AHA's response to Cesar Millan's BBC TV interview.
Alison
He appeared on the BBC's Breakfast news and was asked about the AHA's
statement about him.
Link to AHA statement.
http://www.americanhumane.org/about-us/new...-whisperer.html
Link to Millan on BBCs Breakfast TV
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/breakfast/8380352.stm
About 3 minutes in
Millan said
"we invited them (AHA) to come to set and so they can see, 'cause one thing
when you watch on tv theres not the same thing as if you experience it
first hand. So we invited them to come and ah, they (AHA) changed their
state of mind about what is cruel."
AHA was e.mailed by members from various forums and asked if they had
changed their statement.
Reply from AHA to emails.
"Thank you for contacting American Humane Association regarding Mr. Millan�s
accusation. We have been made aware of Mr. Millan�s comments on BBC and we
were just as surprised as you. We are actively investigating this issue,
but American Humane certainly has not changed its position on animal
cruelty or inappropriate training methods, and we did not give any approval
of Mr. Millan�s statement about us. We hope to resolve this matter as soon
as possible, and we will provide you with a follow-up email.
Thanks again for contacting us.
Sincerely,
American Humane Association"
An update was posted by on a UK forum-
"Hi Everyone - We wanted to update you on the latest developments with
Cesar Millan. Also, we wanted to thank you for helping us clarify this
situation and spreading the word.
As promised, we did follow through and ask his TV production company, MPH
Entertainment, to make a correction with the BBC. MPH is attempting to set
the record straight and correct this unfortunate mischaracterization of
American Humane�s position. American Humane has accepted a courtesy visit
with Mr. Millan�s foundation next year in order to discuss why our position
differs from his on his training methods, but that certainly does not infer
that we are planning to change our position in any way.
Thanks again for your posts. Follow us on Twitter @americanhumane or on
Face Book!
Sincerely,
Kelley Weir
PR Manager
American Humane Association "
--
Alison,
Tara Green
> Cesar Millan has been in the UK promoting his 2010 tour.
> He appeared on the BBC's Breakfast news and was asked about the AHA's
> statement about him.
> Link to AHA statement.
> http://www.americanhumane.org/about-us/new...-whisperer.html
I couldn't get that link to work. Here's the
one I found:
http://www.americanhumane.org/about-us/newsroom/news-releases/06-dog-whisperer.html
> Link to Millan on BBCs Breakfast TV
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/breakfast/8380352.stm
>
> About 3 minutes in
> Millan said
> "we invited them (AHA) to come to set and so they can see, 'cause one thing
> when you watch on tv theres not the same thing as if you experience it
> first hand. So we invited them to come and ah, they (AHA) changed their
> state of mind about what is cruel."
>
> AHA was e.mailed by members from various forums and asked if they had
> changed their statement.
> Reply from AHA to emails.
> "Thank you for contacting American Humane Association regarding Mr. Millan�s
> accusation. We have been made aware of Mr. Millan�s comments on BBC and we
> were just as surprised as you. We are actively investigating this issue,
> but American Humane certainly has not changed its position on animal
> cruelty or inappropriate training methods, and we did not give any approval
> of Mr. Millan�s statement about us. We hope to resolve this matter as soon
> as possible, and we will provide you with a follow-up email.
>
> Thanks again for contacting us.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> American Humane Association"
>
> An update was posted by on a UK forum-
>
> "Hi Everyone - We wanted to update you on the latest developments with
> Cesar Millan. Also, we wanted to thank you for helping us clarify this
> situation and spreading the word.
>
> As promised, we did follow through and ask his TV production company, MPH
> Entertainment, to make a correction with the BBC. MPH is attempting to set
> the record straight and correct this unfortunate mischaracterization of
> American Humane�s position. American Humane has accepted a courtesy visit
> with Mr. Millan�s foundation next year in order to discuss why our position
Alison
news:7og4g8F...@mid.individual.net...
> > I couldn't get that link to work. Here's the
> one I found:
> http://www.americanhumane.org/about-us/newsroom/news-releases/06-dog-whisperer.html
> >>
>
oops Sorry about that.
Alison
Paul E. Schoen
>> Cesar Millan has been in the UK promoting his 2010 tour.
>> He appeared on the BBC's Breakfast news and was asked about the AHA's
>> statement about him.
>> Link to AHA statement.
>> http://www.americanhumane.org/about-us/new...-whisperer.html
>
> I couldn't get that link to work. Here's the one I found:
> http://www.americanhumane.org/about-us/newsroom/news-releases/06-dog-whisperer.html
>
>> Link to Millan on BBCs Breakfast TV
>> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/breakfast/8380352.stm
>>
>> About 3 minutes in
>> Millan said
>> "we invited them (AHA) to come to set and so they can see, 'cause one
>> thing when you watch on tv theres not the same thing as if you
>> experience it first hand. So we invited them to come and ah, they (AHA)
>> changed their state of mind about what is cruel."
>>
>> AHA was e.mailed by members from various forums and asked if they had
>> changed their statement.
>> Reply from AHA to emails.
>> "Thank you for contacting American Humane Association regarding Mr.
>> this issue, but American Humane certainly has not changed its position
>> on animal cruelty or inappropriate training methods, and we did not give
>> email.
>>
>> Thanks again for contacting us.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> American Humane Association"
>>
>> An update was posted by on a UK forum-
>>
>> "Hi Everyone - We wanted to update you on the latest developments with
>> Cesar Millan. Also, we wanted to thank you for helping us clarify this
>> situation and spreading the word.
>>
>> As promised, we did follow through and ask his TV production company,
>> MPH Entertainment, to make a correction with the BBC. MPH is attempting
>> to set the record straight and correct this unfortunate
>> accepted a courtesy visit with Mr. Millan�s foundation next year in
>> methods, but that certainly does not infer that we are planning to
>> change our position in any way.
>>
>> Thanks again for your posts. Follow us on Twitter @americanhumane or on
>> Face Book!
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> Kelley Weir
>> PR Manager
>> American Humane Association "
The link provided for the AHA is a statement issued more than three years
ago. Cesar freely admits that he is constantly fine-tuning his methods and
trying new techniques, just as Victoria Stilwell and other more "positive
oriented" trainers have. After having watched many episodes of both the Dog
Whisperer and IMOTD, and having been active on both forums, I am convinced
that Cesar is much better, both with dogs and people. Cesar asks, "How may
I help you", while Victoria has a "confrontation" where I have heard her
berate people, saying, "What you have done was stupid, irrational, and not
well thought out". Or something like that.
I have a hard time watching her shows because they feature mostly people
who are clueless and dogs that are spoiled and neurotic, and she mostly
shows them simple and common sense techniques which they often screw up.
Cesar takes on more difficult cases where people have had experience with
dogs and have come across an unusual behavior or a particularly aggressive,
dominant, or fearful animal. I have seen him use everything from
strangulation and alpha rolls to gentle handling and treats, and the bottom
line is that his methods have been quickly effective and he has been able
to inspire the dog's owners to be consistent and successful.
If you read the threads on the Victoria Stilwell forum you will find almost
all the regulars are women who are often afraid of their own dogs and
physically or emotionally incapable of handling them and imposing
discipline. There have been some who have allowed their dogs to bite them
until they are a "bloody mess", because they feel that it is wrong to
provide a physical correction or exert control with any sort of force. Most
dogs naturally respect humans, and gentle methods work well and are much
preferred over traditional corrective training. But some dogs need to be
physically restrained from dangerous and dominant behavior, and they will
not behave in a safe manner unless they learn to respect their handler as
superior.
Those who sharply criticize Cesar Millan for what they consider cruelty are
really "bleedin' heart" liberals, who may also allow criminals to be
released early or not even punished because perhaps they had a difficult
life as a child. They cannot admit the truth that some deviant behaviors
are genetically determined, and require extreme measures and discipline to
control, rather than an overdose of love and affection and unearned freedom
and privileges. It is wrong to give "treats" to dogs or people before they
have learned respect and humility. Animals of any species will learn to
take advantage of freebies and will resort to unpleasant behavior to get
what they think they deserve without really earning it.
The world is a tough, physical environment and not a utopia where everyone
can be shielded from harm or discomfort, and it is better to learn early on
that there may be unpleasant physical consequences for ones actions, rather
than being unaware, or artificially protected, until the world suddenly
slaps you upside the head.
Paul and Muttley