Talking Animals

Sterling Davis—also known as “Trap King,” reflecting his prowess with the humane traps used in the commission of Trap Neuter Return (TNR) of community cats, previously called feral cats—recounts his unlikely path into cat rescue and TNR, and the budding career he turned his back on to travel this path. Living in Atlanta then and now, Davis explains how that decision was partly propelled by recognizing that he could make a difference in a field where he was something of a double anomaly: a male in cat rescue is rare, cat rescuers who are black are rarer still—that his participation, and example, could help generate diversity. He recalls how his initial TNR forays into black neighborhoods were met with suspicion, with many thinking he was up to no good, and some even thinking he was participating in a diabolical government conspiracy. Undeterred, Davis just kept TNRing in those areas, so that people gradually let go of their impressions that he was up to no good, and some became intrigued—partly by design, he says, as he’d pull up to a location in his visually-striking “Trap Van,” music blaring, and generally make a big production of his TNR tasks, happy to answer questions or otherwise engage with intrigued bystanders. He discussed founding TrapKing Humane Cat Solutions, his Atlanta-based nonprofit dedicated to educating communities about various feral cat issues and, in many cases, performing TNR in those areas. Davis articulates various ways he hopes to spread the word about the virtues of TNR, while promoting greater diversity, placing a premium on reaching young people through various means, including overseeing the creation of a children’s book, “Marvin: Trap King for a Day,” hoping to persuade the Girl Scouts and/or Boy Scouts to introduce a TNR merit badge, and creating a national network of organizations loosely akin to fraternities/sororities for college (or post-college) age adults to explore and cultivate an interest in TNR. (https://trapkinghumane.org/, https://www.instagram.com/the_original_trapking/, https://www.facebook.com/trapkinghumane/, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1283642811) COMEDY CORNER: Erin Foley’s “Three Cats” (https://erinkfoley.com/) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” Jake Shimabukuro’s “Dragon,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: The Rolling Stones’ “Monkey Man” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/TADec4-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Cameron Moore—program manager of The Million Cat Challenge, a shelter-oriented campaign launched in 2014, aiming to save the lives of one million cats in North America over five years—recalls growing up loving animals, and about equally fond of dogs and cats (foreshadowing, perhaps that now, in 2019, as decidedly feline-centric as her work and her home are, there’s still room for six dogs there). She addresses that she spent years volunteering in shelters and rescue, but had an assortment of jobs in other fields—including commercial real estate—not imagining she could make a living through her longtime passion for animals. But she recounts how she was recruited by Rick DuCharme, founder of First Coast No More Homeless Pets—and a pivotal figure in this realm—while volunteering at an adoption event, launching Moore into her professional career in animal welfare. Given her many years in the shelter world, she offers a keen assessment of the prevailing attitudes that prompt cats and dogs to be viewed differently and, correspondingly, how programs or campaigns are designed differently for each. She describes the history and evolution of The Million Cat Challenge, including—spoiler alert!—that the campaign reached its initial goal before that five-year mark, and continues with a revised objective. She provides an overview of the five key initiatives that form the core of the Million Cat Challenge, and that a shelter doesn’t necessarily need to implement all five to improve its performance, that embracing one or more can be a boon. Noting that part of her job involves traveling the country doing “shelter consults,” she articulates what that means and how she works with the shelters on them. Moore offers a sneak preview of the two talks she will deliver at KittyCon Tampa 2019, to be held Nov. 30 & Dec. 1, at Doubletree by Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore. (https://millioncatchallenge.org/, https://www.facebook.com/MillionCatChallenge/, https://www.kittycontampabay.org/)   ALSO: I spoke briefly with Michelle LaFleur about the 13th Annual Tampa ThanksVegan, which takes place—fittingly enough—on Thanksgiving Day, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa. She explains a bit about the history of the event, and that it now draws about 300 attendees. It begins, LaFleur said, with a social period at 1:30pm. She outlined some of the details of bringing a dish/not bringing a dish and the ways those approaches affect the price one pays for their meal, and that there’s always plenty of food for everyone, even those whose turn comes in the final round of 300 diners. (https://www.floridavoicesforanimals.org/thanksvegan, https://www.facebook.com/ThanksVegan/)   COMEDY CORNER: Nate Bargatze’s “How To Get Bitten By A Snake” (http://www.natebargatze.com/) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Ukulele cover of Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/TANov20-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Rick Chaboudy—the co-founder and executive director of Suncoast Animal League, the Palm Harbor-based animal welfare organization/shelter that is distinct by virtue of caring for both domestic animals and wildlife—traces the history of his long career working in animal welfare in the Tampa Bay area, going back even before he spent 20-plus years as executive director of the Humane Society of Pinellas (previously called Clearwater SPCA). In response to my question, Chaboudy offers his views on the ways the rescue and shelter landscape in this area has changed, given his approximately 35 years of experience. He describes what sort of vision and objectives he had when helping launch Suncoast Animal League in 2006, based on his more than two decades running the Humane Society of Pinellas. Chaboudy addresses some of Suncoast’s distinctive traits, including that it operates in a much smaller facility than comparable organizations, which places a greater premium on fostering—and, related to that, Suncoast has a powerful, nimble, and fast social media operation, which at practically a moment’s notice, can find foster homes for dozens of animals (thereby clearing space at its facility), allowing it to step in, and step up, when there’s, say, a seizure of animals several years ago in Georgia, or in August of this year, when Hurricane Dorian destroyed animal shelters in the Bahamas. Chaboudy outlines the elements of, and some services provided at, Suncoast’s then-upcoming 12th Annual Dogtoberfest, a giant adoption event featuring upwards of 30 rescues with adoptable animals, a slew of vendors, and more, taking place Nov. 16. (http://suncoastanimalleague.org/, https://www.facebook.com/SuncoastAnimalLeague/, https://www.facebook.com/events/440112163508203/) The interview with Rick Chaboudy streamed on Facebook Live:       ALSO: I spoke briefly with Annette Ngo, of KittyCon 2019, a fan convention that focuses on people’s love of cats (and cat rescue). As Ngo outlined, KittyCon—held Nov. 30 & Dec. at the Doubletree by Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore–also features an array of cat experts (including Dr. Julie Levy of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Science & Maddie’s Fund), cat celebrities and entertainers, a screening of the award-winning documentary “The Cat Rescuers” (and a Q&A with the filmmakers), a costume contest, vendors, and more. Full disclosure: I’ll be serving as emcee of KittyCon, interviewing some guests onstage—including those filmmakers of “The Cat Rescuers”—moderating at least one panel, etc. (https://www.kittycontampabay.org/, https://www.facebook.com/KittyConTampaBay/) COMEDY CORNER: Chris Porter’s “Vegan Date” (portion) (https://chrisporterisfunny.com) [Yes, I accidentally played this two shows in a row.] MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: The Beatles’ “Dig A Pony” AUDIO ARCHIVE: PART ONE OF THE SHOW: Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/TANov13PartOne.mp3 | Open Player in New Window PART TWO: Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/TANov13PartTwo.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

On this edition of the show, we reconfigured the regular format a bit, so as to accommodate taking a good look—from a couple of angles—at the Tampa Bay Veg Fest (TBVF), set this year for Nov. 9 at Perry Harvey Sr. Park. First, in recognition that Veg Fest is marking its 10th anniversary, I invited Isabelle Tassi—the original organizer, who helped launch TBVF—and Diane Koon, one of the current organizers, who’s been involved from the earliest years, to have a conversation that sought to fashion something of an oral history. Tassi recounts the impetus for starting TBVF, and the initial steps to get it off the ground, and some of the challenges of mounting an outdoor event, including the permits required by the city and occasional oddly-specific policies—she recalls a rescue organization that wanted to bring two pigs to Veg Fest, the city balked at allowing this, Tassi persisted, and ultimately she received permission for the pigs. In discussing TBVF triumphs and successes—including a turnout the first year that far exceeded their expectations, and that attendance has grown so steadily they relocated to a larger park—it’s mentioned that, in 2014, five years after it was founded, TBVF was named by One Green Planet one of “10 Must-Attend Veg Fests in the US.” (https://www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/must-attend-veg-fests-in-the-us/) Bringing the conversation up to the present—well, near future, really—Koon outlines some highlights of the upcoming Nov. 9 edition, including a whopping 160 vendors, the Vegan BBQ contest, keynote speeches by Grey (see below) and Paul Watson (swashbuckling founder of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society), a new feature added to the Veggie Kids’ Zone, the return of the Ask A Vegan Expert booth, and more. (http://www.tampabayvegfest.com) In the second half of the show, I spoke with vegan hip-hop artist and activist Grey, who will be a keynote speaker at this year’s TBVF. He addresses being a Florida native, growing up in the Fort Lauderdale, getting interested in music early on. Grey discusses recording his first album, “UnDaEsTiMaTed,” which came out in 2001, and his second one “Grey Skies” in 2004. Then, he explains, came an interruption to his musical career: He went off to college, at Jacksonville University–on a football scholarship. After graduating, he returned to making music, moving to Baltimore. Another album followed in 2013, generating some radio airplay, with Grey doing some touring, moving to Atlanta, doing more. Grey recalled the genesis of his so-popular-it-went-viral Thanksgiving Video: it was one of his regular freestyle raps, but this one exhorted the virtues of various vegan dishes, drew inspiration from—and wove in a snippet of–gospel belter Shirley Caesar singing her song that does the same (“beans, greens, potatoes, and tomatoes!”), and it took off. He describes what it’s like to experience a viral video from the inside. Grey also talks about the clothing line he launched, Plant Based Drippin, and how the brand is now moving into producing the first Plant Based Drippin Festival, a Veg Fest-like event slated to happen in Atlanta on Nov. 23. And he provides a brief sneak preview of the talk he’ll deliver at Tampa Bay Veg Fest. (https://plantbaseddrippin.com, https://www.instagram.com/officialgreymusic/) COMEDY CORNER: Chris Porter’s “Vegan Date” (portion) (https://chrisporterisfunny.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” Stephanie Seymour’s “Ruby-crowned Kinglet,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Steely Dan’s “Monkey In Your Soul” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/TAOct30-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Peter Jay Brown—filmmaker and crew member of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society for upwards of 40 years, whose new documentary is “Eco-Terrorist: The Battle For Our Planet”—recounts the beginning of the affiliation, being sent to cover Sea Shepherd and its founder, Paul Watson, as a producer-director with the early-80s George Schlatter-produced reality series, “Real People.” Brown says he was so taken with Sea Shepherd, and its mission, that he signed on, joining them. He describes the circumstances and conditions in the earliest days, where neither Sea Shepherd or Watson had any money to speak of—so they were impervious to lawsuits, while conducting campaigns in ships that were decaying rust buckets, amidst limited resources and, often, barely passable food. But, Brown emphasizes, the crew members (unpaid, in those days) proceeded undeterred, driven by a strong commitment to the cause, and even stronger passion to make a difference and affect change. Brown makes clear, in the film and in the interview, that everything changed with the financial windfall attendant to “Whale Wars,” the Animal Planet reality series that ran for seven seasons, documenting Sea Shepherd’s efforts to stop Japanese whalers off the coast of Antarctica. When the organization’s ship came in, as it were, as a product of “Whale Wars,” Brown suggests it was something of a mixed bag: Sea Shepherd was able to afford better ships and equipment, and salaries, and so on, but encounters with Japanese whalers in the very site of the television series led to major confrontations—including the Shonan Maru #2 ramming and damaging a Sea Shepherd vessel, the Ady Gill, captained by Sea Shepherd’s Pete Bethune, who in response, boarded a Japanese ship, setting of a string of legal troubles for Bethune, Watson, and Sea Shepherd. Brown suggests the settling of the accompanying legal disputes, including internationally with the Japanese, and between Bethune and Sea Shepherd—and the presence of lawyers everywhere, when they originally weren’t even allowed on the Sea Shepherd board of directors. The organization stopped holding an attraction for Brown, who left last year, and—joined by a few other original Sea Shepherd-ers, has launched GAIA Network, an all-volunteer group working on helping orcas and other campaigns. (https://www.facebook.com/ConfessionsFilm/, https://gaianetwork.net) ALSO: In lieu of the short interview we often conduct in this portion of the show, I noted that this is the time of year when many local animal rescue or welfare organizations hold major events, often outdoors, and ran down a half dozen or so of ones slated to happen in the coming days and weeks, including: Howl-O-Ween, Oct. 26, 5-9pm, The Dog Bar, presented by Pet Pal Animal Shelter (https://petpalanimalshelter.com) Spooktacular Night, Oct. 26, 5-9pm, 11780 N. Dale Mabry, presented by Humane Society of Tampa Bay (https://humanesocietytampa.org) Stride For Strays, Oct. 27, 8am-2pm, Al Lopez Park, presented by Animal Coalition of Tampa (https://actampa.org) Free Shot Clinic For Dogs, Nov. 2, 9am-noon (first 1000 dogs), Wimauma Civic Center, presented by Humane Society of Tampa Bay (https://humanesocietytampa.org) Wildcat Walkabout, Nov. 2, 11am-3pm Big Cat Rescue, 12802 East Street, Tampa (https://bigcatrescue.org) Tampa Bay Veg Fest, Nov. 9, 10am-5pm, Perry Harvey Sr. Park, presented by Florida Voices For Animals (https://www.floridavoicesforanimals.org) Annual ThanksVegan Feast, Nov. 28, 1:30-5:30pm, Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa, presented by Florida Voices For Animals (https://www.floridavoicesforanimals.org) KittyCon Tampa Bay, Nov. 30 (11am-6pm), Dec. 1 (11am-5pm), Doubletree by Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore, presented by St. Francis Animal Rescue (https://www.stfrancisrescue.org)   COMEDY CORNER: Jim Gaffigan’s “Whales” (portion) (https://www.jimgaffigan.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” [...]

Barbara Natterson-Horowitz and Kathryn Bowers–New York Times bestselling authors of “Zoobiquity,” whose new book is “Wildhood: The Epic Journey from Adolescence to Adulthood in Humans and Other Animals”—in recalling that they both were raising adolescents while working on “Wildhood,” address how much those adolescents shaped the direction of the book and its core concept. Noting their books involve scientific exploration of the intersection of animals and humans—medically, behaviorally, otherwise—and coining a term for the focus of that work, they explain the meaning of “wildhood.” Natterson-Horowitz and Bowers discuss the way they frame the book, in part, by suggesting that the voyage through adolescence hinges—across species—on mastering four fundamental skills: to stay safe (from predators, etc.), to negotiate social status, to navigate sexuality, to live as adults; they note that there were other fundamental skills that nearly made the final four, and that there’s some fluidity amongst those that did. The pair also talk about another element that lends structure and depth to the book: focusing, somewhat episodically, on four animals—Ursula, a king penguin; Shrink, a spotted hyena; Salt, a humpback whale, and Slavc, a wolf—tracking their treks through adolescence to adulthood, and what they learned from those case studies of sorts. Natterson-Horowitz and Bowers reflect on the most significant changes they each made in parenting as a result of the research they conducted. (https://www.wildhood.com) ALSO: I spoke with the show’s Greyhound Correspondent, Don Goldstein, about a lawsuit filed by a group of greyhound kennel owners and breeders—called “Support Working Animals”—against the state of Florida, seeking to block the enforcement of Amendment 13, the ban on commercial dog racing passed last Fall. Goldstein characterized it as a desperate move by a contingent of the racing industry that continues to be angry about the amendment passing (and decisively). But he observed that prospects of a federal court overturning a state amendment are slim, and the suit won’t be heard in court until June of 2020, a mere six months before, under the dictates of the Amendment, the phasing out of dog racing will be complete.   COMEDY CORNER: Maria Bamford’s “Racoon, Horseback Riding“ (https://www.mariabamford.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/2019/10/TAOct16.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Stephen Bennett—the founder and executive director of Suncoast Organized Animal Relief, or SOAR, which pursues a mission that involves an unusually broad portfolio of objectives, including providing funding and assistance, and pet food to other animal organizations—recounts growing up in Ithica, NY in a home where pets weren’t allowed, but later on, deeper into adulthood, he made up for lost time, at one point having four dogs and four cats. Bennett describes his foray into the dog grooming business, at the suggestion of a friend, having just started taking grooming classes when an opportunity arose to purchase a shop—as something akin to an impulse buy at the grocery store, he cobbled together the dough and bought it. He discusses running that business for many years, the challenges of grooming a cat, and what he learned about animals and pet owners over those years. With overlapping volunteer experience in animal rescue for more than a quarter of a century–and short stints operating a pet boutique then as a pet photographer with aspirations to produce a book–Bennett explains that he was keen to launch an organization that could help animals (and, ideally, their humans) in a myriad of ways, including food drives and fundraisers that he’d already helped with…so, in 2015, he founded Suncoast Organized Animal Relief. He addresses SOAR’s elastic, even sprawling, mission which involves providing funding to rescues, addressing animal overpopulation and animal abuse, creating and maintaining pet food banks (SOAR recently opened its first at Daystar Life Center in St. Pete), helping manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, seabirds and other aquatic wildlife. Bennett notes that SOAR has forged alliances with several organizations, and was asked to join St. Pete Paws. (https://www.flsoar.org, https://www.facebook.com/flsoar/) COMEDY CORNER: Jim Gaffigan’s “Saw A Bear” (https://jimgaffigan.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: The Everly Bros.’ “Bird Dog” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/TAOct9.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Arin Greenwood is a “Talking Animals” favorite and a friend of the show. She’s also currently Senior Writer at the Animal Legal Defense Fund, formerly animal journalist extraordinaire—she was the animal welfare editor at The Huffington Post, and a regular contributor to The Washington Post, The Today Show website, and The Dodo, among others. She’s also a novelist, whose books tend to have animal themes. Hoping she would draw on that considerable accumulated knowledge and expertise—and plain ol’ passion for animals–I invited her to join me in studio to discuss a variety of new stories and timely animal issues. These included the seizure earlier in the week of about 350 dogs from a Tampa breeder (puppy mill), with the animals winding up at the already overcrowded, over-taxed Hillsborough County Pet Resources shelter. We touched on another disturbing Florida story, where the ASPCA had stepped in to assist on a cruelty case as authorities had seized more than 75 animals, including dogs, cats, and horses in Lake Butler. Welcoming calls and other comments from listeners, we also addressed what Arin considers some of the more creative new gambits employed by animal shelters at various locations across the country to spur adoptions. Noting the decision days earlier by Delta Airlines to revoke its year-old ban on bringing emotional support animals on flights longer than eight hours—but continuing to ban pit bull dogs as service or support animals—led us to examine the broader folly of trying to identify pit bull-type dogs by their appearance, part of the inherent problem underpinning Breed Specific Legislation (BSL). Having nearly run out of time, we alluded briefly to two major Washington Post pieces: A deep dive into what all happened to the so-called “Michael Vick dogs,” while the other delved into the dramatic decline of the North American bird population. (https://www.aringreenwood.com, https://www.facebook.com/aringreenwood

Dr. Alexandra Horowitz—a professor at Barnard College, where she heads the Dog Cognition Lab, a behaviorist, and bestselling author of multiple books on dogs, most recently, “Our Dog, Ourselves: The Story of a Singular Bond”—acknowledges the homage to 1970’s “Our Bodies, Ourselves” in the title of her book, and the reasons behind it. Using her chapter “Things People Say to Their Dogs” (one of two chapters excerpted recently in The New York Times) as a jumping off point, Horowitz addresses what she’s observed in unscientific eavesdropping on what humans say to their dogs, mostly on the streets of New York City, usually as she’s walking her dogs, Finnegan and Upton. As a scientist, Horowitz speaks from a research standpoint about the practice of naming—or not naming—animals as part of a research endeavor, noting that Jane Goodall named the chimps she was studying because she simply didn’t know any better, didn’t realize that scientific protocol has long prohibited that practice over concerns that it spurs anthropomorphizing the studied animals. She went on to point out that there are exceptions, including at the Dog Cognition Lab she oversees at Barnard College, where dogs participating arrive already named–but Horowitz and her Lab colleagues are careful not to use those names. She reviews her chapter about breeding (her feelings about which, I suggest, she may have tipped her hand with the title “The Trouble With Breeds”), elaborating on breeding for certain traits, such as a flat face versus the more natural long face—and how this can yield significant downsides, like many French bulldogs and others who struggle mightily to breathe without undergoing a surgical procedure to ease the obstruction attendant to the flat face. Horowitz discusses the chapter entitled “Against Sex” (also excerpted in The New York Times, bearing the headline “Dogs Are Not Here For Our Convenience”), a provocative treatise raising jarring questions about the virtue of spaying and neutering. She does not present herself as a spay-neuter foe, but is instead pondering what’s become an accepted convention, often for young dogs and cats, in shelters and elsewhere, given that a host of medical problems that can result, according to Dr. Benjamin Hart, professor emeritus and researcher at the UC Davis Veterinary school, as well as findings of a correlation between spay-neuter and cancer in Golden Retrievers, causing obesity in some other dogs, amidst other concerns. (https://alexandrahorowitz.net, https://psychology.barnard.edu/profiles/alexandra-horowitz)   ALSO: I spoke with Janet Stanley, of The Franciscan Center, a private retreat house in Tampa sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany. She describes what the Franciscan Center has organized for its 27th annual Blessing Of The Animals—“All Creatures Great and Small”–celebrating World Animal Day, on Oct. 4, 4pm-8pm, at the Center, 3010 N. Perry Ave., Tampa FL 33603. Stanley explains that the event will feature live music performed by Joey Donovan and the Lint Rollers, pet-friendly vendors, Doga Yoga, animal-themed activities, etc.(http://www.franciscancentertampa.org/, https://www.facebook.com/events/530398984166989/ COMEDY CORNER: Eddie Pepitone’s “Dog Therapy”  (https://www.eddiepepitone.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE:  Genesis’s “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/TASept18.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Dr. Valeria Vergara—a marine mammal research scientist with the Ocean Wise Conservation Association, who has spent much of her career studying beluga whales, with a particular emphasis on their acoustic communication—recalls gravitating toward animals during childhood, growing up in Buenos Aires, in a house populated with pets. She goes on to outline that each major step down her path of academia involved animals, studying coyotes as an undergrad, her master’s thesis looked at red foxes, and her PhD focused on belugas. She notes that all three animals are highly intelligent and highly social. Vergara describes beluga whales, noting traits that make them distinctive (beyond their stark white color), including that they are an arctic species, have no vertebrae in neck, no dorsal fin, and they’re related to the narwhal. She explains elements of beluga communication (clicks, calls, whistles, etc.)—and I incorporate recordings Vergara has made of them communicating, from chatter amongst a beluga herd to mothers’ contact calls to their calves—and notes that a significant part of her research has been examining the challenges faced by these audio-oriented mammals, as their work has become noisier and noisier. Vergara addresses another core component of her research: how beluga calves develop the sounds and calls necessary to maintain contact with their mother, amidst a larger group of belugas, whom, she makes clear, can be quite talkative. In response to my question—noting that young belugas are not white, but various shades of grey as calves and juveniles, evolving into the white hue we associate with belugas—Vergara touches on how a calf’s communication approach evolves as it becomes a juvenile, and then an adult. (https://ocean.org/stories/our-people-valeria/#cover, https://www.facebook.com/valeria.vergara.182)   ALSO: I spoke with Jarrod Edson, a 20-year-old, Pittsburgh-based artist on the autism spectrum who creates colorful, inventive, striking paintings—often of animals, which could mean a variety of wild animals, or domestic animals, like cats or dogs. In fact, he explains, it was an inquiry last year from one of his Dad’s friends about painting his pet that led to Edson venturing into animal art. He’s made up for lost time, since turning out an array of animal images that he makes available in prints, on greeting cards, and t-shirts. And still fashions commissioned, customized pet portraits like that first one he did for his Dad’s friend. Edson donates 30% of his profits to three Pittsburgh organizations, including Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team. (https://www.jarrodedson.com, https://www.instagram.com/jarrodedsonartist/) COMEDY CORNER: Brian Regan’s “Whale Noises”  (http://brianregan.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/2019/09/TASept11-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Stephanie Seymour—a singer-songwriter and veteran musician who was a member of The Aquanettas, which released its debut album in 1990, she just issued “There Are Birds,” a stellar solo album all about birds (literally, metaphorically, from their perspective, etc.)—explains that she’s a lifelong animal lover, growing up in house where there were plenty of pets, including birds. There was also plenty of music in the house, she recalls, saying that she distinctly remembers her Mom playing the Beatles, and notes that seeing The Police and The Go-Gos (particularly, the latter band’s ace drummer Gina Schock)—first on MTV, then live at Madison Square Garden—inspired Seymour to ask her Dad for a drum kit, which she received. She later played in, or fronted, a number of bands, including Psychic Penguin and Birdy, then after she married guitarist Bob Perry, they moved from New York City to New Jersey. After the move, Seymour explains, she became a birdwatcher, which quickly led to becoming an avid birdwatcher. This, of course, connects to the genesis, some years later, of  “There Are Birds.” She recounts how, in a period when she wasn’t actively pursuing music, a part of a song—what became “Ruby-crowned Kinglet”—popped into her head. And pretty quickly, the rest of the song came to her, as if it were already written. Most of the other songs on the album were penned with similar ease, typically translated —because she says she doesn’t play an instrument—by Perry from what she heard in her head to the music now heard on the 12-track album, with lyrics dealing with birds, including from the birds’ point of view, like on “Bald Eagle,” as well as some autobiographical ruminations.  Seymour also addresses the top-tier musicians who play on “There Are Birds,” including E Street Band keyboardist Charlie Giordano, drummer Sim Cain, who’s played with the Rollins Band, T-Bone Burnett, and the J. Geils Band, and ex-Bongos guitarist James Mastro, who’s in Ian Hunter’s band.  There is a comprehensive website devoted to “There Are Birds”–the only place you can buy the album: http://www.therearebirds.com (https://www.facebook.com/PurpleChickadee, https://www.instagram.com/there_are_birds/)   ALSO: I spoke with Gracie Grieshop, marketing maven for Pet Pal Animal Shelter in St. Petersburg, about the organization’s Diamond in the Ruff fundraiser, taking place Sept. 7, 6-9pm, at Hawthorne Bottle Shoppe, 2927 Central Ave., St. Pete. She explains there will be all kinds of new and gently used jewelry available for purchase, in an evening that will also offer beer, wine, and food—and is decidedly dog friendly.  (https://www.facebook.com/events/2102060850082403/, https://petpalanimalshelter.com)   COMEDY CORNER: Tom Papa’s “Fake Service Dogs”  (http://tompapa.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” Stephanie Seymour’s “Veery,” “Northern Mockingbird,” “Migration Is Over,” “Northern Lapwing,” (snippets of those songs), Stephanie Seymour’s “House Sparrow,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE:  EELS’ “I Like Birds” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/TAAug28.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Dr. Kathleen Schnaars Uvino—aka “Dr. Kit,” a professor of Biology and Ecology at the University of Jamestown, where she oversees the Tree Swallow Project, which is carried out in two countries: in Jamestown, North Dakota, and in Churchill, Manitoba—discusses her transition from toiling in the corporate world in Manhattan (rising to Director of Technology at Time Warner) before venturing into academia. Uvino recounts how her interest in studying the Tree Swallow was spurred when a professor/mentor invited her to participate in The Hudson Bay Project, a multi-faceted, multi-species collaborative research program set in the “coastal arctic tundra” of Churchill. Churchill is best known for polar bears that sometimes enter the town—and tourist excursions to see them, as well as scientific efforts to study them—though viewing beluga whales in the Churchill River also draws visitors and researchers, while the wide array of birds additionally entices birdwatchers and scientists. Uvino recalls that the Tree Swallows there interested her, yet seeing that no research was being conducted on them there, she launched the Tree Swallow Project not quite five years ago. She explains that the Tree Swallow is a “model study organism” among scientists like herself, because the birds readily adapt to man-made nest boxes—and she now has 267 next boxes in Churchill (plus a considerably smaller number in Jamestown). Uvino describes the methods of generating and tracking the information of the birds in those boxes, and points out the contrasts in findings her study has yielded from others elsewhere, including in the Northeast, where the nearby agricultural industry—and its use of insecticides—has seen a more precipitous drop in population; the Tree Swallow is an aerial insectivore, meaning it munches on hordes of mosquitos or other biting insects each day (so in areas where insecticides are used, the mosquitos and other bugs contain traces, which harm the tree swallows.) Uvino says that these migratory birds, who fly south to escape the harsh conditions of Churchill winters, engage in “diet switching” upon their return, first eating berries in their initial period back in Churchill, before resuming their menu of insects. (http://www.treeswallowprojects.com) Photo of Dr. Kit by Karen Tweedy-Holmes ALSO: I spoke with Dr. Val Beasley, a professor of veterinary, wildlife and ecological toxicology sciences at Pennsylvania State University. He explained how algae in water can poison dogs—like those who died in recent days in North Carolina, Austin, Georgia, and elsewhere, generating considerable media coverage—and how the confluence of factors that led to those dogs dying is often present, and has led to dog deaths, but without the media coverage. Correspondingly, Beasley warns that it’s prudent for dog owners to err on the side of caution, and not allow their animals to swim in ponds, lakes, and other bodies of water, where their may be risky conditions that aren’t visually evident–particularly this time of year. When it sounded as though the chief concern involves standing water—that if the water were circulating or otherwise moving, it might mitigate the risk, Beasley responded that it’s not quite that simple, noting, for example, that the water in rivers can sometimes pose that danger for dogs. (https://vbs.psu.edu/directory/vrb3)   COMEDY CORNER: Jim Gaffigan’s “Dog Birthday”  (https://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/2019/08/TAAug21.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Greg Murray—an animal photographer and rescue/pit bull advocate director, whose new book is “Pit Bull Heroes: 49 Underdogs with Resilience and Heart”—recalls his earliest experiences with dogs, growing up as a tyke with one named Muffet. Murray explains that his affection and passion for pit bull-type dogs truly began when he and his wife adopted a pit mix named Leo. They subsequently adopted a second pit mix, Kensie. He discusses the way pit bulls are often maligned, how they can become a highly-charged, polarizing topic, and the way pit bull opponents often express criticisms of the dogs propelled by myths and misconceptions. Given that backdrop, I raise the possibility that he had to expect that “Pit Bull Heroes” would generate some backlash or outright attacks, and Murray responds that indeed he does have that expectation, including having to hire a policeman to be present at a forthcoming book event. This discussion of the perceptions of pit bull-type dogs, and the riled-up contingent, dovetails with a conversation about breed specific legislation (BSL)/breed discriminatory legislation (BDL), laws that ban or restrict certain types of dogs based simply on their appearance—which most often applies to pit bull-type dogs. We touch on Charlie, one of the dogs highlighted in Murray’s new book, whose saga helped ignite the effort to fight, and ultimately, repeal BSL ban on pit bulls in Lakewood, Ohio. We also discuss Apollo, an abandoned, about-to-be-euthanized pittie who became a hotshot drug-sniffing dog for a Washington police department. Randomly talking about canines included in the book, we also talk about Chango, aka Instagram sensation “Chango The Handsome Pittie,” something of a dandy who wears stylish clothes and shades. We mention a deal that Murray’s publisher is offering until the book’s publishing date, Sept 3: For each instance of someone pre-ordering the book, the publisher, Gibbs Smith Publishing, will donate $1 to pit bull-oriented rescues or other organization mentioned in the book—the organizations will be selected at random, and the donated money will be shared. (http://www.gmurrayphoto.com, https://www.facebook.com/gmurrayphoto, https://www.instagram.com/thegregmurray/, https://www.instagram.com/changothehandsomepittie/?hl=en) ALSO: I spoke with Brian Brown, director of the Official Animal Rights March—Tampa Bay, slated to happen on Aug. 17, part of a collective of like-minded marches taking place across the world on that day. Brown outlines the history of the March, launched by Surge in the U.K., noting that in 2018 there were 28,000 attendees in 25 cities. This year, the March has expanded to 38 cities, Brown explains. He also explains how the Tampa Bay March will work, actually taking place in St. Petersburg, meeting at 10 a.m. in North Straub Park, and marching in a loop around the bayside area. He also points out that folks interested in joining the March can just turn up at North Straub Park that morning, and either fashion your own signs and placards, or March organizers can provide you with those. Those and other details are presented on the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/319120038730899/ COMEDY CORNER: Bill Burr’s “Pit Bull”  (https://billburr.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE:  Peter Gabriel’s “Schock den Affen (Shock the Monkey)” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/TAAug14-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Amy Shever— founder and executive director of 2nd Chance 4 Pets, which encourages (and helps) pet owners to make plans for their animals’ ongoing care, recognizing that if something happens, in the absence of such plans, those pets can end up in a shelter (or worse)—recounts how her passion for volunteering at animal shelters began. This was decades ago, she explains, when shelters operated quite differently, and the one she volunteered at was high-kill, which meant, among other things that when animals arrived there—as a result of their owners’ death or incapacitation, sans any instructions for their care—they’d typically be euthanized. Shever traces those grim shelter experiences and the cataclysmic losses experienced in 9/11–how 800 of those who died were said to be pet owners–as the central catalyst for forming 2ndChance 4 Pets in 2003. She discusses the ways that the organization seeks to raise awareness about the importance of pet owners articulating their wishes for long-term care of their animals, and provides literature, including estate planning forms to help these owners do so. Shever and her 2ndChance 4 Pets colleagues—everyone is a volunteer—also offer information and guidance in other forms, including presenting workshops at veterinarian symposiums and animal welfare conferences. They also deliver webinars, including one slated for Aug. 28 at 12pm ET, “Lifetime Care for Pets: Planning for the Possibility that Pets Might Outlive Their Human Companions,’ part of Best Friends Animal Society’s webinar program. In outlining these 2ndChance 4 Pets offerings, Shever notes that the more detailed, written instructions that pet owners can supply for the care of their animals, the better—while also noting that anywritten directive is better than none, and helps increase the odds that those pets will be well looked after, as opposed to inevitably meeting a dark fate. The website offers a wealth of information, including literature and forms that can be downloaded. Shever adds that anyone who can’t find the resources they’re seeking on the website or otherwise has questions, can email info@2ndchance4pets.org   (https://www.2ndchance4pets.org, https://www.facebook.com/2ndChance4Pets/)   ALSO: I spoke with Susan Hartzler, campaign manager for Seven The Dog, who’s running for President of the United States. A member of The Puppy Party, Seven’s platform includes his strong belief that every dog should have a home and every dog should have a bone. We discuss with Hartzler a piece in The Los Angeles Times that served as a round-up of the numerous folks—mostly long shots, I think it’s fair to say—who have filed papers to run for President, very much including Seven and his quixotic candidacy. (https://luvmy.dog,  https://www.instagram.com/seven_for_president) COMEDY CORNER: Donnell Rawlings’  “Wild Whale”  (portion) (http://www.donnellrawlings.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE:  Pink Floyd’s “Dogs” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/TAAug7-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window  

Cathy Unruh—a co-founder of MEOW Now (the acronym stands for Managing & Ending Overpopulation Wisely), which is devoted to helping reduce the community cat population in Pinellas County—addresses the impetus for Unruh and her co-founders launching, in 2014, an organization with such a specialized focus. Unruh notes that, employing a long-trusted formula devised by Best Friends Animal Society, there’s a staggering number of community cats in Pinellas County that need to be spayed or neutered, and the daunting task of MEOW Now handling that, which is primarily done by way of TNVR (Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return). She mentions the organizations that MEOW Now is affiliated with, including Friends of Strays, Humane Society Pinellas, and Humane Society of Tampa Bay, chiefly in providing the community cats they trap with spay/neuter services. Unruh outlines how, exactly, TNVR works, walking us through the process of what MEOW Now volunteers do in that regard—bringing the cat to one of those affiliated organizations—then returning the animal to the colony it was plucked from. She speaks to how MEOW Now is funded (strictly donations, at the moment), and talks openly about the crisis that the organization experienced recently, that threatened its very existence, noting that she and her co-founders (who had retired or otherwise reduced its involvement) returned more directly to steer it back on track. I acknowledge that a primary reason for conducting this interview now is that MEOW Now has been enormously transparent about its struggles—and its plan to turn things around, notably including two unvarnished, detailed posts on its website. Unruh concurs with that assessment, and expresses great optimism about MEOW Now’s future. (https://meownowfl.org, https://www.facebook.com/MEOW-Now-621035224645282/)   ALSO: I spoke with Michael Lloret, a wildlife biologist and crocodile specialist affiliated with Florida Power and Light (FPL) who’s a key member of a team that nurtures and studies American crocodile hatchlings that are born and at least initially live near FPL’s Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station—in other words, a nuclear power plant—in Homestead, Florida. Lloret explains that the crocs are drawn to south Florida for the warmer temperatures (versus more northern parts of the state), and what he and his colleagues do with the hatchlings, including microchip them, partly to monitor their movements. Lloret recalls one croc had traveled as far as Tampa, which is unusual, and notes the animal would’ve need to move south at some point to avoid a problem in an area that’s cooler than the Homestead headquarters. Lloret says the data they collect is then made available to an array of scientists and other who study crocodiles. COMEDY CORNER: Paula Poundstone’s  “Cats Puff Up”  (http://www.paulapoundstone.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE:  Elton John’s  “Crocodile Rock” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/TAJuly24FINAL.mp3 | Open Player in New Window