“Dog Whisperer” star Cesar Millan is being investigated following an accusation of animal cruelty, TheWrap has learned.
The host, who currently has a show on the Nat Geo WILD Channel titled “Cesar 911,” had a complaint made against his Santa Clarita, California, dog psychology center on Thursday.
“There was a complaint that we received and we are investigating the matter,” Deputy Director Danny Ubario of L.A. County Animal Control told TheWrap.
Millan is a self-taught dog behaviorist who quickly rose to fame with his series “Dog Whisperer With Cesar Millan,” which was broadcast in more than 80 countries worldwide from 2004 to 2012.
“Cesar 911” premiered on the Nat Geo WILD Channel in 2014.
A Nat Geo WILD spokesperson issued this statement: “Cesar Millan has dedicated his life to helping dogs and to showing how even the most difficult “problem dog” can be rescued and rehabilitated. In a recent episode of the Nat Geo WILD series “Cesar 911,” Cesar works with an aggressive French bulldog/terrier mix named Simon, who has a history of attacking other animals, including his owner’s pet potbellied pigs. A short clip from the episode was shared online and showed Simon chasing a pig and nipping its ear, causing the ear to bleed. The clip caused some concern for viewers who did not see or understand the full context of the encounter.
“We have included an additional clip from the same episode [click here to download] to provide missing context. Cesar has created a safe and controlled environment at his Dog Psychology Center (DPC) in California in which to rehabilitate some of the most extreme — or “red zone” — cases of dog aggression, such as Simon’s. It is important to clarify that Cesar took precautions, such as putting Simon on a long lead to assess his behavior, before making initial corrections and removing the leash. The pig that was nipped by Simon was tended to immediately afterward, healed quickly and showed no lasting signs of distress. As the additional clip reveals, Cesar and his animal pack effectively helped Simon to overcome his aggressive behavior toward other animals; as a result, Simon did not have to be separated from his owner or euthanized.”
Cuteness Overload: Meet the Starting Lineup for Puppy Bowl XII (Photos)
The “Puppy Bowl XII” airs Sunday, Feb. 7, from 3-5 p.m. ET on Animal Planet. There is a pregame tailgate show at 2:30, featuring analysis and commentary from a team of sports correspondents. The game itself, featuring a “Kitty Halftime Show,” will repeat all day and night for 12 hours on Animal Planet.
Animal Planet
ATTICUS Breed: Husky/Labrador Mix From: Richmond, Virginia
DCL/Keith Barraclough
BELLE Breed: Rat Terrier From: Asheville, North Carolina
DCL/Keith Barraclough
BIJOUX Breed: Great Dane From: Saint Cloud, Florida
DCL/Keith Barraclough
BORIS Breed: Havanese From: Saint Cloud, Florida
DCL/Keith Barraclough
BROOKLYN Breed: German Shepherd From: Clarkston, Michigan
DCL/Keith Barraclough
BUTTONS Breed: Shih Tzu From: Costa Mesa, California
DCL/Keith Barraclough
CAROLINA Breed: American Staffordshire From: New York City, New York
DCL/Keith Barraclough
CHARLIE Breed: Feist/Whippet Mix From: Washington D.C.
SPLASH Breed: Great Pyrenees From: Boston, Massachusetts
DCL/Keith Barraclough
STAR Breed: Chow Chow From: Miami, Florida
DCL/Keith Barraclough
STELLA Breed: Dachshund/Chihuahua Mix From: Saint Cloud, Florida
DCL/Keith Barraclough
TIMON Breed: Terrier From: Miami, Florida
DCL/Keith Barraclough
TOBY Breed: Maltese From: Las Vegas, Nevada
DCL/Keith Barraclough
TIDLEY Breed: Brussels Griffon From: Inman, South Carolina
DCL/Keith Barraclough
WRINKLES Breed: Shar-Pei From: Saint Cloud, Florida
DCL/Keith Barraclough
RIXTON Breed: Shetland Sheepdog From: Saint Cloud, Florida
DCL/Keith Barraclough
TIMBER Breed: Labrador Retriever From: Nashua, New Hampshire
DCL/Keith Barraclough
ANDY COHEN Breed: Havanese From: Saint Cloud, FL
DCL/Keith Barraclough
TATE Breed: Beagle From: Nashua, NH
DCL/Keith Barraclough
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These fluffy pups will be trying to snatch viewers away from Peyton Manning and Cam Newton during Super Bowl 50 on Sunday
The “Puppy Bowl XII” airs Sunday, Feb. 7, from 3-5 p.m. ET on Animal Planet. There is a pregame tailgate show at 2:30, featuring analysis and commentary from a team of sports correspondents. The game itself, featuring a “Kitty Halftime Show,” will repeat all day and night for 12 hours on Animal Planet.