Nat Geo WILD Defends Cesar Millan After Controversial Clip From ‘Cesar 911’
Representatives at Nat Geo WILD are speaking out in defense of Cesar Millan. The animal behaviorist came under fire after an incident that took place during filming for his series "Cesar 911" in which a dog hurt another animal. The network is standing by Millan, 46, assuring fans that his Dog Psychology Center (DPC) is safe.
In a statement an unnamed rep for the network said Millan has "dedicated his life to helping dogs," regardless of how troubled they are. During the episode in question Millan took on an aggressive French bulldog/terrier mix named Simon. The network states that Simon had a history of attacking other animals — including his owner's pot-bellied pigs — which Millan knew when he agreed to rehabilitate him.
A clip from the episode showed such an incident occurring, raising questions about why Millan would put Simon in such a situation. Nat Geo WILD claims the clip was cut in a way that did not allow "Cesar 911" viewers to grasp "the full context of the encounter." In addition, the network representative says Millan "took precautions" when handling Simon. The dog was said to be kept on a long lead during assessments and the pig who was bitten during the clip was treated immediately after the incident occurred.
"The clip caused some concern for viewers who did not see or understand the full context of the encounter," Nat Geo WILD's rep said. "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."
NBC Southern California first reported on the investigation surrounding Millan on Thursday. According to their report Los Angeles County Animal Control was called to Millan's DPC to look into the conditions animals there are living in. The "Cesar 911" star was not there during the visit. Authorities are said to have issued at 24-hour notice, requiring that he reach out as soon as possible.
Millan tweeted about Simon and his aggressive behavior, but has yet to comment on the investigation. Click here for an additional clip from the episode which provides further context into the biting incident.
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