Animal Radio®

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.

Attorney Jeremy Cohen gave up his insurance fraud law practice to focus only on dogs. He is one of the few “dog only” lawyers in the U.S. Jeremy represents dangerous dogs that usually have a death sentence. He tells us that lots of people have threatened him and harass him, but it’s worth it if he can save the life of a dog. Also, Dr. Frans de Waal asks the poignant question, “Are we smart enough to know how smart animals are?” Many of us suspect that our cats and dogs have a sixth sense. They seem to know things are going to happen before humans do. Is this smarts, or is it hyper-observation of your every move? Maybe a little of both. Also, the Georgia Supreme Court will soon decide the value of a pet. Currently, the law sees pets as property, like a car or a toaster. The Georgia Supreme Court is set to rule on the value of the dog whose death was allegedly caused by a fancy, high dollar kennel that allegedly gave the dog the wrong medicine that ultimately killed her. The kennel says that Lola the dog was property, and the family should get her “market value” - which, because she was a free rescue dog, is nothing. And finally, Tree House Humane Society has been given approval to launch a coffee shop, which will double as a cat adoption center. It will feature a full coffee bar and a cat lounge where a dozen or more cats will be free to roam about, sleep and play. The $6 million Chicago facility set to open in early fall. Cat cafés are very popular in other countries. Cat Town in Oakland, saw its adoption rate more than double after opening the first stateside cat café not even two years ago.

Dr. Stephan Katz explains how he is using parts of the marijuana plant to create a therapeutic treat for pets. Do animals respond the same as humans to medical marijuana? What is the legality of pot for pets? These burning questions and more are finally answered.Also, it may be hard to believe, but people still flush kitty litter down the toilet. Not only is it bad for the pipes, Doc Halligan says it’s bad for marine life. Apparently there is a parasite that is transmitted through cat feces and has been documented as a significant killer of otters and other sea life. Who knew? Also, Doug Green learned a lot of life’s lessons from his dog, Shirelle. He even says that the dog was responsible for his career path as a psychotherapist. He also finds that dogs are great intermediaries in his practice. He’ll share some of the important epiphanies inspired by Shirelle. And finally, it can be incredibly difficult to know when it’s time to euthanize your furry-friend. Balancing your own selfishness with your pet’s health and happiness is no easy task. Dr. Debbie has answers that will help you make the decision when that time comes.

Yes, she is the wife of Howard Stern. But more importantly, Beth Ostrosky - Stern is an avid animal advocate. She’s fostering a bunch of animals at home. She says Howard is really into her pets and sometimes he’ll get very emotional when the animals find homes. Also, Con Slobodchikoff is studying animal linguistics. He’s noticing patterns that indicate language among cats and even prairie dogs. He even says that someday we may have an App that will translate our conversations with animals. Also, research from the Center for Pet Safety reveals that the pet restraints tested have a 100% failure rate. Does this mean you shouldn’t use them when traveling with your pet? Absolutely not. However, Lindsey Wolko has the lowdown on what works and what doesn’t when it comes to keeping your pets safe in the car. Also, acclaimed European chef David Faure isn’t worried about his diners finding a bug in their meals. In fact, he’s started intentionally adding a variety of creepy crawlies to the dishes he serves at his restaurant. He says the biggest obstacle in his quest is finding a reliable local supplier of edible insects. And finally, not a week goes by without a listener calling to ask why their dog is eating other dog’s feces. While there are many theories as to why this happens, Dr. Debbie gets to the bottom of it and sheds light on the very common problem.

Nat Geo’s Dr. Brian Hare is hosts a three-part series devoted to finding the genius in your dog with interactive games you can play. Tapping into your dog’s ‘smarts’ is easy as knowing the activities in which they exceed. Also, Scott Harris co-invented a cat feather-toy that can be remotely controlled from a smart-phone. They’ve installed 21 of these toys at shelters nationwide. With a click of a button, you too can play with the animals up for adoption - from the comfort of your own armchair. Also, a federal judge in Florida has ruled that a sweet pit bull name Stevie will be allowed to go to school with 7-year-old Anthony Alboniga, who has cerebral palsy. For the past two years though, officials at Anthony’s school in Broward County refused to let Stevie come to school with Anthony, unless the company paid for a so-called handler to go with them, which the family could not afford. Also, two chimpanzees will have their day in court under a law that up till now has only applied to people. New York Supreme Court Justice Barbara Jaffee has granted Hercules and Leo a writ of habeas corpus. They live in a lab at Stony Brook University of Long Island and have been part of research into how humans evolved to walk on two legs. Also, many pets have their own Facebook pages and Twitter accounts. Of course, there’s a person behind them doing the work. Not for long. Whiskas Australia have created a wearable camera that goes on your kitty’s collar, and it automatically takes pictures while and posts them to Instagram for you and your cat.

Cupcake is an incredibly lucky cat. The Siamese survived being stuck inside a small cardboard box for eight days and 260 miles after her owner accidentally mailed her. The owner didn’t see Cupcake snoozing inside the package as she packed it with DVDs. Then she dropped the box in the mail. The package’s recipients were stunned to open the box and find the cute cat curled up alongside the movies they’d bought. Cupcake was reunited with her tearful owner (who felt horrible) over the weekend. She says, “I knew Cupcake was missing, but not for one second did I think she was in that box.” Also, the one downfall of cats and dogs is their short life span. This leaves us looking for unique ways to pay tribute to their life. We’ve found companies that will turn your pet into a diamond gem stone or shoot your pets remains into space. Now comes Pet Perennials, a wild-flower garden composed from your pet’s ashes. The startup’s founder Remy Bibaud explains. Also, the research is in from one “cloud” company that says we upload more pictures of our cats than dogs. What does this actually say about cat guardians? Do we take more cat pictures because we’re “cat crazy?” Jackie Stone from MiMedia has her reasons for the trend. And finally, dog owners are happier, more sociable, earn bigger salaries and have a bigger sexual appetite than cat owners, according to a new study. Animal Radio News Director Lori Brooks says data also suggests that dog owners are more likely to have paid off their mortgage and they will be inclined to describe their job as “stressful.” By contrast, cat owners are happier living alone and admit they relish a simpler pace of life. The study also found the average cat owner takes home $34,000 a year, while the typical dog lover can expect to earn $38,000.

Research from Manhattanville College confirms what you may suspect… cat owners are more neurotic and less happy than dog owners. Assistant Professor Katherine Bao explains the results of this study and talks about ongoing research.Also, the very “Batty” Rob Mies joins us to explain why they’ve cut up the Batman vs. Superman movie set and made bat-houses, signed by the actors (even Ben Affleck & Zack Snyder) and auctioned on eBay. Also, Liam Berkeley came up with an App that matches dogs with those that want “dog-time” but don’t have enough time for a full-time pet. The spirit in the service lies in how it enables “borrowers,” people who aren’t fortunate to have their own dog, but would love to spend time with one whenever they have a chance. Would you trust your dog with someone suggested by a phone app? Also, Atlas, a giant rabbit about the size of a terrier, has found a new home after being taken in by the SPCA last month. The rabbit’s previous owner decided they could no longer care for him and the shelter spent a month searching for a proper home for the abnormally large rabbit. The new pet parent to Atlas says she feels like she won the lottery because there were hundreds of calls and emails from people all over the world who wanted to adopt Atlas. By the way, Atlas’ new name is almost as long as he is. The new owner named him Axilla the Bun Binky Master Jazz Paws, but calls him Atty for short! And finally, More than 90 cities across the country have now banned the sale of commercially-bred dogs in pet stores, while Illinois and Maine have proposed bills to ban the sale of puppies in pet stores statewide! In the latest big win for animal advocates and animals, Boston has become the latest major city to sign legislation banning the sale of commercially bred animals.

The very charismatic Debra Jo Chiapuzio is back to tell us about life with a pet pig. She says her dog thinks the swine is a yummy-treat. If you’ve ever considered a pig for a pet, you must hear this interview. Debra, who is responsible for creating the Emma Zen Organization, raised funds to supply local fire departments with pet-oxygen masks. Now she’s behind the “Food Train” to help rescued pigs. Also, a new federal bill in search of Congressional support could be passed to protect both animals and people. The Pets and Women’s Safety (PAWS) Act will make it a crime to cross state lines to commit an act of domestic violence on a pet. The program would also provide support for animal shelters that offer space for the pets of people fleeing domestic violence. Also, Danielle Daals left her family in New Zealand to sit in a bathtub for 30 days in front of the Miami Seaquarium. Of course she has a good reason. She wants people to know that Lolita the Killer Whale lives in the smallest tank in the United States. We talk to her about halfway through her publicity stunt. And finally, Nano, as she likes to be called, claims she was born in the wrong species and that she’s actually a cat trapped in a human body! She says her personality and psychological features prove that she is more feline that human because she prefers walking around on her hands and knees to standing on two legs, and likes to sleep in sinks and wind mills, despite her adult size. She also claims she possesses a slew of catty characteristics like ultra-sharp hearing, laser night vision and fierce aversions to both dogs and water. The clincher that Nano is really a cat is seen in her You Tube video in which she says, “It’s also obvious that I’m a cat when I start purring and meowing . . . Sometimes I hiss when meeting dogs in the street.”

He’s still around and touring for the animals. From the band Exile (Kiss You All Over), Marlon Hargis is our guest; and saying he loves our furry friends is an understatement. He even does a benefit concert for a homeless pets and people organization. Also, Canned vs. Kibble - Moist vs. Dry. Doc Halligan is here to settle the age-old question, should we be feeding our pets dry food or from a can? The answer may depend on many factors. Is dry kibble responsible for one of the most common problems in older male cats? Also, you may already know how hard it is to find somewhere to live with your pets. That is especially true if you live in Los Angeles. LA is where Lynsey Polacheck runs her real estate business for animal related businesses like groomers, pet hotels and even a doggy-shrink. Also, the new strain of canine flu was just confirmed in Missouri and Montana. There is a preventative vaccine for about $50, which is a lot cheaper than treating a dog with this strain of flu. And what about the cats? Can they get it? And finally, the biggest misconception about microchips is that they contain the owner’s information. Dr. Debbie sets a listener straight (or perhaps the listener sets Dr. Debbie straight) when they ask why veterinarians don’t scan for stolen pets. Make sure these microchip pitfalls don’t make them useless when your pet goes missing.

She played Janet, the brunette on Three’s Company. Joyce DeWitt is our special guest this week and she’s “talking dogs.” She starred in a Hallmark made-for-TV movie about dogs. Also, Karen Hanover was a recent guest on Animal Radio® and discussed a new device she and her mother created called Escape Alert, a GPS microchip that could track your dog if he/she ever got lost. Hanover signed a plea deal in federal court stating that she bilked 48 people out of nearly a million-and-a-half dollars. Also, California has become the first state in the nation to enact a set of protections for people who buy pet insurance. Assembly bill 2056 requires insurers to explain their policies more clearly and give people a 30-day trial period, during which a person can get a full refund. The pet insurance industry is expected to grow to at least $750 million by next year, while Americans spend more than $15 billion annually on veterinary care. Also, with the popularity of electronic cigarettes, veterinarians are seeing more and more nicotine poisoning events. The pen-like smoke vaporizer usually is flavored, which makes it even harder to keep away from dogs. Dr. Ahna Brutlag from the Pet Poison Helpline is here to explain.

Beth Stultz of PetSit.com wants you to quit your dumb job and become a pet-sitter! She says you can make anywhere between 50,000 to a MILLION a year doing what you love. Beth will tell you how to get started. Also, everyone is telling you to brush your pet’s teeth daily. But are you? Of course not. Not because you don’t care, but because it can be a tremendously complex undertaking. Doc Halligan and Joey Villani have the lowdown on brushing compliance and why it’s so important for your pet’s health. Also, a survey from Manhattan College confirms that people that own pets are generally happier than those that don’t. The research also goes on to back up an earlier theory that cat owners tend to be neurotic. And finally, a Colorado farmer is celebrating the Denver Bronco’s by knitting Broncos sweaters for the 150 baby goats expected to be born on her family’s 400-acre goat farm this spring.

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, inspired by the viral videos of cats stealing clothes and other items, author Melinda Metz weaved a story about a Klepto-kitty named Mac who will steal your heart. Why is it some cats, left to their own devices, choose to abscond with everything from lingerie to money? Also, police in Boston are praising proposed legislation that would allow emergency medical service workers to treat police dogs injured in the line of duty. Currently, Massachusetts’ laws penalize EMT’s if they assist an animal in an emergency. And finally, 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?

What if your pet could talk? There have been some new advances in Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), which suggest the dream of being able to talk with animals could really happen. With the help of A.I., scientists are learning how to translate animals’ vocalizations and facial expressions into something we can understand. Also, Canine Influenza, more commonly known as the ‘dog flu’ is not the same virus as the human flu. For humans, there is a flu season in which the virus is spread, but dog flu is seen year round in pets. You cannot give your dog the flu and you cannot get the flu from your dog. However, dog flu signs and symptoms are much like what people experience such as sneezing, coughing, runny nose and gooey eye discharge. People get flu shots to protect themselves and there IS a flu vaccine for dogs too. Also, after treating more than 15,500 animal patients last year, Dove Lewis Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Animal Hospital in Portland has compiled a list of the most common medical issues pets are taken to the vet for, as well as the most common items eaten by pets. The top item pets eat that they shouldn’t is chocolate followed by marijuana and human medications. Also, Lynn Jackson is at the forefront of educating students in Burke County, North Carolina about the acute feral cat and sterilization problems faced by this part of the U.S. She visits with fourth graders and teaches responsible pet ownership. And finally, for some reason, the rumor that the chemicals used in Swiffer Wet Jet cleaner is killing pets is making the rounds again. But don’t worry - it’s not true! This urban myth has been around for a number of years and seems to get run through the social media grinder every few months.

Prince Lorenzo Borghese has returned for his second time on Animal Radio. While he never found love on ABC’s The Bachelor, he did find a special love for the animals. He helps relocate homeless animals on death row in Georgia to new forever homes in Jersey.Also, this year, for the first time, the FBI has begun tracking animal abuse the same way it tracks other major crimes such as murder, arson, and assault, so animal cruelty is now a Class A felony with its own category. Previously, animal cruelty crimes were reported to the FBI as “other.” The deputy executive director of the National Sheriffs’ Association backed the change when he learned that many serial killers are animal abusers first. Also, Julie Korth has been making pants for dogs long before it was cool! As CEO of Mozziepants, she’s following her dreams. So many questions. So little time. Also, there is a dangerous strain of dog flu spreading through the western U.S. Health officials in the Washington area have confirmed tests showing the virus was found in dogs who stayed at a local doggie daycare facility where at least 80 dogs developed respiratory illness since December. The virus began spreading last spring in the Chicago area and sickened more than 1,000 dogs in the Midwest. Although most dogs recover, a handful of deaths were reported. It has since spread to about 25 states.