Pet Party Line is a column written by Beth Byrd and is featured weekly in The Citizen News, one of our local newspapers.

Hollywood’s Dog Whisperer, Cesar Milan

When Oprah Winfrey was having behavioral problems with her cocker spaniel, Sophie, she turned for professional help to the man who has become known as Hollywood’s Dog Whisperer, Cesar Milan. In the eight years since he started his center in Los Angeles, he has treated behavioral problems of dogs including many celebrities’ pets belonging to Nicolas Cage, Hilary Duff, Michael Bay, and Ridley Scott.

Milan, 36, grew up on his grandfather’s ranch in Mexico and says that problems stem not with the dogs but their owners. “All humans, especially in America, begin with tons of affection instead of exercise and discipline - then affection. You have to be a pack leader, he adds, which means mastering a calm but assertive voice and being ready to correct. Millan’s mutt miracles are winning converts. On Winfrey’s show, he brought two greyhounds, a Rottweiler, a pit bull and a Chihuahua to meet Sophie --and within minutes had all of them in one room and playing nice. Winfrey marveled, stroking the cocker’s head, "Good girl."

Other famous celebrity pet lovers and activists are Doris Day, Bob Barker, Bridget Bardot, Meg Ryan, Bette Midler, Michael Vartan, Shannon Elizabeth, Bernadette Peters, Jeff Probst, Dave Navarro, and Lance Bass. Celebrities know that their special four-legged friends don’t care if they’re famous or not!

On a final note, please, please think of your pets during this severely hot weather. Their walks need to be short, early or late day and they should be kept indoors, if possible. If not, make sure that they have PLENTY of water and shade and can get to it (by not being tied up).

"If you can’t decide between a shepherd, a setter, or a poodle, get them all...adopt a mutt!" The ASPCA and Shelter Code