Cesar Millan Under Investigation Over Possible Animal Cruelty, Nat Geo Wild Responds

Cesar Millan, celebrity dog behaviorist and star of the Nat Geo Wild series Dog Whisperer, is under investigation on allegations of animal cruelty.

Los Angeles County Animal Control confirmed to ET that an officer is investigating complaints stemming from a Feb. 26 episode of Millan's Nat Geo Wild series, Cesar 911, that showed an aggressive dog biting the ear of a pot-bellied pig that started to bleed during a behavior training session.

A rep for Nat Geo Wild released a statement to ET on Thursday defending Millan and clarifying the circumstances surrounding the incident in question.

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According to the statement, Millan was working with Simon, a French bulldog/terrier mix, who frequently attacked other animals, including his owner's pet pot-bellied 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 rep said in the statement. "The clip caused some concern for viewers who did not see or understand the full context of the encounter."

According to Nat Geo Wild, the situation was carefully monitored and controlled by Millan, who "took precautions, such as putting Simon on a long lead to assess his behavior, before making initial corrections and removing the leash."

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"The pig that was nipped by Simon was tended to immediately afterward, healed quickly and showed no lasting signs of distress," the statement continued.

In the end, Millan successfully curbed Simon's behavioral issues and helped the dog overcome his aggression. "As a result, Simon did not have to be separated from his owner or euthanized," the statement said.

Nat Geo Wild also made sure to praise Millan as a man who "has dedicated his life to helping dogs and to showing how even the most difficult 'problem dog' can be rescued and rehabilitated."

"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," the network added. 

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