Animal Radio®

Snake-Whisperer Brian Barczyk loves reptiles. He has 30,000 snakes. Brian breeds them and sends them all over the globe to his snake-lovin’ brethren. He’s been bit 100,000 times he estimates and his colorful life is ripe for a TV reality series. Are you listening NatGeo? Oh, and no, he’s not single. In fact, the chicks dig it.Also, following the Sandy Hook tragedy, Mark Gomer got the idea to put Canine Protection Dogs into schools to sniff-out firearms and diffuse violent situations. At $50,000 per dog, Mark is trying to convince schools to purchase one of these full-time K9’s to protect their students. Also, ever wonder where you can take your dog if you are out and about? The Fido Factor app lets people know which places allow dogs, whether it’s a department store, restaurant, bar or just about any place else. In addition, the app gives you specific rules for each place, so you’ll know things like the leash rules or the fees you’ll have to pay.And finally, hoarding is a very real problem. Often times, those who collect suffer mental disabilities for which only professional help is the answer. We’ll speak to a cat lover that has more cats than she can count, and a dog lover with 16 un-altered pups. Ultimately, the pets suffers from this unrecognized neglect.

The Founder of the Charm School for Wayward Cats, Shawn Simons said she accidentally started herding and domesticating feral kittens for adoption. What began as a hobby has turned into one of the best rescue stories of the decade. Simons is making a difference for feral and homeless feline across Los Angeles county. She even enlists high-profile celebs to help with her cause. Also, two researchers from George Mason University in Virginia have calculated a savings of more than $11 billion in health care costs in the United States as a result of pet ownership. On average, the 132.8 million pet owners in the country visit a doctor 0.6 times less than the average non-pet owners. With the average cost of a visit to the doctor’s office at $139, that calculates to more than $11 billion pet owners did not spend. Not only that, but the dog owners who walked their pet five or more times a week had a lower incidence of obesity and were responsible for saving $419 million in related health care costs, according to the study. Also, a recent study says that dogs and cats whose humans smoke are at greater risk of cell damage, weight gain and some animal cancers. Researchers in Scotland discovered that, “An examination of the testicles removed from castrated dogs found that a gene, which acts as a marker of cell damage, was higher in dogs living in smoking homes.” But if you have cats, the risk is greater because cats groom themselves, which increases the amount of smoke chemicals that enter the body. And finally, a very smart cat used its litter box to stay afloat during a devastating flood that had water almost up to the ceiling of his house trailer in Missouri. Two members of the Disaster Response Team from the Humane Society of Missouri pulled up to the trailer in a boat and were able to gently extract the wet cat from the litter box as it floated by a window inside.

Delivered from obscurity by NatGeo’s Taboo, Boomer is a dog in a man’s body. Some have issues with a grown man dressing up as a dog, eating dog food, and barking out commands. Boomer was inspired by Disney’s Shaggy DA movie and hasn’t been the same since. Boomer explains his world in this special Animal Radio interview. Also, David Beart is building his house especially for his dog. He’s teamed up with many manufacturers to stock his pet-friendly dwelling. While this may not seem like a big deal, David may be onto something. The pet industry is the second-fastest growing sector at 58 BILLION dollars this year. It only makes sense that our homes will become more-homier for our furry-friends. Also, Scambook’s Miranda Perry lists off the top scams directed at the very-delicate and vulnerable pet-lover. These include Craigslist scams for pure-breed puppies to Western Union fraud. She even tells us about a guy who impersonated an animal control officer to bilk money out of noisy neighbors. Be listening so you won’t be a victim. Also, Christi Winter always tried to give her dog Josie the very best in life, so when it was time to say goodbye, Winter didn’t want to do anything less. Winter opted to have Josie euthanized at her home, a practice that isn’t new, but is becoming a specialized area of veterinary medicine. At least two companies have cropped up in recent years that recruit veterinarians who deal solely with end-of-life care for pets.

Rare Earth Keyboardist Mike Bruner is our “Hero Person of the Week.” He fell into a frozen lake while rescuing a dog that had also fallen in. Mike tells the whole story and even yaps about his menagerie at home. Also, Lauren Drabble is pitching her new smartphone app. The software allows you to easily find rescue and resources for injured wildlife. The next time you run into a wild animal that’s hurt, you’ll know exactly who to contact to help. Also, imagine a short film that highlights your relationship between you and your pet. Franck Tabouring comes to your house and creates a documentary video featuring your pet as the star. A great keepsake! Also, you never have to have your tea alone again. The first feline café is now open. Lady Dinah ’s Cat Emporium, it’s named after Alice’s cat in the fairy tale “Alice in Wonderland,” has 11 resident kitties. It costs $8.29 cents for two hours of kitty company. And finally, nearly all of us drive with our dogs in the car. And now there are car seats to make sure they’re safe in case of a sudden stop or an accident. The Center for Pet Studies has teamed up with Subaru of America in testing car harnesses. They took a look at seven harnesses using a specially designed crash test dog.

Topping the list of the biggest pet trends is the use of CBD, a bi-product of marijuana. Dozens of new CBD products have begun popping up. Some might not be so good for your pet and may actually contain arsenic. Dr. Debbie and Lori Brooks explore the pros and cons before you make an informed decision. Also, it’s not uncommon to see dogs or cats being used at major airports as a de-stressor. When you step off a plane in New Orleans, you’ll meet an alligator. While these alligators aren’t necessarily intended to provide emotional support, they are ready to take a selfie and be petted. Director of Communications at the airport, Erin Burns joins us to explain this unique partnership with the Audubon society. Also, there’s a new study out that shows women sleep better next to dogs than their human partners. 55% shared the bed with at least one dog and 31% shared their bed with at least one cat. Researchers found dogs were less likely to wake their owners in the middle of the night than humans, who were equally disruptive to women’s sleep and didn’t provide the feelings of comfort and security that dogs do. And finally, ff you go to a groomer, you might be very familiar with kennel dryers, used to finish your pet’s coat after a grooming. After several tragic accidents, many have become frightened of putting their animal inside the dryer. Dogfather Joey Villani addresses this problem head-on, saying there is nothing inherently wrong with these machines - and instead blaming bad groomers.

When someone you love is terminally ill, you may do whatever you can to make the little time left count. Attleboro Massachusetts Mayor Paul Heroux took his dying dog Mura on a cross-country bucket-list trip. He says “Filling up my gas tank: $40. Staying at a sketchy hotel: $60. The look on Mura’s face after she just ate a nasty freeway gas station hot dog: Priceless.” The animal friendly politician has also gone to far lengths to make his government workplace a pet-friendly environment. Also research back by the Iams Company is now showing that animal assisted therapy can make a significant difference in the recovery of troubled teens. A New Leash On Life, a program designed to match foster dogs with troubled youth, is having a positive effect on the children’s behavior and social interaction. Britt Savage Reports. Also, many airports around the country are helping to de-stress passengers with teams of therapy animals in the terminals. These mostly include dogs and the occasional therapy pig, which struts around the San Francisco airport, or the therapy cats in Denver. Now, there is a new kind of therapy animal appearing at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in Louisiana, where they have baby alligators at the baggage claim. The program is part of the airport’s new partnership with the Audubon Nature Institute. Selfies are encouraged for that souvenir you won’t soon forget. And finally, in keeping with the goals of reducing, replacing and/or refining the use of animals in research, the Food and Drug Administration has released for public comment their proposed research to validate an alternative approach for what they call bioequivalence studies for certain animal drugs. Another proposed change is that for at least two months before a study begins, the FDA’s animal care staff will work with the dogs to socialize them and acclimate them to being handled. The dogs will also receive regular veterinary care, including vaccinations and preventive care, so that they remain happy, well socialized and healthy and thus able to be adopted.

Losing a furry-companion can be as upsetting (if not more) than losing a human friend. But try explaining that to most bosses and they’ll laugh in your face. However, more employers are beginning to include pet bereavement leave in their employment policies. Dr. Sandra Grossman has researched this movement and will explain. Also, it’s a great day for military heroes on both ends of the leash. A bill was recently signed including a provision that will allow U.S. military dogs to be returned to the United States upon their retirement and gives their military handlers first chance to adopt them! Also, the world’s largest animal cloning factory is under construction in China, with plans to churn out pets, police dogs, racehorses and beef cattle, to be sold on the open market on an industrial scale. Also, a new study validates that finding that having a dog to cuddle up to and play with is good for children and are less likely to suffer from anxiety because of it. Also, Animal Radio Veterinary Correspondent Dr. Marty Becker has three things you should bring when you travel with your pet. He’ll help you curb the anxiety and motion sickness associated with pet travel. And finally, on their one-year anniversary, this couple released the most beautiful wedding video to ever be filmed - by a dog. Josh and Addie Burnette strapped a GoPro camera to the collar of their dog Ryder on their wedding day. The result? A two-minute video capturing the most important moments of the day from a “dogs eye view.”

You've most likely seen his work on film even if you don't recognize him. Bill Berloni is an animal trainer for stage and screen. His reality series on the Discovery Channel follows him around as he trains animals from the shelter for TV and movies. Also, Dr. Debbie says using Chewing Tobacco to worm your pet could kill them. Still, that's one of the more popular Internet home remedies for pets. Please don't rely on Dr. Google to treat your pets for any sickness or disease. It could easily lead you down the wrong treatment path. Also, a few years ago, pictures of all kinds of pets in overcrowded animal shelters filled social media as a warning against giving pets as Christmas presents. The ASPCA was just one of several organizations against the idea. However, they've changed their tone. Recently, the ASPCA conducted a survey to learn more about people who acquire pets as gifts. The vast majority of these pets are still in the home. Also, just like humans, dogs can also get sick in the car. But the reasons may be different. Dr. Debbie will help you determine the best way to approach this common problem. There are even medicines that are indicated for canine motion sickness. Also, a survey reveals that owning a dog boosts a man's sex appeal and 1 in 5 people admit to using their pets as ‘date bait.' The survey conducted by Match.com also found 1/3 of women and 1/4 of men have been attracted to someone because of their pet. Nearly 50% of the women said they judged potential partners on how they responded to their pet. 54% of men said they wouldn't date someone who didn't like pets.

Singer/Songwriter Eric Burdon (The Animals/War) guests this weekend on Animal Radio. He'll talk about his affinity for Elephants, and what he's doing about it. Eric will also share his experience living in a zoo. Also, when two competing radio hosts get together, they must have something really important to talk about. Sure enough, Steve Dale and Hal Abrams team up to talk about the Fear Free movement and how it can benefit your pet. Also, a dozen Animal Radio listeners were the first to get to try out the Brilliant Pad self-cleaning automatic dog potty. Last week, Brilliant Pad creator got his shot on the ABC hit show Shark Tank. With a half-million dollars in shark backing, Alan Cook tells us about the surreal experience of introducing Brilliant Pad to a prime time TV audience. Also, 19 states have now enacted laws cracking down on people who try to pass off their pets as service animals and Massachusetts is now considering a similar proposal. The toughest of the anti-fake service dog laws already in existence is in California, where the maximum penalty is a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail. Also, you will be hearing more from the Green Pet-Burial Society as our love of pets continues to grow. The group advocates for “whole-family cemeteries,” places where the whole family, pets included, can be buried together. The burial of pet remains in cemeteries designated for humans is illegal in many U.S. states.

Co-host of NBC's Thanksgiving Day National Dog Show; actor John O'Hurley (J. Peterman on Seinfeld) is back for the 14th year to share fun stories about the dogs in his life. He'll also take a stab at pronouncing the new breed names in this year's Thanksgiving Day show. Also, Musician Tanya Tucker joins the Thanksgiving celebration live from Nashville. She has a menagerie of animals and plenty of anecdotes to go around. This is the first time for her on Animal Radio…we'll be gentle. But this ain't her first rodeo. Also, Animal Planet host, Jackson Galaxy is back to yap about his awesome book. And finally, the Scottish government is asking residents there for their opinions on electric shock collars, used to train cats and dogs, and if they believe the collars should be banned. Wales, Sweden, Denmark and Germany have already banned shock collars, but supporters of them say they can be used successfully as a last resort - and have compared the pain inflicted to a static shock. Meanwhile, shock-collars are still legal in the United States; the usefulness is still in question. Sometimes a dog will “take the hit” if his/her drive is high.

You've probably heard about CBD, or Cannabidiol, a cannabis compound boasting significant medical benefits. Research on the safety and efficacy in pets is still in its early stages according to Dr. Joe Wakshlag. He'll help us parse out all the claims and navigate the double-talk. Also, pet owners are being asked if, and why, they include their cat or dog in selfies posted to social media as part of new research into our relationships with our pets. Dr. Lori Kogan, of Colorado State University, said the study indicated 50% of pet owners had their pet as their feature photo on their devices and that behavior offers insights into the close bonds between people and cats and dogs. Also, data from USC's Annenberg Center shows that on average Americans spend nearly 24 hours per week online. Research suggests that pets may get anxious and even depressed when we spend too much time on our smartphones. Also, “The worst thing you can do when your dog has been sprayed by a skunk is to use tomato juice.” That's according to Animal Radio's very own ‘Dogfather' Joey Villani. Besides not being effective, it's also pretty messy. But fear not! Joey has the perfect recipe of household products to fix this smelly problem. Also, Leanne Lauricella gave up her NYC corporate job, traded in her Mercedes for a pickup truck, and decided to care for handicapped goats. She'll never look back! She says it was the best decision ever. She has taken-it-up a level by integrating her love for goats throughout social media. The Goats' online fame landed them on Rachael Ray. Leanne has even published 6 books. Also, authorities in Kansas City, Missouri, discovered an unexpected occupant when they went to evict a man from his grandmother's home. Inside the home, police found a 7-foot, 200-lb. alligator. The grandson said the pet gator was only 15 inches long four years ago and grew bigger over time on a steady diet of chicken nuggets. He added the alligator is afraid of the dark and thunderstorms.

Actor Ed Begley Jr. is well-known for being green before green was cool. He'll share ideas for reducing your pet's carbon paw-print and saving money at the same time. Also, a woman recently returned from her shopping trip at the mall to discover her car had been hit by a vehicle driven by three dogs. She later learned the owner had left it running with the animals inside and they somehow managed to put it into gear. also, Petplan Pet Insurance compiled a list of states that are more likely to have accident prone pets. California tops the list followed by Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Also, what's wrong with a little rawhide treat now and then? A lot! Besides the lacks of nutritional value, it is commonly a choking hazard. Dr. Debbie sees choking cases in her office several times a year caused by splintered rawhide treats. Some are fatal! Also, a new study supports the stress reducing benefits of bringing your pooch to work. The study also reveals that workers have an increased level of job satisfaction and work productivity as well as higher staff morale.

Nadine Singel never tried to train her bulldog to skateboard. When you see him surfing the concrete with such passion and skill, it's hard to believe that he picked up the sport by watching neighborhood kids skateboarding. You'll love George's story. Also, senior pets are often the most undesirable pets to adopt. But seniors actually make great pets. So says Kim Skarritt, founder of the Silver Muzzle Cottage, a rescue and hospice for older dogs. She's committed to making the last months of a pet's life comfortable and happy. Also, anyone looking to cash in on the booming pet products business would be smart to investigate making pet treats, which have outpaced both dog and cat food in the last five years in the US. New research shows that pet treat sales increased by 29%, growing to more than 4 billion dollars of the retail pet products industry. Also, if you are one of the many people who just love Halloween, you may already have your pet's costume. But if you don't, we have your list of the top ten costumes for pets this year. It turns out that this year you'll likely be seeing a lot of cats that look like dogs and dogs that look like cats. About 20% of pets will be parading around in costumes this Halloween. Also, Pet World Insider Robert Semrow says many pet parents have heard of, but may not truly understand what Rabies is or how it can affect our pets and us. Rabies is a serious illness that can have fatal consequences. This is one of those illnesses that you can be very proactive with. Have a strategy and understanding of the risks to you and your pets.

Celebrating Halloween With Your Pet. A mere 16% of us dress our pets for Halloween. This year, there are more choices than ever for unique costumes. Costume maker Allison Albert shares her latest and greatest designs. Dr. Debbie has tips for those pets that just aren't into this scary holiday. Also, the FDA has issued a warning that flea medications in the Isoxazoline class such as Bravecto, Credelio, Nexgard and Simparica may do more than just combat flea or tick infestations. It turns out they all have the potential of causing seizures, muscle tremors or other neurological problems in pets. Also, Los Angeles is the largest city in the U.S. to ban the sale of fur. The city council has voted unanimously to move forward with the ban, which will take effect 24-months after final language is passed. The ban will prohibit the sale of coats, handbags, shoes, hats, jewelry, accessories and other products made in whole or in part of fur. Also, Bill Klein (TLC's The Little Couple) invented a pee pad with a pop-up fire hydrant. He says it cured his dog's inappropriate urination and it can help other dogs. Bill's business is enjoying success. He says humor coupled with social media is the best marketing. The Little Couple reality-star says he's proud to be in the “pee-pad” business because his product addresses a grand problem that affects so many dog owners. Also, the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) has filed a lawsuit in New Jersey on behalf of two sisters who unknowingly entered into a pet leasing agreement so they could purchase an 8-week-old Golden Retriever puppy from a pet store. Both the lender and the pet store are targeted in the lawsuit. Pet stores and online puppy sellers offer pet leasing schemes to make high priced puppies appear more affordable. Consumers may think they are opting for a standard payment plan, but many of these arrangements are actually leases where the consumers are required to make inflated monthly payments while the leasing company retains ownership of the dog. At the end of the lease, the consumer is required to make an additional payment if they want to keep the dog. For the sisters in this case, they will have paid a total of $5,300 at the end of the 24-month period to fully own their dog, now named Cooper, whose original purchase price was $3,500.

Can Dogs Be Gay? Dogs may exhibit behavior that we, as humans, construe as sexual behavior. The truth of the matter is that it has more to do with dominance and not sexual preference. Alan Kabel unravels the mystery that has many of us scratching our head in confusion. Also, Dr. Chip Taylor was the advisor of the 3-D hit IMAX movie “Flight of the Butterflies.” He explains the intriguing migration of the Monarch from Mexico to Canada. You might be surprised about the life of this casual insect. Also, pooches getting high on pot is an increasing problem in states where medical marijuana is legal. Veterinarians say what used to be a rare problem is becoming alarmingly more common, and the results can be deadly. Dr. Stacy Meola says “Dogs most commonly get stoned by eating their owner's pot-enhanced foods.” Our own Dr. Debbie White is upset when owners won't come clean in order to save their pet. Also, Anne Wills is the founder and executive director of Dogs Finding Dogs, a Baltimore-area nonprofit that uses trained tracking teams to search for lost pets. Also, if a pet turtle shows up at your home, do not take him in. He is considered armed and dangerous. No joke. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of Salmonella cases linked to tiny breeds of the reptile is on the rise. Also, a dog survived a 110-mile trip beneath the hood of a Chevy Silverado with the blazing Southern California sun above. Jaime Magana of Chino says he had no idea there was a dog hitching a ride in the engine compartment until he stopped in San Clemente for lunch.