Pet Peeves - hot-button pet issues that make owners growl, wag and purr, or bare their teeth - Pets & Animals on Pet Life Radio (PetLifeRadio.com)

Millions of homeless animals end up in shelters every year. Half of the pets that go into shelters die there, because time runs out before they can be adopted. How can caring pet lovers stem the furry tide? Janice Brown, Founder of Tails Magazine, has started a letter-writing campaign called "Letters for Pets," urging President Obama to declare April 30th National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day by Presidential Proclamation. Listen to the show to learn how you can add your vote to help shelter pets find forever homes!

November is Adopt-A-Senior-Pet Month. Older dogs and cats offer many benefits as pets, compared to youngsters. It’s time that mature pets get the respect and attention they deserve! This show offers sneak peeks into updated and revised award-winning books Complete Care for Your Aging Cat and Complete Care for Your Aging Dog. You’ll hear some of the "Golden Moment" true stories that illustrate successful pet aging. Please check the "episode page" for direct links to find these books, as well as additional excerpts and free book give-aways during my "Golden Moments Senior Pet Blog Tour."

There’s a reason such events are called a disaster -- but that word falls short when it comes to Katrina. The animal victims haunt pet lovers, especially those personally touched by the tragedy who did everything right -- and still lost so much. Karen O’Toole lived through the devastation, and was on the front lines as a rescuer and witness. She chronicles her experiences in a book, ORPHANS OF KATRINA, and in today’s show describes what it was like inside the world’s biggest animal rescue. For more pet behavior and care tips for your special cats and dogs, subscribe to the free Pet Peeves Newsletter available at Shojai.com.

The old adage "you are what you eat" applies to dogs just as it does people. And today, pet owners need a crystal ball to sift through the choices on the grocery aisle. Even if you home cook or raw feed, there are pitfalls that could leave your dog in trouble. Steve Brown offers answers for owners who home prepare food-- or buy it in the bag-- in his new book "Unlocking the Canine Ancestral Diet." Dogs may have moved from life on the wild side into the family room, but they still need food fit for an ancestor. Learn how to improve your dog’s diet-- and health-- in this "foodie" episode of Pet Peeves.

Not all trainers believe in cookie power and clickers--they consider it lax or ineffective. But punishment-based training of some high-profile celebrity trainers is labeled unscientific and ineffective by others. Who’s right? Is there room for both? Would you shock your dog to get him to behave? Stephanie Smith, PhD has something to say on the matter--see if you agree with some of her surprising statements. You can read more about cat behavior in my cats.About.com columns. Want to know more about dogs? Check out the new Pet Peeves website for both dog and cat information, and videos . Don’t forget that you can subscribe to the free Pet Peeves E-newsletter for more care and behavior tips.

Researchers have made amazing strides in specialized areas of veterinary medicine. These treatments can greatly improve a sick animal’s quality of life, and often cure or at least add months to years to the time the pet and owner can share together. Today’s guest explains all the details about veterinary specialties. Dr. Nancy Kay is a board certified specialist in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and published in several professional journals and textbooks, including the book SPEAKING FOR SPOT. You can read more about cat behavior in my cats.About.com columns. Want to know more about dogs? Check out the new Pet Peeves website for both dog and cat information, and videos http://pages.videojug.com/sites/144-Pet-Peeves. Don’t forget that you can subscribe to the free Pet Peeves E-newsletter for more care and behavior tips.

We’ve a bumper crop of kittens every year, with up to 4 million cats a year enter shelters. It hurts my heart to think of all the loving, needy felines that lose their homes--and their lives--every year. And it doesn’t have to happen! The American Humane designates June as the prime time for cat and kitten adoptions. But you don’t have to wait for June to find the kitty of your dreams. Join me on Pet Peeves as I speak with Debrah Schnackenberg of the American Humane, to talk about Adopt A Cat Month, and Dr. Katrina Warren of "Housecat/Housecall" Animal Planet show share their expertise on all-things-cats. You can read more about cat behavior in my cats.About.com columns. Want to know more about dogs? Check out the new Pet Peeves website for both dog and cat information, and videos . Don’t forget that you can subscribe to the free Pet Peeves E-newsletter for more care and behavior tips.

A week doesn’t go by that I don’t read a cat story in the local or national news. It’s great we have news coverage of controversial feline issues such as declawing bans, cat collectors, mandatory spay/neuter, as well as the warm-and-fuzzy coverage. But it hisses me off when the writers don’t know a Tonkinese from a Tabby. My expert guest, Sue Ewing (president of the Cat Writers’ Association) explains just where folks can find expert cat writers, and offers details (de-tails?) about the writing contest, conference and more.

It's a national tragedy that a special month promoting cat adoptions is necessary. Felines get the short end of the adoption stick because of cat myth-perceptions. We’ll dispel some of those myths and offer listeners terrific free resources designed for cat owners, veterinarians and shelters. Dr. Patricia Olson of Morris Animal Foundation and the Happy Healthy Cat campaign describes the results of a pet perceptions survey, and how negatives can be turned around. And Dr. Diane Eigner, Chair of the CATalyst Council explains how partnering with American Humane’s "Adopt-A-Cat Month" helps improve the status of cats.

Missing the litter box sends many cats to the shelter when owners can’t stand living with the mess. And while some cats do the dirty deed because of medical issues, there can be problems diagnosis-- or treating-- the problem even once it’s identified. I attended Dr. Jacqueline C. Neilson’s lecture at the Western Veterinary Conference on dealing with unwelcome feline PEE-mail, and she offers some great tips in this installment of Pet Peeves. Learn more about what can be done to establish litter box allegiance at Amy’s new online home at the CATS page at www.About.com--and sign up for free books, articles, updates on Pet Peeves radio shows and more with the Pet Peeves E-newsletter at www.shojai.com.

If you have a cat, you deal with claws. Learn all about ways to direct your cat’s natural inclinations in acceptable outlets. Dr. Jean Hofve offers tips on training, plus her unvarnished opinion of declaw surgery, laws against the practice and more. For more about declawing issues, tune into "Claws & Effect" on another Pet Peeves show. Need pet care articles and behavior tips? Wonder about links to past and future Pet Peeves radio episodes? Sign up for the free Pet Peeves E-newsletter from www.shojai.com and visit Amy at her new online home on the CATS page at www.About.com.

Western Veterinary Conference provides continuing education to veterinary professionals with more than 800 hours of continuing education with world-renowned instructors, networking with 6000 veterinarians, and more than 430 exhibitors showcasing the latest products and services. This year, the icing on my cake included interviewing legendary animal actress and animal advocate Betty White! In addition, you’ll hear from Catalyst Council members Dr. Jane Brunt and Steve Dale, and the president of Morris Animal Foundation Dr. Patricia Olson. You’ve heard from them before in Pet Peeve shows "Cost of Love," "Mandating Responsibility" and "Foundation of Love" and more. Find out what they were doing at the Western Veterinary Conference.

Talk about insurance raises hackles these days, and coverage for pets--furry family members--can be just as important. Last year people spent about $25 million on veterinary care. We want to take the best care of our pets as possible, but in trying economic times, that can be a challenge. Dr. David Goodnight with PurinaCare Pet Health Insurance educates us about how insurance for pets works, and why we should care.

Dog-loving owners can have unrealistic expectations, and can easily misunderstand normal dog behaviors. They believe dogs purposely act "bad" to get back at the owner, or blame problems on the dog’s stupidity. Too often, these socially inept canines end up in shelters! Yet dog training CAN be easy and fun-- and literally can save your dog’s life and your relationship. To counter this trend, the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APBT) has declared January to be National Train Your Dog Month, and Mychelle Blake joins Pet Peeves with all the insider details!

Studies have shown that pets lower our stress levels, and people remain healthier and live longer more fulfilled lives when they share it with a pet. Today we’re learning that if our animal companions can do this for otherwise healthy folks, as well as those with physical challenges, they also offer extraordinary benefits for emotional injuries! Join Pet Peeves guest, clinical psychotherapist and dog trainer Jane Miller as she discusses her new book, Healing Companions. Learn how psychiatric service dogs can help--and heal--people who suffer from a range of emotional ills, from eating disorders and anxiety to agoraphobia, depression, and post-traumatic stress.