Members of the APBC have provided information and resources to concerned pet behavior counsellors in Italy following the broadcast of The Dog Whisperer featuring Cesar Millan on Italian TV.
The Italian pet behavior counsellor Laura Borromeo contacted members of the APBC after just three episodes of the controversial show were aired. She is developing a campaign that aims to educate the public that there are alternatives to Cesar Millan’s methods.
The Italian ASETRA web site represents the Society for the Ethological Studies of the Relationship between Animals and Humans and it is denouncing Millan’s methods with dogs: http://www.asetra.it/?Comunicati_Asetra
The Italian veterinary web site ANMVI is warning vets and owners about how dangerous and abusive Millan’s approach is towards dogs. They announce that they are taking steps to stop the show from being broadcast: http://www.anmvioggi.it/10262/12-10-09/la-veterinaria-disapprova-il-metodo-millan
There has also been coverage in the local Italian newspapers too where the headline message is equally clear; “Stop Millan – the veterinarians say he is educating people in the wrong way.”
Laura Borromeo is taking advice from lawyers so that a strategy can lead to the program being prevented from being broadcast.
Dog owners, dog trainers, pet behavior counsellors and vets all have a choice in how pets are treated. The APBC believes in promoting the best in pet behavior and it is clear from experience and research that some of the methods used by Cesar Millan can lead to an increase in dog aggression and behavior problems. That’s why the APBC chooses to use better ways to train pets. There is a choice.
Graham Thompson
APBC Provisional Member.
