The Animal House | WAMU 88.5

Disease sufferers have a new weapon in the fight against their maladies: mice. There is a growing trend toward using lab mice as “avatars” in an effort to identify proper drug therapies for individual patients. New York Times reporter Andrew Pollack has covered this new development, and he relayed the specifics to Sam Litzinger. Military vet Alisa Johnson talks about her new organization, Dogs On Deployment, which finds temporary homes for canines left behind by caretakers who are deployed for military duty. Bird Note, the weekly review of avian species, highlights a conservation program sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society's Project Feeder Watch. Music: “Animal Dreams” by Bob James

A woman in the District of Columbia wants help figuring out why the family canine is damaging her home’s downspouts and what she can do to stop the behavior. The companion of a Maryland dog with an inexplicably bad aroma wants help getting rid of the smell. A canine’s in-car barking has its partner seeking a way to change the behavior. Music: “Road Dogs” by Acoustic Alchemy; “Aquarium” (from “Carnival of the Animals”) by Camille Saint-Saens

National Geographic and the Wildlife Conservation Society recently collaborated on an expedition to locate and tag snow leopards in the mountains of Afghanistan using GPS technology to follow the movements of the elusive feline. The team of experts assembled for this difficult mission included the legendary, third-generation big cat tracker Boone Smith. Sam Litzinger spoke with Smith about his experience, which was filmed as part of an upcoming documentary for the National Geographic Channel. The Loh Down on Science with Sandra Loh features details of a new study that suggests viewing photos of cats can help your productivity at work. Music: “Walk on the Wild Side” by Jimmy Smith

Dr. Gary Weitzman of the San Diego Humane Society helps a Virginia man solve the mystery of his usually active Husky’s abrupt refusal to take walks. A man in the D.C. region is concerned about a canine that has lost interest in outdoor play. A seemingly healthy dog in North Carolina has a troubling habit of eliminating indoors whenever its caretaker leaves the home.

It is the world’s largest single structure built by living organisms, but the Great Barrier Reef has lost half its size since 1985. This dismal assessment is part of a new study of the reef that Washington Post environmental reporter Juliet Eilperin shared with Sam Litzinger. WAMU news reporter Sabri Ben-Achour has more information about the desperate plight of coral populations worldwide. Bird Note, the weekly review of avian species, features a story about a small American sea duck known as the Bufflehead. Music: “Animal Dreams” by Bob James

A listener in California asks Dr. Gary Weitzman about the use of anesthesia when cleaning her cat’s teeth. A dog in Washington, D.C., has an aversion to dry food. And a rescue canine, also in the District of Columbia, has anxiety problems.

Like the character her father portrays in his "Dirty Harry" films, animal advocate Alison Eastwood is on a mission to serve and protect society from those who harm others. But in this case, keepers of exotic animals are in the crosshairs. Eastwood is the co-host of the new NatGeo Wild television program, Animal Intervention, in which she and animal welfare expert Donald Schultz aid and confront people who house monkeys, bears and big cats in residential neighborhoods and potentially hazardous environments. Eastwood visited The Animal House to preview the program and discuss why animal advocacy is so important to her. The Loh Down on Science with Sandra Loh features details of new technology that allows sheep to send text messages.

Dr. Gary Weitzman of the San Diego Humane Society helps a Florida man curb his canine’s taste for automobile parts. A woman in Washington, D.C., seeks an about-face for her cat’s propensity for head-butting at bed time. A Maryland woman is concerned about her cat’s lack of affinity for the litter box.

Deer are dying by the thousands across the United States because of a widespread outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease. Chris Kreh, a biologist with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, explains the nature of the disease and why an unusually high number of deer are infected in his state. Sam Litzinger speaks to award-winning sports journalist and author Jim Gorant about his new book ,"Wallace." It's the follow-up to his best-selling chronicle of dogs rescued from the fighting compound of football star and convicted animal abuser Michael Vick. Then, it's BirdNote, the weekly review of avian species features a story about bird watching on Cape May, N.J. Music: “Animal Dreams” by Bob James; “Appalachian Spring” – Aaron Copeland

A listener who wants to train his dog to be “bilingual” asks Dr. Gary Weitzman about the likelihood of success. A grade-school aged companion of a beagle wants help understanding the canine’s aggressive behavior. And the caretaker of an 8-year-old adopted dog is looking for ways to deal with canine separation anxiety. Music: “Road Dogs” by Acoustic Alchemy; “The Swan” Claude Debussy

Whether she’s employing unique procedures such as water therapy and acupuncture or counseling her friend Oprah Winfrey on veterinary matters, Dr. Barbara Royal is known as a trailblazer in pursuit of an “integrative” approach to animal medicine. She spoke to Sam Litzinger about the methods described in her new book, "The Royal Treatment." After that, it's BirdNote with a few tips for beginning bird watchers, followed by The Loh Down on Science with Sandra Loh, which features details of a new study about North American songbirds.

Dr. Gary Weitzman, president of the San Diego Humane Society encounters three separate cases of feline frustration: One listener has a cat that is spraying after moving to a new home, another cat is chewing its companion’s eye wear and the constant in-home fighting of two cats has their human caretaker at “whisker’s end.”

It’s the question on the minds of animal care professionals everywhere after the recent death of a baby giant panda at the Smithsonian National Zoo. Don Moore, the zoo’s associate director of animal care, spoke to Sam Litzinger about the results of the panda’s necropsy. We also hear excerpts from a conversation between Litzinger and actress and animal advocate Betty White. Music: “Animal Dreams” by Bob James

Dr. Gary Weitzman and noted animal behaviorist Dr. Nicholas Dodman offer advice to a man who is worried about his 17-year-old dachshund’s eating habits. Dodman has written a book on the subject of aging canines called "Good Old Dog." Meanwhile, a woman wants to know if her adopted alley cat can be moved to a new state. Music: “Road Dogs” by Acoustic Alchemy; “Die Fledermaus” – Johann Strauss II

The celebrated actress and author Betty White talks to Sam Litzinger about her life, career and lifelong love of animals during a program that took place at Washington, D.C.’s Lisner Auditorium, sponsored by The Smithsonian Associates. After that, The Loh Down on Science with Sandra Loh features a lighthearted description of “Robo Rats.”