Talking Animals

Luan Dean—the Director of Mission Advancement at SPCA Tampa Bay—explains the scope of her duties at the organization, which began in 1940, while describing the work undertaken there in the earliest days, some 70 years ago. Dean also briefly traces SPCA Tampa Bay’s evolution and change in those ensuing decades, including relocating from St. Petersburg to Largo, a significant widening out of services and programs offered, and operating on 10-acre parcel of land. As an offshoot of this discussion, she describes in some detail the new veterinary hospital that SPCA Tampa Bay is just on the cusp of opening in St. Petersburg (projected period for it to be functioning is early October) that will be full-service, providing a range of veterinary care, equipped with a full staff, including several veterinarians, vet techs and other. Dean says the new facility will include a high-volume spay-neuter clinic, noting that it’s quite possible for a veterinarian to perform 35 such procedures per day. She addresses the various means through which SPCA Tampa Bay underwrites its programs and services (the 10-acre piece of land was donated by a supporter), including the Annual Pet Walk, the organization’s biggest fundraiser–the 26th edition of which is slated for Oct. 8 at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg. Dean speaks to the way SPCA Tampa Bay and its reputation have rebounded from a place some years ago, when there were questions and controversy surrounding the facility’s status as a “no-kill” shelter—spurred by criticism (and queries about allegedly fudged numbers) when it came to the number of animals taken in by the SPCA relative to how many were adopted out, and how many were euthanized. (http://spcatampabay.org) ALSO: I spoke briefly with Alana Rogers, of Pig Advocates League (PAL), to receive an important update about the so-called “Polk Pigs”—the 120+ pigs that were sized in early August from Darlynn’s Darlins, a Polk City rescue sanctuary, when the proprietors were charged with 138 counts of animal neglect and three counts of felony animal abuse. The judge ruled that the pigs would not be returned to those proprietors, and have temporarily been relocated to a sanctuary in Gainesville, FL—but PAL needs all kinds of help, to help these pigs: volunteers, the use of livestock trailers (or trucks and vans), new homes for the pigs, donations to help feed and care for them, etc. The email to donate or inquire about helping the pigs is: palpigs@gmail.com (www.pigadvocates.com, www.facebook.com/PigAdvocates/?fref=ts) COMEDY CORNER: Nick DiPaolo’s “Animal Activists” (www.nickdip.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals  NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: The Rolling Stone’s “Monkey Man” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/TASept21-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window  

Jennifer Arnold—the founder and executive director of Canine Assistants, which trains and provides service dogs for children and adults with physical disabilities and author, most recently, of “Love Is All You Need: The Revolutionary Bond-Based Approach To Educating Your Dog”—recalls how she’s adored dogs since childhood and, as a teenager, a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (since revised to polychondritis), along with being unable to get a dog from California service dog pioneer Bonnie Bergin, helped launched Canine Assistants. That path was marked by obstacles, long waits, personal tragedy—but also, Arnold notes, by perseverance (the organization was officially started in 1991), a vision and sense of quest, when she confirms that she views her work with dogs as a calling. Arnold outlines the tenets of her Bond-Based Choice philosophy, which holds that dogs are social learners, and once they’ve bonded with their humans, the dogs become experts at reading the humans’ signals and can learn to make good decisions for themselves, thereby reducing the anxiety that she feels has become pervasive in canines. As one element of cultivating that bond, she describes the notion of food sharing with your puppy, offering, for example, the dog—who’s still off leash–a bit of string cheese, then taking a bit yourself, and so on, and then that dog later welcomes the leash, and what happens next. (She says this method can also work with older dogs.) Arnold explains how Bond-Based Choice eschews commands and cues, recounting an anecdote from the new book about a man and his son, with a form of muscular dystrophy, who arrived at the Canine Assistants facility and was initially frustrated over the lack of commands, but came to view the experience—and the relationship his forged with his dog—as awe-inspiring. Owing partly to some email inquiries that arrived in the days before the show, Arnold spends some time addressing her position on breeding dogs for this work versus using shelter dogs, and how—and why–that position has shifted. (www.canineassistants.org) ALSO: I spoke briefly with Nash McCutchen, from the Humane Society of Tampa Bay (HSTB), about a $25,000 grant the organization recently received, for the express purpose of spaying/neutering of feral and other outdoor cats. This allows HSTB to help with Trap Neuter Vaccination and Return (TNVR) of feral colonies in the Tampa Bay area, and to temporarily provide free spaying/neutering of people’s personal outdoor cats. (http://humanesocietytampa.org) COMEDY CORNER: Bill Burr’s “Dog Trainer” (http://billburr.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Little Feat’s “Dixie Chicken” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: http://www.talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/TASept14-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Jennifer Arnold—the founder and executive director of Canine Assistants, which trains and provides service dogs for children and adults with physical disabilities and author, most recently, of “Love Is All You Need: The Revolutionary Bond-Based Approach To Educating Your Dog”—recalls how she’s adored dogs since childhood and, as a teenager, a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (since revised to polychondritis), along with being unable to get a dog from California service dog pioneer Bonnie Bergin, helped launched Canine Assistants. That path was marked by obstacles, long waits, personal tragedy—but also, Arnold notes, by perseverance (the organization was officially started in 1991), a vision and sense of quest, when she confirms that she views her work with dogs as a calling. Arnold outlines the tenets of her Bond-Based Choice philosophy, which holds that dogs are social learners, and once they’ve bonded with their humans, the dogs become experts at reading the humans’ signals and can learn to make good decisions for themselves, thereby reducing the anxiety that she feels has become pervasive in canines. As one element of cultivating that bond, she describes the notion of food sharing with your puppy, offering, for example, the dog—who’s still off leash–a bit of string cheese, then taking a bit yourself, and so on, and then that dog later welcomes the leash, and what happens next. (She says this method can also work with older dogs.) Arnold explains how Bond-Based Choice eschews commands and cues, recounting an anecdote from the new book about a man and his son, with a form of muscular dystrophy, who arrived at the Canine Assistants facility and was initially frustrated over the lack of commands, but came to view the experience—and the relationship his forged with his dog—as awe-inspiring. Owing partly to some email inquiries that arrived in the days before the show, Arnold spends some time addressing her position on breeding dogs for this work versus using shelter dogs, and how—and why–that position has shifted. (www.canineassistants.org) ALSO: I spoke briefly with Nash McCutchen, from the Humane Society of Tampa Bay (HSTB), about a $25,000 grant the organization recently received, for the express purpose of spaying/neutering of feral and other outdoor cats. This allows HSTB to help with Trap Neuter Vaccination and Return (TNVR) of feral colonies in the Tampa Bay area, and to temporarily provide free spaying/neutering of people’s personal outdoor cats. (http://humanesocietytampa.org) COMEDY CORNER: Bill Burr’s “Dog Trainer” (http://billburr.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Little Feat’s “Dixie Chicken” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/TASept14-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Mark Reinfeld—the award-winning vegan chef and author of numerous books, including “The 30-Minute Vegan” series and, most recently, “Healing The Vegan Way: Plant-Based Eating for Optimal Health and Wellness”—discusses the first portion of the new book, which features Reinfeld’s writing, as well as essays and testimonials from an assemblage of cardiologists and other doctors, nutritionists and various medical professionals, noting that many of our health problems (including diabetes, heart disease, and obesity) can be traced to the highly-processed food, and the Standard American Diet, that many of us eat each day. That part of the book involves Reinfeld and his contributors detailing how those illnesses can be combated—and, in some cases, reversed—by so-called superfoods, and weighing in on virtues of whole-food vegan diets. Reinfeld notes that these ideas, cautions and entreaties overlap and underscore those presented in a number of books (by Campbell, Esselstyn, Ornish, et al) and such films as “Forks Over Knives,” “Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret,” and “Vegucated.” He responds to an anecdote I tell, illustrating the way people can react disagreeably to vegan food simply because it’s “vegan food.” He observes the advances made in vegan food and ingredients over the years, citing, for example, vegan cheese. We touch on some of the 200 recipes found in the second part of “Healing The Vegan Way,” mentioning that many are presented in “template” form, so that there are multiple variations possible, potentially yielding several dishes per recipe. Reinfeld reviews the components of his beloved Monk Bowl, some of the undertakings of his Vegan Fusion Culinary Academy in Miami, and more.  (http://veganfusion.com) ALSO: I spoke briefly with Claire Wray, from Friends of Strays, about their history and mission, and about their forthcoming Soiree, “A Night In The Roarrring 20’s,” their biggest fundraising event of the year, important for underwriting their efforts to place homeless cats and dogs, and the various programs they offer. We also discuss their Pet Food Pantry program, which helps low-income families keep their animals fed, and avoid feeling compelled to surrender those pets to shelters. (www.friendsofstrays.com) COMEDY CORNER: Steve Martin’s “Cat Handcuffs” (www.stevemartin.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Al Hirt & others’ “The Green Hornet Theme” AUDIO ARCHIVE Listen Online Now: http://www.talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/TASept7-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Mark Reinfeld—the award-winning vegan chef and author of numerous books, including “The 30-Minute Vegan” series and, most recently, “Healing The Vegan Way: Plant-Based Eating for Optimal Health and Wellness”—discusses the first portion of the new book, which features Reinfeld’s writing, as well as essays and testimonials from an assemblage of cardiologists and other doctors, nutritionists and various medical professionals, noting that many of our health problems (including diabetes, heart disease, and obesity) can be traced to the highly-processed food, and the Standard American Diet, that many of us eat each day. That part of the book involves Reinfeld and his contributors detailing how those illnesses can be combated—and, in some cases, reversed—by so-called superfoods, and weighing in on virtues of whole-food vegan diets. Reinfeld notes that these ideas, cautions and entreaties overlap and underscore those presented in a number of books (by Campbell, Esselstyn, Ornish, et al) and such films as “Forks Over Knives,” “Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret,” and “Vegucated.” He responds to an anecdote I tell, illustrating the way people can react disagreeably to vegan food simply because it’s “vegan food.” He observes the advances made in vegan food and ingredients over the years, citing, for example, vegan cheese. We touch on some of the 200 recipes found in the second part of “Healing The Vegan Way,” mentioning that many are presented in “template” form, so that there are multiple variations possible, potentially yielding several dishes per recipe. Reinfeld reviews the components of his beloved Monk Bowl, some of the undertakings of his Vegan Fusion Culinary Academy in Miami, and more.  (http://veganfusion.com) ALSO: I spoke briefly with Claire Wray, from Friends of Strays, about their history and mission, and about their forthcoming Soiree, “A Night In The Roarrring 20’s,” their biggest fundraising event of the year, important for underwriting their efforts to place homeless cats and dogs, and the various programs they offer. We also discuss their Pet Food Pantry program, which helps low-income families keep their animals fed, and avoid feeling compelled to surrender those pets to shelters. (www.friendsofstrays.com) COMEDY CORNER: Steve Martin’s “Cat Handcuffs” (www.stevemartin.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Al Hirt & others’ “The Green Hornet Theme” AUDIO ARCHIVE Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/TASept7-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

This represents a highly unusual edition of “Talking Animals,” chiefly, because it features far more guests at one time—eight—than any other show in our 13-plus year history. The overall topic was Pasco County’s Inmate Labor Program, which allows inmates to “work” at the Pasco County Animal Shelter. The guests were Mike Shumate, left, director of Pasco County Animal Services, Sheriff Detention Deputy Chris Ruiz (who oversees the selection, scheduling and work of the inmates at the Shelter), and six of the inmate workers: Nicholas Voporis, Edgar Velez, Darryn Senoga, Angela Osorio, Jessie Geiger and Justin Lebarron. We discuss the history of the Pasco County Inmate Labor Program, which was launched at the Pasco County Animal Shelter in October of 2014, and how it’s evolved and expanded, to where now, five inmate workers (today, six) typically turn up there five days a week. They undertake various tasks at the Shelter, including cleaning kennels, refilling food and water bowls, walking the dogs, and more—including an increasing emphasis on training, by way of a staff behavior training coordinator, who provides training techniques to the inmates, who in turn teach train the shelter dogs at the shelter, which boosts their prospects of being adopted. The inmates’ work at the Shelter allows them to get some time shaved off their sentences, in a formula that Deputy Ruiz explains. Some of the inmates, including Voporis, Velez (whose release from jail is imminent, so is about to end his stint at the Animal Shelter), Osorio and Senoga—the most senior inmate worker, having toiled there for seven months—address what they like most about the gig, the mixed but mostly positive feelings they experience when a dog is adopted from the Shelter, and more.                                               (www.pascocountyfl.net/Index.aspx?NID=408) ALSO: I spoke briefly with Catherine Doyle, Director of Science, Research and Advocacy for the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), about the news that on Monday, California Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 1062, the bill to ban the use of bullhooks on elephants, which prevents circuses and other attractions that use bullhooks from operating in the state. PAWS was a co-sponsor of the bill, Doyle was instrumental in helping push it through, and has consulted and otherwise assisted cities and states with passing bullhook bans. We discussed the implications of California passing its ban, the second state to do so, after Rhode Island enacted a ban in July. (www.pawsweb.org) COMEDY CORNER: Pete Holmes’ “Dropped A Dog” (http://peteholmes.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Bent Fabric’s “Alley Cat” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: http://www.talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/TAAug31-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

This represents a highly unusual edition of “Talking Animals,” chiefly, because it features far more guests at one time—eight—than any other show in our 13-plus year history. The overall topic was Pasco County’s Inmate Labor Program, which allows inmates to “work” at the Pasco County Animal Shelter. The guests were Mike Shumate, left, director of Pasco County Animal Services, Sheriff Detention Deputy Chris Ruiz (who oversees the selection, scheduling and work of the inmates at the Shelter), and six of the inmate workers: Nicholas Voporis, Edgar Velez, Darryn Senoga, Angela Osorio, Jessie Geiger and Justin Lebarron. We discuss the history of the Pasco County Inmate Labor Program, which was launched at the Pasco County Animal Shelter in October of 2014, and how it’s evolved and expanded, to where now, five inmate workers (today, six) typically turn up there five days a week. They undertake various tasks at the Shelter, including cleaning kennels, refilling food and water bowls, walking the dogs, and more—including an increasing emphasis on training, by way of a staff behavior training coordinator, who provides training techniques to the inmates, who in turn teach train the shelter dogs at the shelter, which boosts their prospects of being adopted. The inmates’ work at the Shelter allows them to get some time shaved off their sentences, in a formula that Deputy Ruiz explains. Some of the inmates, including Voporis, Velez (whose release from jail is imminent, so is about to end his stint at the Animal Shelter), Osorio and Senoga—the most senior inmate worker, having toiled there for seven months—address what they like most about the gig, the mixed but mostly positive feelings they experience when a dog is adopted from the Shelter, and more.                                               (www.pascocountyfl.net/Index.aspx?NID=408) ALSO: I spoke briefly with Catherine Doyle, Director of Science, Research and Advocacy for the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), about the news that on Monday, California Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 1062, the bill to ban the use of bullhooks on elephants, which prevents circuses and other attractions that use bullhooks from operating in the state. PAWS was a co-sponsor of the bill, Doyle was instrumental in helping push it through, and has consulted and otherwise assisted cities and states with passing bullhook bans. We discussed the implications of California passing its ban, the second state to do so, after Rhode Island enacted a ban in July. (www.pawsweb.org) COMEDY CORNER: Pete Holmes’ “Dropped A Dog” (http://peteholmes.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Bent Fabric’s “Alley Cat” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/TAAug31-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Dr. Laurie Marker—the founder and executive director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), speaking by phone from the CCF base in Namibia—recounts her childhood, growing up near Los Angeles, and how animals were central to her life even then, though it was mainly horses, noting she started riding as a young kid and still tries to ride daily now. Marker describes her first job at an animal park—Wildlife Safari in Oregon, where she began at age 20, staying 16 years—which also represents her first time working with cheetahs. She addresses what spoke to her about cheetahs, what exactly enchanted her about the cats, the affinity that has characterized her career for more than three decades. Reflecting on efforts to cultivate a captive breeding program during her stint at Wildlife Safari, Marker explains the challenges of breeding cheetahs, including their unique genetic characteristics. Talking numbers, she says that over the last 100 years, there has been a 90% decline in the wild cheetah population, to fewer than 7000, with about half that located in Namibia—and that population has risen a bit, owing to various CCF strategies, including measures with community farmers and ranchers to help protect their livestock from being killed by cheetahs, which in turn has helped prevent cheetahs from being killed by angry farmers and ranchers. (She estimates there are 1600 cheetahs in captivity.) We spend some time exploring the word “conservation,” partly because it’s in the name of her organization, partly because, I observe, the word gets bandied about pretty loosely—or just plain co-opted—by all kinds of entities who use it to cover less than glorious activities, or simply as a fundraising gambit. Marker gazes ahead 10 years, elucidating what the next decade looks like for the future of cheetahs and their population. (http://cheetah.org) COMEDY CORNER: Mike Birbiglia’s “Arctic Fox, It’s A Setup” (http://birbigs.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” Sharon Jones’ “How Do I Let A Good Man Down,” The Tragically Hip’s “Gus: The Polar Bear From Central Park” (I’m thinking about you, Gord Downie), instrumentals  NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Rufus Thomas’ “Walking The Dog” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: http://www.talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/TAAug24-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Dr. Laurie Marker—the founder and executive director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), speaking by phone from the CCF base in Namibia—recounts her childhood, growing up near Los Angeles, and how animals were central to her life even then, though it was mainly horses, noting she started riding as a young kid and still tries to ride daily now. Marker describes her first job at an animal park—Wildlife Safari in Oregon, where she began at age 20, staying 16 years—which also represents her first time working with cheetahs. She addresses what spoke to her about cheetahs, what exactly enchanted her about the cats, the affinity that has characterized her career for more than three decades. Reflecting on efforts to cultivate a captive breeding program during her stint at Wildlife Safari, Marker explains the challenges of breeding cheetahs, including their unique genetic characteristics. Talking numbers, she says that over the last 100 years, there has been a 90% decline in the wild cheetah population, to fewer than 7000, with about half that located in Namibia—and that population has risen a bit, owing to various CCF strategies, including measures with community farmers and ranchers to help protect their livestock from being killed by cheetahs, which in turn has helped prevent cheetahs from being killed by angry farmers and ranchers. (She estimates there are 1600 cheetahs in captivity.) We spend some time exploring the word “conservation,” partly because it’s in the name of her organization, partly because, I observe, the word gets bandied about pretty loosely—or just plain co-opted—by all kinds of entities who use it to cover less than glorious activities, or simply as a fundraising gambit. Marker gazes ahead 10 years, elucidating what the next decade looks like for the future of cheetahs and their population. (http://cheetah.org) COMEDY CORNER: Mike Birbiglia’s “Arctic Fox, It’s A Setup” (http://birbigs.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” Sharon Jones’ “How Do I Let A Good Man Down,” The Tragically Hip’s “Gus: The Polar Bear From Central Park” (I’m thinking about you, Gord Downie), instrumentals  NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Rufus Thomas’ “Walking The Dog” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/TAAug24-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Dr. Lisa Kemmerer—a professor of philosophy and religions at Montana State University Billings, who has written and/or edited none books—discusses her unusual, stop-start path as an academic, including what drew her to Harvard Divinity School, where she earned her Masters degree. Kemmerer addresses her prolific writing career, and the conceptual (and actual) wanderlust that has driven her eclectic body of literary work. She explains how the idea came about for “Bear Necessities: Rescue, Rehabilitation, Sanctuary, and Advocacy,” an anthology she edited that features more than two dozen contributors (including Kemmerer herself) addressing a global array of bear issues and species, providing a behind-the-scenes glimpse at how “labor intensive” such an undertaking is, from researching potential contributors, contacting them, working out the topic(s) of their pieces, editing those contributions, and more. Kemmerer speaks to some specific pieces in “Bear Necessities,” including a chapter on bile farms, written by Jill Robinson, founder-CEO of Animals Asia Foundation (a past guest on “Talking Animals”), and a piece on the growing challenges faced by polar bears amidst the already-tangible effects of climate change. There’s also discussion of how issues and cultural behaviors specific to a given country or area often end up operating on a more universal level, and how this information—especially a chapter authored by Kemmerer, “U.S. Wildlife Agencies: Outdated, Misguided, and Destructive”–is very much relevant to Florida, particularly the bear hunt that happened in the state last year and almost happened again this year. She concludes by responding to a question about how her faith, such as it is, helps her when dealing with animal abuse and other upsetting experiences. (www.lisakemmerer.com)   ALSO: I spoke briefly with Alana Rogers of Pig Advocates League (PAL), a nonprofit organization deeply involved with helping the 130+ pigs seized last week from the Polk City facility, where the owners were charged with 138 counts of animal neglect and three counts of felony animal abuse. She outlined key elements of the case, including how the undercover investigation by the often-polarizing PETA led to the arrests, and how a pending hearing will determine whether the owners are granted custody of the animals. She also noted how, in advance of the outcome of that hearing, PAL is lining up new homes for the seized pigs, and is seeking information about potential new homes, as well as other help from volunteers and donations (for “The Polk Pigs”) at palpigs@gmail.com. (www.pigadvocates.com, www.facebook.com/PigAdvocates/?fref=ts)   COMEDY CORNER: Jeff Wayne’s “The Wolf, The Bear And The Alligator” 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/2016/08/TAAug17-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Dr. Lisa Kemmerer—a professor of philosophy and religions at Montana State University Billings, who has written and/or edited none books—discusses her unusual, stop-start path as an academic, including what drew her to Harvard Divinity School, where she earned her Masters degree. Kemmerer addresses her prolific writing career, and the conceptual (and actual) wanderlust that has driven her eclectic body of literary work. She explains how the idea came about for “Bear Necessities: Rescue, Rehabilitation, Sanctuary, and Advocacy,” an anthology she edited that features more than two dozen contributors (including Kemmerer herself) addressing a global array of bear issues and species, providing a behind-the-scenes glimpse at how “labor intensive” such an undertaking is, from researching potential contributors, contacting them, working out the topic(s) of their pieces, editing those contributions, and more. Kemmerer speaks to some specific pieces in “Bear Necessities,” including a chapter on bile farms, written by Jill Robinson, founder-CEO of Animals Asia Foundation (a past guest on “Talking Animals”), and a piece on the growing challenges faced by polar bears amidst the already-tangible effects of climate change. There’s also discussion of how issues and cultural behaviors specific to a given country or area often end up operating on a more universal level, and how this information—especially a chapter authored by Kemmerer, “U.S. Wildlife Agencies: Outdated, Misguided, and Destructive”–is very much relevant to Florida, particularly the bear hunt that happened in the state last year and almost happened again this year. She concludes by responding to a question about how her faith, such as it is, helps her when dealing with animal abuse and other upsetting experiences. (www.lisakemmerer.com)   ALSO: I spoke briefly with Alana Rogers of Pig Advocates League (PAL), a nonprofit organization deeply involved with helping the 130+ pigs seized last week from the Polk City facility, where the owners were charged with 138 counts of animal neglect and three counts of felony animal abuse. She outlined key elements of the case, including how the undercover investigation by the often-polarizing PETA led to the arrests, and how a pending hearing will determine whether the owners are granted custody of the animals. She also noted how, in advance of the outcome of that hearing, PAL is lining up new homes for the seized pigs, and is seeking information about potential new homes, as well as other help from volunteers and donations (for “The Polk Pigs”) at palpigs@gmail.com. (www.pigadvocates.com, www.facebook.com/PigAdvocates/?fref=ts)   COMEDY CORNER: Jeff Wayne’s “The Wolf, The Bear And The Alligator” 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/2016/08/TAAug17-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Cheryl Brady—founder and owner of Vet Care Express Ambulance, which is designed to help pet owners, emergency vet clinics, veterinarians, humane societies and other entities in situations where an animal is injured or severely ill, and time is of the essence for medical treatment—recalls the work she was doing before launching Vet Care Express. Brady also describes the process and array of challenges she faced in leaving a longtime corporate job to pursue her vision for a new vocation that, as far as she knew, had never before existed. She notes that her background—longtime animal lover, some time studying to be a vet tech, employment in the corporate sector, work as a volunteer firefighter—coalesced into the ideal experience and skill set to start a pet ambulance service. Brady recounts the earliest days of Vet Care Express in 2010, operating by herself in Bradenton, and traces the gradually growing success and expansion, to where the company now serves Manatee, Sarasota, Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco counties. She provides a verbal guided tour of the ambulances and how they’re outfitted. Brady responds to my hypothetical question about a Labrador Retriever getting hit by a car, sustaining serious injuries, then outlining how that dog being transported to a vet or emergency clinic by Vet Care Express is better served, or may have better outcomes, than if someone were to place the dog in their car and drive to the same place. She also shares a particularly notable success story, involving a dog named Axel with an unusual disorder that required that he be transported by Vet Care Express to a facility for specialty surgery—and it was crucial that Axel receive oxygen en route. (www.vetcareexpress.com) ALSO: I spoke briefly with Kerregan Layne, a 16-year-old activist who started a petition asking the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to investigate the Baton Rouge Zoo, citing the fact that 21 animals have died there this year. Layne’s petition has gathered more than 140,000 signatures. (www.thepetitionsite.com/415/455/747/)   COMEDY CORNER: Jim Gaffigan’s “I’m A Manatee” (http://www.jimgaffigan.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/2016/08/TAAug10-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Cheryl Brady—founder and owner of Vet Care Express Ambulance, which is designed to help pet owners, emergency vet clinics, veterinarians, humane societies and other entities in situations where an animal is injured or severely ill, and time is of the essence for medical treatment—recalls the work she was doing before launching Vet Care Express. Brady also describes the process and array of challenges she faced in leaving a longtime corporate job to pursue her vision for a new vocation that, as far as she knew, had never before existed. She notes that her background—longtime animal lover, some time studying to be a vet tech, employment in the corporate sector, work as a volunteer firefighter—coalesced into the ideal experience and skill set to start a pet ambulance service. Brady recounts the earliest days of Vet Care Express in 2010, operating by herself in Bradenton, and traces the gradually growing success and expansion, to where the company now serves Manatee, Sarasota, Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco counties. She provides a verbal guided tour of the ambulances and how they’re outfitted. Brady responds to my hypothetical question about a Labrador Retriever getting hit by a car, sustaining serious injuries, then outlining how that dog being transported to a vet or emergency clinic by Vet Care Express is better served, or may have better outcomes, than if someone were to place the dog in their car and drive to the same place. She also shares a particularly notable success story, involving a dog named Axel with an unusual disorder that required that he be transported by Vet Care Express to a facility for specialty surgery—and it was crucial that Axel receive oxygen en route. (www.vetcareexpress.com) ALSO: I spoke briefly with Kerregan Layne, a 16-year-old activist who started a petition asking the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to investigate the Baton Rouge Zoo, citing the fact that 21 animals have died there this year. Layne’s petition has gathered more than 140,000 signatures. (www.thepetitionsite.com/415/455/747/)   COMEDY CORNER: Jim Gaffigan’s “I’m A Manatee” (http://www.jimgaffigan.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/2016/08/TAAug10-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Chris Hegedus—co-director of the new documentary, “Unlocking The Cage”—explains the criteria she and her partner of 40 years, D.A. Pennebaker, use when deciding on the films to make, an eclectic body of work that includes the Oscar-nominated “The War Room,” which examined Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign, and 2009’s “Kings of Pastry,” providing a front-row seat as 16 pastry chefs create sweet concoctions in competition for a prize in Les Meilleurs Ouvriers de France. Hegedus discusses how she and Pennebaker elected to make “Unlocking The Cage,” describing a meeting with Steven Wise—the attorney whose legal quest (along with his colleagues” at the Nonhuman Rights Project) to establish “personhood” for a chimpanzee forms the center of the film—and being impressed with him, his track record and his mission, among other factors. She also addresses other aspects of fashioning the film, including—in contrast to, say, an election or a contest–there not being a natural endpoint to shooting “Unlocking The Cage,” as well as how she and Pennebaker view becoming emotionally affected by the subjects of their documentaries, noting some of the more poignant passages involving captive chimps as roadside zoos or other unfortunate locales. Hegedus also touches on her hopes for the impact of “Unlocking The Cage,” which has screened at festivals and in select theaters, and is due to air on HBO in the coming months. Because she co-directed “The War Room,” and because this interview was recorded at the midpoint of the Democratic National Convention, I invite Hegedus to share her observations on the Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump presidential campaigns. (www.unlockingthecagethefilm.com, http://phfilms.com)   ALSO: I spoke briefly with Jamie McManus, a lawyer with the Orange-Osceola State Attorney’s office, about the announcement of the newly created unit earmarked to prosecute animal cruelty cases. This new unit involves 13 attorneys across both counties, with McManus have proposed the idea for it to State Attorney Jeff Ashton. (http://sao9.net) COMEDY CORNER: Kevin Nealon’s “Chimp Fear” (http://kevinnealon.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” Sarah Jarosz’ “Lost Dog,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Elton John’s “Grey Seal” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: http://www.talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/TAAug3final.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Chris Hegedus—co-director of the new documentary, “Unlocking The Cage”—explains the criteria she and her partner of 40 years, D.A. Pennebaker, use when deciding on the films to make, an eclectic body of work that includes the Oscar-nominated “The War Room,” which examined Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign, and 2009’s “Kings of Pastry,” providing a front-row seat as 16 pastry chefs create sweet concoctions in competition for a prize in Les Meilleurs Ouvriers de France. Hegedus discusses how she and Pennebaker elected to make “Unlocking The Cage,” describing a meeting with Steven Wise—the attorney whose legal quest (along with his colleagues” at the Nonhuman Rights Project) to establish “personhood” for a chimpanzee forms the center of the film—and being impressed with him, his track record and his mission, among other factors. She also addresses other aspects of fashioning the film, including—in contrast to, say, an election or a contest–there not being a natural endpoint to shooting “Unlocking The Cage,” as well as how she and Pennebaker view becoming emotionally affected by the subjects of their documentaries, noting some of the more poignant passages involving captive chimps as roadside zoos or other unfortunate locales. Hegedus also touches on her hopes for the impact of “Unlocking The Cage,” which has screened at festivals and in select theaters, and is due to air on HBO in the coming months. Because she co-directed “The War Room,” and because this interview was recorded at the midpoint of the Democratic National Convention, I invite Hegedus to share her observations on the Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump presidential campaigns. (www.unlockingthecagethefilm.com, http://phfilms.com)   ALSO: I spoke briefly with Jamie McManus, a lawyer with the Orange-Osceola State Attorney’s office, about the announcement of the newly created unit earmarked to prosecute animal cruelty cases. This new unit involves 13 attorneys across both counties, with McManus have proposed the idea for it to State Attorney Jeff Ashton. (http://sao9.net) COMEDY CORNER: Kevin Nealon’s “Chimp Fear” (http://kevinnealon.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” Sarah Jarosz’ “Lost Dog,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Elton John’s “Grey Seal” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/TAAug3final.mp3 | Open Player in New Window