Do our mirror neurons only work on our own species?

I just watched one of Cesar Millan’s videos. He took a sweet dog, locked her in a tiny kennel, jabbed her in the chest for trying to get out, then tied a thin rope around her neck and proceeded to pull that tight, yanking her up on her hindlegs. The dog let everything happen and was utterly miserable.

It got me wondering. If people did to children what Cesar does to dogs, on TV, would that get the same ratings? I’m assuming (hoping) people would be horrified at watching a show like that. Toddlers, all their weight carried by a noose around her neck? Kids locked in cages so tiny they are forced to curl up? Children cowering because they’re afraid of their caregivers?

I know I’d find it very hard to sit through a show like that. It would feel wrong, even without getting the logical part of my brain involved. I’m guessing that feeling is a product of my mirror neurons. Do they not work for other species? If they do, can we learn to shut them out? If we can’t, how do people watch Cesar Millan?