Animal Radio®

Esther The Wonder Pig. What happens when you adopt a ‘micro-pig’ without telling your spouse? And what happens when that pig turns out to weigh 600 lbs? Well, you raise $450,000 on Indiegogo to buy a ranch, of course. That’s Steve Jenkins story. He tells all this week on the BIG show. Also, did you hear about the little Louisiana boy went to great lengths to give some love to his neighbor’s dog? Every day when he left for school he would ride over to his neighbor’s house and put his bike down in the driveway. He would then run into the open garage to play with and give hugs to the dog that lives there. Funny that the dog’s owner had a video camera in the garage and saw this going on.

Allan Dixon won the best job in the world. He gets paid to take pictures with animals. Allan has an uncanny ability to ‘talk’ animals into posing for a selfie with him. This might sound like the most privileged, millennial job in the world, but Dixon worked for this role. He’ll explain to Animal Radio listeners. Also, have you ever considered quitting your stupid job to become a pet-sitter? Laura Vorreyer shares stories about her bustling Los Angeles dog-walking business. She’ll dole out advice for the aspiring pet-sitter.

Dr. Stanley Coren is back on Animal Radio to give us specific and detailed instructions on how to make our dog laugh. Don’t be a skeptic until you’ve heard about the research. Some breeds are more likely to laugh than others. Dr. Coren will share the science behind dog laughter and other body signs. Also Dr. Gary Weitzman helps animal lovers find the answers to common questions, curiosities, and perplexing puzzles.

Are our dogs trained to show affection in order to get food and treats? Do they really unconditionally love you, or would they “kick you to the curb” for bacon? Animal Researcher Marc Bekoff answers these burning questions and more. He says we can ‘unleash our dogs,’ metaphorically speaking, by allowing them to roll in dead worms. Also, Merebeth Veit has two passions - wanderlust and a love for animals. She dumped her real estate job for transporting pets nationwide. She’s driven hundreds of animals to their destination while sightseeing the country. And yes, it pays the bills.

Born with Muscular Dystrophy, Tabitha Bell was told she would need a wheel chair by the time she was 12. Instead, she got a balance & brace service dog. The human/dog partnership was so successful that she decided to start her own non-profit to help match service dogs with those that may not be able to afford the $10,000 entry level. Tabitha tells us that she’s working on matching a 6-year old diabetic with a dog that can alert someone when blood sugar spikes. Also, Emmy Nominated TV host Rocky Kanaka is on a mission to find hard-to-adopt rescue dogs their forever home - all while creating a day of fun doggie activities most could only dream of. He chronicles his adventures in a You Tube series called ‘Dog’s Day Out.’

Actor Burt Ward was the original ‘Robin’ on the hit series Batman. Because of security issues during Batman’s filming, he had to have two large breed dogs with him all the time. Now he’s devoted to giant breed dogs and runs the Gentle Giant Rescue. He tells Animal Radio that as many as 25 Great Danes share his bed with him and his wife Tracy. Also, the opioid crisis isn’t just impacting people. A new study in Pennsylvania says there’s been a big increase in the amount of pain medication being prescribed for pets in the state. The new research shows opioid prescriptions for animals in the state are up 41% over a 10-year period. It’s unclear why there’s been such a dramatic increase. But, if opioids are so addictive for humans, are they addictive to pets?

Apiculturist Dr. Norman Gary has devoted his 83 years to bees. He’s even trained them for TV and Movies. Dr. Gary holds two Guinness World Records for bee stunts. Oh, and he plays the clarinet… covered in bees. Also, understanding your C.B.D.’s. It’s the latest phenomenon in pet medicines, claiming to cure everything from allergies to pain. While there may be some benefits in this marijuana derivative, veterinarians are hard-pressed to recommend the use, mostly because the unregulated product may be sub-par. But if you’re still determined, you should examine the Certificate Of Analysis (COA). Dr. Debbie and Lori Brooks help parse the confusion between brands. Also, a simple DNA test can make it easier to identify which traits are linked to health conditions like heart disease and obesity. Anna Skaya is the CEO of Basepaws, the world’s first-ever cat DNA test.

Alison Eastwood, daughter of actor Clint Eastwood, is back to tell us more about her animal advocacy efforts. She’s created a website to link foster animals with foster parents. She also says her dad just adopted a Chihuahua. Not necessarily the breed most people expect the gruff actor to befriend. Also, Dave Baker created a website that contains a database of pet food recalls. You can check to see if your pet food has ever been on a recall list, or if it’s one of the few that has never had any issues. Knowing if your pet’s food is safe is crucial lately.

After starring as “Blossom” in the hit TV series, Mayim Bialik went on to get a PhD in Neuroscience. But the stage called her back for The Big Bang Theory and working overtime for the animals. She’ll tell us about CatCon and break the “Old Cat Lady” myth. Also, just like any business, there are always people that give it a bad name. Same with Veterinarians. Animal Radio Veterinary Correspondent Dr. Marty Becker has a list of red flags you should look out for. If you see one, you need to re-think your vet? Also, Boze Hadleigh put together the ultimate book describing the origins of animal phrases. Did you ever wonder where the saying “there’s more than one way to skin a cat” comes from? Boze will enlighten and make you laugh at our language.

Nat Geo Wild’s Dr. Pol returns to Animal Radio airwaves with stories from his intriguing life. He’ll talk about how surreal it is to see his face on comic books and a gaming app. Also, Actress Kim Sill took a camera and went undercover to show America the two biggest and nastiest lies about the pet welfare industry. She’ll explain where pet stores get their animals and what the big welfare agencies, like the ASPCA, HSUS, AHA and Best Friends, do with your donations.

Outspoken Country Artist Lorrie Morgan is our guest. She walks the walk when it comes to the animals. From putting on fundraising concerts to helping in the shelter, she’s involved with supporting her local animal welfare organization, New Leash on Life. Lorrie has pit-bulls at home and thinks they’re so misunderstood. Also, Karissa Hadden chases natural disasters rescuing thousands of animals that have been injured, trapped or displaced as a result of tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, earthquakes and other catastrophes. Her life is documented in the new NatGeo Wild television show, Animal Storm Squad. Also, Gwen Cooper realized this precious ball of fur was filled with lots of life-lessons. Gwen’s second book about Homer will leave you delighted to have shared in his journey through words. She’ll talk about the impact of handicapped pets in her life.

Comedian Judy Gold joins us to talk about her burning desire to own a dog. She wants a big dog that sleeps with her and looks her in the eye. She minces no words when it comes to dressing up the dog. Also, hobbyist Kenneth Hendrick specifically bought his flying camera drone to look for lost pets in Florida. Teaming up with a Loxahatchee Lost and Found Pets Inc, they search for up to 95 animals a month. He says he reunites pet parents with cats, dogs, pigs, turtles and even calves.

Comedian Jo Anne Worley reveals new research that answers the age-old question, “Can dogs have a preferred paw just like humans are left or right handed.” Also, Lauren Watt created a bucket list for her terminally ill dog. She posted it on Yahoo and never expected the response. It went viral. Simon and Schuster asked her to write a book about her dog 160lb Mastiff, Gizelle. She has advice on preparing a bucket list for your pet when the time comes? Also, it’s not often that you see the much maligned Pit Bull as a service dog. In fact, while the breed is banned in Denver, the American Disabilities Act makes Rachel McClennan’s Pit Bull, Sally, exempt from the ban. Rachel has a neurological disability that makes her faint. Generally, these kinds of service animals can smell chemical changes in a person’s body that indicates a seizure or loss of consciousness may occur, giving the patient time to prepare.

Leanne Lauricella traded her Mercedes in for a Chevy, gave up her fast-track career and moved to a farm to raise goats. She’s now the proud guardian of 50+ goats, including “Polly,” the goat that wears a duck costume. Her viral video has people up in arms asking why she’s dressing her goat in a duck costume. She has a pretty good reason. Also, When Brent Atwater was five years old she became aware of her power to talk to dead pets. Often times, the pet would reveal embarrassing things about their previous owner. Brent says she loves being a clairvoyant, “you never know what an animal is going to say. They will tell you if you drink or smoke too much, have flatulence problems or your spouse is cheating on you.”

The incredibly talented and charismatic John Salley was the first NBA player to win four championships with three different franchises, Detroit, Miami and the LA Lakers. But did you know he’s also a Vegan and has an affinity for kittens. John is our special guest this week. Find out what it’s like to be a top athlete and abstain from all meat and dairy. And Dr. Marty Becker is doing research on smells your cat likes. It’s all in the name of science. He wants your pet’s environment to be “Fear Free.” While we all know about Catnip, did you know Silver-vine and Honeysuckle will also appeal to your feline friends. But stay away from the Glade and Aroma Plug-ins. They could really annoy your pet…even make them sick.