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No.
282: The Author of 2010’s Most Fascinating
Book On Pets

The way we navigate our relationships with our
pets and other animals has fascinated researchers
for centuries. Why is one species a member of
our family and another our dinner? Western Carolina
University psychology professor Hal Herzog sought
to answer these age-old questions in an absolutely
brilliant and extremely readable new book, “Some
we Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why It’s
So Hard To Think Straight About Animals.”
Plus, Steve’s life partner Miles makes his
Petcast debut as the guest host and we get new
insight into Steve’s pet home life. Also,
should
Michael Vick get a puppy and is it news that
Barack
Obama picks up after Bo?
* * *
No.
281: How Eco-Friendly Can Be Pet-Friendly

Very often, being
pet-friendly doesn’t mean being eco-friendly.
But that doesn’t have to be the case. Four
years ago, Barbara Savidge and Gina Quiroga formed
Olive
Green Goods For Modern Dogs, a company devoted
to creating natural and organic products for use
by animals. They’ve got 10 products so far
including cookies, blankets and poop bags made
from natural materials. Barbara Savidge is on
the line to talk about the company and various
ways people can save the earth and be good to
their pets.
Plus, guest host
Cindi Moon Reed discusses at length her
amazing long-form cover piece for Vegas Seven
magazine about Bobby Berosini, who became synonymous
fairly or not with animal abuse in entertainment.
The case also powered the national reputation
of a relatively new animal-rights group called
PETA.
* * *
No.
280: The Life & Times Of An Animal Control
Officer
REISSUE! No. 72: Dog + Yoga = Doga!
A few weeks ago,
the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported that Palm
Beach County Animal Care and Control was reopening
its late-night dropoff for unwanted or lost pets.
It had been closed
for two months because of a disease outbreak,
but we were trying to understand how the whole
late-night dropoff thing worked to begin with.
Joining us today to explain and discuss her line
of work is Dianne Sauve, director of Palm Beach
County Animal Care and Control.
Plus, thanks to
Vegas Seven editor and writer Cindi Moon Reed
for co-hosting. Cindi talks about her experiences
doing Doga, or dog Yoga, and the Petcasters chat
about a case of an old woman whose
dog was returned thanks to a micro chip.
* * *
No.
279: Puppies Win The Election
Earlier this month, Missouri
voters
narrowly approved Prop B, a measure that puts
some significant new restrictions on dog breeders
in a state that has long been a puppy mill capital
of the United States. It wasn’t a landslide,
but it did make it through and that’s largely
because of years of work by attorney Barbara Schmitz,
the Missouri director of the Humane Society of
the United States. She served as campaign director
for Prop B, but she also helped convince voters
to bar cockfighting 12 years ago. The cause even
made it onto The
Daily Show.
Plus, the Petcasters
mull the American who stole
299 stuffed birds from a London museum, elderly
sisters accused of animal cruelty for
hoarding
and a
claim that bird-feeding is the second most
popular hobby in America.
* * *
No.
278: Banning Dog Auctions

Mary O’Connor-Shaver,
a businesswoman from Lima, Ohio, has made it her
mission to end
the wholesale auctioning of dogs bred in puppy
mills in her state. She joins Steve and guest
host Amy Turner to discuss her efforts to get
this matter more public attention and before the
voters of the Buckeye State. Here's
a video of the auctions.
The Petcasters discuss a
new study explaining why it is that cats
drink more neatly than dogs, a Las
Vegas Weekly piece about casino mogul Steve
Wynn’s new vegan zealotry and Shanghai’s
new one-dog
policy.
* * *
No.
277: How Pets Became Domesticated

We take it for
granted these days that dogs, cats, birds and
other animals make wonderful pets. But how did
it come to be that way? How did earlier humans
figure out that these creatures could be loving
and loyal, good company and partners in various
activities? Anthropologist Barbara J. King explains
in her latest book, Being
With Animals: Why We Are Obsessed With the Furry,
Scaly, Feathered Creatures Who Populate Our World.
King is chancellor professor of anthropology at
the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg,
Virginia. King writes the Friday
Animal Blog, too.
Plus, the Petcasters chat about the
Missouri ballot measure regarding breeding,
India urges against owls
as pets, Palm Beach County has a nighttime
pet
drop-off and farm owners worry about the decline
in vets who work on large animals.
RELATED
REISSUE:
Giving A Hoot About Owls (No. 198)
* * *
No.
276: There Are Also Blood Banks For Animals

It’s not something many pet owners think
much about, but if their animal ever needs surgery,
they’re going to need blood transfusions.
And where does that blood come from? Other pets.
With us today to explain how an animal blood bank
works is Dr. Beth Davidow, who oversees the
Animal Critical Care Emergency Services Blood
Bank in Seattle.
Plus, the Petcasters
sort of observe National
Pit Bull Awareness Day, guest host Jen Prosser
is scared of spiders, Reno is home to the world’s
longest cat and Missouri voters may change
the law regarding dog breeders.
* * *
No.
275: Hotlines To Counsel Grieving Pet Owners

The loss of a pet
can, of course, be a very traumatic experience.
In 1989, the college of veterinary medicine at
the University of California at Davis came up
with a novel idea to help people cope, a pet-loss
hotline. Cornell University’s vet school
copied
that model, and we have two guests here to
discuss how it works, Dr. Margaret McEntee, the
faculty adviser, and fourth-year vet student Ingrid
Rhinehart.
Plus, as it happens, guest
host Jennifer Prosser and her husband lost their
19-year-old cat since our last recording.
* * *
No.
274: A Katrina Pet Rescue Hero

Five years ago,
Americans watched with heartache and horror as
thousands of companion animals were abandoned
in a drowning city. Karen O'Toole was moved to
do more. In her beautifully moving account, Orphans
of Katrina: Inside The World’s Biggest Animal
Rescue, O'Toole recounts her experiences of
rescue and frustration, disillusionment and redemption
in the Gulf region
Plus, Emily – remember her? – calls
in to provide the update on Archie’s recent
health dramas. Amid all that, there’s a
new Consumer
Reports study about pet insurance.
* * *
No.
273: There’s An App For Pet Holistics

More and more these
days, pet owners are trying to figure out how
to keep things natural for their pets. Scares
related to tainted pet food and toys have prompted
many to see out more holistic products and ideas,
and that’s where our guest comes in. Stacey
Turis is the co-owner of a website called PawsforPeace.Com,
which provides advise and ideas for folks looking
for holistic health information for their animals.
They’ve also recently come out with an
iPhone app.
Plus, guest host Jen Prosser talks all about her
turtles and cat life. Also, desert night lizards
have mates
and families.
* * *
No.
272: Myths About and Meds For Senior Pets
REISSUE: Dr. Dodman on Petcast
No. 184

Dr.
Nicholas Dodman writes pet-related columns
for the AKC Family Dog, Life Magazine and Martha
Stewart’s Body and Soul and has written
seven books including “The Dog Who Cried
Too Much” and “The Cat Who Cried For
Help.” His latest book, “Good
Old Dog,” comes out in November, and
it deals with the important issues that face people
as their dogs grow old. In this interview, Dodman
tells the Petcasters about new medicine and ideas
for dealing with elder animals. Dr. Dodman also
does seminars for pet lovers and experts, so check
out this
site to see if he'll be speaking near you.
Plus, guest host Amy Turner and Steve banter about
the annual pet blessings around St. Francis of
Assisi Day and, in Boston, the fire trucks now
have oxygen masks for
imperiled pets. Also, the U.S. Navy is bombing
Guam with frozen
mice stuffed with Tylenol to poison brown
tree snakes.
* * *
No.
271: Linens For Fido & Fluffy

Animal welfare organizations
are financially stressed enough, and every little
bit helps. That’s where organizations like
Linens for Animals steps in. Since 2006, Lori
Birdsong and her husband have been collecting
and donating more than 2 million pounds in blankets
and other linens to shelters, rescue organizations
and pet owners who have adopted abandoned animals.
It’s another innovative way to help out.
Plus, guest host Amy updates
us on her pet life – including teaching
Lola tricks that you
can see on YouTube. Also, convicted animal
killer Michael Vick is back at the helm
for the Eagles, prompting an ESPN writer to
say the public
should forgive him. Amazingly, the dogs are
doing great, according to the
new book by Jim Gorant and this
Fresh Air discussion from NPR. Oh, and President
Obama’s new Chief of Staff is
a crazy cat guy.
* * *
No.
270: The Great Petcast Road Trip!

Emily, Archie and
Steve drove 2,100 miles from Nevada to Michigan
to deliver Emily and Archie to Ann Arbor for a
prestigious eight-month academic fellowship in
journalism at the University of Michigan. It was
a wonderful trip, full of cool sights and lots
of interesting pet experiences. (We didn't even
mention the dog park we found in Salt Lake City!)
Archie had a traumatic health week prior to the
trip, so there was much nervousness. It was all
amazing. Hear us recap it en route to the airport
as Steve returned to Las Vegas on Sept 1.
Also, check out
Steve's blog
on the trip as well as the Flickr
sets with loads and loads of photos.
* * *
No.
269: The Surfing Dog’s Good Deeds
(link and show available 8/30)
We read about animals
taking up unusual hobbies all the time, but usually
those activities don’t tug at the heartstrings
quite like the special skill of Ricochet. Ricochet
is a SURFice dog. Yes, we said SURFice, not
service. Her owner, Judy Fridono, joins the Petcasters
to explain. Fridono is the founder and executive
director of puppy prodigies, a non profit organization
that trains service dogs for people with disabilities.
This is the dog behind this
viral YouTube video that has been seen more
than 2 million times.
Plus, Amy talks
birds and Steve raises a news item in which a
dog
chews off a man’s diseased toe while
he was passed out drunk. Also, seven
puppies died in a cargo hold from Tulsa to
Chicago on American Airlines.
* * *
No.
268: Emily’s Special Farewell For Now

Co-host Emily Richmond
begins a prestigious fellowship at the University
of Michigan in early September, so this is her
final episode in the Petcast studio until sometime
next month. She vows to call in from time to time
and both Petcasters will be recording and reporting
from their road trip from Vegas to deliver Emily
to Michigan, but in honor of this Steve corralled
a quartet of special call-in guests to wish Emily
well.
* * *
No.
267: Why Trusts For Pets Matter
Each year, a half-million
dogs and cats wind up in shelters when their owners
die without making arrangements for their pets’
care. Attorney Chris Jones of Trusted
Pet Partners joins the Petcasters to provide
some steps you can take to make sure your animals
is protected even when you’re no longer
there to do it yourself.
Plus, Emily winds
down in Vegas and Emily gets rough with American
Airlines. See Emily's body of work at
the Las Vegas Sun, too.
* * *
No.
266: Bartering for Vet Care

Several months ago, bartering was a hot topic
in the news when a candidate for the U.S. Senate
suggested it was a way to reduce health care costs.
That suggestion actually helped sink her candidacy,
but it is actually true that people barter for
all sorts of services, including veterinary care.
Joining the Petcasters to explain how bartering
works in the 21st century and how pet owners can
take advantage is Alan Zimmelman, executive vice
president for the nation’s largest bartering
exchange known as Itex.
Plus, more chatter about Emily’s big upcoming
change and the Petcasters chat about the new TV
show about animal hoarding.
* * *
No.
265: Researching the Human-Animal Bond
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One of the most
fascinating topics in animal research -- and a
growing field – is the relationship people
develop with animals. Joining the Petcasters is
Dr. Alan Beck, one of the nation’s leading
experts on the subject, as well as an author,
researcher and professor. Beck is the Center
for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University’s
School of Veterinary Medicine.
Plus, Steve rushes
Black to the vet for an eye problem and then,
as usual, had a complaint.
* * *
No.
264: The Editor of Dog Fancy Magazine
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When it comes to pet publications, Dog
Fancy magazine represents the gold standard.
It’s the world’s most widely read
dog magazine and today’s guest is its new
editor. Ernie Slone is also an expert dog handler,
pet therapy volunteer and officer with the Cairn
Terrier Club of Southern California. Slone
referenced Pilots
N Paws, a group that transports dogs all over
the country.
Plus,
the Petcasters bantered about an
amazing story about the $1 million winner
of a cutest dog competition who gave the money
away. And Sherry V wrote in again to show us her
cats and tell us about their unusual names. Emily
found a Veterinary Pet Insurance’s unusual
names report.
* * *
No.
263: The Planet’s Funniest Person

Keegan-Michael
Key knows funny. He’s a comic and actor
who spent six seasons on Mad TV and has also appeared
on hilarious shows such as Reno 911. That makes
him perfectly qualified for his current gig as
host of “The
Planet’s Funniest Animals” on
Animal Planet. During the discussion, Emily names
her favorite pet videos, the guy singing Good
Night Sweetheart to puppies and the Standing
Cat. Here’s list of top
animal videos on YouTube and Keegan talked
about the Fancy
Catz video on Second City’s YouTube
channel.
Steve’s
experience covering World Series of Poker leads
him to a pet-related poker nickname for Emily
and Emily celebrated Archie’s birthday by
getting nervous about the 9-year-old’s middle
age. She also checked on something recently in
“Speaking For Spot,” the book by Dr.
Nancy Kaye, guest on Petcast
No. 201.
RELATED:
Nancy Kaye (No.
201) and StuffOnMyCat.Com (No.
20)
* * *
No.
262: A Heroic Rescue of 172 Horses

When it comes to the protecting the legacy of
America’s Western frontier, wild horses
are too often forgotten. Many herds face lives
of abuse, neglect and slaughter as a result. But
there was some good news recently thanks in part
to Lifesavers
Wild Horse Rescue of Lancaster, Calif., which
recently negotiated a successful deal with the
U.S. government to save 169 wild horses that were
scheduled to be sold at auction. Wild Horse Rescue
board member Stephanie Hoefener joined the Petcasters
to explain. (Those interested in adopting one
of these horses should call Angel at 661-727-0049.)
Check out Lifesavers'
Facebook site for a lively discussion on horse
issues.
Emily
follows up on the AnimalOff product that Steve
referenced on Petcast
No. 257.5 that they sell on late night TV
and Steve questions the claims in a new Purina
commercial. Also, Emily ponders what sort of seatbelts
to have for our big drive across at the end of
August.
* * *
No.
261: Dogs v Cats, A Duel Of Dollars

Freelance writer Jason Cochran took a novel approach
to the age-old dog-v-cat debate, this time focusing
entirely on which costs more money. Cochran did
his report
for WalletPop.Com and is also a widely published
freelancer writer and regular commentator on TV
and radio.
Plus, Emily takes Archie in for his teeth checkup
and had great news, but she also just learned
what it’s like to GET advice from nosy fellow
pet owners. And check
out the photo of Black and Jack bathing in
110-degree sunlight.
* * *
No.
260: A Disabled Pet's Special Joys
)
There are special
challenges that come with caring for a disabled
pet but there can be special joys as well. Barbara
Techel knows this especially well and has written
extensively about her life with Frankie, a daschund
partially paralyzed after a spinal injury. She’s
the author of several books and runs the website
JoyfulPaws.Com. Frankie’s wheelchair, incidentally,
came from Eddie’s Wheels in Shelbourne,
Mass., and the owner was a guest on Petcast
No. 142. That show was reissued in the Petcast
feed. Techel also wanted to give a shout-out to
DodgersList.Com,
a site that provides support for owners with dogs
with disc disease.
Plus, Steve does
not confront a guy who had left his dog in a van
in 100+-degree weather at an Arby’s. And
Emily cites her favorite book, “The Cat
Who Came For Christmas,” in a discussion
of why airlines only permit two pets in coach
on airplanes.
RELATED:
No.
142 on Eddie's Wheels
* * *
No.
259: Will Our Listeners Love Her?

Edie
Jarolim is a prolific travel writer who led
a dogless life until 2004 when a small terrier
mix named Frankie entered her life. Clueless about
dogs in general and Frankie in particular, Jarolim
put her research skills to use to learn about
all things canine. She lives in Tucson, Arizona,
where she is the Pet Travel Correspondent for
KVOA TV and blogs at http://willmydoghateme.com.
She’s also the author of “Am
I boring My Dog?”
Plus, Animal Planet is about to air a series on
animal hoarding called “Confessions:
Animal Hoarding," Emily gets a tranquilizer
for Archie for July 4 and occasional guest host
John Katsilometes is still doing the vegan thing.
* * *
No.
258: Fostering Deployed Soldiers’ Pets

For soldiers serving in our military, deploying
overseas often means having to find a new home
for a loyal pet. Linda Spurlin-Dominik is helping
to change that, with an innovative approach that
focuses on keeping companion animals safe and
sound until their loved ones come home. She is
founder, president and CEO of Guardian
Angels for Soldier’s Pet, and joins
us from her home in Texas. Their Facebook fan
page is here.
Plus, the Petcasters plan a cross-country drive
and Emily refers to all the nifty car-related
equipment to make travels with Archie better and
a letter writer addresses Emily’s problems
with the film 8 Below.
* * *
No.
257.5: The
Oil Spill's Wildlife Devastation

As the BP oil spill enters its third month, the
toll on birds and sealife is mounting. Today’s
guest is David
Mizejewski, a naturalist with the National
Wildlife Federation who has been documenting
the devastation first-hand.
Plus, the late-night-ad product to chase away
animals and more.
*
* *
No.
257: The Frenetic Thrill of Sheepdogs
.jpg)
When it comes to canine IQ’s, it’s
hard to find a breed that scores higher than the
border collie. But with that intelligence comes
a high-energy package that requires special handling.
Sheepdog expert and trainer Joyce Geier, who served
as an educational consultant for the new Hallmark
Channel film “You
Lucky Dog” starring Natasha Henstridge
and Harry Hamlin, about a border collie that helps
to bring together a family.
Also, the Petcasters discuss and debate a
controversial Slate piece on the serial deaths
of pet bunnies at the hands of a family dog.
*
* *
No.
256: The Pet Detective’s New Tools
When
it comes to solving crimes against animals, today’s
guest is the sleuth you want on the case. Dr.
Melinda Merck is one of the nation’s
pioneering veterinarians, and senior director
of veterinary forensics of the ASPCA’s anti-cruelty
team. She’s an old friend of the Petcast,
and we’re pleased to have her back to talk
about a new innovation that uses 21st century
technology including DNA testing to help investigate
and prosecute dog fighting.
Plus, the Petcasters confirm Christine Dorchak’s
claim that greyhounds are the only
dog referenced in the Bible and discuss an
Iranian fatwa versus dogs. Also, Emily still doesn’t
get snakes as pets.
Related: Dr. Merck’s appearances on Petcasts
No.
85 (7/1/07) and No.
126 (12/30/07)
* * *
No.
255: Greyhounds activists are winning the race

Dog racing is losing favor in the United States,
in part because of increased awareness about inherent
cruelties in the sport, and mistreatment of animals
at many of the nation’s tracks. Leading
the way in advocacy is GREY2K
USA, a nonprofit coalition that recently helped
to bring about an end to dog racing in Massachusetts.
Christine Dorchak is president and general counsel
of GREY2K USA, and she joins us from her home
in the Bay State. Dorchak also gave a big thumbs
up to the Las
Vegas greyhound rescue.
Plus,
guest host John Katsilometes announces his plan
to go vegan this summer for a blog series and
Emily discusses Archie’s recent weight loss.
Also, there’s a guy near Emily and John’s
office who scares people with a lizard.
*
* *
No.
254: Birth Control for Pigeons and Cats
Erick
Wolf is chief executive of Innolytics,
which is helping to lead the way in contraceptive
research that could have important implications
for helping to control two key animal populations
– pigeons and feral cat colonies. The company
was recently awarded a prestigious challenge grant
from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to
help further their work. Read Steve's AOL
News piece on this and watch Wolf's YouTube
video on it.
Plus, the Petcasters ponder their big road trip
at the end of August to Michigan, including some
cool gizmos Emily is considering getting to keep
Archie cool, calm and collected.
* * *
No.
253: Our First PETA-Cast

Amanda
Fortino has done everything from dressing
up as a cow in Washington DC to hand out soy hot
chocolate at President Obama’s inauguration
to stripping down to her to her underwear to protest
fur. In fact, when it comes to fighting animal
injustices, it seems there isn’t much she
isn’t willing to do. Fortino is a campaign
coordinator for the People
for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and joins
us today to talk about an important new initiative
to protect our furry
friends from the summer heat.
Plus, Steve learned the difference between dog
and cat food and Emily tells of a sparrow hawk
with a nest outside her house that has been grabbing
hair chunks from a neighbor’s dog’s
mane. And the Petcasters continue to ponder the
prospects of their Great American Road Trip.
* * *
No.
252: Las Vegas’ Other Wildlife

Las Vegas is known for its beautiful creatures,
and we’re not just talking about its showgirls.
Joining the Petcasters this episode is Robin Haeffner-Matos,
the
wildlife manager at the Flamingo Las Vegas
where visitors can behold exotic fish, turtles
and birds including, of course, pink flamingos.
The attraction is free and every day there are
attendants who answer questions daily at 8:30
a.m. and 11 a.m
Plus, a funny (to Steve) comic reminded Steve
of our odd wallaby episode, but that has Emily
remembering the interview with the guy who makes
music via bunny noises. And the duo also discuss
a new
bald eagle cam and the enduring Shiba
Inu cam.
Related: Episodes on wallabees
(No. 189) and bunnies
(No. 18)
* * *
No.
251: AAA’s Guide To Traveling With Pets

When it comes to planning a cross-country trip,
there’s no better resource than the American
Automobile Association. Making that journey with
your pets can be made even easier with the AAA’s
newest edition of the Pet Book. Spokesman
Michael Geeser joins the Petcasters to discuss
the do’s and don’ts of summer travel
and to provide the story behind the nearly 800-page
tome, which you can
buy online or, if you’re a member, at
a discount at your nearby AAA office.
Plus, the Petcasters discuss the importance of
the dog in the last frame of Lost and whether
it was the same dog. Also, Emily saw the film
8 Below and Steve noticed something about HBO’s
Real Sports report on an Iditarod champ.
* * *
No.
250: All Hail Caesar!

As we celebrate our 250th episode of the Petcast,
your hosts are feeling very pleased with themselves
for the successful
rescue effort of a cat in Emily’s neighborhood.
In the studio for this big episode is none other
than Caesar, formerly known as the Cat who Stalked
Archie, along with his new – and smitten
– owner, Las Vegas resident Dawn Christensen.
Plus, Steve mocks some of the odd and silly things
he read in a recent issue of Dog Fancy.
RELATED:
See our brief video
of Caesar when Emily first noticed him.
*
* *
No.
249: Another hero named Sully

There’s an important network of volunteers
out there who play a critical role in preparing
service animals for their important work. Puppy
raiser Kelly Haugh joined the Petcasters in the
studio with Sully, a 5-month-old Golden Retriever/Black
Labrador mix on behalf of a chapter of Canine
Companions For Independence.
Plus, Steve blogged some cool Vegas-themed dogs
that were sold at a shelter fundraiser and Emily
reveals that she’s landed a major journalistic
fellowship.
* * *
No.
248: Christie Keith’s New Puppy
One of our great
friends, blogger Christie Keith, just welcomed
a new puppy, Wally, into her household. Keith,
who also writes the Your Whole Pet column for
SFGate.Com, explains why she chose a Scottish
Deerhound and discusses
her column about myths about puppies.
In Banter, more
of the dramatic pet background – bear traps!?!
-- of new guest host, Jen Prosser.
* * *
No.
247: Kitten Season Explained

Each spring, the
nation’s already crowded animal shelters
brace for the phenomenon known as kitten season,
an influx of unwanted felines caused by a troubling
mix of biological science and unfortunate, irresponsible
human behavior. Gail Buchwald, the senior vice
president of the Adoption
Center for the ASCPA explains what kitten
season is and why it happens. (Here’s the
ASCPA’s 10 things you can do to
help a stray cat.)
In Banter, our
new guest host, Jen Prosser, explains why she
doesn’t consider herself her pets’
owners.
*
* *
No.
246: The Cat That Senses Death

When today’s guest wrote an essay for the
New England Journal of Medicine about a nursing
home cat’s habit of showing up when patients
were nearing death, he never expected it would
lead to a book tour. Dr. David Dosa is a geriatrician
and an assistant professor of medicine at Brown
University in Rhode Island, and he joined the
Petcasters to discuss his memoir, “Making
Rounds With Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of An
Ordinary Cat.”
Plus, Vegas journalist Jennifer Prosser, editor
of Where Las Vegas, describes her pet family in
her first episode substituting for Steve. And
after several tries with Steve and Dayvid, Emily
finally finds a sympathetic ear with Jen on her
on-going complaint about JetBlue’s pet policy.
* * *
No.
245: Helping Kids Grieve Over Pet Loss

It’s always
difficult when a pet dies, but being prepared
can make the grieving process more bearable, especially
for the younger members of the family. Today’s
guest, author
Bill Cochran, has written a wonderful children’s
book, “The
Forever Dog,” on that tough topic, to
help kids understand that happy memories and beloved
pets are always with us.
In Banter, Emily and guest host Dayvid Figler
discuss some great viral pet-related videos (i.e.
dog-hates-birthday-song
and standing-cat)
and Emily told all about a dancing-with-your-dog
story that is not to be missed. Also, Emily has
some, uh, thoughts about English bulldogs. Eek.
*
* *
No.
244: Emergency Pet Funds

For some pet owners, the high cost of veterinary
care is forcing some tough choices. In some cases,
people are opting for euthanasia over treatment
or abandoning their pets at shelters or the vet’s
office. Fortunately, the American
Animal Hospital Association has set up a program
to provide financial assistance for these kinds
of situations. Today’s guest, Tamara Fox,
is the coordinator of the associations’
Helping
Pets Fund.
Plus, Emily and guest host Dayvid Figler debate
airline pet policies.
* * *
No.
243: Can Animals Be Gay?

An April 4 New
York Times Magazine piece examined the science
and the controversy surrounding the long-wondered
question of whether homosexuality exists in lower
species. One expert quoted in the piece was Dr.
Marlene Zuk, a biology professor at the University
of California at Riverside, author of “Sexual
Selections: What We Can and Can’t Learn
About Sex From Animals.” Dr. Zuk joins the
Petcasters to discuss.
Plus, Emily discusses her niece’s miserable
visit to Sea World.
*
* *
No.
242: The Great Patricia McConnell

Dr. Patricia McConnell is something of a renaissance
woman when it comes to animal affairs –
she’s a blogger, public radio star and certified
animal behaviorist. McConnell is author of “The
Puppy Primer,” a newly updated guide
for dog owners who want to start out on the right
paw. The former host of NPR’s Calling All
Pets discusses biting dogs, misunderstandings
about the notion of dominance and much more. McConnell’s
blog is The
Other End Of The Leash.
Plus, Emily and Steve rap about the
great Petcast triumph regarding Caesar the
Cat!
* * *
No.
241: A Petcaster Kibbitz Session

Our guest failed to call in but the Petcasters
had quite a lot to catch up on, including an important
update on the orange tabby hanging around Emily’s
home. The discussion led to a number of interesting
ethical questions. Also, we reveal for the first
time – believe it or not – the story
of how Emily named Archie. Also, Emily wrote about
Calamity Jane from a previous show for PawNation.Com.
* * *
No.
240: The Guest Host’s Dad Is A Vet

Guest
host John
Katsilometes of the Las Vegas Sun and Weekly
isn’t just a terrific and witty writer and
fill-in for Steve, he’s also the son of
a retired veterinarian in Pocatello, Idaho. Dr.
George Katsilometes joins the Petcasters to tell
some terrific tales of their life in animals and
explains how veterinary medicine has changed through
the decades. He also clarifies some tall tales
Kats Jr has been telling all these years.
* * *
No.
239: The Fun of Dogcaching
A
growing number of dog owners are partaking in
the hobby of geo-caching, the act of going on
treasure hunts using GPS coordinates. Wendy Drennan,
the CEO of the Paws
Awhile Online Community. The site has a subsite
regarding Dogcaching.
Plus, John
Katsilometes of the Las Vegas Sun and Weekly
sits in for Steve and discusses his new cats and
Emily has some good news regarding Archie.
* * *
No.
238: Calamity Jane’s Heroic Moment

What the Humane Society of the United States set
out to find the nation’s most heroic canine,
a three-legged rescue
dog named Calamity Jane quickly rose to the
top of the list. This brave Golden Retriever,
which had recently been shot and left to die,
scared off armed robbers holding neighbors hostage,
potentially saving lives of several adults and
two children. She was recently chosen as the People’s
Hero by online voters and was runner up for Dog
of Valor. Shar Pauley of Aledo, Texas, joined
the Petcasters to tell the amazing tale.
Plus, a
horrific fire at an animal sanctuary in Las
Vegas killed dozens of birds. Also, here’s
what a bark
scorpion looks like, in case you’re
wondering after Emily’s description.
* * *
No.
237: Debating The Sea World Tragedy

The tragic death of a trainer at Sea World Orlando
has renewed debate over keeping marine mammals
in captivity. The advocacy group In Defense of
Animals say it’s time to stop capturing
and breeding dolphins and orcas only to condemn
them to a dismal life performing in a concrete
tank. The Petcasters welcome Dr. Elliot Katz,
the group’s founder, to discuss this important
topic.
Links to EW piece on Sea World, news report and
IDA group site.
* * *
No.
236: Heavenly Hummingbirds

If you’ve been lucky enough to see a hummingbird
in action, you know what amazing creatures they
are. Attracting them to your backyard may be easier
than you think but please keep in mind they should
be considered welcome visitors and not pets. Dr.
Ross Hawkins, the executive director of the Hummingbird
Society, joins the Petcasters to talk about
the birds, how to take care of them and concerns
about a certain breed impacted by the tsunami
caused by the Brazilian earthquake.
Plus,
Steve, Black and Jack take a road trip to Arizona
and the Petcasters are appalled by an
Arkansas story where a man’s family
had his 2-year-old dog put down and buried with
him after he died because that was his dying wish.
* * *
No.
235:Midwesterners Unite For Pets

If you look out at the world and wonder what you
can do to make a difference, consider the example
of the
Pet Project Midwest. Born of local concerns
about animal welfare in Iowa, is now a thriving
non-profit that offers an emergency alert system
for lost and found animals and supply pantry to
help financially struggling families keep their
pets. Founder Becky Mollenkamp joins the Petcasters
to explain. They're also on Twitter
and Facebook.
Plus, Emily gets a terrifying call regarding Archie
and Steve's dogs have a tough day at the dentist
that left them looking
stoned. Also, a shout-out to listener Tracy
who introduced herself at Porchlight SF n California.
* * *
No.
234: The Peculiar Pleasure of Pigeons

He’s
known affectionately as the pigeon guy of North
las Vegas and recently ran afoul of authorities
for running what they said was an unlicensed bird
sanctuary. The Petcasters chat with Nephi Oliva
of Nevada
Pigeon Control about his
plight and why pigeons need protection, too.
(This shot above is of Steve's dog, Jack, checking
out studio guest Jesse the pigeon.)
Also, the Petcasters commandeered the Wynn Las
Vegas sportsbook to watch the Westminster Dog
Show finale when Sadie won and Steve relates an
evidently erroneous understanding of Scottish
Terriers. Plus, there’s an important update
on the horrible
cat hoarding and abuse case of FLOCK discussed
two years ago.
* * *
No.
233: The Cat that Somehow Came Back

We’ve all
heard incredible tales of animals coming back
after long disappearances, but the recent return
of a Canadian cat after a 14 year absence might
set the record. Her owner joins us to
share the incredible story. Ingrid Kerger,
welcome to the Petcast!
Plus, kitty dreams at Steve’s house, some
thoughts on the
debarking controversy and guest-host John
Katsilometes has a cat intruder.
* * *
No.
232: The Cat In The Subway

When a kitten showed
up in an underground Boston train station, commuters
began posting cell phone snapshots of their sightings,
and urging animal control to catch the wiley feline.
But the cat, nicknamed “Kenmore” after
the stop on the Green Line, eluded authorities
until a few months ago. Here to share Kenmore’s
story is Kenmore's new owner Karen Ingraham, who
actually drives one of the MBTA trains and used
to spot Kenmore on her daily route. [Check out
the Boston
Globe slideshow of Kenmore, too]
Plus, Emily is
delighted by Archie's physical progress of Archie
and the Petcasters are grateful for a lovely reader
letter.
* * *
No.
231: The Ebay of Animal Shipping

No one wants to leave their pets behind when they
move, but finding convenient and affordable transportation
options can be tough. Today’s guest is Dean
Jutilla, marketing director uShip.Com,
which offers another way of safely getting your
pet to its new home. The site is also a fascinating
reflection of modern pet life.
Plus, Steve has fun with pet-related iPhone apps
such as the
Screen Cleaner and there’s an update
on Archie’s kitty stalker. You remember
this,
right?
* * *
No.
230: S-s-snakes In A Box On The Strip
What would it take
to convince you to spend 10 days living in an
oversized glass box full of venomous snakes set
right on the Las Vegas Strip? Today’s guest
actually volunteered. And as a result, he’s
raising awareness, and dispelling myths, about
the human-snake relationship. He is Donald Schultz,
a venom expert and host of Animal
Planet’s “Wild Recon.” Schultz
joined the Petcasters live via phone from the
snake house outside O’Sheas Casino, which
is co-sponsoring the adventure.
Plus, the Shiba
Inu puppycam is back! And, in a related note,
you can read Steve's piece from
AOLNews.Com on being the first to go inside
the snakebox or watch
the Petcast video.
* * *
No.
229.5: Westminster Odds Maker SPECIAL

When it comes to setting the odds, no one knows
more than Johnny Avello, director of race
and sports operations for Wynn Las Vegas.
And this week he’s letting the sportsbook
go to the dogs, as joins the Petcasters to name
his
top picks for the Westminster Kennel Club Show,
which runs Feb. 15 and 16 at Madison Square Garden.
Plus, some Petcaster thoughts on Temple Grandin
(heard
here in NPR's Fresh Air) and the HBO film
about her, and there's a cat with a cat on its
back. No, really!
* * *
No.
229: Emily’s Mom Explains Emily

With Steve away,
it was an opportunity for Emily to have her mom,
Alberta, on the show for the first time without
Steve to interject snarky questions or brisket
demands. Instead, it’s a mother-and-daughter
show about their early life in the Boston suburbs
and Alberta’s own animal history. All of
this, of course, is our way of give you Emily’s
backstory.
Plus, Emily chats
with young listeners Hudson and Samuel about their
pet turtles.
* * *
No.
228: The Quake-Sensing Dog

The video became a
YouTube sensation, a golden lab jumping to
attention in California before an earthquake hit.
The owner of Sophie, Times-Standard copy editor
Jessica Richelderfer of Eureka, Calif., joins
Emily to talk
about that day and what it might mean.
Plus, Emily flies solo for the first time, providing
a brief, relevant monologue about animal alertness
in natural disasters and Petcast engineer Kaan
hops on the mike at the end of the episode ot
talk about his cat, an adopted stray.
*
* *
No.
227.5: PUPPY BOWL SPECIAL!

The big game, when
fierce – and furry – athletes take
to the field is upon us! We are talking about
Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl, of course. Keeping
the canine chaos in check along with a menagerie
of other furry friends is the official referee
of Puppy
Bowl VI, Andrew Schechter.
The Puppy Bowl airs 3-5 pm ET/PT on Sunday Feb.
7, 2010 and is rerun regularly thereafter.
Plus, Steve is
in a poopy mood! Actually, he's in a great mood
but he wonders about whether he should look at
or away from Black and Jack when the go poop and
Emily is excited that a cat named Bijoux -- see
a picture here -- she knew way back when still
remembers her. Also, some homework for everyone
out there: Go read the New
York Magazine cover on dogs. Emily's PawNation.Com
piece interviewing Andrew Schechter
* * *
No.
227: Caring For Feral Cats

Feral cats in the
Chicago area have a friend in Jennifer Schlueter,
program manager for the Treehouse
Humane Society serving Cook County, Illinois.
A new law lets people who take care of feral cat
colonies register with animal control and get
support in trapping, spaying and releasing the
cats. But the program isn’t without controversy
and challenges, as Schlueter explains to the Petcast.
Emily relates the story of a beagle in her 'hood
that doesn't get walked and guest host John Katsilometes
recalls a cat he had that amazingly returned to
an earlier house where he lived in Idaho. Thanks
again to John
Katsilometes for guest-hosting.
* * *
No.
226: Doing The Neighborly Thing

After reading about
a horrific case of animal neglect involving a
chocolate Lab named Sunbear, Wisconsin resident
Anna Nirva resolved to publish a web site in the
dog’s memory that would encourage people
everywhere to help companion animals in distress
because he did not get help. Seven years later,
the
Sunbear Squad helps people set up neighborhood
watch groups to keep a caring eye out for animals
in trouble, and offers valuable guidance on what
to do when trouble arises. Nirva talks to the
Petcasters about why such volunteers are needed
now more than ever in light of the home foreclosure
crisis.
Also, with Steve away, it's time for the return
of guest host John Katsilometes, Las Vegas Sun
entertainment writer and veterinarian's son. Kats
talks about what's new in his pet life since his
last guest stint in 2007 (!) and Emily praises
the tribute he wrote
to his late cat Bonnie. Read that here and
check out The Kats Report, John’s blog.
Related: John's last guest-host stint,
Episode No.
131
* * *
No.
225: The short, sometimes sad life of hamsters

Hamsters can be delightful and educational pets
as long as you understand how best to care for
them. Journalist Tim Pratt didn’t get the
memo. He bought two hamsters for his kids in November
and they died within weeks because Pratt wasn’t
briefed on how to live and care for hamsters.
Plus, Emily brings up a recent
study from the University of Missouri about
who’s a better walking companion, other
people or dogs, and she relates a story of why
her vet thinks someone tried to break into her
house.
RELATED:
Petcast No.
180: Hamster Drama
* * *
No.
224: Meet Teddy

After a lengthy process that began when Steve's
widowed Aunt Susan found comfort in his dogs during
a visit, Aunt Susan has finally adopted a lovely
7-year-old bichon frise. She named him Teddy after
her late father's childhood dog. The Petcasters
hear about Aunt Susan's experience with the ASCPA
in New York City and Emily answers some questions
from this first-time canine owner.
* * *
No.
223: The Animals of Neverland Ranch
Nowadays, most people think of
Neverland Ranch because of the controversy surrounded
Michael Jackson in the final years of his life
there, but not a lot of people realize that it
once boasted the largest and most impressive collection
of exotic animals anywhere in the nation. Big
Al Scanlon, who worked at the ranch for 15 years,
joins the Petcasters to discuss the lives of those
animals and the mission of the ranch in its heyday.
Plus, Steve is aggravated by some nonsensical
Cesar Millan crap.
* * *
No.
222: Good SPCA, Bad SPCA

In this kibbitz session, the Petcasters first
discuss the ASPCA’s
tough decision to euthanize Oreo, an abused
dog that physically survived being tossed off
a New York apartment building but could not be
rehabilitated emotionally. Then Steve tells his
horror story of almost adopting a third dog
from the Nevada SPCA and the drama the ensued
therein. Plus, Steve and Emily follow on No. 221’s
interview with Beverly Washburn by considering
how “Old Yeller” would’ve been
done differently today and Emily explains why
she’s lost faith in her doggie dentist.
* * *
No.
221.5: The Top Pet Stories of 2009

In a New Year’s
special, Emily has compiled her list of the five
biggest stories of 2009. Here’s a hint at
her No. 1: Steve spent much of the year promulgating
conspiracy theories about this. Plus, Emily talks
about the stalking cat in the video she shot and
Steve talked about Pebbles, his childhood poodle
who took a particular liking to one of his neighbors.
* * *
SPECIAL
VIDEO: THE CAT THAT STALKS ARCHIE AND EMILY

A neighborhood
cat won't leave Archie and Emily alone no matter
how politely or rudely Emily asks. Hear more about
this in Episode
221.5.
* * *
No.
221: Old Yeller’s Child Star

When it comes to child stars of the 1950s and
1960s, today’s guest has one of the most
memorable in a key role from one of the most iconic
dog movies of all time, “Old Yeller.”
Today,
Beverly Washburn remains a working actress
as well as author of the recently released memoir,
“Reel
Tears.”
Plus, Emily is amused by the Snuggie-for-dogs
phenomenon and explains why the foam
dog stairs she bought on Overstock.Com have
turned out to be a great investment.
* * *
No.
220: Delta Society Can Helpya

If you’re looking for a way to get more
involved with your community with your pet at
your side, one of the best ways to do so could
be to find a group near you affiliated with the
Bellvue,
Wash.,-based Delta Society. Marketing director
JoAnn Turnbull of the organization explains how
pets can help people. According to the DeltaSociety.Org
site, the group is “a human-services organization
dedicated to improving people's health and well-being.
We do this through positive interactions with
animals.
Petcast guest host Dayvid Figler sits in for Steve
and updates everyone on the status of his dog.
* * *
No.
219.5: Holiday Edition!

It's not just the holiday
season, it’s also time for final exams for
college students across the nation. In Orange,
Calif., the Active Minds Club came up with a fun
and furry way to alleviate some of their academic
stress, they brought in puppies for students to
play with in the quad area near the library and
main class buildings. One of the project’s
organizers, sophomore Jimbo Rozzano, explains
the program, called “Furry
Friends for Finals.”
Plus, Emily provides
a list of very helpful tips for pet safety around
holiday time and talks about her visit to the
Marine
Mammals Center in Sausalito, Calif. [GRAB
EPISODE
41 ABOUT THE CENTER HERE.] And
Steve, who brought in a pair of awful cute guests
-- click
here to see who! -- to the studio, is surprised
that doggie life preservers and dog-sledding in
Washington State exist.
* * *
No.
219: Her pal joey

What would you do if you found a baby kangaroo?
If you’re Christina Cooper, you turn your
sweatshirt into a pouch, pick up the joey and
begin work as a surrogate mom. Cooper, co-owner
of the non-profit Global Wildlife Center near
New Orleans, had to after one of the resident
kangaroos abandoned her offspring. She explains
that and the broader work of the Global
Wildlife Center.
Emily read up on
medication for Archie and took Speaking For Spot’s
Nancy Kaye’s advise and suggested it to
her vet. The vet gave it to Emily and she filled
it at Walgreens, which entertained Emily quite
a bit.
* * *
No
218: The USA's Oldest Pet Cemetery

Hartsdale
Pet Cemetery owner Ed Martin joins the Petcasters
to discuss the oldest pet resting place in America,
some of the more notable animals and how the whole
business works.
Emily discusses
a story she
did for the Las Vegas Sun about a fundraiser
for retired police dog costs and discusses that
Vegas cops teach their dogs to bark-and-hold,
not bite-and-hold. She also related a story of
a police dog that a suspect thought was cute and
tried to steal him, too. Also, we learn about
the Zhu Zhu pets, the IT toy for 2009 Xmas season,
and FEMA certification for gude dogs.
* * *
No.
217: Is Creative Grooming Abuse?

Is elaborate, decorative grooming of dogs some
form of abuse? We don't think so, but commenters
of Steve's PawNation.Com piece lodged just that
accusation against Cat Opson, a California-based
groomer who
won $2,000 at the SuperZoo 2009 trade show.
Opson joined the Petcasters to explain her craft
and how much the animals usually love it.
Plus, the Petcasters
discuss ways to indicate for emergency personnel
that there's are pets inside and Emily explains
the difference between turtles and tortoises.
* * *
No.
216: Wild Pets Unleashed in Florida

The only subtropical
wilderness in the U.S., the Everglades, is being
taken over by non-native former pets, in particular
a variety of snakes that cause eco-system problems.
Jenny Novak Tinnell of the Florida
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
joins us to discuss an amnesty
program and to explain where all these foreign
critters came from. You can read a lengthy piece
on this issue from the April 20, 2009 issue of
the
New Yorker Magazine, too.
Plus, Emily’s
dog, Archie, had a bad reaction to a rabies vaccine
and now is suffering a leg problem that could
end his agility career. Also, Emily is Tweeting
@ThePetcast!
* * *
SPECIAL
VIDEO EP: THE PETCASTERS AT SUPERZOO 2009!

The Petcasters
took on SuperZoo 2009 with video commentary, interviews
and product demonstrations! See the Pet Tops,
the Amazing Treat Machine, The Pink Poodle Gourmet
& Designs, The Port-A-Poo, the remote-control
cat toy, the crazy creative grooming competition
winners and much more! Don't miss the montage
of fun photos at the end, too!
Also of interest
may be Steve's pieces for PawNation on SuperZoo,
including one on interesting new
pet products, another on the outcome of the
creative
grooming contest and a third on the outcome
of the $20,000
grooming challenge taking place while Steve
and Emily were recording this episode.
Links to products
in the show:
Pet
Top Portable Drinking Devices
Spotlight
GPS
The
Amazing Treat Machine
The
Pink Poodle Gourmet & Designs
The
Port-A-Poo for Dogs
* * *
No.
215: The Spaying Scribe

Today's guest is
Corey Levitan, a columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal
who does unusual jobs for his "Fear and Loafing"
pieces. This month, he assisted at Heaven
Can Wait Animal Sanctuary as they spayed
and neutered cats. He came in to describe
the experience which touched on some controversial
topics, including kitty abortions. Plus, he brought
his dog, Sammy, with him to the studio and Sammy
wore a digicam on his collar to shoot photos of
us! (see above)
Steve is now a blogger for PawNation.Com,
AOL's pet subsite, but decided -- yet again --
not to adopt a new dog to the home. Emily describes
her sister's visit to Cronkite Beach near San
Francisco where they saw the Sausalito Wildlife
Animal Center folks push sea lions into the sea.
* * *
No.
214: Sid's Journey, Part II

As most pet owners
know, a well-trained dog is usually a happier
dog. But what happens when owners can't manage
the training on their own? That's when today's
guest takes over, providing intensive intervention
at the Lockwood
Canine Training Center in Frazier Park, Calif.
Julie Isles, the owner, has more than 25 years
experience in the field and has authored a correspondence
course used by the nation's largest dog training
company.
* * *
No.
213: Sid's Journey, Part I

Note: This
is our first show in our new studio at the Las
Vegas Sun's studio, so the audio is a bit uneven.
When 2-year-old
mastiff-pitbull mix Sid started picking fights
with other dogs, his owner knew there was a problem.
And when conventional interventions didn't work,
his owner took the unusual and expensive step
of sending his dog away for training to a high-end
bootcamp for wayward dogs. The owner of that center,
Lockwood Canine Training Center in Frazier Park,
Calif., will join us on Petcast
No. 214, but first Sid's owner, Hunter Hillegas,
is our guest.
Plus, Steve relates his
travels in the northeast where he covered the
possible closure of the nation's first racetrack-plus-casino.
* * *
No.
211: The AKC’s Big Changes

Founded in 1884, the American
Kennel Club is the world's
largest purebred dog registry with more than 5,000
licensed clubs and affiliates. But the AKC has
also evolved as a strong advocate for responsible
dog ownership. As the organization prepares to
mark its 125th anniversary, the AKC continues
to broaden its scope and reach. Joining the Petcasters
is Lisa Peterson, director of club communications,
who has also spend 25 years as a
professional breeder and handler of Norwegian
elkhounds.
Plus, Steve recalls a story about a house fire
from the start of his career that had a significant
pet angle and the Petcasters discuss the Bo
Obama official photo.
*
* *
No.
210: Mutts cartoonist Patrick McDonnell

There are comic strips about animals and then
there’s the gold standard. Since 1994, Patrick
McDonnell has been delighting readers with the
antics and wisdom of Earl, Mooch and all their
pals. The
“Mutts” comic strip now appears
in more than 700 newspapers and 20 countries and
its creator has won his industry’s highest
honor, Cartoonist of the Year.
Plus, Emily discusses some of the stranger problems
with summer haircuts for pets.
* * *
No.
209: The Professor of Presidential Pets

Someone once said, "If you want a friend
in Washington, get a dog." And to be sure,
from Fala to Millie to Buddy to Bo, The Man's
best friend is often a four-legged sweetie. Joining
us today is Cathy Trost, the director of exhibit
development at the Newseum in Washington D.C.,
which has an informative and entertain
ing gallery of First Dogs. The
Newseum is a museum devoted to media history.
Plus, Steve tells of giving his mom's dog gifts
for Mother's Day and Emily issues a warning about
how not to hold your leash in the event of emergencies.
* * *
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.
* * *
See
shows 1-100 here
and 101-200 here
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