Animal Radio®

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.