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No.
208: Pet-Loving Condo-Dwellers Unite!
Today's guest is Maida Genser, founder of Citizens
for Pets in Condos Inc., a Florida-based advocacy
group seeing to educate the public on the health
benefits of animal companionship and about responsible
pet ownership. The long-term goal is to increase
acceptance of companion animals in common interest
ownership communities.
Plus, Steve tells the tale of finding an elderly,
blind, obese, heaving lost dog in his neighborhood.
See Steve's blog entries about this at VegasHappensHere.Com.
* * *
No.
207: Geckos Are Great!
Today's guest knows his reptiles, from the Madagascar
giant hissing cockroach to the fire-crested gecko.
Joining us from Bourne, Texas, is herpetologist
Ron Trempor, one of the nation's leading suppliers
of reptilian pets.
Plus, Emily's complaint about her illogical airline
pet policies and prices.
* * *
No.
206: A Little Pet Music
As loyal Petcast
listeners know, we love songs about pets. So naturally
when we found out about an enterprising crew of
canines that had actually taken up songwriting,
we knew we had to find out more. Here to enlighten
us is Bob Dorman of Mabel Dog productions, and
the human talent behind “Dog Tracks: Songs
by Dogs.” Find him at DogTracksCD.Com.
Plus, a brief chat
about PetAir,
the new pet airline concept.
* * *
No.
205: One Nation Under Dog
From doggie day
spas to prozac for Pekinese with separation anxiety,
Americans are spending more time and money than
ever making sure their canine companions live
happy lives. Today’s guest, author Michael
Schaffer, delved deep into the fluffy underbelly
of pet industries, and our increasing fascination
with, and dependence on, our four-legged friends.
The result was “One
Nation Under Dog,” which was recently
published and is available at bookstores nationwide.
Plus, a discussion
of kitten season and the joy of multiple pet ownership.
* * *
No.
204: The Foreclosed Pets Rescuers
Animal shelters
nationwide are seeing an increase in surrendered
pets, a sad side effect of the ongoing economic
crisis. Today’s guest, Everett Croxson,
is doing his part to help pets whose owners can
no longer care for them because they’ve
lost their homes, either to outright foreclosure
or a change in financial circumstances. Visit
them online at http://forecloseduponpets.org.
Plus, some tips
on keeping pets safe in the summertime.
* * *
No.
203: Pets Who Want To Kill Themselves
There
isn’t a person alive who doesn’t see
an animal out in public wearing something silly
(that's Steve's mom's dog above) or being carried
in the purse of an airheaded celebrity heiress
wannabe and hasn’t felt pity for the poor,
tortured creature. Well, following in the great
tradition of StuffOnMyCat.Com
and CatsInSinks.Com,
Duncan Birmingham of Los Angeles has created PetsWhoWantToKillThemselves.Com,
a blog on which he posts photos of all sorts of
probably-suicidal animals. Birmingham, a writer
whose screenplay, Swingles, is about to become
a movie
starring Cameron Diaz, joins us to discuss
the website.
Plus, a new CDC
study shows that shows pets
make people fall a lot.
* * *
No.
202: Pusses in Books
You
might have heard of Dewey the library cat, the
famous orange feline that became world famous
just for living his life in a library in Spencer,
Iowa. Well, Dewey’s life, which is now the
subject of a best-selling memoir and may become
a movie starring Meryl Streep – as the librarian,
not the cat – is actually less unique than
you might think. Our guest today, documentarian
Gary Roma, traveled the nation for his 1997 award-winning
film Puss in Books: Adventures of a Library Cat
and found library cats all over the place. His
website, IronFrog.Com,
in fact, offers an interactive map that tells
visitors what libraries in their states have resident
felines. Gary Roma joins us from Chicago to discuss
the topic.
Plus, Steve tells
the tale
of Renegade, the blind, obese, tumorous, heaving,
shedding lost dog he found and helped.
*
* *
No.
201: She Speaks For Spot
As medical advances are made and more complex
treatments for animals become more commonplace,
pet owners often find themselves in a quandary
as they try to balance their love of their animals
with their ability to balance their checkbooks.
Whereas the notion of chemotherapy for pets or
artificial limbs once were unthinkable, now they’re
real options that can prolong and improve the
life of dogs and cats, but how do you know when
it’s worth it physically, emotionally and
financially? With us to discuss this minefield
of ethical and practical issues is Dr. Nancy Kay,
of Sebastapol, Calif., author of the new book
"Speaking
For Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live
a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life." Dr. Kay
earned her veterinary degree at Cornell and is
owner of the Animal
Care Center in Rohnert Park, Calif.
Plus, Steve saw the Popovich Comedy Pet Theater
in Vegas.
Links to download shows with Steve's
sister (#194) and Gregory
Popovich (#11) are found on ThePetcast.Com.
*
* *
No.
200: A Pet Vet Opens Wide
One of the most expensive
issues facing owners of even generally healthy
pets is their dental care. Nothing sends a shiver
up the spine like the vet telling you your animal
needs a serious and costly teeth-cleaning. Emily,
in fact, is still paying off the $700 bill from
having five of Archie’s teeth pulled and
she’s since switched to a special kind of
treat to maintain his oral health. So what’s
the truth behind this issue? How do dogs and cats
differ in terms of their dental issues? Joining
us to address all of this as well as a listener’s
question is Dr. Tony Woodward, a past president
of the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association
who practices in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Plus, guest host Molly steps
in and discusses her pregnancy and the potential
issues she may have with her cats and Emily calls
in from DC to report on the Newseum's exhibit
on presidential pets.
* * *
No.
199: Pet Bloggerette Extraordinaire
Whether its tips
for keeping an indoor cat happy or brokering a
peace treaty at the dog park, today’s guest
has the answers. Christie Keith is a blogger and
a contributing writer for the San Francisco Chronicle,
where she pens
the “Your Whole Pet,” column.
She is also a contributing editor for Universal
Press Syndicate's Pet Connection, and past director
of the Pet Care Forum on America Online.
Plus, who would be against
banning training dogs for fighting or leaving
animals outside tethered for excessive lengths
of time? The AKC?
* * *
No.
198: Giving A Hoot About Owls
When it comes to
owls, today’s in the one whooo knows. She
is Karla Kinstler, director of the Houston
Nature Center in Houston, Minn, where she
oversees the Owl Hall of Fame and the International
Festival of Owls. She also authors a blog
with Alice, a great horned owl, who is a full
time resident at the nature center.
Plus, Steve discovers -- and is
repelled by -- Cesar Milan but is intrigued by
Dogtown.
* * *
No.
197: The Greatness of Greyhounds
In 1987, today’s
guest, Claudia Presto, met her very first greyhound,
and her life would never be the same. A few years
later she would give up a successful corporate
career on the east coast, sell everything she
owned and head west, where, it turned out, there
was no shortage of greyhounds in need of her help.
Today she is the leader of the Greyhound
Gang in Southern Utah, which hosts an annual
Greyhound Gathering in mid-may for friends and
fans of these sleekly charming dogs.
Plus, Steve didn't
know what these were but listeners say they're
quail.
* * *
No.
196: A Presidential Dog Visit
The White House
has a new First Dog, and it’s a breed that
few Americans have even heard of, let alone seen.
The Portuguese Water Dog came close to extinction
in the 1970’s, saved by a few determined
enthusiasts who cherished the breed for its temperament
and talents. Joining us today is Dr. Jim Brannan,
a Las Vegas dentist who has shared his home and
hearth with porties for 15 years. He’s competed
with them in agility and obedience trials, and
has also been active in breed rescue. We invited
him to join us today to talk about the this fascinating
dog.
Plus: Emily and Archie triumph
in agility!
* * *
No.
195: We're Ba-a-a-ck!
The
studio-induced hiatus is over and the Petcasters
are back with a new all-kibbitz episode. Among
the topics:
It's the Marble
TEA, not Tease; Archie hearts Nutro
Lite
treats; Emily interviews Greg
Louganis for the Las
Vegas Sun;
some foreclosed soul left behind a cocker spaniel
in
Emily's neighborhood; Steve digs Shivering
Kittens
but his cat lust has
passed; the Obama
girls
choose their dog;
Oprah’s
cocker puppy
dies from parvo; and many dogs die
at the Iditarod.
* * *
No.
194: Walking The Walk On Animal Welfare
If you need any
more proof that there is no end to the ways you
can contribute to the welfare of animals, look
no farther than Steve's sister, Julie Friess,
who walks dogs for the Humane
Society of Sedona in Arizona, where she lives.
Julie explains how she got into this and why it's
so rewarding.
Plus, Amy of GritsToGlitz.Com
uses ice as a treat, NPR halts Calling
All Pets and Steve's dog gets all gooey.
* * *
No.
193: The Dog Fosterer
Owning a pet is
a lifetime commitment, and not everyone’s
ready for the challenge. A good way to test the
waters is through foster care, providing a temporary
loving care to an animal in need while it waits
for a forever home. Joining the Petcasters is
Kristin Anderson, a veteran dog foster mom, who
is chronicling the journey online at caninefostering.com.
Plus, Emily has
another dramatic tale of pet-related intrigue
in her neighborhood and Steve is baffled that
anyone would NOT think that animals
can get jealous. (Steve is reacting to a study
reported recently.) Also, the Petcasters went
back again to the
PETA-sea kitten idea!
* * *
No.
192: Coping With Pet Allergies
For pet owners
with allergies, nothing can be more frustrating
than the sniffling, sneezing and red eyes that
can come from being with the ones you love. Joining
the Petcasters to shed -- har har -- some light
on the issue is Dr.
Robert Grubbe of Oxford, Ala., a board-certified
allergist who divides his time between private
practice and clinical research.
Plus, Emily discusses
Archie’s improved teeth and Steve asks a
trivia question and Emily knows the answer, of
course!
* * *
No.
191: Beverly Hills Chihuahua Trainer Tells All
How do those Hollywood
animals do it? And what happens when they're done?
Mike Alexander, a longtime trainer with the company
Birds
& Animals Unlimited, supervised a 60-person
team for the more than 200 animals who appeared
in Beverly Hills Chihuahua. He also was involved
in Eight Below and trained squirrels - yes, squirrels
- for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Plus, Emily provides
tips for caring for pets in extreme cold and Steve
mocks PETA's fish-are-sea-kittens
campaign.
* * *
No.
190: Bay's Got A Brand New Baby
Longtime listener and fellow podcaster Bay Loftis
of east Tennessee finally got herself a new puppy
after years of thinking about it. It’s a
beautiful Welsh corgi called Doris. Bay joins
the show to share the joy. Bay co-hosts GritstoGlitz.Com,
a podcast of sisterly chitchat that's awesome,
too. Plus, Israelis are taking down dog DNA to
stop people who don’t pick up the poo and
the Petcasters discuss the new pet of Vice President-elect
Joe Biden.
Also, Emily talks
about the dog left behind in her neighborhood
after its owners were driven from a home because
of foreclosure.
* * *
No.
189: Wacky World of Wallabies
When it comes to exotic pets, few are more exotic
– or perhaps more adorable – than
wallabies. The Petcasters chat up Hal Newsom of
New Caney, Texas, who has been selling them as
pets for 20 years and owns WallyPets.Com.
Newsom explains the peculiarities of these New
Zealand natives and has a terrific sense of humor
about his trade. Also, Newsom discusses his airboat
operations at Galveston Bay, which can be found
at GalvestonBoatTours.Com.
Plus, Emily and Steve discuss the fate of animals
on planes that get badly delayed.
* * *
No.
188: Oodles of Poodles
A listener wrote
in to say that there’s no such thing as
a "royal" poodle. Turns out, we have
smart listeners, according to Mary Olund, an expert
poodle breeder who joins us to talk about the
hot-button breed. Olund has been involved in all
levels of supporting the breed from supporting
rescue and disease research to volunteering her
time with local dog clubs. She’s currently
secretary of the Poodle
Club of Central California and her husband
is treasurer of the Poodle
Club of America. Together they are Cabernet
Standard Poodles, which has produced show
ring champions and happy companions for 25 years.
(That poodle above is Steve's former dog, Ozzie,
who now lives with his ex.)
Plus, Steve came
close again to getting a kitten and accidentally
ate a little bit of doggie peanut butter spray.
* * *
No.
187: The Vegas Cat Gambit
Once a guaranteed source of controversy, mandatory
spay-neuter laws for pets are becoming more common
and winning over critics. With the feral cat population
of Southern Nevada estimated at over 200,000,
lawmakers in that region want to take action.
Clark County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani
joins the Petcasters to explain why she
wants to “legalize” feral cats
in the hopes of easing their plight and reducing
the exponential growth of unwanted cat colonies.
Plus, Emily and Archie have a terrific agility
triumph and the Petcasters mull whether pets get
colds and or suffer allergies.
* * *
No.
186: Losing Stuart
Las Vegas writer
Richard Abowitz joins the Petcasters to discuss
the loss in the prior week of his elderly cat,
Stuart. Stuart outlived her (yes, her) cancer
diagnosis by about six months.
Plus, Emily warns
against listing personal information when advertising
your puppies in the paper or online. Three holiday
books: “Travels With Charley,” “The
Story of the Pug Who Ruled My Life” “The
Cat Who Came For Christmas.” Also, Steve
and Emily discuss their prospective vegetarianism.
* * *
No.
185: Pocket Pets Can Be Hazardous
Pocket pets are
awful cute. But they can also be dangerous to
the health of your family. Dr. Nina Marano of
the Centers for Disease Control calls in from
her vacation in Milan, Italy, to discuss the
study she co-authored about the health dangers
of certain household pets.
Plus, the Petcasters
mull into whether Obama has broken his promise
about the dog and discuss the Shiba Imu puppies
on a cam, and chatter about For Better or For
Worse.
*
* *
No.
184: Overmedicating Pets
Vet and author
Dr. Nicholas Dodman of Tufts School of Veterinary
Medicine joins us to discuss his book, “If
Only They Could Speak,” which the Wall Street
Journal recently named as one of the best pet
books of all time. Dr. Dodman and answered questions
about the overmedication for animals, how to identify
a pet with a form of Alzheimer’s and whether
there’s a second-hand smoke risk for animals.
Also, poinsettia plants may not be toxic.
Plus, the Petcasters
mull holiday-season concerns about pets and told
stories of pets eating wild.
* * *
No.
183: Fixing Phoebe’s Freaky Felines
A listener's cat
seems deliberately annoying, so we get an expert
to advise her on what to do. Today’s guest
is Dr. John Wright, a certified
applied animal behaviorist and psychology
professor at Mercer University in Macon, has helped
people and their pets with behavior issues for
more than 25 years. His is also the author of
three popular books on applied animal behavior:
"Ain't Misbehavin': The Groundbreaking Program
for Happy, Well-behaved Pets and Their People";
"Is
Your Cat Crazy?" and "The
Dog Who Would Be King.”
Plus: Emily's dog
"catches" a rogue cat in the hood and
Steve is scolded for not recalling the elusive
charm of Snuffalufagus.
* * *
No.
182: Did The Couch Kill Her Cat?
Perhaps the only
thing worse than losing a beloved pet is being
left with questions over whether the death could
have been prevented. That’s an issue today’s
guest tackled in a recent
opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times, looking
at the contamination death of her cat Midnight,
and a possible connection to fire-retardant chemicals
that manufacturers are required to use in furniture.
Blum is also an accomplished mountaineer whose
website is here.
Plus, Black and
Jack's big road trip! (See the pictures here!)
* * *
No.
181: Cats and the Single Guy
In the Oct.
5 edition of the Sunday New York Times, writer
Abby Ellin highlighted what appears to be a cultural
shift – single guys opting for feline, rather
than canine, companionship. While the trend is
difficult to quantify, there appears to be solid
anecdotal evidence that more guys are owning cats,
or are at least willing to admit that they do.
Ellin
joins the Petcasters to talk about her story as
well as some criticism of it.
Plus: A young Petcast
listener calls in with a review of Beverly Hills
Chihuahua and Steve accidentally speaks out about
unleashed dogs in his neighborhood.
* * *
No.
180: Hamster Drama
Sometimes small
pets can mean big trouble, especially when it’s
your 4-year-old’s class hamster. Joining
us is Emily's sister Marcy, calling from Danville,
Calif., to share a tale of hamster woe and Debby
Widolf, bunny house manager at Best
Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah, to
offer some thoughts.
Plus, Beverly Hills
Chihuahua is out right as Steve is about to take
their chihuahuas to...Beverly Hills! And Emily
follows up on some of the discussion about agility
from Petcast No. 179.
* * *
No.
179: Rescuing Pets of Battered Spouses
It’s a well-known
scenario to workers at the nation’s domestic
violence shelters – a victim refuses to
leave an abusive situation because escaping would
mean leaving behind a loving and loyal pet. At
the Shade Tree Shelter in Las Vegas, women and
children can find safe haven for themselves, and
their pets. Noah’s
Animal House is one of just a few such programs
nationwide, and cares for about 100 pets every
year. Joining us in the studio to talk about the
program is the executive director of the Shade
Tree, Marlene Richter.
Plus: Emily mocks
a pet-massage class she's heard about, Steve freaks
out his dogs and Steve's dogs went nuts when not
crated one recent night. Also, Emily talks about
her recent agility event.
* * *
No.
178.5: It's Animals In A Landslide!
The election was
historic for lower species, too! In California,
farm animals will soon be getting
bigger containment and in Massachusetts, greyhounds
won't be racing anymore. Plus, the Obama girls
ARE
getting a dog, but what kind? And the Bushes'
dog Barney evidently hates
the media as much as his owners. (Other videos
from the official BarneyCam can be found here.
and the New York Times Magazine piece on Prop
2 referred to during this episode is here.)
Joining the Petcasters
to discuss all of it is Jennifer
Fearing, chief economist for the Humane Society
of the United States, which led the effort to
pass Prop 2 in California, the farm-animal measure.
* * *
No.
178: Training Animals To Be Stars
For more than 25
years, April Morley of Animal
Actors of Hollywood has served as an animal
trainer and coordinator for some of Hollywood’s
biggest blockbusters, from “The Naked Gun”
to “Bruce Almighty” and last summer’s
“Get Smart.” She’s also worked
on popular television series from Frasier to CSI,
handling everything from casting to training.
Plus, Emily and
guest host Dayvid discuss their favorite entertainment
animals.
* * *
No.
177: Inside The Search Dog’s World
For a dozen years,
today’s guest and her canine partner were
deployed to some of the nation’s worst disaster
sites, from New York City following the Sept.
11 attacks to Santa Barbara in the wake of the
La Conchita mudslide. Whether it was an urban
or wilderness emergency, the goal for Debra Tosh
was the same – search for survivors before
time ran out. She retired from active service
in 2005 to become executive director of the Search
Dog Foundation, and joins us today from Ojai,
California.
Plus, Emily and
Dayvid mull the
dog saved by his owner from a shark.
* * *
No.
176: Doggie Sleepovers
When you have to
travel and can’t take your dogs with you,
dropping them off at the kennel or vet’s
office for boarding is often the only option.
But there’s another alternative for that
may be the next-best thing to staying at home.
Since 2006, Sleepover
Rover has matched up canine houseguests with
host families, providing TLC while their owners
are away. The company currently serves canine
clients in six cities, including Denver, Las Vegas
and Los Angeles. Joining us today is Maggie Brown,
the company’s co-founder, who was also Sleepover
Rover’s first client.
* * *
No.
175: Turtle Lover Comes Out Of Her Shell
If you’re
a homeless reptile in the Santa Barbara area,
you probably dream of Jeanie Vaughn’s backyard.
Since 1994, Vaughn has provided shelter and rehabilitation
to injured turtles, iguanas and dozens of other
species. The region’s only reptile shelter,
Turtle Dreams has taken in hurt and neglected
animals from throughout California and other states
as well. Vaughn made the news when she saved Bob
(pictured above), so read all about that here.
Vaughn doesn’t have an email or website,
but you can call her at 805-969-4609 to get more
information or to offer a donation.
Plus: Steve and
Emily follow up on the off-leash problems in their
neighborhoods.
* * *
No.
174: The Welfare of Pets in Korea
Since 1997, International
Aid for Korean Animals has fought to educate
the international community about the difficult
conditions for dogs and cats in Korea. Earlier
this year, the organization announced it was redirecting
its focus to change perceptions and practices
from within Korean society. That means elevating
the status of companion animals, encouraging pet
adoptions and shining a light on the cruelty of
the dog and cat meat trade. Joining the Petcastersis
Kyenan Kum, co-founder of IAKA.
Plus: Emily and
Steve talk about the songs they sing to and about
their pets and Steve is impacted by a new pet-food
recall.
* * *
No.
173: The Victoria Stilwell Interview
In the early 1990’s,
today’s guest launched a successful dog-walking
business in her native England, and quickly realized
her clients needed more than a stroll around the
block. So Victoria
Stilwell set out to learn from some of Britain’s
top animal behaviorists and dog trainers, eventually
relocating to Manhattan and opening her own company,
specializing in helping families build healthy
relationships with their pets. Today, she is an
author and star of the hit series “It’s
Me or the Dog,” currently airing on
Animal Planet, where she offers common-sense solutions
to overwhelmed pet owners. She may be most familiar
to American audiences as one of the judges on
the CBS reality show, “Greatest
American Dog.”
* * *
No.
172: A Terrifying Pet-Toy Tale
There’s nothing
worse than your pet being injured, unless it’s
finding out his pain and suffering was avoidable.
Today’s guest bought his dog Chai a rubber
ball, never expecting it would cause traumatic
and nearly fatal injuries. Read the blog post
about it here.
And it now appears the 10-year-old lab mix was
not the first victim. Joining us today is Chai’s
owner, Daniel Rechelbacher, and his attorney,
Derek Smith.
Plus, Emily talks
about Archie’s dental visit and how CareCredit
saved the day.
* * *
No.
171: Fake Limbs For Animals
When it comes to
prosthetic limbs, today’s guest is on the
cutting edge. But you won’t find him at
a major research hospital, and his patients include
Cassidy
the German Shepard, Pez the beagle and a cat
named George Bailey. Dr. Denis Marcellin-Little
is associate professor of orthopedics in the College
of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State
University, where his groundbreaking techniques
are offering promising results that could eventually
mean better prosthetics for human patients, as
well.
Plus, more discussion
about how to deal with problems with other people’s
animals.
* * *
No.
170: Pet Welfare Around the World
From Cambodian
ponies to Japanese dolphins, animals around the
globe depend on people like today’s guest
to help protect them from harm, and to educate
the public at large to their plight. The World
Society for the Protection of Animals has
spent the past quarter-century promoting a united
global animal welfare movement, focusing on everything
from the proper care of domestic pets to humane
treatment of commercial livestock. Joining us
today is the society’s program manager.
Plus, Steve talks
about an extremely upsetting experience on his
dogwalk in his neighborhood.
* * *
No.
169: The Tiger-Mothering Dog
When a white tiger
rejected its three newborn cubs at the Safari
Zoological
Park outside Carney, Kansas, it was golden
retriever Isabella to the rescue.
Isabella, who recently had a litter of her own
pups, has been successfully
nursing the orphaned cubs. It's all taking place
under the watchful eye of
Isabella's owner Allie Harvey. Her husband inherited
the park, and they now
run it together. The inter-species nursing has
attracted international
attention, but Harvey said it's more common than
many people might realize.
Plus, Emily discusses
the Christian-the-Lion,
waterskiing
squirrels and panda
sneezes videos on YouTube.
* * *
No.
168: Rescuing The Dog Next Door
How many times
on your daily commute have you passed that dog
chained to a
tree, barrel or fence? How many times have you
thought about stopping the
car, getting out and doing something? Today's
guest did exactly that,
nothing only saving the lives of several desperate
dogs but launching
herself on a new path as an animal advocate. Tamira
Ci Thayne is founder of
Dogs
Deserve Better, a nonprofit organization that
seeks to end the practice
of chaining dogs. She talks with the Petcast about
the roots of her own
advocacy, as well as misconceptions people have
about dogs' needs.
Plus, Emily tells
of Archie’s grand recent travels, including
a remarkable in-flight tale.
* * *
No.
167: Cats Get A Winn
Since 1968, the
Winn Feline Foundation has been funding research
to help
better understand the health challenges facing
housecats, from nutritional
needs to cancer. The New Jersey-based foundation's
executive director, Janet
Wolf, spoke with the Petcast about some of the
most recent grants awarded by
the foundation, as well as the bias many cat researchers
face when they
apply for funding. The Winn Feline Foundation
has also launched a
fund-raising campaign in partnership with HomeAgain
pet microchips.
Plus, more chatter
on the "Greatest American Dog" and Emily
sticks up for bulldogs.
* * *
No.
166: The Pulitzer-winning Pet Blogger
After 35 years
in the news business and a Pulitzer for investigative
reporting and coverage of such serious matters
as prisons and mental institutions to education,
John Woestendiek shows his personal side. The
former Baltimore Sun reporter wrote the newspaper’s
pet blog, Mutts, and now has one of his own since
he lost his job in a round of layoffs. He can
now be found at OhMiDog.com
or Muttsblog.com.
Plus, an analysis
of animals in the funnies.
* * *
No.
165: An Entertaining Entertainment Kibbitz
Watch
CBS Videos Online
Our guest stood
us up, so the Petcasters mull a wide range of
animal-related pop-culture matters, from that
wacky "Greatest
American Dog" competition to the dog
killing in Batman. Also referenced: No Country
For Old Men, The Golden Compass, It’s Me
Or My Dog, Meercat
Manor.
* * *
No.
164: Fido’s Masseuse
The benefits of
massage therapy have long been known to people,
especially athletes, dancers and those lucky enough
to frequent high-end spas. So it should come as
no surprise that our pets could probably use a
good rubdown every now and then. Joining the Petcasters
this show is Patti Moran, a certified animal massage
therapist from Santa Cruz, Calif.
Plus: The Obama
dog is a match between poodles and Wheaten Terrier
and Steve – yes, Steve – takes a shot
at English bulldogs.
* * *
No.
163: The Anti-Feline Cultural Bias
They’re beautiful,
agile, and often aloof. We love when they purr
but hate when they scratch. And to some of us,
cats are second-class animals that don’t
deserve or need the same protection as our canine
friends. Joining the Petcasters is Dr. Valerie
Creighton, president of the American
Association of Feline Practitioners.
Plus, what kind of dog should the Obamas get?
* * *
No.
162: The Shelter With A Fancy Boarding Center
The Animal
Humane Society is the local Minneapolis-area
shelter and, in what may be a first in the U.S.,
they’ve opened a pet hotel called Now
Boarding at the MSP airport. The shelter also
recently rescued over 100 rats, a dozen golden
retriever puppies surrendered by an unscrupulous
breeder and opened a brand-new boarding facility
for local pets.
Joining the Petcasters is the society’s
president and chief executive. Janelle Dixon.
Plus, pet voters
on Obama
v McCain.
* * *
No.
161: Size Doesn’t Matter
So, you’re
in a dark alley, and there’s a strange dog
coming toward you. What would make you more nervous,
a dauschund or Siberian husky? If you said the
husky, you might want to reconsider. Joining the
Petcasters is Dr.
James Serpell, director of the Center for
the Interaction of Animals and Society at the
University of Pennsylvania. In a new
study, Dr. Serpell and his colleagues identified
the least and most aggressive breeds of dogs and
found that size isn’t be best measure of
the potential for trouble. Evaluate your own dog
here.
Plus, Guinea pigs
take Hawaii, Emily apologizes to her sister and
Steve flogs himself over accidentally letting
Jack out.
* * *
No.
160: Pawprints of Katrina
As the floodwaters
rose after Hurricane Katrina, most people were
doing everything they could to flee the city of
New Orleans. Journalist Cathy Scott was in her
car, making her way there as quickly as possible.
Horrified by the plight of stranded and abandoned
pets, Scott helped with numerous rescues, and
ended up covering the crisis for the Best Friends
Animal Sanctuary’s magazine. The heartrending
stories of survival have been captured in both
word and image in Scott’s new book, “Pawprints
of Katrina: Lives Saved and Lessons Learned.”
Plus, the cost
of pet food is rising, why you shouldn't buy the
really big bags, true tales of eating dog food
and super-rats.
* * *
No.
159: Ex-Vet Insurance Man Tells All
In his nearly two
decades a health insurance agent and consultant,
Lee Van Kirk has acquired a wealth of knowledge.
And that includes one of the fastest growing areas
of the industry, pet health insurance. He has
represented Veterinary Pet Insurance, one of the
nation’s largest providers, as well as Pet
Plan of Canada. A retired Army officer, he currently
resides in Boise, Idaho.
Plus, the feral
v wild question revisited and vets in Iraq aren't
so keen to spay and neuter.
* * *
No.
158: The Petcast Music Spectacular
For many, the love of an animal inspires their
art. That's clearly the case with two performers
we chat with this show, renowned singer Roslyn
Kind and amateur songwriter Carey Moore. Kind,
who is Barbra Steisand's sister and a vocalist
and actress who has appeared everywhere from the
Ed Sullivan Show to Broadway to Carnegie Hall,
is an animal-welfare advocate who has performed
a song about her beloved
dog, Josh. You can buy her song about Josh,
"At Times Like This," here.
Moore, of Nashville, Tenn., is in the ad business
but a decade ago started writing writing songs,
including “Dogs are Cool.” Find his
music here.
* * *
No.
157: Lloving Llovely Llamas
Since 1985, Jim
Krowka has been exploring and cultivating the
unique relationship between people and llamas.
At Lost
Creek Llamas in Oregon, Jim trains these charming
wooly creatures for a variety of activities, from
the show ring to the trailhead. Krowka joins the
Petcasters to discuss the breed. Plus, Steve has
a sordid llama tale of his own to share.
*
* *
No.
156: Old Dogs Need Love, Too!
When people visit
the animal shelter, it’s usually the adorable
puppies and kittens that get the most attention.
An older pet can be a tougher sell. But there
is an upside to choosing a more mature companion
animal, including being able to tell right away
whether your personalities will fit, and the unwavering
devotion that is often a hallmark of the rescued
senior pet. Las Vegas journalist Abby Goldman
and her miniature poodle Lucky, who she rescued
from the shelter earlier this year.
Plus, Steve tells
about the dramatic
rescue he attempted for an injured mockingbird
on his front lawn.
* * *
No.
155: The Horse Shouter
Since 2005, New
England Equine Rescues has been helping horses
find sanctuary from abuse and the slaughterhouse.
The nonprofit organization relies on a complex
network of volunteers, foster homes and donors,
all of whom are dedicated to finding a safe pasture
for horses in need. Joining the Petcasters is
Beth Hill-Ross of Rhode Island, the founder of
the organization.
Plus, Emily shares
her own horse tales, Steve observed a long-haired
Chihuahua and Emily brags, sort of, about how
nice it is that Archie is sociable.
* * *
No.
154: Vets Making Housecalls
For some pet owners,
getting to the vet’s office isn’t
as easy as loading Fluffy and Fido into the car.
Today’s guest knows sometimes its better
for the pet to stay home and the vet to come to
you. She is Dr.
Shannon Stanek, of the American
Association of Housecall and Mobile Veterinarians,
and she joins the Petcasters to explain.
Plus, Emily took
Archie to a veterinary dentist and Steve's Mom's
pet-shop dog Poppy has a double row of teeth.
* * *
No.
153: Cats Can Do Agility, Too!
We may have doubted
it, but it’s all too true: There are cat
agility competitions, too! Joining the Petcasters
to explain how it works is Carol Osbourne, committee
chairwoman of the national Cat
Fanciers Association. Carol has exhibited
many champions of her own. The national cat agility
championship will be held in October at Madison
Square Garden.
Also, Steve's sister's
cat is a bookstore denizen and Emily talks about
her own witnessing of a feral cat and her brood.
* * *
No.
152: Fun With Herding Dogs
If there's a heaven
for border collies, it may very well be Drummond
Ranch in Vincent, Calif., located less than
an hour from L.A. On the 40-acre spread, dogs
and their people learn the fine art of sheepherding,
often strengthening their own relationship in
the process. Joining the Petcasters today is Janna
Duncan, co-founder of the San Fernando Valley
Herding Association and a licensed herding judge
for the American Kennel Club, among other organizations.
Read a great AP story on Duncan here.
Also, Steve discusses visiting his mom's dog,
Poppy, and Mom visiting his dogs, Black and Jack.
* * *
No.
151: Mandating Spay-Neuter Laws
[Show
available after May 29]
In January, the
city of North Las Vegas, Nev., passed
a new law aimed at addressing the enormous
homeless pet population in Southern Nevada. Each
year, the municipal animal shelter serving the
region takes in about 50,000 unwanted animals
and euthanize about half of them. That’s
why the North Las Vegas City Council passed a
law requiring that starting this month all domesticated
dogs and cats must be spayed or neutered before
reaching four months of age. (There are some exceptions.)
NLV Councilwoman Stephanie Smith, who championed
the ordinance, joins the Petcasters to explain
it.
Plus, Steve rants
against silent auctions that sell
off live puppies.
* * *
No.
150: Amishew, Too!
Fifteen years ago
this summer, Steve found an emaciated orange tabby
outside the home he was renting in Topeka, Kan.,
while living there for a summer newspaper internship.
The cat, Amishew, was adopted by Steve’s
friend’s mother, Nilsa Leal of Indiana,
after Steve graduated from college and could no
longer keep him. Mrs. Leal joins the Petcasters
to fill us in on what became of that cat, which
continues to thrive and provide a great deal of
pleasure for the family that cared for him for
all these years.
Plus, Emily raises
the issue of a California
bill that would ban driving pets without having
them buckled up. That leads Steve to recount his
recent moment locking himself out of his running
car with the dogs inside. Also, here’s
the link to the company that makes those animal
carseats that Emily referenced.
* * *
No.
149: Petsitters of the World, Unite!
One of the fastest
growing areas of animal care is petsitting, which
allows Fluffy and Fido to enjoy the comforts of
home while their owners are away. But before you
hand over the house key and leash, the Petcasters
chat with Candance Labane-Godfrey, president of
the National Association of Professional Petsitters,
and launched her own critter care business in
1997 in Sacramento, California. Candance has suggestions
as to the does and don’ts of hiring a petsitter.
Plus, Steve shares
his tale about finding a feral cat and her five
incredibly adorable kittens in his neighborhood
and how the situation was handled.
* * *
No.
148: A CATalyst For Change
Dr. Jane Brunt,
a feline vet based in the Baltimore area, joins
the Petcasters to explain why she convened the
CATalyst
Summit earlier this year to focus the vet
world on important issues related to cat care.
The event followed a study by the American Veterinary
Medical Association found 36.3 percent of cat-owning
households receive no vet care versus 17.3 percent
of canine-owning households.
Also, Emily's dog
Archie had to have a couple of teeth pulled following
his periodical teeth-cleaning. And Steve wants
to listeners to share if their pets have had bad
reactions to sprayings from the exterminator.
* * *
No.
147: Inside Petside
Whether you're
looking for your Dalmatian's horoscope or a new
motion-sensor water bowl for you finicky Persian,
you may want to stop by a new Web site on the
companion animal scene. Petside.Com is offering
visitors everything from expert veterinary advice
to breaking news. Guest Kim Jack Riley, executive
editor of Petside.Com.
Also, the Petcasters
discuss CareCredit,
an extended payment program you can use at the
vet and debate the truth behind that story of
a dog that got "lost" and made
its way home in northern Nevada. Oh, and we
visit the story of
Snickers, which we believe.
* * *
No.
146: Popping in on Poppy
Steve's mom returns
to explain what's gone right and wrong with her
new puppy, Poppy. That prompted chatter between
the Petcasters | 
