Talking Animals

Ronnie Lee—the veteran British animal rights activist, who in 1976, founded the Animal Liberation Front (ALF)—muses about how to reconcile a lad whose childhood, in its basic contours, resembled many people’s childhood, yet he went on to become a firebrand activist. The subject of a new book, “The Animals’ Freedom Fighter: A Biography of Ronnie Lee, Founder of the Animal Liberation Front,” Lee addresses the way intense anger—fundamentally, over the injustice at how animals are treated– fueled much of his work as a young zealot. And how he strove to direct that rage in the most focused, effective manner to achieve the goals of ALF and other organizations he was affiliated with at the time of that direct action or other deed. Observing that ALF is minimally active currently, at least in the U.K., and that he no longer maintains much of a relationship with the organization he founded, he does point proudly to what he views as two of ALF’s most significant accomplishments: Drastically reducing the fur trade in the U.K., and dramatically reducing experimentation on animals. (Asked about the portrayal of an ALF crew in the acclaimed new Netflix film, “Okja,” answers that he hasn’t seen the film, adding that he tends not to watch films or television.) Lee also described how, in widening out his activism in the post-ALF era, and after he and his wife adopted two former racing greyhounds, he devoted considerable time and energy to greyhound education and advocacy, while emphasizing that his fundamental remains (www.facebook.com/generalronnielee,  www.animalliberationfront.com) ALSO: I spoke briefly with Alexandra Crockett, the photographer who, three years ago, assembled “Metal Cats,” a book featuring a wide array of images of metal musicians with their cats. She’s just released a variation of that book, converting it into an coloring book, entitled, fittingly enough, “Metal Cats Coloring Book”–which connects smoothly to the adult coloring trend, which shows no sign of diminishing.   COMEDY CORNER: Nick DiPaolo’s “Animal Activists” (www.nickdip.com/) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: The Beatles’ “Dig A Pony” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: http://www.talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/TAJuly19-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Ronnie Lee—the veteran British animal rights activist, who in 1976, founded the Animal Liberation Front (ALF)—muses about how to reconcile a lad whose childhood, in its basic contours, resembled many people’s childhood, yet he went on to become a firebrand activist. The subject of a new book, “The Animals’ Freedom Fighter: A Biography of Ronnie Lee, Founder of the Animal Liberation Front,” Lee addresses the way intense anger—fundamentally, over the injustice at how animals are treated– fueled much of his work as a young zealot. And how he strove to direct that rage in the most focused, effective manner to achieve the goals of ALF and other organizations he was affiliated with at the time of that direct action or other deed. Observing that ALF is minimally active currently, at least in the U.K., and that he no longer maintains much of a relationship with the organization he founded, he does point proudly to what he views as two of ALF’s most significant accomplishments: Drastically reducing the fur trade in the U.K., and dramatically reducing experimentation on animals. (Asked about the portrayal of an ALF crew in the acclaimed new Netflix film, “Okja,” answers that he hasn’t seen the film, adding that he tends not to watch films or television.) Lee also described how, in widening out his activism in the post-ALF era, and after he and his wife adopted two former racing greyhounds, he devoted considerable time and energy to greyhound education and advocacy, while emphasizing that his fundamental remains (www.facebook.com/generalronnielee,  www.animalliberationfront.com) ALSO: I spoke briefly with Alexandra Crockett, the photographer who, three years ago, assembled “Metal Cats,” a book featuring a wide array of images of metal musicians with their cats. She’s just released a variation of that book, converting it into an coloring book, entitled, fittingly enough, “Metal Cats Coloring Book”–which connects smoothly to the adult coloring trend, which shows no sign of diminishing.   COMEDY CORNER: Nick DiPaolo’s “Animal Activists” (www.nickdip.com/) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: The Beatles’ “Dig A Pony” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/TAJuly19-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Denice Heatherly—co-founder of Music City Animal Advocates, a non-profit organization whose stated goal is “to create an animal-saving culture in greater Nashville and surrounding counties” —describes her formative years, when her grandmother was a serious animal lover, and always had a dog, whereas Heatherly’s mother didn’t want animals in their house. She recalls moving to Nashville in 1980, and participating in a campaign to persuade the city to allow dog parks (at this point, there were none), which she marked as the beginning of her activism. Providing an instructive case study for how activists can work to reform a municipal animal shelter that’s dogged (sorry) by old-school policies, ineffective leadership, too low of an adoption rate/too high of a kill rate, and other problems, Heatherly details how she and her partner, Leslie Rouffe, and other individuals and organizations mounted a well-researched, well-organized effort to implement reforms at Nashville’s Metro Animal Care & Control—ultimately centered around a petition that generated tremendous response, buttressed by social media support from such artists as Kelly Clarkson and Miranda Lambert, and ultimately garnered more signatures than required. This led, she recalls, to sweeping reforms, including ending some of the shelters antiquated policies, the director retiring and being replaced by a fantastic, widely applauded new one—and a kill rate that dropped from 78% to about 11% today (www.musiccityanimaladvocates.org, www.facebook.com/StandbyyourMACC) ALSO: I spoke briefly with Erica Sirotich, a St. Petersburg author-illustrator whose first book wearing both those hats, “Found Dogs,” presents a positive look at adoption and shelters in a picture book intended for young readers, age 2-6. “Found Dogs” will be unveiled in an event on July 22 at Inkwood Books, in Tampa, where The Humane Society of Tampa Bay will provide adoptable dogs. (www.ericasirotich.com, www.facebook.com/ericasirotich) COMEDY CORNER: Greg Fitzsimmons’ “Adopting A Dog” (www.gregfitzsimmons.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Elton John’s “Grey Seal” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: http://www.talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/TAJuly12-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Denice Heatherly—co-founder of Music City Animal Advocates, a non-profit organization whose stated goal is “to create an animal-saving culture in greater Nashville and surrounding counties” —describes her formative years, when her grandmother was a serious animal lover, and always had a dog, whereas Heatherly’s mother didn’t want animals in their house. She recalls moving to Nashville in 1980, and participating in a campaign to persuade the city to allow dog parks (at this point, there were none), which she marked as the beginning of her activism. Providing an instructive case study for how activists can work to reform a municipal animal shelter that’s dogged (sorry) by old-school policies, ineffective leadership, too low of an adoption rate/too high of a kill rate, and other problems, Heatherly details how she and her partner, Leslie Rouffe, and other individuals and organizations mounted a well-researched, well-organized effort to implement reforms at Nashville’s Metro Animal Care & Control—ultimately centered around a petition that generated tremendous response, buttressed by social media support from such artists as Kelly Clarkson and Miranda Lambert, and ultimately garnered more signatures than required. This led, she recalls, to sweeping reforms, including ending some of the shelters antiquated policies, the director retiring and being replaced by a fantastic, widely applauded new one—and a kill rate that dropped from 78% to about 11% today (www.musiccityanimaladvocates.org, www.facebook.com/StandbyyourMACC) ALSO: I spoke briefly with Erica Sirotich, a St. Petersburg author-illustrator whose first book wearing both those hats, “Found Dogs,” presents a positive look at adoption and shelters in a picture book intended for young readers, age 2-6. “Found Dogs” will be unveiled in an event on July 22 at Inkwood Books, in Tampa, where The Humane Society of Tampa Bay will provide adoptable dogs. (www.ericasirotich.com, www.facebook.com/ericasirotich) COMEDY CORNER: Greg Fitzsimmons’ “Adopting A Dog” (www.gregfitzsimmons.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Elton John’s “Grey Seal” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/TAJuly12-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Priscilla Feral—the president of Friends of Animals, an international animal advocacy organization founded in 1957—discusses FoA’s late founder, Alice Herrington, outlining the characteristics that helped account for her pioneering inroads. Feral also addresses her circumstances, as a young woman, that deposited her at the Friends of Animals offices in 1974 (when she commuted each day from Connecticut to New York and back), meaning she’s about to mark 43 years working there. After Herrington retired in 1986, she recalls, Feral was appointed president—much to her surprise—and describes she adjustments her elevation required for Feral and her colleagues as the organization moved forward in the post-Herrington era. Feral explains how she approached widening out the Friends of Animals portfolio of issues and campaigns, from various animal rights concerns, to veganism, to a Chimpanzee project in Gambia, and the calculus of deciding to adding ones that other organizations—including high-profile ones such as the Humane Society of The United States or PETA—have been working on. Feral surveys notable FoA successful campaign triumphs, domestically and internationally, and points with particular pride to the launching in 2013 of the Wildlife Law Program, in which a small squad of attorneys are using courtroom efforts to affect change and achieve improved lives for animals. As someone who’s worked in this field for more than four decades, Feral responds to questions about how she’s mitigated compassion burn-out (or general burn-out). She relates the story behind her surname, which carries more history and dimension than you might think. (www.friendsofanimals.org) COMEDY CORNER: Joe Zimmerman’s “Crows ” (www.zimmermancomedy.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” Shemekia Copeland’s version of “Black Crow,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Willie Dixon’s “Little Red Rooster” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: http://www.talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/TAJuly5.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Priscilla Feral—the president of Friends of Animals, an international animal advocacy organization founded in 1957—discusses FoA’s late founder, Alice Herrington, outlining the characteristics that helped account for her pioneering inroads. Feral also addresses her circumstances, as a young woman, that deposited her at the Friends of Animals offices in 1974 (when she commuted each day from Connecticut to New York and back), meaning she’s about to mark 43 years working there. After Herrington retired in 1986, she recalls, Feral was appointed president—much to her surprise—and describes she adjustments her elevation required for Feral and her colleagues as the organization moved forward in the post-Herrington era. Feral explains how she approached widening out the Friends of Animals portfolio of issues and campaigns, from various animal rights concerns, to veganism, to a Chimpanzee project in Gambia, and the calculus of deciding to adding ones that other organizations—including high-profile ones such as the Humane Society of The United States or PETA—have been working on. Feral surveys notable FoA successful campaign triumphs, domestically and internationally, and points with particular pride to the launching in 2013 of the Wildlife Law Program, in which a small squad of attorneys are using courtroom efforts to affect change and achieve improved lives for animals. As someone who’s worked in this field for more than four decades, Feral responds to questions about how she’s mitigated compassion burn-out (or general burn-out). She relates the story behind her surname, which carries more history and dimension than you might think. (www.friendsofanimals.org) COMEDY CORNER: Joe Zimmerman’s “Crows ” (www.zimmermancomedy.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” Shemekia Copeland’s version of “Black Crow,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Willie Dixon’s “Little Red Rooster” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/TAJuly5.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Jessica Rubin—a professor at the University of Connecticut School of Law who’s at the forefront of a new law in that state, allowing judges to appoint legal advocates for abused animals in criminal cases—recalls her strong kinship with animals growing up, including that her mother ran a small rescue out of their home. Rubin notes that she became an activist early on, working in college alongside such major figures as Peter Singer and Steven Wise, and decided to attend law school, in part, so as to be able to work more effectively on animals’ behalf. After a stint working for a law firm, she began teaching at the UConn law school, and boosting her animal-related pro bono efforts. Increasingly concerned that animal cruelty cases were often failing to result in convictions—and further inspired by the horrors of a case involving a dog named Desmond, who was starved, beaten and strangled to death by a vengeful boyfriend, yet under the state’s accelerated rehabilitation provision, the perpetrator’s criminal record was later wiped clean–she and Connecticut State Representative Diana Urban began fashioning the bill that eventually became this new law. Rubin explains how it works, including that she (well, actually the law school, so that she can “staff” it with her law students) occupies one of eight positions as selected volunteer advocates, who are able to interview witnesses and experts, write briefs, make recommendation to a judge, and speak in court. In the first case under the law, Rubin recounts, her student, Taylor Hansen (pictured standing next to Rubin,  speaking into the microphone) served as the advocate. This is the first such law in the country, Rubin knows it’s being closely watched by legal communities and animal activists in other states, and hopes others in the country will enact comparable laws of their own.   ALSO: I spoke briefly with Ted Koran, co-founder of The Critter Place, a 30-year-old sanctuary in Weeki Wachi, Florida, where he’s caring for nearly 70 animals, pretty much singlehandedly. He’s facing some formidable challenges, including a recent medical diagnosis, and would certainly welcome help of one kind or another—people heading out to the sanctuary to volunteer, making donations, adopting some of The Critter Place animals, etc. (www.facebook.com/TheCritterPlace, www.facebook.com/tedkoran)   COMEDY CORNER: Paul F. Tompkins’ “Alternative Pets ” (http://paulftompkins.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals  NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: We didn’t play Name That Animal Tune today. AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: http://www.talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/TAJune28.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Jessica Rubin—a professor at the University of Connecticut School of Law who’s at the forefront of a new law in that state, allowing judges to appoint legal advocates for abused animals in criminal cases—recalls her strong kinship with animals growing up, including that her mother ran a small rescue out of their home. Rubin notes that she became an activist early on, working in college alongside such major figures as Peter Singer and Steven Wise, and decided to attend law school, in part, so as to be able to work more effectively on animals’ behalf. After a stint working for a law firm, she began teaching at the UConn law school, and boosting her animal-related pro bono efforts. Increasingly concerned that animal cruelty cases were often failing to result in convictions—and further inspired by the horrors of a case involving a dog named Desmond, who was starved, beaten and strangled to death by a vengeful boyfriend, yet under the state’s accelerated rehabilitation provision, the perpetrator’s criminal record was later wiped clean–she and Connecticut State Representative Diana Urban began fashioning the bill that eventually became this new law. Rubin explains how it works, including that she (well, actually the law school, so that she can “staff” it with her law students) occupies one of eight positions as selected volunteer advocates, who are able to interview witnesses and experts, write briefs, make recommendation to a judge, and speak in court. In the first case under the law, Rubin recounts, her student, Taylor Hansen (pictured standing next to Rubin,  speaking into the microphone) served as the advocate. This is the first such law in the country, Rubin knows it’s being closely watched by legal communities and animal activists in other states, and hopes others in the country will enact comparable laws of their own.   ALSO: I spoke briefly with Ted Koran, co-founder of The Critter Place, a 30-year-old sanctuary in Weeki Wachi, Florida, where he’s caring for nearly 70 animals, pretty much singlehandedly. He’s facing some formidable challenges, including a recent medical diagnosis, and would certainly welcome help of one kind or another—people heading out to the sanctuary to volunteer, making donations, adopting some of The Critter Place animals, etc. (www.facebook.com/TheCritterPlace, www.facebook.com/tedkoran)   COMEDY CORNER: Paul F. Tompkins’ “Alternative Pets ” (http://paulftompkins.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals  NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: We didn’t play Name That Animal Tune today. AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/TAJune28.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Stacy LeBaron—a veteran animal welfare advocate (felines, in particular) who hosts The Community Cats Podcast—recalls her first memory of a cat…who happened to be named Duncan! Still, she allows that her powerful passion for cats was cultivated cumulatively; over the course of several kitties she’s known and loved. LeBaron explains what it is she finds so appealing about cats, what traits speak to her so strongly. She describes joining the then-nascent Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society (MRFRS) in Newburyport Massachusetts, then ultimately leading the organization as the longtime president. She recounts some of the key accomplishments MRFRS reached under her tenure, including a feral cat colony near the waterfront that went from 300-plus residents winnowed down through their efforts over several years to the end of that colony. She points to other programs and innovations MRFRS implemented under her watch, including a mentoring-consulting operation, by which leaders of shelters and other advocates could seek LeBaron’s counsel on their own strategies and solutions for community cats, trap/neuter/return (TNR) programs, adoption promotions, and more. Owing to a confluence of factors—an elephantine waiting list for her mentoring services, nearly 20 years at MRFRS and time for a new challenge, LeBaron and her family relocating to Vermont—she left MRFRS and launched The Community Cats Podcast, exactly a year ago as of the day of our interview. During the first five or six months, LeBaron remembers, she produced five programs per week. She’s now settled into a thrice-weekly production schedule, but the fundamental premise is the same: She interviews an array of experts regarding the topics of cat overpopulation issue and various aspects of cat welfare—holding conversations not unlike what her mentoring consultations were like. Under The Community Cats Podcast umbrella, LeBaron also provides grants to organizations for free-roaming cat or spay/neuter programs of their own, periodically offers webinars featuring key cat experts. (www.communitycatspodcast.com)   ALSO: I spoke briefly with Gina Kaiser, the Tampa area representative for Paws With A Cause, the Michigan-based organization that provides assistance dogs across 30 states, customizing the canines’ training for the individual needs of a given client. Kaiser outlines the Paws With A Cause services, her duties as a local rep, and the benefit for the organization scheduled for June 30 at Palm Harbor Dance Studio in Palm Harbor, FL (www.pawswithacause.org, http://palmharbordancestudio.com) COMEDY CORNER: Marc Maron’s “Masturbating Among The Animals ” (www.wtfpod.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: http://www.talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/TAJune21-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Stacy LeBaron—a veteran animal welfare advocate (felines, in particular) who hosts The Community Cats Podcast—recalls her first memory of a cat…who happened to be named Duncan! Still, she allows that her powerful passion for cats was cultivated cumulatively; over the course of several kitties she’s known and loved. LeBaron explains what it is she finds so appealing about cats, what traits speak to her so strongly. She describes joining the then-nascent Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society (MRFRS) in Newburyport Massachusetts, then ultimately leading the organization as the longtime president. She recounts some of the key accomplishments MRFRS reached under her tenure, including a feral cat colony near the waterfront that went from 300-plus residents winnowed down through their efforts over several years to the end of that colony. She points to other programs and innovations MRFRS implemented under her watch, including a mentoring-consulting operation, by which leaders of shelters and other advocates could seek LeBaron’s counsel on their own strategies and solutions for community cats, trap/neuter/return (TNR) programs, adoption promotions, and more. Owing to a confluence of factors—an elephantine waiting list for her mentoring services, nearly 20 years at MRFRS and time for a new challenge, LeBaron and her family relocating to Vermont—she left MRFRS and launched The Community Cats Podcast, exactly a year ago as of the day of our interview. During the first five or six months, LeBaron remembers, she produced five programs per week. She’s now settled into a thrice-weekly production schedule, but the fundamental premise is the same: She interviews an array of experts regarding the topics of cat overpopulation issue and various aspects of cat welfare—holding conversations not unlike what her mentoring consultations were like. Under The Community Cats Podcast umbrella, LeBaron also provides grants to organizations for free-roaming cat or spay/neuter programs of their own, periodically offers webinars featuring key cat experts. (www.communitycatspodcast.com)   ALSO: I spoke briefly with Gina Kaiser, the Tampa area representative for Paws With A Cause, the Michigan-based organization that provides assistance dogs across 30 states, customizing the canines’ training for the individual needs of a given client. Kaiser outlines the Paws With A Cause services, her duties as a local rep, and the benefit for the organization scheduled for June 30 at Palm Harbor Dance Studio in Palm Harbor, FL (www.pawswithacause.org, http://palmharbordancestudio.com) COMEDY CORNER: Marc Maron’s “Masturbating Among The Animals ” (www.wtfpod.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/TAJune21-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Janet Vorwald Dohner—an author whose specialized books, including “Farm Dogs,” “Livestock Guardians,” and her new one, “The Encyclopedia of Animal Predators,” reflect 35-plus years experience on her small family farm —discusses her formative years in Indiana, before settling with her husband into their 10-acre homestead farm in Michigan. At my prompting—after confessing that my longstanding interest in the Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD) was initially sparked by the Looney Tunes cartoons featuring Ralph Wolf and Sam Sheepdog—she explains various aspects of LGDs, how they live while protecting their flock, how they differ from herding dogs and other dogs that live more directly with humans, dos and don’ts for approaching LGDs, and more. Dohner also addresses a small sampling of the predators featured in “The Encyclopedia of Animal Predators,” starting with the increasingly ubiquitous coyote and precautions that individuals and neighborhoods can take to protect against coyote visits, and discourage them. She touches on bears, particularly black bears, whose U.S. population has grown dramatically—as reflected in the periodic online videos of bears swimming in people’s pools or otherwise visiting homes—and steps to take to blunt the animals’ attraction to residential areas. Dohner responds to my noting that, among the things I learned from the “Encyclopedia,” is that bears are near sighted, which is why they stand on their hind legs—to catch the scent of something in their distant vision. She also shares what, in the course of conducting research for the “Encyclopedia,” were the biggest surprises she uncovered about these animals. (www.facebook.com/JanetVorwaldDohner) ALSO: I remember Ray Villadonga, a larger-than-life sweet soul who was claimed Saturday by cancer. Ray was an enormously important member of the WMNF family (for 30 years, he hosted “A Step Outside”), of the music community (a fantastic musician-bassist extraordinaire), and the community at large. He was also an animal guy. In fact, with one of his bands, Rayzilla’s PBS, he performed at multiple Talking Animals events, and we hear one of those performances—from the 2011 Talking Animals Festival at the Lowry Park Bandshell. (www.facebook.com/rvilladonga) COMEDY CORNER: Sarah Silverman’s “Squirrels” (www.facebook.com/SarahSilverman) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” Rayzilla’s PBS’s “Bhanchucho Galaxy/Alley Cat,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Rayzilla’s PBS’s version of “Alley Cat” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: http://www.talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/TAJune14.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Janet Vorwald Dohner—an author whose specialized books, including “Farm Dogs,” “Livestock Guardians,” and her new one, “The Encyclopedia of Animal Predators,” reflect 35-plus years experience on her small family farm —discusses her formative years in Indiana, before settling with her husband into their 10-acre homestead farm in Michigan. At my prompting—after confessing that my longstanding interest in the Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD) was initially sparked by the Looney Tunes cartoons featuring Ralph Wolf and Sam Sheepdog—she explains various aspects of LGDs, how they live while protecting their flock, how they differ from herding dogs and other dogs that live more directly with humans, dos and don’ts for approaching LGDs, and more. Dohner also addresses a small sampling of the predators featured in “The Encyclopedia of Animal Predators,” starting with the increasingly ubiquitous coyote and precautions that individuals and neighborhoods can take to protect against coyote visits, and discourage them. She touches on bears, particularly black bears, whose U.S. population has grown dramatically—as reflected in the periodic online videos of bears swimming in people’s pools or otherwise visiting homes—and steps to take to blunt the animals’ attraction to residential areas. Dohner responds to my noting that, among the things I learned from the “Encyclopedia,” is that bears are near sighted, which is why they stand on their hind legs—to catch the scent of something in their distant vision. She also shares what, in the course of conducting research for the “Encyclopedia,” were the biggest surprises she uncovered about these animals. (www.facebook.com/JanetVorwaldDohner) ALSO: I remember Ray Villadonga, a larger-than-life sweet soul who was claimed Saturday by cancer. Ray was an enormously important member of the WMNF family (for 30 years, he hosted “A Step Outside”), of the music community (a fantastic musician-bassist extraordinaire), and the community at large. He was also an animal guy. In fact, with one of his bands, Rayzilla’s PBS, he performed at multiple Talking Animals events, and we hear one of those performances—from the 2011 Talking Animals Festival at the Lowry Park Bandshell. (www.facebook.com/rvilladonga) COMEDY CORNER: Sarah Silverman’s “Squirrels” (www.facebook.com/SarahSilverman) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” Rayzilla’s PBS’s “Bhanchucho Galaxy/Alley Cat,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Rayzilla’s PBS’s version of “Alley Cat” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/TAJune14.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Dr. Dani McVety—a Tampa native and veterinarian who co-founded Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice in 2009, and it’s since become the nation’s largest network dedicated solely to end of life veterinary care–recounts the history of the enterprise, launching Lap of Love mere months after graduating from vet school, the name deriving from an early case where the client asked McVety if her dog could remain on her lap while the animal was euthanized. Recalling that she was previously on the show five years ago, when Lap Of Love was still a budding business, McVety explains that the company now features 100 veterinarians, across 26 states. McVety responds to the specifics of the recent loss of a dog our family experienced, my mother-in-law’s beloved Yorkie, Monty, she lived with for 16 years, including that some of the signals that the end has arrived weren’t present. She outlines the signs and symptoms she looks for, and consequently, the kind of coaching she provides for the humans. McVety lays out tips for how someone—particularly someone facing losing their first pet—should prepare, and the importance of allowing a vet like McVety or one of her colleagues guide the process, because the humans are often so distraught they’re not “emotionally sober.” She also addresses why she’s unconcerned about this work taking an emotional toll on her.    (www.lapoflove.com) NOTE: This interview was streamed on Facebook Live and can be watched here www.facebook.com/duncan.strauss ALSO: I spoke briefly with Paul Knapp about the humpback whales’ sounds—singing—he records each year in the Caribbean. During the course of the interview, we heard a recording of some choruses of whale singing. . COMEDY CORNER: Brian Regan’s “Boo Sailboat—Pt. 1” (portion) (http://brianregan.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” Paul Knapp’s “Chorus of Whales,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Midnight Oil’s “Bullroarer” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/TAMay31-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window  

Dr. Dani McVety—a Tampa native and veterinarian who co-founded Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice in 2009, and it’s since become the nation’s largest network dedicated solely to end of life veterinary care–recounts the history of the enterprise, launching Lap of Love mere months after graduating from vet school, the name deriving from an early case where the client asked McVety if her dog could remain on her lap while the animal was euthanized. Recalling that she was previously on the show five years ago, when Lap Of Love was still a budding business, McVety explains that the company now features 100 veterinarians, across 26 states. McVety responds to the specifics of the recent loss of a dog our family experienced, my mother-in-law’s beloved Yorkie, Monty, she lived with for 16 years, including that some of the signals that the end has arrived weren’t present. She outlines the signs and symptoms she looks for, and consequently, the kind of coaching she provides for the humans. McVety lays out tips for how someone—particularly someone facing losing their first pet—should prepare, and the importance of allowing a vet like McVety or one of her colleagues guide the process, because the humans are often so distraught they’re not “emotionally sober.” She also addresses why she’s unconcerned about this work taking an emotional toll on her.    (www.lapoflove.com) NOTE: This interview was streamed on Facebook Live and can be watched here www.facebook.com/duncan.strauss ALSO: I spoke briefly with Paul Knapp about the humpback whales’ sounds—singing—he records each year in the Caribbean. During the course of the interview, we heard a recording of some choruses of whale singing. . COMEDY CORNER: Brian Regan’s “Boo Sailboat—Pt. 1” (portion) (http://brianregan.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” Paul Knapp’s “Chorus of Whales,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Midnight Oil’s “Bullroarer” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: http://www.talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/TAMay31-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window  

Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald—a veterinarian for 35 years, featured on Animal Planet’s “Emergency Vets,” which aired for 11 seasons—recounts his pre-vet, 25-year stint working security for Rolling Stones tours, and how that period ended when Keith Richards urged him to get on with his life, maybe go back to school. Fitzgerald explains how, in heeding Richards’ advice, he decided to do something as challenging and ambitious as going to veterinary school. He addresses what drew him to practicing emergency medicine, and outlines how the opportunity for the long-running “Emergency Vets” came about, adding he never felt hampered treating all those animals at Alameda East Veterinary Hospital while the TV cameras were running. (He touches on a more recent Animal Planet series he also starred in, “E-Vet Interns.”). A veteran comedian who performs upwards of 100 shows a year, Fitzgerald describes how he wandered into the stand-up world, and sharing bills with such stalwarts as Joan Rivers, Norm Macdonald and Kevin Nealon. Fitzgerald talks about the scope of his conservation-related work, affiliated with the Denver Zoo, agreeing with my observation that many zoos’ conservation efforts amount to gussied-up propaganda or outright baloney—while providing details of big tracts of land in Mongolia and elsewhere that the Zoo has acquired for its conservation campaigns, which Fitzgerald has contributed to over the course of multiple visits. He also examines the climate change-produced challenges that polar bears face, offering details based on his trips to Churchill, Canada. (http://drkevinfitzgerald.com)   ALSO: I spoke briefly with Adam Sugalski, executive director of One Protest—perhaps best known for their significant role in helping halt the Florida bear hunt—who has, for more than a decade protested the Ringling Bros. circus, and offers his reflections on the end of Ringling, which had given its final performance a few days prior. Among his observations: that many media outlets, in their Farewell Ringling coverage, had generally given the circus a pass on its chronic mistreatment of animals. (www.oneprotest.org) COMEDY CORNER: Aziz Ansari’s “Lady With The Puppies” (http://azizansari.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: The Beatles’ “Blackbird” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/TAMay24.mp3 | Open Player in New Window