Animal Radio®

The very amusing Dena Harris joins us as she parodies all the self-help diet books with tips to reduce the fat in your cat. You’ll hear purr-actical tips like, eat whatever you want, throw it up at 3am right in the middle of the bedroom floor. Also, Cat Warren trains cadaver dogs to look for dead bodies. How does she do it? And just how good is your dog’s nose? So good they can sniff a corpse at the bottom of a lake for 100 years. Would “Ladybug” the Animal Radio Stunt Dog be good as a cadaver dog? She likes rolling in dead stuff. Also, it’s all fun and games until someone gets squirted in the eye. Dogfather Joey Villani suggests you go to your veterinarian if your dog’s glands need to be expressed. But just in case you want to do it on your own, he’ll tell you what you need to know first. Also, it’s not just a Friends song. It’s a real problem that can be solved using stuff you probably already have in your pantry. We’ll have the reasons and the cures for your smelly cat. Also, cats and dogs in nearly 30 states are now eligible for full hereditary and congenital coverage from several insurance carriers. Hereditary and congenital coverage is a relative newcomer to the insurance field. Also, wine drinkers in Japan can now share a glass with their feline friends. B&H Lifes is releasing a wine for cats. While the wine doesn’t actually contain any alcohol, it is made from Cabernet grapes. It is also blended with vitamin C and catnip for a mixture that supposedly tastes similar to red wine.

Actress and animal advocate Megan Blake is teaching dogs to fly on airplanes using a Hollywood studio set and aircraft simulator. For $300, you can desensitize your pup from all the noise and vibrations that happen on a real plane. Also, as Halloween approaches, we examine all the strange superstitions, from Black Cats to Fat Rats. Self-proclaimed expert Kim Campbell Thornton shares the stories behind the myths and legends. Also, a new website is supposedly offering an unusual way to control the pet population - condoms for cats and dogs. It claims to offer a special brand of protection dubbed Animal Instincts. But anyone trying to purchase a pack of the condoms will quickly realize they’re out of luck. As soon as they click on one of the links, a message pops up telling potential customers: “C’mon, there’s only one real fix, spay or neuter your pet. Also, an Ohio woman is trying to prove that skunks aren’t the “smelly little creatures” people may think they are. Deborah Cipriani has converted her home into the country’s only rescue center for domestic skunks. She has 50 skunks that have free rein of her five-bedroom house - dubbed Skunk Haven - and some of them even sleep in her bed. She also hosts an annual animal lovers event known as Skunk Fest. Also, a Northern California family cat is in the running for a national pet insurance award. After racking up a $1,200 vet bill being squashed in a garage door incident, Ariel, the Carter family cat, is now in the running for the “Most Unusual Claim of the Year.”

70% of female respondents would marry their dog, according to comedian Leigh Anne Jasheway. Leigh Anne barks up all the major problem issues single women with dogs face when trying to mate and relate with a human male - and how to successfully have sex in front of the dog without causing dogus-interruptus. Also, what’s better than one animal-loving comedian? Two, of course. Joey Camen and his multiple personalities visit with Animal Radio. He shares an exciting, tail-wagging story about the relationship he had with Snoopy, his shelter dog. Also, we all know that birds sing, but did you know mice do as well? And the songs vary, so mice that live in the jungle of the Amazon may sound one way. Mice in Detroit have also been studied, and they sound another way. I’m not sure how mice in LA might sound. Also, Vinnie Penn takes a look at the Watchdog Report. It details exactly how much money animal-related non-profits make and how they spend it. Once you hear the truth, you may think twice before making a donation to your favorite charity. Also, a cat-lover has amazed animal experts by teaching his furr-ball “Salem” to use a human toilet. 29-year-old Luke Evans became fed up with the puss using a smelly litter tray in his second-floor flat. So he trained a nine-month-old cat to go to the toilet in his bathroom by offering cheese-flavored treats as a reward. Also, Joey Villani has been grooming dogs since he was a toddler (FDR was president…we think). He’s sharing more secrets to grooming your pet with stuff you have around your house….like Downy fabric softener, Gold Bond medicated powder, Vinegar, Bounce dryer sheets, and corn starch.

Anna Webb and Jo Good are perhaps the two funniest ladies you’ve ever heard. They have an affinity for our “fur-kids” - and they’ll tell you how two bitches taught two bitches to survive without men. Also, once again, we are having a record year for fleas. And this has, quite by accident, become the thrust of today’s show. Dr. Cristiano Von Simpson and “Dogfather” Joey Villani offer up great advice for ridding your pet of fleas once and for all. Can you use Listerine or Vinegar as effective protection? Dr. Debbie busts the myths. Also, Phil Thompkins and his wife Jenn are quite the entrepreneurs. They’ve successfully launched a chicken rental business just in time for a renewed interest in the feathered fowl. “Chickens are the new dogs,” many simply like having the egg supply. Also, a wildlife park in the U.K. has started banning animal print clothing after zookeepers noticed the fashion choice was confusing the animals. The Chessington World of Adventures has even brought in “Animal Print Bouncers” to make sure visitors don’t get in wearing anything patterned after zebras, giraffes, leopards, tigers, or other wild animals. Also, did you know it’s pretty common for unaltered male dogs (and cats) to be missing hair on the base of their tail? It’s just another one of the problems when you fail to neuter your dog. You can even avoid some cancers by snip-snip-snipping. Also, a new cafe in Paris offers patrons a dose of stress relief with their coffee. The Cat Cafe has a dozen resident cats to provide “purr therapy.” The manager there says a cat’s purring has been shown to help relieve arthritis or rheumatism and to lower blood pressure and heart rate. It seems the whole concept is a hit. So many people showed up for the cafe’s recent opening that about 300 had to be turned away.

From the Rolling Stones to Queen to Norah Jones, they all wrote or sang songs about the important animals in their lives. MNN.com’s Laura Moss has the stories behind the music. Also, Veterinarians across the country are puzzled by a new disease similar to Parvo that seems to have originated from a service dog in Ohio. So far, 10 cases of Circovirus have been reported. Animal Radio Veterinary Correspondent Dr. Marty Becker reports on the latest findings and how to prevent exposure. Also, Britt Savage reports a study showing our primate friends may be sharper than college students. Researchers tested Duke University students and monkeys. Guess who scored higher on the exams? Let’s just say the results didn’t boost morale at Duke. Also, new regulations will allow New York animal lovers to spend eternity with their pets. Officials have finalized rules allowing pet cemeteries to accept the cremated remains of humans. The cemeteries can bury pet owners’ ashes as long as they don’t charge a fee for it and don’t advertise human burial services. Also, a blind man was walking his dog along a Denver street when epic floodwaters surged and knocked him over. Ronnie Webb was washed into a deep culvert as his guide dog frantically paced the edge. As Webb called for help, his dog jumped in after him. Also, dogs are supposed to be man’s best friend, but one pooch in Fort Worth, Texas, is being blamed for shooting its owner. The accident occurred when a 78-year-old woman was watching television. Apparently, her dog walked by a shotgun that was at her side, knocking it over. When it hit the floor, the gun discharged and struck the woman in her left foot.

We’re checking in with Susan Sims and actress Ashely Bell as they trek across America on the annual adoption tour. Ashley shares the stories behind her pets at home. Also, we hear it all at Animal Radio. This week, we’ll be helping a listener’s dog to stop eating the sheetrock walls. And we’ll uncover the reasons our dogs have chewing fetishes and give you solutions to stop this kind of bizarre behavior. Also, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not is back and Edward Meyer shares the most unusual and unique animal oddities. From the skateboarding cats to the man who married a donkey, you’ll hear the strange but true stories. Also, how did this dog get one of those bones stuck on its lower jaw? Animal Radio’s Dr. Debbie had the pleasure of removing it. She’ll explain what happened. Let this serve as a lesson about the safety of bones. Also, security checks and bumpy air are all in a day’s training at a Hollywood film studio to prepare your dog for a safe and calm flight. The Air Hollywood class is billed as the first in a real fuselage on a sound stage with a simulator that mimics takeoff, turbulence, and landing. Also, Mikkel Becker may be the daughter of Dr. Marty Becker, but she stands on her own, especially when it comes to Positive Reinforcement. Mikkel utilizes this technique to train dogs AND cats. She’ll share ways we can use Positive Reinforcement with our pets and husbands. Also, a service dog is highly trained to perform a specific task for its disabled owner. For people wanting to take their pets wherever they go, a brisk business has developed in the sale of bogus service animal certificates and vests.

Leave it to the Swedes and Tomas Mazzetti, Project Manager of “No More Woof,” a device that straps onto your dog’s head and translates their thoughts into one of eight different voices. While Tomas admits the technology is far from perfect, he has been able to raise over $10,000 on a crowd-funding website. Also, it may surprise you, but young couples opt to have furry-kids instead of human children. While the causes are still unknown, Ron Reich’s research suggests income and social media may play a role. Also, life with a vet is never dull, according to Scott Reeder. His wife is like most veterinarians. She ends up bringing home animals that otherwise couldn’t be adopted. If you walk into a veterinarian’s house, you’re likely to see animals that may be missing limbs, can’t see, or can’t walk. Also, VIP lounges and entrance fees are commonplace in Las Vegas, but now there is a social club downtown just for pampered pets and their owners. The view from the outside is what most of us are likely to see. You need a special key card to get inside the Hydrant Club private park. Also, just like humans, dogs can also suffer from REM sleep disorders. Since they can’t tell you, this disorder can go unnoticed, taking years off your pup’s life. Dr. Debbie tackles one such case this week. And, of course, the entire Dream Team is here to answer your pet questions.

Dr. Jennifer Bolser confirms that our dogs and cats do indeed suffer from the same mental disabilities that humans do. From depression to OCD, some of the same medicines we use are also valid for our companion animals. Also, technology changes the way we live, usually for the better. Dave Clark created a device that allows you to connect with your pet while you’re away using a smartphone. This new gadget has raised nearly $80,000 on IndieGoGo, partly because it can dispense treats to your dog with a press of a button on your phone. Also, a new dangerous Internet video fad is becoming more popular. The scenario is often a baby or child playing with a dangerous or aggressive dog. Dogtime’s Nina Stively explains how the urge to create a viral video can put our children in harm’s way. Also, a New York woman is potentially facing jail time after refusing a plea deal for stealing a cat. Nancy Glassman admits taking a cat named Cosmo from a bagel shop and driving it to a local animal shelter. She believed the resident cat was being abused because of sores on its ears and its scruffy-looking fur. She was later arrested and charged with burglary. Also, dog treats linked to hundreds of animal deaths and thousands of illnesses are returning to store shelves soon. The treats will be sold again despite having no firm evidence of what caused the deaths and sicknesses.

How does someone become a certified cat detective? Kim Freeman became certified and now helps cat owners find their lost furr-balls. She’s even authored “How to Find Your Lost Cat.” Kim will share her story and even give us tips on finding the lost kitty. Also, Amram Shapiro spent the better half of a decade compiling “odds” for his book. He has a fascinating peek at the probabilities that govern every aspect of human and animal life. Odds are 5 to 1 you’ll be hit by lightning before you’re stung by a bee, wasp, or hornet. Also, a new study from a developmental psychologist at Tufts University found that young people caring for a pet tend to have stronger social relationships and bonds to their communities. Also, pets get stressed out just like humans do. Whether your dog or cat suffers from separation anxiety, fear of going to the vet, or general stress due to a hectic home environment, calming your companion is integral to maintaining her health. Thankfully, there are many natural ways that you can help your pet unwind before the stress takes its toll.

Dr. Peter Emily is a human dentist AND a wild animal dentist. One day, you’ll find him putting a crown in a person’s mouth; the next, he might do a root canal on a polar bear. What happens when the anesthesia wears off one of his four-legged patients? You’ll have to tune in to find out. Also, the American Heart Association (AHA) has declared that pets, especially dogs, are good for a person’s heart. Dr. Glenn N. Levine, director of Baylor University’s cardiac care unit, said, “pet ownership, particularly dog ownership, is probably associated with a decreased risk of heart disease.” The AHA writes that owning a dog “may help reduce cardiovascular risk,” perhaps due to regular walks and activity. Also, occasionally, we run into listeners with bizarre pets. This week, Nancy King tells us about her life with an Octopus. That’s right. Not as cuddly as a dog, but perhaps as smart. Why would anyone want an Octopus for a pet? You’ll find out this week on Animal Radio. Also, dogs go postal in Los Angeles more than any other U.S. city. The U.S. Postal Service released rankings of the best and worst cities for dog attacks on mail carriers. Los Angeles recorded 69 incidents last year. San Antonio and Seattle round out the top three worst cities. Wichita, Kansas, is the safest city, with just 20 attacks. Almost 6000 postal workers were attacked by dogs last year. And of course, the Animal Radio® Dream Team, Dr. Debbie, trainer Alan Kabel and groomer Joey Villani are answering your pet questions.

Pet Spending At All-Time High The American Pet Products Association reports we’re shelling out nearly 60 billion bucks a year on our animals. Research shows empty-nesters are now spending more on their four-legged children. Setting A Fine Example What happens when a father/daughter trip to Chuck E. Cheese turns into a high-speed chase after dad steals a puppy? Britt Savage reports. Whose Poop? Advances in forensic science have created a worldwide effort to catch up with people who don’t clean up after their dogs. Many apartment owners are now requiring in their leases that dogs of tenants submit to DNA testing. There’s actually a company to do the dirty work.  PooPrints offers special leak-proof containers and spatulas to make the job easier. A thumbnail-sized sample of the suspect poop is sent to the lab … and that leads back to the dog and owner. That Chicken Bit Back Farmers in Georgia have found a chicken with teeth. Researchers say a recessed gene may be responsible. It is possible that this isn’t the only case of toothed fowl. Tapeworm Talk It’s not a pretty topic, but it’s a conversation we need to have. Tapeworms. It’s not Dr. Debbie’s favorite parasite (listen to find out what her favorite is), but a nuisance nonetheless. Dr. Joel Ehrenzweig tells you how to identify and treat tapeworms. Did you know you can get’em? Read more about this week’s show.

Animal Planet’s “Monsters Inside Me” host Dr. Dan Riskin is stirring up the airwaves with the truths about nature’s ugly side. No wonder he is so entertaining. Maggot eggs got into his brain, and he lives to tell you why parasites really rule the world. Also, Sara Bennett’s family business, Navarro Vineyards, uses tiny sheep to keep the weeds under control. But that’s not the only thing they do. Hal asks hard-hitting questions like, “What sound does a sheep make … and isn’t that the same sound as a goat?” Also, the second phase of clinical trials for a new vaccine is done, and the results are very promising. If it’s successful, you’ll take just four doses over a 12-week period to keep your cat allergies at bay for as long as two years. Also, a dog’s sense of smell is said to be 200,000 times better than humans. That’s why dogs work detecting bombs and drugs, and now they’re being trained to use those fantastic noses to detect certain health issues, like the moment a person with diabetes starts to have a hyperglycemic incident. Now, researchers at a UK charity, Medical Detection Dogs, are working on training dogs to detect the odor of cancer.

We kick off this week’s Hero People series by showcasing humans who go above and beyond the call of duty to improve our animals’ lives. Greg Mahle spends much of his time on the road delivering death row animals to adoptable homes. Also, nearly all of us drive with our dogs in the car. And now, there are car seats to ensure safety in case of a sudden stop or an accident. The Center for Pet Studies has teamed up with Subaru of America to test car harnesses. They looked at seven harnesses using a specially designed crash test dog. Also, while Dr. Diana Reiss doesn’t like to compare animal smarts, she is quick to explain just how smart dolphins and elephants are and their ability to recognize themselves in the mirror. Also, another genius idea or just a dud? The jury is still out on Carrot Dating. The premise is meeting singles online while bribing them with a cute little puppy. What if your date showed up holding a cuddly puppy instead of flowers? Also, Pit bulls get a bad rap. They’re not necessarily vicious dogs unless trained to be… or simply untrained. Every decade has its poster dog. It used to be the German Shepherd and the Rottweiler. Let’s break the myth today and save these dogs from their owners and bad press. Also, Alan Kabel has proven ways to treat and cure separation anxiety. It all starts with desensitizing your dog to the subtle cues you give him/her when you’re about to leave the house.

Our Hero Person this week is Riina Cooke. When she discovered her dog had a terminal illness and only months to live, she created a bucket list of stuff to do with “Romeo” before he passed. She shares how the idea originated and some fun things she did with her dog in his last moments. Also, Ellie Laks spends her days caring for a menagerie of abandoned or neglected animals. From cows to kitties, her property is home to over a hundred animals that will live their life out at the Gentle Barn. Also, while microchips are a great form of identification, Ulvid Osis created a pet registration system that works in tandem with microchips to help owners find missing animals using a Google search. He’ll explain how Fetch ID is peace of mind. Also, while many documentaries and films have been made about the Titanic, none really focused on the many animals aboard the doomed crossing. Tammy Trujillo suggests you have tissue handy when you hear about one owner who wouldn’t leave her dog’s side. Also, over the past decade, Mexico’s middle class has been growing, creating a new market for all things dog. This includes everything from clothing and accessory boutiques to spas and restaurants that feature doggie snacks. Sales of pet-related products in Mexico have grown an average of 13 percent a year, to $2.2 billion last year. Also, the governor of that state has signed it into law. Yes, on marijuana, no on pit bulls, and now the end of Greyhound racing with a new ban. At least seven states still allow greyhound racing.

Cancer is no longer a death sentence for dogs or cats. Amazing technological breakthroughs allow vets to treat cancer fairly effectively. Dr. Gerald Post from The Veterinary Cancer Center is back to answer questions. Also, Kelly Carter has traveled the world with her Chihuahua, Lucy. Now she’s telling us the best places to take your pet. She even has tips for making the journey more pet-friendly and comfortable. Also, imagine taking your dog to the vet, and he falsely tells you that your furry companion needs to be euthanized. Then imagine the vet didn’t euthanize the dog but used it for transfusions without your knowledge. This allegedly happened in Fort Worth, Texas. Listen to this horrendous case as the details develop. Also, there’s been a Million Man March and Million Mom March, and a few weeks ago, there was the first-ever One Million Pibble March on Washington. What’s a Pibble?  It’s one name for Pit Bulls. Thousands of pit bull advocates convened on the West Lawn of the U-S Capitol. The message was to create stronger laws against dogfights and stop legislation restricting ownership of certain dog breeds. Also, Amy Cecil is bringing back the fun of paint-by-numbers to the pet world. You can easily create a masterpiece painting of your pet with Amy’s “Easy 1-2-3 Art” system. You’ll start by uploading a picture to her website.

Our special guest is Francesco Marciuliano. He’s the author of the Sally Forth comic strip that runs in over 700 newspapers and a series of pet poetry books that he says he transcribed from his cat. Not bad for a kid with a “Bucket List” at ten years old. You’ll laugh until you hurt! Also, the story of the vet in Fort Worth, Texas, who is charged with keeping several dogs alive who were supposed to be euthanized so they could be used as blood donors, keeps getting more unbelievable. The clinic has been shut down while it is being investigated for animal cruelty and faces a $1 million lawsuit. Also, Jennifer Graham has a pretty cool business. She makes customized stuffed animals that look just like your pet. You’ll submit front and side-view pictures of your furry companion. Eight weeks later, the UPS man will deliver a stuffed version of the family pet. Also, there is panda-monium going on in pet shops all over China. Dogs that look like the country’s prized pandas are all the rage. It takes about two hours to turn a dog into a panda, and the look will last for about six weeks before it is time for a touch-up. Also, the showrooms of two IKEA stores currently feature life-sized cardboard cutouts of shelter dogs available for adoption. Shoppers interested in the dogs can scan their unique QR codes to learn more about them.

When Veterinarian Dr. Sarah Boston noticed a lump on her body, she insisted that it was cancerous, even though other doctors said no. She did an ultrasound at her office and validated her worst fear. The lump was removed, and she is now cancer-free. Also, when this week’s Hero Person found out his pup had Ventricular Tachycardia, a rare condition where a dog has a rapidly fast and sometimes irregular heartbeat, Scott Clare drove almost 5,000 miles and spent over $10,000 to treat Buck-O. Also, Brian Barczyk had 30,000 snakes at home. Yes, he was bitten 100,000 times. And yes, the ladies dig it! While Brian told people he breeds snakes, he actually said he cleaned snake poop for a living! He ran one of the world’s largest snake breeding facilities and hatched over 30,000 baby snakes a year! They sold to beginner hobbyists and advanced collectors. They had snakes as cheap as $25 all the way up to $125,000 a piece. Also, Animal Radio Dogfather Joey Villani has several foolproof ways to get tree sap out of your dog’s hair and that hard-to-get-to spot between their pads. No need to cut out the hair if you use the right stuff.

Skunk researcher Christopher Kemp joins us. He’s from England, and they don’t have skunks in Europe. Ironically, Pepe’ le pew is from the Americas. But the most important thing you’ll learn is that tomato Juice doesn’t remove the smell. Christopher will unlock the true secret to remove the stink and some other interesting facts about the mostly misunderstood critter. Also, this week’s Hero Person is making a big difference in a small town. Businessman Barry Kives is paying the adoption fees on 60 pets in his local shelter. Thinking Globally. Acting Locally. Do you know someone that should be nominated for our Hero Person of the Week? Send us an email to YourVoice@AnimalRadio.com. Also, the FDA is calling the top makers of tear-stain removers to the carpet. The administration says these products are not FDA-approved and may have harmful side effects on your pets. Animal Radio News Director Tammy Trujillo reports on the investigation. Also, a Panda in China was about to give birth on live TV until handlers found out she wasn’t pregnant. Researchers suspect the Panda may have faked her pregnancy to get some of the lush accommodations and plentiful food offered to the expecting Pandas. Also this week, Tail Docking - Nail Trimming - Dressing Up Your Dog.

Award-winning, best-selling author Dean Koontz returns to Animal Radio airwaves to tell us the story about his dog, Anna. According to Dean, Anna purchased a computer and started answering advice emails. Tune in to hear the rest of the story. Also, Dr. Mike Sagman was a dentist until he gave that up to create an unbiased website that reviews every pet food on the market. Nobody is in his pockets…although they try. He’s here to tell us how pet food manufacturers deceptively use loopholes to make their labels read better. Find out how your food stacks up. Also, John Bradshaw is arguably the top expert on cats. He’s back to dispel myths and tell us what happens inside our kitties’ heads. For instance, did you know cats can hear very low and very high frequencies? While cats can’t see in the dark, they can see only a few colors well in dimly lit areas. Also, Dr. Doug Aspros from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) have teamed up to bring you the latest information on the Ebola virus and your pet. Is your pet vulnerable? Probably not. There are real risks you should worry about. Many thousands of people died last year from Rabies alone. Also, this week’s Hero Person created a crowd-funding website similar to Kickstarter to help pay for much-needed pet projects. Whether funding surgery or feeding homeless animals, Sarah Timms wants to use modern fundraising techniques to help pets live happy and healthy lives.

The daughter of Clint Eastwood, Alison Eastwood, is back for more fun! She’s crowd-funding to raise money for Chimp Haven, the home of 110 research chimps purposely infected with HIV and Hep C. Also, our Hero Person this week created the Brown Dog Foundation to help pet owners afford life-saving surgeries and procedures for their pets. Also, the 501c3 APPA (American Pet Products Association) is riding high on its viral Pets Add Life campaign. APPA President Bob Vetere says teaching compassion for animals in the classroom creates adults who respect and love pets and people. Also, if you plan to take your pet to Hawaii, you might want to rethink your strategy. A dog that was put in the mandatory 120-day quarantine suffered heat stroke. Now, the owner is demanding an investigation of the quarantine center. Also, would you use a shock collar on your dog? That question is getting lots of interest lately. Researchers suggest that collars can cause physical and emotional harm to dogs.

Our Hero Person this week has been serving animals for decades since a near-death experience changed how he viewed our furry friends. Mike Arms is the Top Dog at the Helen Woodward Center in San Diego and he’s no stranger to Animal Radio® airwaves. He explains his latest viral campaign for animal awareness. Also, researchers say that dogs, like people, can be optimistic or pessimistic. This information could dictate whether certain dogs are cut out for certain jobs. A pessimistic dog that avoids risks would be better as a guide dog, while an optimistic, persistent dog would be more suited to detecting drugs or explosives. Also, a Pizza Hut in Australia has apologized for offering a ‘free small animal’ with the purchase of 10 large pizzas. The deal was offered in connection with a local pet store. The corporate office at Pizza Hut says the promotion was not approved, and no animals were given away. Also, Karen Zaxton’s mom has no technical skills, but she devised a great idea to combine the microchip with a GPS locator. Not until now has the battery technology been available for powering a rice-sized chip. Also, Dr. Debbie tackles litter-box problems every day. She has a winning record! She’ll explain why cats don’t use them and how to solve inappropriate elimination issues.

Several high-profile recent pet deaths highlight the possible need for government regulation of the over $6 billion pet grooming industry. Our very own “Dogfather,” Joey Villani is spearheading the move towards regulation for the pet grooming industry. Also, The first year of being a pet parent to a cat will cost about $1,035; for a dog, that number is $1,843, as estimated by the ASPCA. The estimates seem somewhat conservative by Animal Radio’s standards. Also, Doc Halligan has the 411 on pet vaccines. Can they cause cancer? Are they really necessary? Is there a way to tell if your pet needs them or can skip them? Why are the pharmaceuticals only testing for one year? Also, just like people, there are some really wealthy pets in the world! The richest of them is probably not a shock to you – it’s the long-deceased “Grumpy Cat!” Grumpy’s owner has made over 100 million dollars for appearances, modeling, book deals, and ads. That’s a larger net worth than Cameron Diaz or Jamie Foxx. Also on the list is “Moose” the Jack Russell who starred as “Eddie” on Frasier, “Keiko” the killer whale, “Rin Tin Tin,” the dogs who starred as “Lassie” and Virgin America spokes-dog “Boo.” Also, according to Dr. Lori Marino, new research shows that pigs are smart as, if not smarter than, chimpanzees and dogs. The often lowly regarded swine may even have self-awareness, something our companion animals don’t understand.

From the FX television show, Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll, we are thrilled to have the passionate animal advocate, Elaine Hendrix, is Animal Radio’s special guest this week. During the day, she’s an actress; during the evenings, she’s dedicated to raising awareness for animal welfare, a cause close to her heart. Also, Melanie Monteiro just released an incredible 3-hour online course to educate pet guardians about CPR and other emergency care. Covering everything from bloat to car accidents, she’ll teach you what you need to know to save your pet’s life! Also, Animal Radio’s “Dogfather” Joey Villani is on the cutting edge of legislation to regulate the pet-grooming industry. Until laws are in effect, he wants you to know how to tell a good groomer from bad. He’ll tell you what red flags to look out for. Also, Pets FBI Ohio and its 50 volunteers, which reunite lost pets with their owners, are having trouble solving a case where a scammer is taking advantage of worried pet parents. Be warned that his individual calls people who have lost a pet and says he will help find the pet. He claims he’s with Pet FBI Ohio. Also, Viral Internet stories claiming that the pet food treat “Canine Carry-Outs” has the same ingredients as anti-freeze are simply erroneous. Dr. Debbie explains the hoax to curious listeners.

This week’s Hero Person is a whole bunch of people. We applaud the motorcycle riders who came together to fight animal abuse wherever it rears its ugly head. Greg Belcher tells us the story behind the biker club. Also, it appears this year will be one of the biggest for canine flu. Many Chicago pet events, including the Annual Bark in the Park, have been canceled because this is ground zero. Some dog parks have posted signs warning dog guardians that they are entering at their own risk if their dogs have not been vaccinated. According to reports, more than 1,300 dogs have been affected by the disease in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. At least six of the dogs have died. AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) spokesperson Dr. Douglas Aspros has the information you need to keep your pet safe and healthy. Also, The Humane Society of Utah has teamed up with photographer Guinnevere Shuster to come up with a better way and it worked. She put dogs in a photo booth and let the shutter fly. The pictures turned out to be amazing and really showed off the individual dog’s personalities. In fact, all the dogs in the shoot were almost immediately adopted. Also, Animal Radio’s New Pet Product Special concludes this week. We’re giving away our #1 pick, an Arlo Wireless Pet Monitor Camera to help you keep an eye on your critter from your phone or any computer. Phil Pyo shows off this amazing new technology.

Second-generation Hollywood dog trainer Teresa Ann Miller has trained the dogs and other animals you see in movies and TV. She was brought up on-the-set while her dad worked on such notables as The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction. She shares her captivating stories about the animal stars of the stage and screen. Also, Utah’s police department is the latest to add a program to its police academy to teach cadets how to deal with pet dogs. The program was championed by Sean Kendall, whose Weimaraner Geist was shot and killed by a police officer after coming into the dog’s backyard looking for a lost child. Also, it turns out that many well-known restaurants have secret menus that cater to your pooch. You do need to make sure that your pet can handle some human-ish food before you order. For example, Starbucks will serve up a Puppuccinno. It’s a small cup filled with whipped cream. Dairy Queen’s Pup Cup is a little bit of vanilla soft serve, topped with a dog treat. If you’re on the West Coast, there’s In-N-Out where you can order a Pup Patty. Also, Animal Radio’s New Pet Product Special is underway. We’re featuring the latest in cutting-edge technology for your pets. We have giveaways for you! Dr. Roger Mugford is back to claim our number-two pick for this year, the Green Interactive Feeder. This gadget will slow your dog down during dinnertime, preventing upset and bloat. Also, Top Dog at the American Pet Products Association, Bob Vetere is back to explain why the pet industry is exploding and how we spent $60 Billion. It should come as no surprise that pet-food comprises one-third.

Christina Lindquist is a forensic investigator. She uses evidence from animals, usually dogs and cats, to nab the bad guy. You’ll hear about a murderer that was busted when he stepped in dog-poop and a rapist that was tied to the crime when a dog urinated on his car tires. Also, after several studies saying that kissing your dog could expose you to some unhealthy things comes a study that says “Go ahead and kiss that dog!”  Researchers think that the microbes contained in a dog’s gut could have a probiotic effect on the human body, encouraging the growth of positive microorganisms. Also, imagine if you cross HGTV with Animal Planet. You’ll get the PBS special Animal Homes. Host Chris Morgan joins us and explains how some animals build their homes bigger and better and shinier to attract the opposite sex. Also, Dallas Pets Alive has started naming their adoptable animals with popular online search terms to increase their exposure by having them pop up more often in trending news feeds. Also, in Tokyo, they’ve come up with a pretty cool idea. It’s called Dog Heart and you can actually rent a dog for a few hours. You can just hang out at their facility or take the dog out for a walk around the neighborhood or maybe to the park. A half-hour of playtime costs about $8 US and taking the dog for a walk for an hour runs about $30. It’s becoming very popular. But the Japanese Coalition for Animal Welfare has some valid worries.

Most of us wonder what our dog does when we leave the house. Most imagine that they’ll curl up and sleep until we return. Mike the Intern put a GoPro Video Camera on his dog, “Guinness.” What he saw when he reviewed the video went viral on YouTube. He’s our guest and he’ll explain the inspiration behind his experiment. Also, this week’s Hero Person rescues large breed dogs. These are often the last at the shelter and have nowhere to go. Candace Bright devotes a lot of time and her paycheck from waitressing to make sure these big dogs are taken care of. Also, Company of Animals’ Dr. Roger Mugford joins us from “across the pond” to explain why Europeans embrace the muzzle more than U.S. pet owners. Perhaps it’s time to change the way we think about these tools. Also, did you know your dog’s stinky breath could be because of dental disease? And did you know dental disease could affect your pet’s organs and be fatal? Find out why your friend’s breath makes you tear. Also, it’s a more common question than you might think. Can our pets get car-sickness? Just like us, our dogs can get dizzy and throw-up. But determining whether it’s a genuine sickness or just a phobia of traveling can be difficult. Dr. Debbie has answers.

Our Hero Person segment features the heartwarming story about a kitten that was abandoned on a highway and rescued by Keri Lamar. She was driving when all of a sudden a kitten flew by hear windshield. Keri tells the rest of the story. Also, every dog owner should have several basic training tools. Founder of the Animal Behavior Centre and inventor of the Halti, Dr. Roger Mugford will be explaining what you need to train your dog to sit, stay and come. Also, Australian Anthony Amos has loaded his large family in an RV. He’s towing a giant fiberglass blue dog. Inside the eye-catching vehicle is a shampoo and grooming facility. He’s setting course to cross the U.S. washing 25,000 dogs with 100% of the proceeds going to local shelters. Also, as an animal lover you’ve probably spent hours contemplating the fabric of your next sofa. Consider how their hair shows up on the upholstery as well as whether it will embed itself in the weave and be difficult to clean. Consider how the fabric will react to their nails, and, you’ll want to make sure you choose a fabric that is fairly easy to clean off the drool marks and paw prints. Also, Lady Gaga showed us her talents clearly go beyond music and outlandish outfits. Animal Radio hears she is working on a line of pet products inspired by her dog Asia. Gaga will be the artistic director for the canine collection, which will feature pet clothing and accessories, toys and food bowls. Perhaps she’ll create an outfit of meat that will double as a treat? Probably not.

Chicago Realtor Jason Feldman specializes in selling homes to and for pet-owners. If you’re trying to sell your home after many years of “pet-life,” he’ll have tips for making it more appealing to the buyer. He says sometimes pet-owners become immune to the smell, so it’s advisable to bring in a third party to assess the situation. Also, Joey Villani (The Dogfather) reviews the last grooming trade show and the strange accessories including fake eyelashes for your dog, fingernail polish and wigs. Some might think this is for the hardened pet lover who may be just a little nutty for their pet. And they’re probably right. Also, have you ever known an animal that didn’t want to sleep in the bed with you? Neither do we. So how lucky are this couple’s five cats and two dogs? They made a gigantic 11-foot wide bed that takes up most of their bedroom, but is big enough to share with all of their pets! Also, Camden County, New Jersey has voted unanimously to prohibit pet stores from selling animals from puppy mills. The representatives say they are standing up for animals of their county and want to ensure no one is profiting off the inhumane treatment of puppy mills. Several other counties and towns have inquired about the legislation and enacting it in their areas. Also, a study has found that, infants who share a home with furry pets were found to share some of the animals’ gut bacteria - which might possibly explain why exposing children to animals early in life may protect kids against some allergies.

Every time you enter the pet food aisle, manufacturers are vying for your patronage and their share of the 21 BILLION dollar pet-food sector. They will do just about anything to get your business, except make a truly human edible food. No wonder, only four companies account for 67% of the marketplace. Susan Thixton will tell you the lies the pet-food companies want you to believe. Also, harnessing the power of the Internet for good, Maresa Fanelli pioneered the pet lost and found database for Columbus, Ohio in 1998. Today she’s the driving force behind Pets Found By Internet, reuniting lost animals all across America. She explains how it works and families she’s reunited. Also, Blue Cross pet charity conducted a survey of pet owners and found that they tend to earn nearly $5,000 a year more than those without an animal and are more likely to work full time. They are also happier in general, spend more time with their families and have jobs they enjoy. Lori Brooks reports on this new research and has some illuminating results. Also, Moosie a 2-year-old gray tabby cat has been reunited with his family after he miraculously survived a two-month journey trapped inside a mattress when his owners moved from Texas to Alaska. A moving company left with the military families belongings while the family stayed behind and spent three more days in Texas searching for Moosie. Turns out, Moosie was already en route to Alaska— inside a futon mattress.

Legendary first baseman Steve Garvey is back for his third time to explain his relationship with his 140 pound Rottweiler, among other things. Steve is now working closely to help the Lucy Pet Foundation score a home run. He won't be talking politics! Also, everybody loves cat videos. Rachel Gitlin figures that her creation, Cats vs. Cancer, will use the power of cat videos to raise money, through advertising, to help assist in the fight against human cancer. She’ll explain the model and tell you how you can help too. Also, attorney Debra Hamilton gave up practicing litigation law to focus on the animals. As a mediator, she negotiates peaceful resolutions to pet-related discourse. Besides the obvious, divorce and pet-custody issues, she also deals with bad breeders and pet trusts. Also, looking for a link to help explain mental illness, new research shows that growing up with a family cat is a commonality among people who develop schizophrenia. Also, dogs are used in all kinds of ways to help humans feel better, emotionally. Funeral directors say dogs, especially trained therapy animals, can lighten the often awkward, tense atmosphere at a wake or funeral service and sometimes seem to know exactly who needs their help. Also, the German Cemetery Association is offering pets and people adjoining urn spaces. The cost is between $1,100-1,600. Although the ashes of pet owners and their animals will now have the chance to sit side by side, cremations are still legally required to be carried out separately.

What would drive Adam Warwick to jump in alligator filled waters to save a bear that was drowning? Adam is our special guest this week and he tells an adrenaline filled rescue story. When he’s done telling you what he did for this bear, you’ll ask yourself if you would’ve done the same thing. Also, Pet World Insider Robert Semrow has done the research. He’s come up with the 5 things you should definitely know about your dog. Before you embark on training your favorite pooch, check out theses tips for training the untrained. Also, Rose Seemann is the author of “The Pet Poo Pocket Guide” and our guest. She has some shocking realities about our pet’s waste. There’s more poo than we think accumulating in landfills and polluting our environment. She’ll be using the gold standard of monumental measurement, the football field. And you’ll need a lot of them to house all our pet’s poo. Also, Bri Bradley is co-owner of a brand new dog treat business. What makes her business so different than the hundreds of other dog treats? She customizes the treats for your dog. You tell her what flavors, carbs, proteins and vegetables to put in and she’ll bake them and deliver them right to your door. Also, it was thought that China was the source of the jerky that’s making dogs sick across America. But new research shows that even US sourced jerky is a problem. The FDA is scratching their head. Nobody seems to exactly understand what part of the jerky is making animals sick. At this time, the best advice is to stay away from all jerky treats. Also, did you know your pet can have a host of allergies this time of year? That might explain the itching, hair loss, and eye issues. Dr. Debbie will try to help you determine the source of your pet’s allergies and how to resolve them.

Since there is no real certification for service or emotional support animals, anything goes. Flight attendant Heather Poole is fed up with trying to make everybody happy. She questions the credibility of “emotional support” pigs, horses and monkeys. Yes, these are animals she’s had the pleasure of accommodating on her LA-NY route. Also, former U.S. Marine Eric Calley suffers from (PTSD) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He is quite thankful for his service dog, “Sun.” Calley had a run-in with a US airline when they denied proper seating for his service dog and berated him with insults. Also, no matter how hyper your dog is, you would never give it an alcoholic drink to help it relax? You might have been doing just that if you used the product Good Dog made by Pet Organics. It turns out that among those ‘natural ingredients’ is 13% alcohol, about the same amount that is wine. Also, we’ve been seeing more and more stories about the fees landlords charge people who move in with pets. Now, an unpaid pet fee has resulted in a disabled Army Veteran and his service dog being evicted from a mobile home in Bandera, Texas. David Palasek refused to pay the pet fee, citing Section 504 of the Fair Housing Act that states service animals are not pets, so are not subject to a pet fee.

Former Navy Seal Michael Ritland created a non-profit to help military dogs transition to civilian life. Just like our human soldiers, dogs need help acclimating back into a normal environment. Small noises can cause extreme emotional distress in our enlisted canines. Also, the Aloft Hotel is Asheville, North Carolina is helping the local shelter find homes for adoptable dogs with their unique program. So far they’ve found homes for almost two-dozen dog. Wait until you hear how they’re doing it. Also, most stores are no longer selling jerky pet treats made in China. The treats were connected to thousands of dogs getting sick and at more than one thousand deaths. But the FDA could never determine WHAT it was in the treats that were causing the issues. With the treats off the shelves, for the most part, the number of complaints to the FDA has gone down dramatically, but the agency says it still plans to continue its investigation. Also, a Florida Police Dog is being kicked off the for for biting a Dunkin’ Donuts worker in the calf. “Renzo” had been a police dog for about a year. This is his second bite incident.

Animal Radio Veterinary Correspondent Dr. Marty Becker is back to help you keep your pets flea-less and tick-less. The good doctor has the ugly truth about how ticks infect you and your pet with a multitude of nasty viruses. And are fleas becoming resistant to spot-on preventatives? Also, the American Pet Products Association (APPA) released the yearly numbers of dollars spent within the pet industry. APPA says we spent 58 BILLION in last year on 397 million pets, including everything from freshwater fish and reptiles to cats and dogs. We spend over 20 billion on pet-food alone. No wonder the business is so cutthroat as many compete for our dollars. Also, our Hero Person this week lives in Johannesburg, South Africa and she’s 8-and-a-half years old. Alyssa Carter parlayed her love for Rhinos into fundraising to keep them from being poached. So far, she has been able to raise $23,000 by selling candy and trinkets to schoolmates and family. Also, Dr. Debbie teaches us all about the Titer test. The test determines the amount of antibodies in your pet, and ultimately if it is really necessary to vaccinate. She’ll tell you why you should vaccinate and what types of animals should avoid vaccination altogether. Also, Amtrak is one step closer to becoming pet friendly. The House of Representatives has approved 8 billion in funding for a pilot program for people traveling with pets. At least one car per train would allow pets in kennels as long as they meet size requirements. The bill now goes to the Senate and then to the White House, where it reportedly is being supported.

If you’ve ever thought of quitting your job to work in the pet industry, you’ll should hear this week’s guest. Jamie Migdal created a website to match you with the perfect pet-related job. From Dog-walking to Marketing, the jobs pay quite well. Also, this week’s Hero Person definitely goes above and beyond for animals. His latest rescue was a small Chihuahua dumped into a sewer. Dusty Showers probably needed a few showers after crawling through raw sewage to find this pup that everyone else had given up on. This isn’t his first heroic stunt. Besides the long list of animals he has rescued, Dusty also rode his bike across the country to raise funds for Cancer research.Also, Catherine Pipon was diagnosed with a condition known as heart block. Doctors inserted a pacemaker. Recently, her five-year-old Cairn Terrier Molly was diagnosed with the same condition. Catherine spent over $5,000 to get a pacemaker for the dog. The pacemakers are nearly identical and their conditions are so similar that Catherine and Molly share the same doctor Jersey General Hospital. Molly goes in after hours, so other patients don’t get upset that a dog is being seen at a people hospital.

Animal Radio Veterinary Correspondent Dr. Marty Becker is back with the scoop on pheromones. Can the synthetically produced smell be helpful in calming cats and dogs, or is it a waste of money? Also, it’s long been thought that mutts are much healthier, both mentally and physically, than those pure bred for pedigree. While there may be some truth to this, it is not always the case. Author Michael Brandow describes how the quest for status has harmed man’s best friend. Also, Richard Brower’s German Shepherd, Dozer, was stolen 18 months ago. He looked everywhere. After a year-a-half, Richard decided to share his home with a new dog. He did an online search for ‘German Shepherds for sale,’ which led him to the local animal rescue and right there was Dozer on the front page. Also, former Ohio National Guardsman Darin Welker uses ducks to treat his PTSD. The town council says he hasn’t presented enough evidence that the ducks serve a medical need and that he would face imminent harm without them. Also, last week, we had the story of Bart the cat that was hit by a car and buried but was actually still alive. Bart dug his way out and made it to his neighbors yard. Bart is now officially, and fondly known, as the Zombie Cat. If you think his story couldn’t get stranger, think again.

Actress Tippi Hedren (The Birds) is back to talk about the big cats at her sanctuary and legislation to stop the breeding of lions and tigers. She comes clean about her daughter’s (actress Melanie Griffith) relationship with “Neil” the lion. Also, if you foster an animal, you can deduct some of the associated costs. Things like vet bills, food, grooming; they qualify as charitable donations, which are deductible up to 50% of your adjusted gross income. But once, you officially adopt the animal, that animal is no longer considered a foster, so you will lose the deductions. Also, this week’s Hero Person is rescuing elephants from circuses and zoos. Often mistreated, the gentle giants are exploited for our entertainment. Scott Blais, co-founder of an elephant sanctuary in Tennessee, Skypes with us from Brazil, where he is currently rescuing 50 elephants. Also, it will soon be a crime throughout New York State to pierce or tattoo a companion animal. There is an exception for markings one under a veterinarian’s supervision. The laws were prompted by people showing off what they did to their animals on the Internet, including a woman who was piercing kittens and selling them as ‘gothic.’ Also, the Maryland Court of Appeals has ruled that a jury can award damages to pet owners for the emotional distress they suffer following the injury or death of a beloved animal due to gross negligence. The Court let stand a $200,000 award to Roger and Sandra Jenkins. Their Labrador retriever was shot and killed by a Frederick County sheriff’s deputy.

Actress Kim Sill is back to tell us about her latest project. She’s putting adoption stores inside malls. Kim is saving hundreds of death row cats, dogs and bunnies by changing their adoption venue to the more appealing atmosphere. Also, while you may not associate Valentine’s Day with pet dangers, Doc Halligan from the Lucy Pet Foundation thinks you should be extra cautious. She see more animals the day after Valentines (only third after Christmas and Halloween), usually because pets swallow something they shouldn’t have. Also, author Arlene Weintraub explains how vital the roles of dogs are in the search for a cure for cancer. Veterinarians and Oncologists are working together to discover new treatments for Cancer. Also, have you ever searched for a home or apartment to rent that allowed you to have pets? Yes, it’s nearly impossible to find in Los Angeles where 62% of the rental units do not accept pets. Now, the LA City Council has voted to make some changes in hopes of making landlords more open to accepting pets at their properties. Also, a small, 15-year-old, three-legged dog might not seem like much of a threat, but this dog took a bullet for his family in Wisconsin and saved them from a man who had broken into their home and attempted to rob them. A bullet grazed the top of the dog’s head and became lodged in his neck.

This week’s Hero Person is 9-year-old Orly Sedransk. After a visit to her local shelter, she was moved to do something to make a difference. Through a 50/50 raffle, she was able to raise enough money to help the municipal shelter purchase cages to hold cats. Also, next time you go to the Dog Park, you’re likely going to hear someone calling for Max or Bella. Those are the top two names bestowed on puppies in 2023. Vetstreet.com says other popular names for boy dogs after Max were Charlie, Rocky, Buddy and Cooper. Rover.com says there was a 37% increase in food-themed names like Coconut, Ginger, Kale, Peanut, Guinness, Vino, Mochi and Whiskey. Also, Pamela Paquin is an “ethical designer.” She collects road-kill to turn into “Petite Mort,” or stoles, collars and coats. The average price is $1000 for one of her creations. Many of her clients are upscale and affluent. Pamela says this is a tribute to the animals. also, when Pet Food Stamps, Inc. was formed, it got attention from all over, including being featured on CNN, CBS, ABC and Animal Radio. Founder Marc Okon raised $65,000, enough to handle the nearly 200,000 people who’d asked for help. He resigned last April, saying he was overwhelmed with applications and closed the program. Also, Petco has kept it promise and removed all dog and cat threats made in China from the shelves of it stores nationwide. Last May, the chain became the first national pet retailer to say it would stop selling the treats after reports began showing up Chinese-made treats were making animals sick, and worse. The move includes pet treats made for the Petco Brand ‘unleashed’ and those sold online.

Often confused, there is a major difference between Emotional Support Animals and Service Animals. Lori Brooks has the lowdown on what this means for you and your Emotional Support Tarantula. Yes, he’ll be able to get on a plane, but he may be legally turned away from your favorite restaurant. Also, stolen pets are on the rise. It doesn’t matter what breed you have. An estimated two million pets were stolen last year in the United States. That’s up 32% according to the American Kennel Club. And the number of actual dogs stolen could be potentially much greater. You need to be extra careful with your furry-family or they might end up in the ugly under-belly of human nature. Also, many experts say “keep the pets out of the bed.” But a recent study from the Center for Sleep Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona could change some minds. Researchers surveyed 150 sleep center patients and found that more than half of pet owners allowed their pets to sleep in the bedroom. One out of five described their pets as disruptive, but 41% said their pets were quiet and even beneficial to their nightly sleep. And finally, the big question this week is about the Zika Virus - and if our pets can be affected. While there is no evidence yet that they can carry it or transmit it, the relevant question is if they can be sickened by it.

Dr. Nicholas Dodman (Program Director for the Animal Behavior Department at Tufts) researched several alleged cases of pet suicide to see if it’s possible. He’s here to report on his findings and to answer the provocative question. Also, while many states mandate that pets are not allowed to be kept outdoors in extreme weather for extended periods of time without insulated housing, others barely consider hypothermia deaths to be animal cruelty. Fortunately, some states and local governments are now enforcing harsher punishments for people who allow their pets to perish in weather extremes like the recent blizzard on the east coast. Also, do you think the back of your cat’s heads smells wonderful? A Japanese company has researched that scent, recreated it, and is now bottling it. The head of Yamamoto Perfumery spent four months doing research, sniffing many cat’s heads to replicate the smell. The result? Fluffy Brow Scented Fabric Water. It can be sprayed on fabrics or anything to give them a lovely cat-head smell. A bottle sells for 1,200 yen or about $10 each. Also, Doc Halligan and Dogfather Joey Villani have incredible tips for helping your furry-friends through the winter. Everything from their coat to their diet change when the weather gets frigid. Also, a woman in California has 1,000 cats. But she’s no hoarder. Lattanzi runs Cat House on the Kings, the largest cat sanctuary in the country. It all started when she volunteered to bottle feed kittens for a rescue back 25 years ago. Today Cat House on the Kings has 45 paid personnel who help to care for the cats and maintain the property including a veterinarian and seven vet techs are also part of the team.

The “Dog Food Dude,” Rick Woodford is back. He says you should share your food with your dog. But doesn’t that go against everything we’ve been taught about proper nutrition? No, not if you’re doing it right. Also, if Linda Rosenthal has her way; New York will be the first state to make it illegal to declaw a cat. The Manhattan assemblywoman has introduced a bill to ban the controversial procedure sometimes called de-knuckling because it’s actually the entire knuckle, which is the last bone in the cat’s toe that is removed. Declawing of cats is already banned in many countries, including Australia, India, Spain and the United Kingdom, as well as seven cities in California, including Los Angeles and San Francisco. Also, ask most pet owners and they’ll tell you their dog sleeps in bed with them. The days of the doghouse seem to have all but disappeared. But Larry Hobbs has a booming business making high-end Eco-friendly doghouses. He’ll explain why. Also, all dogs in England, Scotland & Wales will have to be microchipped with their owners’ details registered and kept up to date in huge database to encourage “responsible pet ownership.” To help people get it done, Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, is offering free microchipping. It’s hoped that “Compulsory microchipping will help reduce the number of lost and abandoned dogs and it will allow authorities to directly identify dog owners and hold them accountable for their dogs’ behavior and welfare. Also, at the beginning of a new year, everyone makes a resolution to lose weight. Well, Buddy the dog has a jump on all of us after losing more than 100 pounds. Buddy the 180-pound, 6-year-old, morbidly obese Australian Shepherd spent the last 9 months dieting and now weighs 71 lbs. He lost so much weight that he underwent skin removal surgery.

Nicole Humphries runs a blood bank for companion animals. She’ll answer the itching question, is dog’s blood different than cat’s, or is a German Shepard’s blood different than a Pug’s? And where does all this blood come from? You never see a pet blood-mobile in the neighborhood. Also, a mischievous cat escaped its carrier on board a Delta flight last week and to the horror of a cat fearing flight attendant, the cat roamed free in the cabin. Of course, someone caught the incident on video and it had some comical moments. The poor cat’s owner fell asleep with headphones on and somehow it managed to get out of the carrier. Also, for owners of dogs and cats stricken with cancer, expensive treatments only adds to the emotional difficulties. Just the initial cancer diagnosis can cost $2,000. A standard course of chemotherapy costs between $3,000 and $5,000. A bone marrow transplant costs between $16,000 and $25,000 and the cure rate is only about 33%. These aren’t just wealthy people. Some used their life savings, and even refinanced their houses to pay for the treatments. And finally, some really strict new laws there now make it a crime to insult the Thailand monarchy and now a factory worker could go to jail for 37 years for making disparaging posts on Facebook about the king’s dog. Turns out that the man was charged after making a “sarcastic” Facebook post about the dog. The 88-year-old ailing King rescued Copper from an alley and in 2002 he wrote a best selling book about her. She is so revered there that the media must address the dog as ma’am.

Donna Jenkins is pioneering a movement to allow visitation of patient’s personal pets during long-term treatment. She formed Zachary’s Paw For Healing after her son passed from a terminal disease. During his final hours he requested a visit from the family pet but didn’t want to sneak the dog into the cancer treatment facility.Also, did you get a pet for the holiday? Dr. Marty Becker is back with tips that every new puppy or kitten owner should know. These tips could save you a lot of grief. Also, former NFL quarterback Michael Vick got the celebrity treatment as he visited the Pennsylvania state Capitol last week to lobby for a bill to help protect cats and dogs from being left in unattended vehicles. Vick was a star quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons when he plead guilty to federal conspiracy charges in 2007 for his role in a dog fighting ring and served nearly two years in prison. He claims to have been reformed and spoke on behalf of animals saying, “The bottom line is that all animals thrive (on) kindness and respect. They depend on us like our children depend on us.” Also, two years ago, in a first of its kind crash test, the leading pet harnesses, which were trusted by owners, failed again and again. Now, the Center for Pet Safety is testing pet travel seats. So are there any safe pet seats? Really, the answer is No. The Director at the Center for Pet Safety says they “do not recommend pet seats at this time for pet owners” to use for their pets in cars.

Accomplished dog trainer Victoria Stilwell returns to Animal Radio airwaves to help us decode our dog’s behavior. She’ll tell us what some common dog gestures mean. New studies show our dogs are much smarter than we give them credit for. Do dogs feel guilt? They sure look guilty when you catch them doing something bad. Also, Pet World Insider Robert Semrow has his list of the Top 5 Holiday Traditions That Can Land Your Pet on the Naughty List. Make sure you listen carefully so that you won’t end up at the Vet Clinic. Also, Edward Meyers is back for his yearly visit. He collects oddities for Ripley’s and he’ll be sharing his strange picks for animals that are a bit out of the ordinary, like the cat with BIG eyes and the dog that ate a round of gun ammunition. Also, Mo Golden and Ross Cowman created a business of making motivational posters for cats. At first it was a novelty idea, but it turned into something truly beneficial for both cats and humans explains Ross.

Mario Chiozza is this week’s Hero Person. He couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw a dog tossed out of the car in front of him on Interstate 40. Despite the 55 mph. rush-hour traffic, he managed to capture the dog and save her. “Savior” is the catalyst for Mario’s mission. Also, Animal Radio’s very own Joey “Dogfather” Villani is behind legislation to protect your pet while they’re at the groomer. Currently, anyone with a scissors can groom your pet. This bill would mandate certification and a license, just like your barber. Also, Dr. Kathy Hillestad is here to help make your holiday safe and fun for your pets. She has the details about good and bad foods and plants. This year, as Lithium batteries become more prevalent in devices, more animals are swallowing them. Also, research presented at the Sleep conference showed that 54% of pet guardians sleep with their pets and that 30% of those said they wake up at least once a night because of them. 63% said they have poor sleep quality. Some people though say they sleep better WITH their pets. Also, an autistic 7-year-old girl and her service dog waited in line to see Santa at a SoCal Mall. Santa’s elf told them they would not be allowed near Santa because the jolly man was afraid of Pit Bulls. The family complained and Santa was sent packing.

Actress Sylva Kelegian not only guests this week, but she is also our Hero Person. Changing focus from acting to animals, she’s on a mission to reduce the homeless population in LA. She wrote a book about her journey. Also, there is not much out there to make taking college finals fun, but Iowa State University found a way to make them a bit less stressful. Pet therapy. ISU set up a room at the library where stressed out students could come in and spend some time playing and petting a group of dogs. Also, Fat Pets - Fat Pet Parents. Chances are your New Years resolution has something to do with weight-loss. We should also be thinking about our pets too. They become very sedentary during the winter and putting on the pounds is not uncommon. Animal Radio Veterinary Correspondent Dr. Marty Becker has a plan for you and your poochy-pet. Also, the Barths, were moving from Virginia to Hawaii. Just before they were ready to go their cat “Mee Mowe” disappeared. They postponed their move for three days hoping that she would show up. They finally had to go. They got to Hawaii and 36 days later their belongings arrived. They heard a very faint meow coming from one of the boxes. Yup, there was Mee Mowe. And finally, Britt Savage has tips on naming and teaching your dog their name. Many dogs think their name is “Max get out of the trash” because we don’t use it properly.

After selling her successful Pet-sitting business, Lindsey Grant wrote a book about the strange and curious relationships we have with our pets. Some of her client’s requests make for a noteworthy book. She’ll also be talking about how Switzerland, her new home, treats animals. Also, you’ll love this week’s Hero Person. She’s 84-year-old Dolly Jefferson. And she had no qualms about intercepting angry coyotes to save a neighbor’s dog. Now she’s making news nationwide. Also, Movie Producer Eric Ristau released his latest masterpiece about the many dogs that travel alongside their owner in a motorcycle sidecar. Sit Stay Ride: The Story of America’s Sidecar Dogs is the full-length movie that launched with a Kickstarter campaign, and now proceeds benefit animal welfare. Also, authorities in Louisiana have backed off on its demand that Zeus be gotten rid of or be destroyed. In October, Moreauville passed a law banning Pit Bulls or Rottweilers. When they targeted Zeus, the whole thing blew up on national television and on the Internet. Zeus helps the Owen’s daughter O’Hara who uses a wheelchair and has spasms, which Zeus monitors and gets her help when she needs it.

QVC’s Carolyn Gracie loves her animals. Besides a house full of rescues, she also is quick to bring a pet into the QVC fold. “If you want to sell-out a product, bring a pet on TV with you,” Carolyn advises. She regularly pitches products from small up-and-coming pet product entrepreneurs. Also, Lisa Hennessy decided she was done with commercial dog food for her Collie. She started creating healthy, fresh dishes that her dog could share with her. Lisa tested dozens of recipes and compiled them into several cookbooks. She’s here to share some of her recipes with you. Also, how much would you spend to try and find your dog if he got lost? The sky is the limit it seems for Janet Mihalyfi of Georgetown. Her 5-year-old, Rottweiler mix, Havoc, has been missing for a year this month. So far she’s spent $35,000 dollars trying to find him. Also, when Mary Krupa befriended a wild squirrel, she learned that she could easily dress “Sneezy” up and take photos of the rodent in hats and clothing. Now, she regularly meets up with the squirrel for photo sessions. Also, testing cosmetics on animals has recently been banned in Europe and India and a similar ban here in the United States will be on the front burner when the new Congress convenes in January. Virginia Democrat Don Beyer is expected to take the lead on the issue. Their state, Virginia, is home to several big cosmetic companies. And finally, the nurse in Spain who recovered from Ebola, but whose dog Excalibur was killed by Spanish Health authorities, is suing. Teresa Romero’s lawsuit seeks the equivalent of $186,000 for the loss of her dog and another $186,000 for damage done to her name.

You might remember him from Seinfeld. He was the first winner on Dancing With The Stars and People’s Sexiest Man of the Year. John O’Hurley, host of the National Dog Show on NBC, is back to spread Thanksgiving cheer and Holiday warm-fuzzies all over Animal Radio airwaves. Also, more than half of the people in the nation have at least one pet according to a new Rasmussen survey. 49% have a dog and 23% have a cat. 24% have more than one kind of pet. Only 3% have a fish, bird or some other sort of animal. An overwhelming majority of pet guardians, 92% say they talk to their pet. Also, a couple in Atlanta has their Shih Tzu, Jordan, back after eight years. The last time Mike Nuanes saw Jordan he was just a puppy. He’s sure someone snatched Jordan out of their backyard. They did everything to find him, but no luck until a few weeks ago, when the Fulton County Animal Services called to say Jordan had been turned in as a stray. Luckily, Jordan was microchipped, the key to his finally getting home.

Cat expert Jackson Galaxy is back. This time he has great ideas for turning your house into a cat-friendly playground without losing its aesthetic appeal. It’s not enough to just have a feeding bowl and litter anymore. Cats need stimulation. Jackson has a plan, even if you’re a renter. Oh, did we mention we have giveaways of Jackson’s book? Also, forget about canine separation anxiety. Let’s talk about how much we miss our pets when we go out of town. 10% of us call our pets to say hi. 4% of us send postcards to our pets. And a whopping 23% of us buy souvenirs for our critters. Tammy Trujillo has all the details about our obsession with our pets. Also, actress Charlotte Ross guests this weekend. This charismatic fireball loves the animals. You’ve seen her on Glee, NYPD Blue, Nashville and Arrow. But her biggest role is being a voice for the voiceless. Also, there are lots of home-remedies for fleas that simply don’t work or can be dangerous for your pet. No, Motor Oil doesn’t work, and is obviously very dangerous. Lemon juice doesn’t kill fleas either. Nor does Dawn dish detergent. Dr. Debbie & Dogfather Joey Villani have what you need-to-know to effectively and safely rid your pet and house of fleas. Also, our Hero Person this week is trying to put an end to an archaic method of euthanization. 22 states still use the gas chamber to get rid of unwanted animals. Joe Dwyer adopted a dog that survived a gassing. Now the lucky dog, “Daniel,” is the poster-dog for anti-gas chamber legislation.

When a marriage breaks up, it’s the children who often get caught in the middle, but pets can end up becoming the subjects of custody battles too. Now the British animal charity Blue Cross has come up with what it calls a ‘Pet-Nup’ that spells out who will get the family pet if a couple splits up. Also, you don’t hear very often, maybe never, about a goldfish having an operation. But you don’t often hear about a goldfish having a life-threatening tumor growing from its head. Little George of Melbourne, Australia had both. Also, this week’s Hero Person has her hands full with paraplegic and quadriplegic dogs. Elizabeth Forsberg has adopted animals that normally would be put-down because of their handicap. Also, if you leave something behind when you get off a plane, getting it back can be a real pain. Not so anymore if that plane lands at Amsterdam Airport Schipole. Sherlock will get it back to you, no problem. Sherlock is a beagle specifically trained to return lost items to passengers. Also, one pet groomer in Yekaterinburg, Russia is doing more than just baths and hair cuts, she’s giving dogs and cats makeovers into creatures like mythical green dragons or yellow and black striped bumblebees. Daria Gotz says she only uses dyes made from botanical extracts that wear off once the animal’s coat grows out. And, of course, Dr. Debbie and Dogfather Joey Villani are answering your pet questions about jumping dogs, TPLO surgery, doggy A.D.D., teaching your bird to talk, fleas, eating poop, ear-mites, hairballs, motion sickness, allergies and aggressive behavior. Call from the free Animal Radio iPhone/Android App.

Should Homeless People Have Pets? Dr. Gillian Squirrell has developed a nonprofit program, Working Dog LLC, for vulnerable adults and young people working with dogs as a way to develop interpersonal and workplace skills. Dr. Squirrell tells us that Working Dog LLC has a small fund for the development of ideas about how to improve support for homeless people and their animal companions. As we know, these clients and their animals can fall through gaps in service provision. Should homeless people have pets? Dr. Gillian states that that is an interesting conversation starter. This is a very under-researched and little understood area. There is a lot of judgment attached to homelessness as well as a lot of fear. People range on a continuum from “Absolutely they shouldn’t, they can’t look after themselves, to thinking it’s a really cute thing,” states Dr. Gillian. Also, author Lisa Rogek has found 50 cats that have jobs. This isn’t easy. Cats are notoriously not workers, unlike dogs. From Grumpy Cat to Kitty Models, Lisa will share the stories behind these frolicking felines. Also, Halloween can be a fun time for your pets. But some animals just aren’t cut out for the holiday and would be safer cuddled inside on the night of trickery. Also, there’s a warning for pet owners after a cat was found with its head stuck in a rodent trap. The cat, which was seriously injured, was caught in a Fenn Trap, meant for squirrels and rats. Luckily the cat was found and rescued by a Good Samaritan. Since the incident last month, the SPCA is now calling on people to be aware that setting these rodent traps could be breaking the law. Also, a study reveals having a pet in the classroom may provide real educational value through leadership skills and character building. Despite some of the challenges to having classroom pet, such as coping with loss and teachers spending their own money to care for the pet, the study found six objectives proving the benefit of caring for a classroom pet, like teaching children responsibility compassion, empathy, respect and leadership through animal care and providing relaxation when children are stressed.

San Francisco Police spent hours trying to convince a jumper not to jump. It wasn’t until the officers brought in the jumper’s tabby cat that the standoff ended. Never underestimate the bond between people and their pets. Also, being overweight can seriously impact our health and that of our pets. The Association for Pet Obesity estimates that nearly 54% of cats and dogs in the US are overweight or obese. Lori Brooks has tips to tell if your pet is a healthy weight. We’ll also discuss the safest methods for lowering your pets caloric intake and increasing exercise. Also, an anonymous real life hero saved the life of a dog that was trapped inside a burning home this week in Tennessee.  As someone who witnessed it describes it said, “This guy in a gray mustang pulls up says, ‘I do this for a living,’ and he runs in and he comes out about two minutes later with this beautiful dog in his arms.” Less than a minute later the roof of the home caved in. And finally, vets often find it truly scary during this time of year. The things that make Halloween a treat for people can overwhelm many pets. Some parts of Halloween can even be dangerous. On the other hand, some pets absolutely love the holiday. There’s no shortage of dogs and cats that love the attention and adulation they receive in their costume. We’ll help you determine which side of the scale your pets find most comfortable. Dr. Debbie sees more patients the day after Halloween. She’ll explain why and what you can do to avoid the vet.

Animal Radio’s Season of Stars continues with the lead singer for The Marshall Tucker Band, Doug Gray. He shares his life with animals, including anecdotes about his Persian kitties, “Cheech & Chong.” Also, are you fearful that your dog will catch a disease if you let him out of the yard. You’re not alone. Numbers of “backyard prisoners” are growing and causing more behavioral problems in the long run. Both Vladae and Dr. Debbie have answers to battle this epidemic. Also, emergency responders in the U.K. say a 2 year-old Basset Hound dialed 9-9-9, the British version of 9-1-1, while he was choking on the phone’s cord. The dog reportedly knocked over the phone and became tangled in the cord, and somehow managed to dial for help.And finally, Izzy is among a small number of Beagles employed by TSA that lives and works at an airport. His job is to smell luggage for fruit, meat, plants, seeds and vegetables. Federal officials won’t disclose how many canines are employed as “passive response dogs.”

Russ Kennedy holds down security at Charleston’s Yeager Airport. He’s also the handler for Greg, a border collie that clears runways from geese and other wildlife that could cause a fatal aircraft accident. Also, a Wisconsin man made headlines after a dog lick led to a rare infection resulting in the amputation of part of his legs and arms. This has set off unwarranted alarm. While the bacterium is extremely common in dogs and cats, the risk posed by being licked is infinitesimally low. Also, a coalition of animal groups in Washington, D.C., have started the D.C. Cat Count, which will try to create a more accurate estimate of the city’s entire cat population, including both feral cats and pet cats. The project is expected to take three years and cost $1.5 million. The groups hope the information will help improve efforts to manage the cat population. The project will use many different strategies to arrive at a total population count, including an app allowing residents to snap their own images of cats they encounter. Also, a dog groomer in Japan is literally turning dogs into fluff balls. Yoriko Hamachiyo is clipping usually small dogs into a ball. He does this by cutting their hair so they look like a soft, fluffy round ball, a ball with legs. Also, dogs can communicate through scent, leaving their mark everywhere. New research finds that smaller dogs “cheat” by using higher raised-leg angles to leave higher urine marks, thus exaggerating their size to other dogs that would come along and sniff later. And finally, The voice of Bart Simpson is our flashback guest. Nancy Cartwright really loves animals. She has an entire menagerie at her L.A. ranch. Her prized pet is a fiberglass cow. Nancy felt that because she’s always saying, “don’t have a cow man,” that she should have one. She also has seahorses.

Dr. Lisa Moses says there is a place for DNA tests, but only as a novelty. While these tests may show a predisposition towards breed specific diseases, she warns against making medical decisions based on a DNA swab or blood tests. Also, in a study of 2,000 cat owners reveals many of them are oblivious about what foods could be harmful to their cat’s health. More than 50% of those questioned did not know that milk, grapes, raisins, garlic and onions are hazardous to a cat’s health. A fifth of owners don’t even know their cats are carnivores, with one in 10 feeding them raw vegetables and another one in 20 serving up salad leaves. Also, “unattended pets often set their homes on fire and pets can’t call 911,” according to Zsolt Sapy, the COO of Smoke Alarm Monitoring. Just how does this happen? What can you do to stack the odds in your pet’s favor? Also, Right Pet has announced the findings of its 8-year pet ownership study that used the data of nearly 17,000 pet owners across 113 countries. The biggest revelation is that children between the ages of 10 and 17 years old say they get more satisfaction owning pet rats rather than cats or dogs. Also, if you’ve ever thought of quitting your job and living out your life saving cats on a picturesque Greek island, here’s some great news. A cat rescue in Greece, called God’s Little People Cat Rescue, is looking for a new caretaker. They’re looking for a part-time caretaker to look after 55 cats with free lodging in the form of the sanctuary manager’s house that overlooks the Aegean Sea. And finally, the late iconic actor Ed Asner is our flashback to 2010. Bet you didn’t know Ed was a “cat” guy? His satirist banter and love for his personal kitties makes this one of most memorable moments of Animal Radio.

Kelly Lund and Loki, his Husky - Wolf mix, didn’t intentionally become a viral Internet sensation. Kelly casually posted a picture on Instagram that was picked up by Reddit, Bored Panda and Buzzfeed. Now Loki has a half-million followers and a new book. Kelly will give us tips on making your pet a star. Also, Fiona Gilbert has Multiple Sclerosis. a degenerative neurological condition that affected her ability to walk. Without her service dog, she cannot function or work. The only problem is that Koda, her service animal is a pit-bull mix. As a frequent flyer on Delta Airlines, she is no longer welcome because her service dog is banned on the carrier. Also, Forbes came out with multiple lists on social media influencers. On the list of Pet Influencers, probably the best-known Internet pet that still commands the most eyeballs and makes money to match her fame, is the long-deceased ‘Grumpy Cat.’ Why are these animals so engaging and why are they so valuable to advertisers? Collectively, the top 10 Pet Influencers have 50 million followers. Also, Kea parrots are big and about 18 inches long. They’re native to New Zealand where they can be a pest, but they do attract the tourists. These big parrots have been caught on camera shifting traffic cones into active traffic lanes. Why? The New Zealand Transportation Agency thinks they know why. And finally, through the freedom of information act, some new information has come to light in the case of a pet food company having pentobarbital tainted horse meat in some of its canned food. The manufacturer was in compliance and had a license to use horse-meat at that time. However, it turns out they had been processing horse-meat as early as 2015 without a license. Records show an inspector found it on the premises of the processing plant during an inspection that was made as a result of complaints over health concerns and unsanitary conditions at the facility.

Taryn Nahm wants you to kick back a few cocktails with your pet. She says you can bond with your pet while you relax with a beverage. Taryn created pet cocktails that look just like the human adult versions, except without alcohol. Also, do you have trouble getting your pet to the vet? You’re not alone. Certified Trainer Mikkel Becker has some great ideas for making a vet visits easy and enjoyable. Check out our Fear Free Expert Series. Also, there has been a Campylobacter outbreak associated with puppies sold at Petland stores and it’s the humans that have handled these puppies that are getting sick. So far, more than 55 people in 12 states have now been diagnosed in this outbreak, which is so serious that at least a fourth of the patients have been hospitalized. Also, Millennials, or Generation Y, are those born between 1982 and 2004 and they are quickly changing the world of pets. According to the American Pet Products Association, Millennials are now the largest segment of pet owners. They found Millennials invest more time in their pets, evaluating their needs more thoroughly and spending more money. Also, research shows that if your pet is unwell, it can make you unwell, leading to depression, anxiety and a poorer quality of life. It’s the same problem that was previously found in the human world.

Shellie Powell has an unusual pet. She is the proud guardian of “Diva,” a pet duck that wears a diaper and shoes. Diva goes with Shellie everywhere, including Walmart, Target and PetSmart. Shellie is training Diva the Duck to be a Therapy Pet. Also, many veterinarians are practicing “Fear Free.” Pets that like going to the veterinarian are generally healthier. Now, the Fear Free movement is coming to your home with ideas for enriching your pet’s life everyday. Dr. Marty Becker is back to explain how your pets can live an improved lifestyle. Also, researchers are looking into the connection between having a pet and obesity. They are interested in gut health and trying to find out if certain microbial swaps (such as a kiss or a lick with your pet) might help or hurt when it comes to weight problems in both pets and people. Current evidence actually suggests heavier people have heavier pets, which some scientists believe could be due to microbial swaps from a human to a dog. Also, the number of pet related fraud cases are on the rise. The latest is Texas where a woman’s cat mysteriously disappeared from the front porch where he would take his afternoon nap every day. The day after he vanished, she put up fliers all over her neighborhood. Less than a week later, she received a call from a man who asked if there was a reward for the cats return. He then said she could get Romeo back for $300 and offered to finance the payments for 8 months! Also, your dog doesn’t need to be in a hot car to suffer from heat exhaustion. Temperatures above 82 degrees are enough to cause a fatal reaction. Steve Burdo from Contra Costa Animal Services sat inside his Acura as temperatures soared about 115 degrees. He did this to bring attention to the new California law that allows people to break into cars to rescue hot animals.

Olaf Danielson has made a hobby out of birding without any clothes. Olaf is an author, religious scholar, storyteller and adventurer. He will share some of his favorite stories of seeking out rare and exotic avian wildlife… while naked as a jaybird. Also, who is tracking your pet purchases? With the pet industry growing so fast, any information that can be gained from your purchases for your pets is going to be extrapolated every way possible for those companies which profit from your spending habits. Search data pulled by Hitwise from major pet supply websites in June shows the majority of both cat and dog owners, or at least those doing the buying for their pets, are women and that the women who own dogs make nearly twice as much as those who have cats.Also, Jeff Jenkins is the ringleader for the Midnight Circus, a pit-bull agility performance that shows the often-misunderstood dogs in a positive light. He’s helping youngsters train their pit-bulls to do tricks instead of fighting. Also, a pet cemetery and crematory in Illinois is accused of deceiving clients by giving them ashes that were not be from their deceased pets. Police found three deceased animals inside an old freezer at the facility and fortunately one of the animals had been micro chipped. Authorities contacted the owner who said they had already received their cat’s ashes. But the only thing illegal in this case was misrepresenting ashes of an animal because pet crematories in Illinois are not regulated. Also, are kittens and puppies the key to a successful marriage? You’re thinking love, communication, trust, common interests and that kind of stuff, right? But, a new study from the University of Florida says it could also be cute, cuddly puppies, kittens and bunnies. The team of psychological scientists found that to break the ‘familiarity breeds contempt syndrome’ or boredom that can happen in long-term relationships, couples can make better associations with their spouse through a positive stimulus like puppies and bunnies.

Donna Lewis is a Lost Pet Recovery Expert for LostMyDoggie.com & LostMyKitty.com. This nationwide service will automatically dial all the phones within the radius of the lost pet alerting neighbors. Does this work? The service claims an 85% success rate. If you’ve lost your pet and have the cash, then this might be a good solution. Also, your cat probably doesn’t miss you when you’re away. According to a study that observed the relationships between a number of cats and their owners, domestic cats do not generally see their owners as a focus of safety and security in the same way that dogs do. Also, 5 Signs You Need To Get To The Vet ASAP! Animal Radio Veterinary Correspondent Dr. Marty Becker counts down the top 5 things to look out for that indicate a health emergency for your pet. Also, more than half of pet owners disregard instruction for medicating their pets as prescribed by their vet. This can have horrific results, especially where antibiotics are concerned. Doc Halligan has tips on easily pilling your pet. And finally, a west coast freak show owner who paid $50,000 for “Medusa”, a three-foot-long, 4-year-old two-headed Honduran Milk snake born in Florida, recently purchased a rare two-headed albino snake. The proud new owner says he’s wanted the snake since the day it was born four years ago, but price just kept getting higher.” By the way, this guy currently holds a Guinness World Record for having the biggest collection of two-headed animals.

Allison Basinger from the Kansas City based “Wayside Waifs” animal welfare organization is on the cutting edge of the anti-bullying education movement. She’s using her dogs, Justice and Paxton to help 3 through 5 graders learn a more compassionate lifestyle. Also, former host of CBS’s Lucky Dog, Brandon McMillan, the cast of The Young and The Restless and Susan Sims are in Los Angeles to kick-off the 7th Annual “Get Your Licks On Route 66” Adoption Tour. There’s no better time than now to find your forever friend. Also, while there is no hard evidence to back Black Dog Syndrome, it is largely felt that black animals take a back seat when it comes to adoption. Pet Photographer Fred Levy believes it’s because they are hard to photograph and don’t look desirable online photos. He’ll have tips for photographing your black dog or cat. Also, who influences you when you need to buy a car? According to Auto-trader, more than half of America’s 54 million dog owners consider buying a vehicle based on its ability to accommodate their best friend, which is their dog. The list includes cars with features pet owners need, like fold-flat rear seats, rear lift gate, under-floor storage and rear climate control. There are 9 cars on the list and we’ll tell you what they are. And finally, actress and animal-rights actress Pamela Anderson has written a letter to MAC Cosmetics owner and friend John Demsey expressing disappointment in the brand for testing on animals. Anderson used to be a spokesperson for the brand, but recently learned that the supposedly cruelty-free brand admittedly tests on animals where it is “required by law,” like in China.

Animal Radio Veterinary Correspondent Dr. Marty Becker has a list of things he wishes his clients would pay more attention to than they do. He’ll also tell you what you unnecessarily worry too much about. Also,Pet Breeds compiled a list of 33 dog breeds that either have a clean health record, or are associated with only one, two or three health problems at most. And, the top seven have NO major or minor health concerns at all. Also, Lucy Pet Foundation’s Doc Halligan has what you need to know in order to pick the best food for your pet and your budget. Just because it’s expensive doesn’t mean it’s good. You’ll learn how to read the label. Also, research suggests family pets might actually be reservoirs for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. Researchers believe pets might be an important factor behind the increase of MRSA outbreaks. And finally, a study says American pets have bitten, chewed or damaged at least 8-million electronic devices! All that damage caused an estimated $3 billion in repair and replacement costs! Researchers found 1/3rd of the damaged devices were smart-phones; 2/3rds of the incidents happened when the pet was not being supervised. And interestingly, male pets are 50% more likely than female pets to damage electronic devices.

Chickens are more popular than ever in urban settings and as pets. By popular demand, we’re having the Chicken Chick on the show to share her vast chicken knowledge. Even if you aren’t considering a fowl friend, Kathy Mormino will amuse and educate. Also, Amanda Jones is one of the top best pet photographers in the nation. Her last collaboration is a coffee-table book with 30 dogs photographed during their youth and again in their senior years. It’s a compelling contrast between puppy-hood and a dog’s golden years. Amanda will have tips for photographing your pet.Also, a 26-year-old cat named Corduroy has been named the oldest living cat by Guinness. His owner has had him since he was a kitten and she was only 7. Though Corduroy is now the oldest living cat on record, he is not the oldest domestic cat to have ever lived, that designation belongs to Creme Puff, who lived to the awe-inspiring age of 38 years and 3 days. Also, Dr. Debbie has the top things you need to know when battling for custody over a pet. It’s best to consider how it will affect your furry friend. The law doesn’t always favor the pet in such battles. Some couples even stay together, just for the pet. Also, earlier this month a federal judge in Phoenix, Arizona upheld a city law requiring that all dogs sold in pet stores must come from shelters, which will also help to relieve shelter overcrowding. Phoenix is one of about 60 cities in the U.S. that have similar laws designed to put an end to puppy mills by driving potential pet buyers toward homeless animals.

Your local pet store may offer an Anesthesia Free Dental Cleaning. This is NOT an alternative to teeth cleaning. Doc Halligan says a real cleaning will help your pet avoid serious trouble down the line with infection of vital organs. Also, after analyzing a number of movies released between 1927 and 2004 featuring dogs and evaluating AKC registration trends, researchers confirmed that movies definitely have an impact on breed popularity. “Lassie Come Home” was associated with a 40% increase in Collie registrations. After the remake of “101 Dalmatians,” in 1996 animal shelters reported a 35% increase in the number of Dalmatians surrendered. Also, New Orleans Saints’ Tyrann Mathieu’s video for PETA is still heavily circulating online. If you haven’t seen it, Mathieu is the NFL player who locked himself in a car to demonstrate the danger that dogs endure when they’re locked inside a car on a hot summer day. After just a few minutes in the heat, Mathieu starts to breathe and sweat heavily. Also, Bull terriers who compulsively chase their tails may be autistic, at least that’s what Dr. Nicholas Dodman, Director of the Behavior Clinic at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, believes. He studied the subject for years and now says that like autistic people, such tail-chasing Bull terriers may be socially maladapted, unpredictably aggressive toward others and/or may stare into space for no apparent reason. Dodman’s study is the first to propose that autism may occur in dogs. And finally, throughout the course of his time in public life, everyone has been wondering about Donald Trump’s hair - or lack of it.  Is it a comb-over? Is it a toupee? And with his announcement that he’s running for President again, there’s a reemerging social media trend called #trumpyourcat. Here’s how it works. First, you gather up all of the lint and loose pet hair in your house then you put it on your cat’s head … then take a picture of your cat and post.

Tobi Skovron has created an App that will summon a vetted dog-walker. He touts his high-end service as the next step in the evolution of pet-based technology.Also, our pets are at a higher risk than we are for sun-related Melanomas. You need to protect them from the sun, even if they’re indoor animals. Dogfather Joey Villani and Dr. Debbie share what you need to know for your pet’s safety and well being. Also, this week’s ‘Hero Person’ will charm you! She’s just a little girl. But she has a huge heart for the animals. Samantha Frenck created a 501c3 non-profit that brings toys and blankets, among other things, to shelter animals. Also, Forbes went in search of America’s most pet-friendly places to live. The criteria included having the best landlords, lowest pet fees and most pet specialty stores and services. You might be surprised which city topped the list. And finally, what happens when you switch the pets in a pet store for animals from a shelter? Would the customers notice? A pet store in Brazil partnered with local pet shelters to secretly switch those pricey purebreds for rescues. Then the store went a step further and simply gave the shelter pets away to worthy families.

Katherine Schwarzenegger (daughter of Arnold and Maria) is an ASPCA Ambassador and bestselling author. She has a children’s book, which will empower young readers to help dogs who find themselves in shelters and animal rescues. She’s our guest this week. Also, a USA Today article cited lots of research and experts both for and against dogs licking humans on the lips. For example: There are more than 700 different types of bacteria in a healthy dog’s mouth. One doctor researching this subject says she’s heard many personal stories from people on both sides of the spectrum, including one who claimed their dog’s kisses healed them from skin cancer and another who believes dog saliva caused a family member’s death. Also, Millennials are behind the idea of pets as family members and making animals’ lives better. A new survey shows that for Millennials (those between the ages of 18 and 36) pets really are like their children with one-third of them, who purchased their first home, doing so because it had a yard and was a better space for their dog. Only 25% of Millennials bought their first home because they got married and 19% because they had children. Also, a southern California woman has a new pet frog after finding the distressed amphibian in a large container of lettuce mix she bought at a local Target. She had already made her salad, poured on the dressing and was just about halfway through eating it when she saw something in her bowl that was moving. Being a strict vegetarian, the woman says she was so traumatized after finding the frog in her salad and that she has no desire to eat salad ever again. However, she quickly scooped up the little frog and rinsed off the dressing, but she noticed the frog was barely alive so she did chest compressions on it - frog CPR - and it survived. His name is now Lucky. Also, Dr. Lisa Radosta, owner Florida Veterinary Behavior Service explains what causes fear, anxiety, and stress in our pets? How does this fear, anxiety, and stress affect them? Why is it so important that we address the fear, anxiety, and stress in our pets? What is one simple thing we can do to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in our pets?

Animal Radio Veterinary Correspondent Dr. Marty Becker is excited about his handy gadget. It’s only the size of an iPhone Plus but it has multiple applications in the veterinarian’s office. Could Laser Therapy be used on your pets? Also, this year’s strain of Canine Flu is different than past epidemics. There is a vaccine for the previous strain but not for this new one. Veterinarians are looking for new ways to fight the new virus that seems to be affecting felines too. Also, when Police Dispatcher Lynn Willett received an emergency call to check on the welfare of an elderly man, she had no idea she would end up adopting his dog. Lynn tells us her heartwarming story about a German Shepard named Sgt. Roscoe. Also, anyone who has a dog knows they will pretty much chew on anything they can get their paws on, but this story underscored how careful we need to be around them. Luna, a 2-year-old Golden Retriever in Glenwood City, Wisconsin, found the pack of “Ice Breaker” Lemon-flavor gum containing Xylitol. She suffered severe liver damage and had to be euthanized. Xylitol is found in all sorts of things, including sugar-free gum, vitamins, toothpaste, dental floss, nasal sprays and baked goods. Even a couple of pieces of gum can result in life-threatening blood sugar and liver failure.

Brian Skerry has spent more than 10,000 hours underwater photographing sharks. He says they’re misunderstood and not the evil beasts portrayed by Hollywood and the media. He’ll share stories including some scary (Skerry) moments. Also, Mike McCarthy made his millions in software development. After retiring, he decided to take on a new project transporting thousands of adoptable pets from saturated shelters in Southern California to the Northwest United States where they will be adopted. He’s retrofitted 3 buses and makes the trip weekly. Also, with the 4th of July around the corner, Pet Living’s Kristen Levine wants your pets to stay calm. The sounds of fireworks can make animals anxious. She launched “Pet Anxiety Awareness Week” to educate owners about fear, anxiety and stress in your companion animals. Also, most potential adopters, upon seeing a dog wearing a cone of shame in shelters, think it implies a sick dog chock-full of expensive problems. However, usually at the shelter the cones are used for simple procedures, like spaying or neutering. Unfortunately the coned canines don’t have much of a chance next to the pup bouncing around and wagging his tail. So a shelter photographer got an idea. She came up with the idea of ‘Cones of Fame.’ also, many people try to cheat the airline system by claiming their pet is an Emotional Support Animal because ESA’s fly free on most airlines. But all airlines are not the same. Delta has compiled a list of critters it does NOT accept as trained service animals, or even pets allowed to travel in the cabin, saying they post safety and/or public health concerns.

Special guest James Guiliani was a bad dude. He hung with Gotti and spent time behind bars. He was a drug-addicted ex-con on the verge of suicide when a dog and a dame changed his life for the better. James says “If you think the mafia is bad, try animal rescue.” Also, research published in Activities, Adaption & Aging calls for increased understanding about older adults and the current barriers, which limit older adults’ chances to own a pet. Medical, physical and financial barriers keep seniors from enjoying the therapeutic benefits of animal guardianship. Also, pet health insurance is revealed to be one of fastest growing employee perks in a benefit package. While not all companies allow our four-legged friends in the workplace, one in three Fortune 500 companies now offer pet insurance as a voluntary benefit. As the popularity of pet health insurance expands, some companies are subsidizing a percentage of their employee’s cost, with several companies now paying as much as 100% of their employees’ pet insurance premiums. Also, water shortages across the west have house owners re-thinking their backyard. Many have opted to replace their high-maintenance grass for faux grass without thinking about their pet. Fake grass can be hot and smelly and full of bacterium that’s no good for pets or humans.

Dog Trainer Michael Wombacher has developed a twelve-step program to introduce your dogs to a new baby or family member. There is no need to get rid of the dog just because you’re expecting. If done properly, your dog and child can live harmoniously and thrive together. Also, when Olivia Ries was 7-years-old, she started a non-profit organization to save endangered animals. That was five years ago. Since then, she has spoken to dignitaries and lobbied for the voiceless. You’ll melt when you hear our young Hero Person. Also, a microchip is still the best way to identify a lost pet. However, they’re not 100% reliable. Dr. Debbie will tell you what you may not know about the little rice-sized technology. She’ll also dispel any myths about the microchip being dangerous or causing cancer. Also, dog walkers in the UK earn a fifth more than the average salary by working just two weeks out of every month. Dog walkers charge an average of almost $18 per hour per dog in the UK and walk 192 dogs per month, which adds up to annual earnings of $41,000, 20% higher than the British national average salary! Does this make you want to re-think your job? Also, the bond between humans and dogs may be much older than we once thought. A group of researchers discovered an ancient wolf bone and say its DNA suggests dogs diverged from wolves as far back as 40,000 years ago and point to the ancient wolf as possibly the most recent common relative of modern wolves and dogs.

Driven by her incredible curiosity, Kim Kavin uncovered the world of dog auctions. 11 BILLION dollars exchanges hands during the buying and selling of companion animals. Even the so-called ‘rescues’ are partaking in the auction process, using donated dollars to buy, rehabilitate and adopt these dogs at considerably high prices. While not necessarily humane, nor ethical, it’s all legal simply because pets are viewed as property in the eyes of the law. Also, it’s that time of the year when allergies present a problem for both human and our furry-companions. Animal Radio Veterinary Correspondent Dr. Marty Becker has the ‘top 3 things you can do to calm your pet’s allergies.’ Also, last month, “Maggie the Kelpie,” an Australian dog that was possibly the oldest dog in the world, died. Maggie was 30 years old according to her owner. That’s over 200 in human years, and a contender for the oldest dog in the world, except for one thing… Also, you know that you can track your pet dog or cat with your smart-phone, all you need is a GPS locator on their collar. But, there are quite a few pet trackers out there, so we break it down for you. And finally, yes, there indeed is etiquette for your kitty’s litter. Doc Halligan (Lucy Pet Foundation) will help any cat owner solve their litter-box issues. Cat no going inside the box? Maybe you’re not following the etiquette.

Besides the ticks and the fleas, as well as the many other creepy crawlers out there that can get on our pets, we also need to worry about bees, insects and snakes. Doc Halligan tells us what to do if a bee stings your dog or cat? She jokes that people tell her that they let their cats play with spiders. She says you should NEVER let your cat play with spiders. Also, Animal Radio’s Pet Word Insider Robert Semrow wants to make sure you’re ready in case of a natural disaster. He has a list of the top tips for preparing your pet for earthquakes, inclement weather and any other disaster that could come your way. Also, a study published in the journal Animal Cognition indicates that dogs may have facial recognition skills similar to humans! Well, of course, your dog recognizes you when you walk in the door, but how about if you were on vacation without him or her, could they see a picture of you and recognize it? Also, a town in Spain has installed a giant inflatable dog poop in an attempt to discourage dog owners thinking of walking off and leaving a pile of poo in the streets. The town has about 6,000 dogs and if you do the math, they are capable of producing around 1,100 pounds of excrement every day. And, THAT is more or less what the giant inflatable represents, the amount of poo left on the streets across the town each day, according to a town council member. And finally, a Texas pet-sitting business is going after $1 million in damages from a couple who gave them a one-star review on Yelp and criticized the business’ treatment of their tiny blue tropical Betta fish named “Gordy” while the family was away on vacation. Prestigious Pets of Dallas claims the review is defamation.

While the book is titled Sad Animal Facts, it’s hardly a sad book. Cartoons drawn by Brooke Barker unleash the unknown and curious truths behind some of our favorite animals. Did you know Turtles breathe out their butt, or that Giraffes only sleep 3 hours a day? Also, women and girls (and some men) who ride horses, but do not wear a sports bra, could be causing undue stress to the horse, according to a study by Portsmouth University. Apparently a lot of women give no regard to what kind of bra they wear while riding. They did a survey of females who ride horses in various disciplines and found that less than one in five regularly wore a sports bra for riding even though it can lead to poor posture and musculoskeletal problems, which are sensed by the horse. Also, Watermark Retirement Communities assisted living are perhaps the first in the country to embrace pets. Founded by pet lovers, they encourage residents to bring their pets along to live with them. Staff’s companion animals meet those that don’t have pets. This has made a big difference in patient’s disposition.

Cat Behaviorist Sarah Ellis has a pretty cool job. She does research on how and where cats like to be touched. Sarah found that there are certain parts of the cat’s body that are better than others when it comes to petting and stroking. She’ll reveal her results and explain why she thinks strangers have better luck petting cats than the cat’s owner. Also, only second to fleas, ticks are a fairly common pest. Some of the diseases that ticks carry can kill both human and pet. Doc Halligan will tell you the proper way to remove them. She says you need to avoid some of the ‘old wives-tales’ for removing ticks because they may actually do more harm. And finally, State Farm insurance has been sponsoring The Arson Dog Program since 1993! An accelerant detection canine, or arson dog, is a dog that has been trained to sniff out tiny traces of accelerants that may have been used to start a fire. The insurance giant has had a hand in placing over 350 arson dog teams in 44 states and three Canadian Provinces.

Animal Radio Veterinary Correspondent Dr. Marty Becker will tell you what information your veterinarian may be withholding; and conversely, what he/she shouldn’t be telling you. We hope you have an honest and transparent vet for your pets. Also, buried in a massive government-spending bill is a provision that will shut down shady animal dealers who buy and sell pets for research, all paid for by your tax dollars. But, that could change if Congress does the right thing and cuts off funding to pay for licensing of so-called Class B animal dealers by the USDA. Every year, these licensed dealers work with illegal “bunchers” to round up thousands of dogs and cats that will end up in laboratories. Also, The Morris Animal Inn in Morristown, New Jersey caters ONLY to our four-legged friends. They just finished a week-long Spa Treatment and Canine Cleanse program. Pups from all over the country enjoyed smoothies, treadmill trots, meditation, nature trail hikes and massages as part of the $260 package. Debora Montgomery reports on how the program went and what you can do at home to pamper your pup. And finally, if your dog’s breath could melt steel; you need to hear what Dr. Debbie has to say about it. She might even have a simple solution so that those puppy kisses won’t be so traumatizing.

Zak George is back and he has tips on making training your dog enjoyable for both you and your furry-friend. He believes that if your dog likes to do what you’re training them to do, you will be more successful. He’ll also talk about Service Dog fraud. Also, imagine leaving your dog at home while it turns on the smart TV and chooses a program to watch. Lori Brooks will tell you about the new technology. She’ll also tell you about Virtual Chicken Petting that artificially replicates physical interaction between chickens and their farmers.Also, you love your cat and you love your wine. A Colorado company called Apollo Peak wants to help cat owners enjoy the experience of sharing a glass of wine with their pets, so they’ve come out with a non-alcoholic, beet-based, catnip infused wine for cats. And finally, Animal Radio’s Pet World Insider, Robert Semrow has a short list of the things you should do so that, if and when your dog or cat disappears, you’ll be prepared for a prompt and safe return.

Most every social media butterfly has seen at least one cute video of a sloth (if not, check out our Facebook page). These litter critters are so cute, that many people want one as a pet. Photographer Sam Trull says she “went to Costa Rica for the primates but stayed for the sloths.” She has the lowdown on sloths, and she says people think they’re slow. She says “they can be fast when they want to, and their nails are pretty scary too.” Also, a luxury apartment community near Grand Rapids, Michigan says it will use DNA technology as a way to sniff out dog owners who fail to pick up their pets’ poop. The Ridges of Cascade complex is asking dog owners to swab their pet’s mouth so it can build a DNA database that will allow it to identify residents who ignore its strict cleanup policy. The management company as already contracted with the Tennessee-based company PooPrints to collect DNA samples of each dog in the development. Violators will face a $350 fine. Also, Sebastian Langton created the world’s smallest GPS pet tracker. A small pod the size of a wine cork is all that’s needed to find your pet most anywhere in the world. Also, pet cemeteries are becoming increasingly popular in China with owners paying between $50 and $1,800 to buy their pets a plot. Rows of tombstones at one cemetery bear the names of pets along with flowers, toys, food and even calcium pills and chew bones were seen placed beside them. And finally, a pet feline in New Zealand has been stealing men’s underwear and socks from other people’s homes! In just 2 months, the 6 year old cat named Brigit, acquired 11 pairs of underwear and more than 50 pairs of socks. Brigit’s owner says she has put notes in every mailbox on her street to warn her neighbors.