Happy Friday, people! We hear this weekend may bring a snowstorm to the middle of the country–so it’s the perfect time to cozy up inside with a good book or an edition of RantCrush. Stay warm and enjoy the last entry of the week!

Malta Criminalizes Conversion Therapy

As America gets ready to inaugurate a new Vice President who has supported conversion therapy, Malta becomes the first European country to criminalize the practice. The new law also supports transgender rights. It will punish anyone advertising or performing the controversial therapy with fines or jail time, and it states: “No sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression constitutes a disorder, disease or shortcoming of any sort.”

#SoProud of #Malta the land of my ancestors! Malta Outlaws ‘Conversion Therapy,’ a First in Europe https://t.co/NMZwKPKZ0j

— Joseph Gatt (@MeetJoeGatt) December 8, 2016

This is amazing news and hopefully will become the norm everywhere. The Mediterranean island of Malta is the smallest country in the European Union with only 420,000 citizens, but it is really progressive when it comes to LGBT rights and has been called the most gay-friendly nation in Europe.

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post RantCrush Top 5: December 9, 2016 appeared first on Law Street.

Cesar Millan is well known for his hit shows “Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan” and “Cesar 911.” A dog behavior specialist, the shows feature Millan working with dogs who have behavioral issues, often aggression. However a recent incident aired on “Cesar 911” now has the “dog whisperer” under investigation in Los Angeles.

In the episode in question Millan was attempting to train a dog named Simon, a French bulldog/terrier mix, who has been aggressive with his owner’s other animals. Millan was trying to condition Simon to be around those animals. He used one of them, a pot-bellied pig, in his training attempt. At one point Simon charged the pig and bit its ear. Some animal rights advocates are arguing that the use of the pig was abuse and the incident sparked the involvement of Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies and animal control officers. Here’s the clip from the show:

A petition urging National Geographic to take “Cesar 911” off the air has been launched on Change.org. It states:

Cesar Millans methods are inhumane and his shows need to be taken off the air. In this episode, Cesar used pigs as bait for a dog who was a known pig killer and all for ‘entertainment’ purposes and this is not the first time he has used bait animals. This is wrong! Using animals for bait is against the law.

However a statement from National Geographic essentially argues that the incident was taken out of context. It reads:

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 clip caused some concern for viewers who did not see or understand the full context of the encounter. The pig that was nipped by Simon was tended to immediately afterward, healed quickly and showed no lasting signs of distress.

The investigation is ongoing, but Millan is reportedly confident that there will be no evidence of wrongdoing found.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post “Dog Whisperer” Cesar Millan Under Investigation for Animal Cruelty appeared first on Law Street.