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Dog Whisperer' Cesar Millan Sued By TV Producer

POSTED: 9:00 am EDT May 5, 2006

LOS ANGELES -- A television producer is suing dog trainer Cesar Millan, star of TV's "The Dog Whisperer," claiming that his Labrador retriever was injured at Millan's LA training facility after being suffocated by a choke collar and forced to run on a treadmill.
"Eight Simple Rules" producer Flody Suarez said he took 5-year-old Gator to the Dog Psychology Center on Feb. 27 to deal with fears of other dogs and strangers.
Hours later, Suarez claims, a worker called to inform him the animal had been rushed to a veterinarian. The suit claims he later found the dog "bleeding from his mouth and nose, in an oxygen tent gasping for breath and with severe bruising to his back inner thighs."
The facility's workers allegedly placed a choke collar on the dog, pulled him onto a treadmill and forced him to "overwork." Suarez says he spent at least $25,000 on medical bills and the dog must undergo more surgeries for damage to his esophagus.
The complaint claims breach of contract, fraud, animal cruelty and intentional infliction of emotional distress, among other allegations. It seeks more than $25,000 in damages.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press.