Animal Radio®

Who Gets Custody Of The Dog? Attorney Jeremy Cohen gave up his job prosecuting those accused of insurance fraud. He found it unfulfilling. Now, he represents dogs. He’ll share the details of several current cases that involve custody battles over pets. Also, Denver has become the first U.S. city, outside of California, to ban the declawing of cats. The new law prohibits veterinarians from performing the controversial procedure unless it’s medically necessary. Cat lovers are praising the Denver City Council for passing the ordinance declaring that the elective declawing of cats is both inhumane and painful to the felines. Now, Denver just needs to work on reversing the ban of pit bull breeds within city limits. Also, as the Fear Free movement explodes, now dog trainers can become certified using methods that make the learning experience more appealing to the dog. Finding a Fear Free trainer has become easier using the online database. Mikkel Becker tells us how Fear Free makes a difference in behavior training. Also, SMART is the first Specialized Mobile Animal Rescue Team. SMART was created because there was a demand for a team dedicated to rescuing animals stuck in extreme situations. Members of SMART combined their passion for rescuing animals with their recreational knowledge and experience of rock climbing and rappelling? Officer Armando Naverrete is our guest to talk about some of his most unusual rescues.

Shawn Simons is the Headmistress of the Kitty Bungalow Charm School for Wayward Cats. They’re an outstanding non-profit rescue in the Los Angeles area. Shawn just crowd-funded a $10,000 surgery for a kitten. That may not sound unusual until you hear the kitty was born with Imperforate Anus, or no butt-hole. Now, along with television sensation Tosh.0, she’s trying to raise a million for 2000 butt-holes. Also, Pastor Travis Davis founded Pets After Rapture. He considers himself the “middle-man” between your pets and the animal-loving non-believers who will be around after the rapture. For a small fee, his service will be dispatched to your home “post-rapture” to care for your pets. Also, a veterinarian in Oklahoma operated on a dog that wasn’t feeling well after eating its human sibling’s pacifier. The vet could have made a ton of money had he charged for each pacifier he would later take out of the dog’s belly, which ended up being a total of 21. Dr. Debbie shares her “strange and unusual things found in the belly of a dog” stories. Also, people anxious to relieve their pet’s physical pain are more and more trying oils and powders that contain CBDs, a non-psychoactive component of marijuana. But, there’s little data on whether these products work, or if they have harmful side effects. That’s because the federal government has not approved any clinical trials of cannabis pet products. The FDA has warned companies that sell marijuana related pet products that they’re violating laws by offering “unapproved new animal drugs.” The FDA has even threatened legal action.

The video of an cop rescuing a dog from a frozen lake has gone viral. Officer Robert Voorhees took a big risk when he decided to cross an ice covered lake in New Jersey. He’ll share his heroic story with Animal Radio listeners. He says anyone would’ve done what he did. Would you? Also, Fear Free certified trainer Debbie Martin thinks both you and your vet should make resolutions and promises to your pet. She’ll share her techniques for creating a Fear Free environment and schedule for your dog. Also, you can add up all the vet visits, food and toys and you still would be missing the costs associated with damage to your house… because that happens. Chad Hall with Remodel Mate has tips to help you reduce the damage and do it without selling a kidney.

Cold weather usually means the kids and pets spend more time indoors. Less exercise and activity could result in unwanted behavior issues. Dr. E’Lise Christensen is a board certified veterinary behaviorist. She’ll share some great ideas for keeping your pets occupied and out of trouble. As far as the kids go, you’re on your own. Also, Stephanie Colman, the manager of the “Puppy Department” at Guide Dogs of America, has the five things you need to do if you encounter an off-leash or stray dog. Also, Sir Paul McCartney is confirming that one of the all time best Beatles song has a special sound included in the track that only your dog can hear. It has long been a rumor that dogs knew something about the song that humans didn’t. And finally, after all the recent studies about pets keeping humans youthful, there is a new report out in the British Medical Journal that says having a pet doesn’t seem to slow down your aging process after all.

Actress, Comedian, President of Actors and Others for Animals, and all-around funny gal Jo Anne Worley (Laugh In) returns to Animal Radio to talk about her one true love, “Harmony” her 5-pound Yorkie. She proves that laughing and loving animals is all we need to be a happy soul. Also, former ASPCA CEO Ed Sayres tells the story of how God decided to create the dog and cat. We’ll also share several other holiday themed stories that will touch and inspire the animal lover in you. Also, Nordstrom’s has sold out of pet rocks! An $85 leather-wrapped stone sold out online store after going viral on social media. A spokeswoman for the retailer declined to say exactly how many pet rocks were sold. If you’re old enough, you may remember the pet rock craze in 1970 that made Gary Dahl a millionaire six-times over. And finally, photographing your pet may not be easy. It’s tough to get the right shot in the right lighting. Britt Savage has tips for taking excellent photos of your furry-family this holiday season.

Actress and Animal Activist Tippi Hedren (The Birds - Shambala) returns to Animal Radio to talk about life living with Lions, Tigers and Ligers, oh my. She rescues tigers that were purchased as pets and out-grew their home. She’s also forged legislation that outlaws exotic animals as pets. Animal Radio will hook you up with her autobiography, Tippi. Also, the slow recovery of the U.S. economy may be responsible for the increasing costs of the 12 Days of Christmas. The price of two turtle-doves has jumped from $290 last year to $375. But, the partridge in the pear tree, which has actually become cheaper, has offset the total cost. Also, the holidays can be stressful for everyone, both humans and our pets. While some dogs enjoy the increase in activity and new experiences that come with holidays, there are lots of others who are not fans of change and all the chaos that can come with it. Lori Brooks will help you recognize signs of stress in your pet, so you can remove them from dangerous situations and help them relax. Also, pet owners may shell out as much, or more, money for their pet’s health care as they do for their own health care, and it’s mostly because of pricey new technologies and more advanced treatment options. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance most expensive insurance claim was for a 3-year-old female French Bulldog diagnosed with inter-vertebral disc disease with a final bill of $44,296. And finally, court proceedings are underway in Newaygo County, Michigan, where a preliminary hearing has been held for a woman accused of murdering her husband and their parrot is the only apparent witness. The couple’s pet, an African Gray parrot, apparently witnessed the shooting and began repeating words from the victim just moments before his death. The parrot has been recorded as saying, “Don’t F*#&ing shoot.”

Opossum guardian and advocate Lea Murray is mother to several opossums, including Kricket, the Fruit Loop eating marsupial in this viral video. Lea is outraged about an Inside Edition broadcast that painted Opossums as a typhus vehicle. She says the much maligned and misunderstood critter is actually good for humankind. Also, Denise James loves animals. She also loves talking about them…. a lot! Her love for dogs was not soured when she was bit in the face by a pit-bull. She’ll tell us what went wrong and how to avoid being a dog treat. And, a new study, published in the journal Psychiatry Research, takes a look at the motivations of people who hoard animals. This latest study suggests that animal hoarding should be classified as an independent disorder with the hope of developing specialized treatments to help these people cope with the compulsion to collect critters. Animal hoarders acquire and live with dozens or even hundreds of creatures in their homes, causing suffering for both the hoarder and animals. In the United States, authorities discover between 900 and 2,000 cases of animal hoarding every year.

Zachary Auburn is on the show to deliver an important message. He wants you to know how to talk to your cat about gun safety, abstinence, drugs, Satanism, and other dangers that threaten their nine-lives. Zach believes we can make our cats - and America - great again. Also, special music album created just for cats is being lapped up by humans too, and has topped two classical music charts on Amazon and iTunes. Despite being allergic to cats, American cellist David Teie released, “Music for Cats,” featuring five instrumental compositions after raising more than $200,000 on Kickstarter. On the album, bird chirping accompanies his cello playing along with purring noises based on his theory which he researched for two years, that mammals have an intuitive response to sounds present in their early development. Also, Bane and Vader are a couple of gentle, barrel-shaped bulldogs. They’re also the namesakes of a unique new business in Easton, Pennsylvania, “Bane and Vader’s Drive-Thru Restaurant,” exclusively for dogs. Pull up and order a FreshPet meal with your choice of add-ins including fruits, vegetables, eggs, and peanut butter. You might even want to take home some doggie ice cream for dessert. Their mom, 30-year-old Amanda Brown, left her job as a pharmaceutical sales representative, but she’s back to work making what she calls Yappy Meals and Bow-Wow Bowls for motorists who want to treat the pooches to something special. Her idea came from a survey that found one in six restaurant drive-thru customers picks up something for a dog, too. While some restaurants offer special menu items for dogs, In-N-Out Burger has a special unseasoned Pup Patty served in a doggy bag and Starbucks offers a small cup of whipped-cream called a Puppuccino, Bane & Vader’s is strictly for the dogs. It has no special menu items for humans. And finally, with the crowds, and the lines, flying can be stressful. So, the Albuquerque New Mexico airport has come up with a way to calm you down when you travel. More than a dozen therapy dogs are joining the thousands of passengers at the airport. One of them is known as “Turbo,” and he loves people. He especially loves to lick guys with beards. Turbo is one of 15 certified therapy dogs and K-9 ambassadors now giving peace to stressed out travelers. Thanks to the 70 people who volunteer their time to handle the dogs, the program will be expanding the number of therapy dogs soon.

Chef Kevyn Matthews, also known as the Dog Chef (Dogs 101/DOG-TV) is doing a booming business cooking for dogs in the Northeast. He makes nutritious meals that focus on healing certain ailments. He’ll debate the pros and cons of a raw diet with Dr. Debbie. Also, Postdoctoral Scholar Dr. Sarrah Dunham-Cheatham randomly sampled 100 pet foods. 16 of those samples had mercury concentrations that were well above the maximum tolerable limit. That’s not the only thing she found. Also, hot on the heels of fatal grooming incidents at Petsmart and Petco, legislators are fast-tracking groomer certification for the unregulated business. Animal Radio’s very own groomer, Joey Villani is helping to push this legislation through. He’ll explain what is currently happening in New Jersey, and how that will become a model for the nation. And finally, everyone knows puppies are cute, but did you know that people find puppies at their cutest stage at eight weeks of age? Experts at Arizona State University’s canine-science laboratory now say they have discovered that Peak Puppy Cuteness serves important purposes and might even play a fundamental role in the bonding between a puppy and its adoptive owner.

Brooke Martin is only 14, but she sounds more intelligent than many adults. She also is the inventor of “IC Pooch,” a device that allows you to have visual contact between you and your dog using a tablet or mobile phone. It also dispenses treats. Brooke believe this is an answer to separation anxiety. Also, Jack Shepard is a self-proclaimed Beastmaster at the Buzzfeed website. He gets paid to surf “animal related” fodder and make it go viral on the incredibly popular website. Also, amputee Jennifer Robinson worked at a prosthetic manufacturer. Now she’s showing off how artificial limbs are being used on dogs, cats, birds and even sea-life. She’s a part of a PBS show called My Bionic Pet. And finally, only in China would a dog be sold to a 56 year-old property developer for a cool 2 mil. This isn’t even the first time. The 200 lb. Tibetan Mastiff is treasured like the Panda in China. Some say it was all hype and that cash never actually changed hands.

A new trend is the unfortunate and fraudulent use of “Service Dog” credentials for owners wanting to bring their dogs into restaurants, airlines and hotels. Pawtopia’s Colleen Demling explains the problem and why the disabled suffers. Also, besides a flourishing acting career, Josh Duhamel spends a lot of time speaking for the animals. He has a web series and he’s back to talk about it…and to flirt with the ladies. And finally, octogenarian and landlord Judy Guth only allows tenants with pets in her apartment complex. Is this discrimination? Judy doesn’t care. And if one of her tenants loses their pet, she’ll even take them out to dinner and then the shelter to find another roommate.

Adi Pinhas is using facial recognition technology in his new iPhone app. You’ll upload a picture of the pet you want and it’ll tell you all the adoptable animals that look like the original picture. The Verge Magazine uploaded a picture of Lady Gaga and got back an adoptable hamster. Also, Kitty Martin love’s her calf so much that she’s put more than $40,000 into rescuing the steer after it’s back legs were amputated because of frostbite. She’s the Hero Person this week with a great story to tell about the human-bovine connection. And finally, if you have a cat or dog, chances are he or she sleeps with you in bed. But new research says that sharing your bed with your pet can lead to bad sleep quality. Recently, at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, data was presented that showed at least 30% of pet owners say their pets wake them up at least once per night.

Dr. Lorin Lindner founded Serenity Park, a unique sanctuary on the grounds of the Los Angeles Veterans Administration Healthcare Center. She noticed that the veterans she treated as a clinical psychologist and the parrots she had taken in as a rescuer quickly formed bonds. Men and women who had been silent in therapy would share their stories and their feelings more easily with animals. Also, Psychological Scientist Dr. Clay Routledge believes young adults may be bonding with animals at the expense of vital human relationships. While the Animal Radio team may be divided on the health aspects of loving your pet “too much,” there is one empirical fact; some of us have trouble prioritizing humans over animals. Also, we often celebrate our cats and dogs, but today it’ll be about the birds. We’ll focus on bad bird behavior and training your parrot of cockatoo.

Gideon Kidd has a goal to pet a million dogs for his pet project. So far, the 10-year-old boy has pet more than 750 dogs. He’s chronicled his journey on Twitter, garnering over 160,000 followers. He’ll tell us how it’s going since we last spoke to him. Also, puppies sold in pet stores, most of which are sourced from puppy mills, are often accompanied by soaring sticker prices. To make the puppies appear more affordable, private lending companies are offering leasing plans. Miss a payment and they can repossess your pup. Bill Ketzer, from ASPCA Government Relations, is asking lawmakers to end this predatory practice. Also, Millennials are less likely to become parents of “human children” because they are instead focusing on their pets. Apparently 44% of millennials are unsure if they want to have children, but their rate of pet ownership continues to rise. These animals are acting as a substitute for children according psychology professor Jean Twenge. And finally, a Missouri judge has ordered a convicted deer poacher to watch Bambi at least once a month during the year he will be spending in jail. The man is actually one of four family members implicated in a three-year hunting operation that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of deer. The prosecutor said the family mainly stalked their prey at night, killing the deer and taking their heads and antlers, and then they abandoned the carcasses. The state’s Department of Conservation called it a thrill and kill sport for the men. By the way, the one-year jail sentence was initially suspended in favor of a two-year probationary period. But the guy who now has to watch Bambi quickly violated the terms of his probation, leading the Judge to reinstate the original one-year sentence with the additional Bambi twist.

Cat Thwarts Suicide Attempt 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. Pet Obesity Continues To GROW 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. Halloween Pet Hazards Pets 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. Anonymous Hero Saves Dog 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. FREE Happy Healthy Dog Summit The Healthy Happy Dog Summit will train YOU to provide the happiest, healthiest life possible for your pup! You'll see 30 world experts including Sonya Fitzpatrick (Animal Communication), Victoria Stillwell (Puppies 101) and Dr. Nicholas Dodman (How Dogs and People Communicate). The Happy Healthy Dog Summit is ONLINE and FREE. Learn more at https://animalradio.com/ Download the Chihuahua Pumpkin Stencil