for Millan to contact them, the TV station reported.
“The clip caused some concern for viewers who did not see or understand the full context of the encounter. The pig that was nipped by Simon was tended to immediately afterward, healed quickly and showed no lasting signs of distress,” National Geographic Wild, which airs the show, said in a statement repported on by the
Los Angeles Times. “Cesar Millan is and will continue to fully cooperate with authorities in any investigation. He is confident that the investigation will show there was no wrong doing.”
National Geographic Wild posted additional video clips and explanations about the incident on Facebook.
A statement regarding "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan: Cesar Millan has dedicated his life to helping dogs and to showing...
Posted by Nat Geo Wild on Friday, March 11, 2016
Mark Derr, author of “How the Dog Became the Dog,” “Dog’s Best Friend” and “A Dog’s History of America,” criticized Millan’s approach and “antiquated view of dominance hierarchies” in a blog on
Psychology Today. Derr called on National Georgraphic to remove Millan from the air “until he reforms his act.”
Critics also took to social media, and a petition launched on
Change.org calling on National Geographic to ban Millan had more than 9,200 signatures by noon on Friday.
Twitter users shared strong opinions about the matter.
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