Making Training Your Dog Enjoyable
Zak George is back and he has tips on making training your dog enjoyable for both you and your furry-friend. He believes that if your dog likes to do what your training them to do, you will be more successful. He'll also talk about Service Dog fraud.
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Virtual Chicken Petting
Imagine leaving your dog at home while it turns on the smart TV and chooses a program to watch. Lori Brooks will tell you about the new technology. She'll also tell you about Virtual Chicken Petting that artificially replicates physical interaction between chickens and their farmers.
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Share A Glass Of Wine With Your Pets
So, you love your cat and you love your wine. A Colorado company called Apollo Peak wants to help cat owners enjoy the experience of sharing a glass of wine with their pets, so they've come out with a non-alcoholic, beet-based, catnip infused wine for cats.
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What You Need To Do Before Your Dog Goes Missing
Animal Radio's Pet World Insider, Robert Semrow has a short list of the things you should do so that, if and when your dog or cat disappears, you'll be prepared for a prompt and safe return.
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What Your Vet Isn't Telling You
Animal Radio Veterinary Correspondent Dr. Marty Becker will tell you what information your veterinarian may be withholding; and conversely, what he/she shouldn't be telling you. We hope you have an honest and transparent vet for your pets.
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Selling Pets for Research
Buried in a massive government-spending bill is a provision that will shut down shady animal dealers who buy and sell pets for research, all paid for by your tax dollars. But, that could change if Congress does the right thing and cuts off funding to pay for licensing of so-called Class B animal dealers by the USDA. Every year, these licensed dealers work with illegal "bunchers" to round up thousands of dogs and cats that will end up in laboratories.
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Doggie Detox
The Morris Animal Inn in Morristown, New Jersey caters ONLY to our four-legged friends. They just finished a week-long Spa Treatment and Canine Cleanse program. Pups from all over the country enjoyed smoothies, treadmill trots, meditation, nature trail hikes and massages as part of the $260 package. Debora Montgomery reports on how the program went and what you can do at home to pamper your pup.
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My Dog Has Bad Breath
If your dog's breath could melt steel; you need to hear what Dr. Debbie has to say about it. She might even have a simple solution so that those puppy kisses won't be so traumatizing.
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You Can Stroke Me Here, But Not There
Cat Behaviorist Sarah Ellis has a pretty cool job. She does research on how and where cats like to be touched. Sarah found that there are certain parts of the cat's body that are better than others when it comes to petting and stroking. She'll reveal her results and explain why she thinks strangers have better luck petting cats than the cat's owner.
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Tick Talk
Only second to fleas, ticks are a fairly common pest. Some of the diseases that ticks carry can kill both human and pet. Doc Halligan will tell you the proper way to remove them. She says you need to avoid some of the 'old wives-tales' for removing ticks because they may actually do more harm.
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Like A Good Neighbor
State Farm insurance has been sponsoring The Arson Dog Program since 1993! An accelerant detection canine, or arson dog, is a dog that has been trained to sniff out tiny traces of accelerants that may have been used to start a fire. The insurance giant has had a hand in placing over 350 arson dog teams in 44 states and three Canadian Provinces.
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Whales Gain 200 Pounds A Day
While the book is titled Sad Animal Facts, it's hardly a sad book. Cartoons drawn by Brooke Barker unleash the unknown and curious truths behind some of our favorite animals. Did you know Turtles breath out their butt, or that Giraffes only sleep 3 hours a day?
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Choosing The Right Bra When Horseback Riding
Women and girls (and some men) who ride horses, but do not wear a sports bra, could be causing undue stress to the horse, according to a study by Portsmouth University. Apparently a lot of women give no regard to what kind of bra they wear while riding. They did a survey of females who ride horses in various disciplines and found that less than one in five regularly wore a sports bra for riding even though it can lead to poor posture and musculoskeletal problems, which are sensed by the horse.
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Pet Friendly Retirement Communities
Watermark Retirement Communities assisted living are perhaps the first in the country to embrace pets. Founded by pet lovers, they encourage residents to bring their pets along to live with them. Staff's companion animals meet those that don't have pets. This has made a big difference in patient's disposition.
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Bee Stings, Insect & Snake Bites
Besides the ticks and the fleas, as well as the many other creepy crawlers out there that can get on our pets, we also need to worry about bees, insects and snakes. Doc Halligan tells us what to do if a bee stings your dog or cat? She jokes that people tell her that they let their cats play with spiders. She says you should NEVER let your cat play with spiders.
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Disaster Preparedness
Animal Radio's Pet Word Insider Robert Semrow wants to make sure you're ready in case of a natural disaster. He has a list of the top tips for preparing your pet for earthquakes, inclement weather and any other disaster that could come your way.
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Can Dogs Recognize Faces from Pictures?
A study published in the journal Animal Cognition indicates that dogs may have facial recognition skills similar to humans! Well, of course, your dog recognizes you when you walk in the door, but how about if you were on vacation without him or her, could they see a picture of you and recognize it?
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Inflatable Dog Poop
A town in Spain has installed a giant inflatable dog poop in an attempt to discourage dog owners thinking of walking off and leaving a pile of poo in the streets. The town has about 6,000 dogs and if you do the math, they are capable of producing around 1,100 pounds of excrement every day. And, THAT is more or less what the giant inflatable represents, the amount of poo left on the streets across the town each day, according to a town council member.
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Pet Sitting Business Sues for 1 Million After Poor Yelp Review
A Texas pet-sitting business is going after $1 million in damages from a couple who gave them a one-star review on Yelp and criticized the business' treatment of their tiny blue tropical Betta fish named "Gordy" while the family was away on vacation. Prestigious Pets of Dallas claims the review is defamation.
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The Dog Merchants
Driven by her incredible curiosity, Kim Kavin uncovered the world of dog auctions. 11 BILLION dollars exchanges hands during the buying and selling of companion animals. Even the so-called 'rescues' are partaking in the auction process, using donated dollars to buy, rehabilitate and adopt these dogs at considerably high prices. While not necessarily humane, nor ethical, it's all legal simply because pets are viewed as property in the eyes of the law.
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Battling Pet Allergies
It's that time of the year when allergies present a problem for both human and our furry-companions. Animal Radio Veterinary Correspondent Dr. Marty Becker has the 'top 3 things you can do to calm your pet's allergies.'
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World's Oldest Dog?!
Last month, "Maggie the Kelpie," an Australian dog that was possibly the oldest dog in the world, died. Maggie was 30 years old according to her owner. That's over 200 in human years, and a contender for the oldest dog in the world, except for one thing....
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Does Your Dog Have GPS?
You know that you can track your pet dog or cat with your smart-phone, all you need is a GPS locator on their collar. But, there are quite a few pet trackers out there, so we break it down for you.
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Litter Box Etiquette
Yes, there indeed is etiquette for your kitty's litter. Doc Halligan (Lucy Pet Foundation) will help any cat owner solve their litter-box issues. Cat no going inside the box? Maybe you're not following the etiquette.
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Good Dog, Happy Baby
Dog Trainer Michael Wombacher has developed a twelve-step program to introduce your dogs to a new baby or family member. There is no need to get rid of the dog just because you're expecting. If done properly, your dog and child can live harmoniously and thrive together.
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OMG - One More Generation
When Olivia Ries was 7-years-old, she started a non-profit organization to save endangered animals. That was five years ago. Since then, she has spoken to dignitaries and lobbied for the voiceless. You'll melt when you hear our young Hero Person.
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What You Need To Know About Microchips
A microchip is still the best way to identify a lost pet. However, they're not 100% reliable. Dr. Debbie will tell you what you may not know about the little rice-sized technology. She'll also dispel any myths about the microchip being dangerous or causing cancer.
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Dog Walking Pays Well in the UK
Dog walkers in the UK earn a fifth more than the average salary by working just two weeks out of every month. Dog walkers charge an average of almost $18 per hour per dog in the UK and walk 192 dogs per month, which adds up to annual earnings of $41,000, 20% higher than the British national average salary! Does this make you want to re-think your job?
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Human and Dog Bond Dates Back Years
The bond between humans and dogs may be much older than we once thought. A group of researchers discovered an ancient wolf bone and say its DNA suggests dogs diverged from wolves as far back as 40,000 years ago and point to the ancient wolf as possibly the most recent common relative of modern wolves and dogs.
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Mobster Turned Animal Advocate
Special guest James Guiliani was a bad dude. He hung with Gotti and spent time behind bars. He was a drug-addicted ex-con on the verge of suicide when a dog and a dame changed his life for the better. James says "If you think the mafia is bad, try animal rescue."
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Barriers Prohibit Seniors From Pet Ownership
Research published in Activities, Adaption & Aging calls for increased understanding about older adults and the current barriers, which limit older adults' chances to own a pet. Medical, physical and financial barriers keep seniors from enjoying the therapeutic benefits of animal guardianship.
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Employers Offer Pet Health Insurance
Pet health insurance is revealed to be one of fastest growing employee perks in a benefit package. While not all companies allow our four-legged friends in the workplace, one in three Fortune 500 companies now offer pet insurance as a voluntary benefit. As the popularity of pet health insurance expands, some companies are subsidizing a percentage of their employee's cost, with several companies now paying as much as 100% of their employees' pet insurance premiums.
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The Drought and Your Pet
Water shortages across the west have house owners re-thinking their backyard. Many have opted to replace their high-maintenance grass for faux grass without thinking about their pet. Fake grass can be hot and smelly and full of bacterium that's no good for pets or humans.
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Swimming With The Sharks
Brian Skerry has spent more than 10,000 hours underwater photographing sharks. He says they're misunderstood and not the evil beasts portrayed by Hollywood and the media. He'll share stories including some scary (Skerry) moments.
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Rescue Express
Mike McCarthy made his millions in software development. After retiring, he decided to take on a new project transporting thousands of adoptable pets from saturated shelters in Southern California to the Northwest United States where they will be adopted. He's retrofitted 3 buses and makes the trip weekly.
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No More Anxious Pets
With the 4th of July around the corner, Pet Living's Kristen Levine wants your pets to stay calm. The sounds of fireworks can make animals anxious. She launched "Pet Anxiety Awareness Week" to educate owners about fear, anxiety and stress in your companion animals.
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Cones of Shame Turn Into Cones of Fame
Most potential adopters, upon seeing a dog wearing a cone of shame in shelters, think it implies a sick dog chock-full of expensive problems. However, usually at the shelter the cones are used for simple procedures, like spaying or neutering. Unfortunately the coned canines don't have much of a chance next to the pup bouncing around and wagging his tail. So a shelter photographer got an idea. She came up with the idea of 'Cones of Fame.'
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Delta Publishes Lists of Unacceptable Service Animals
Many people try to cheat the airline system by claiming their pet is an Emotional Support Animal because ESA's fly free on most airlines. But all airlines are not the same. Delta has compiled a list of critters it does NOT accept as trained service animals, or even pets allowed to travel in the cabin, saying they post safety and/or public health concerns.
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Laser Therapy on Pets
Animal Radio Veterinary Correspondent Dr. Marty Becker is excited about his handy gadget. It's only the size of an iPhone Plus but it has multiple applications in the veterinarian's office. Could Laser Therapy be used on your pets?
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Canine Flu Update
This year's strain of Canine Flu is different than past epidemics. There is a vaccine for the previous strain but not for this new one. Veterinarians are looking for new ways to fight the new virus that seems to be affecting felines too.
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911 Dispatcher Hero
When Police Dispatcher Lynn Willett received an emergency call to check on the welfare of an elderly man, she had no idea she would end up adopting his dog. Lynn tells us her heartwarming story about a German Shepard named Sgt. Roscoe.
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Xylitol Toxicity on the Rise
Anyone who has a dog knows they will pretty much chew on anything they can get their paws on, but this story underscored how careful we need to be around them. Luna, a 2-year-old Golden Retriever in Glenwood City, Wisconsin, found the pack of "Ice Breaker" Lemon-flavor gum containing Xylitol. She suffered severe liver damage and had to be euthanized. Xylitol is found in all sorts of things, including sugar-free gum, vitamins, toothpaste, dental floss, nasal sprays and baked goods. Even a couple of pieces of gum can result in life-threatening blood sugar and liver failure.
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Katherine and Maverick
Katherine Schwarzenegger (daughter of Arnold and Maria) is an ASPCA Ambassador and bestselling author. She has a children's book, which will empower young readers to help dogs who find themselves in shelters and animal rescues. She's our guest this week.
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To Kiss Your Dog or Not To Kiss Your Dog
A USA Today article cited lots of research and experts both for and against dogs licking humans on the lips. For example: There are more than 700 different types of bacteria in a healthy dog's mouth. One doctor researching this subject says she's heard many personal stories from people on both sides of the spectrum, including one who claimed their dog's kisses healed them from skin cancer and another who believes dog saliva caused a family member's death.
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Fear, Anxiety and Stress
Dr. Lisa Radosta, owner Florida Veterinary Behavior Service explains what causes fear, anxiety, and stress in our pets? How does this fear, anxiety, and stress affect them? Why is it so important that we address the fear, anxiety, and stress in our pets? What is one simple thing we can do to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in our pets?
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Millenials Make Pets' Lives Better
Millennials are behind the idea of pets as family members and making animals' lives better. A new survey shows that for Millennials (those between the ages of 18 and 36) pets really are like their children with one-third of them, who purchased their first home, doing so because it had a yard and was a better space for their dog. Only 25% of Millennials bought their first home because they got married and 19% because they had children.
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Buy a Salad - Get a Pet!
A southern California woman has a new pet frog after finding the distressed amphibian in a large container of lettuce mix she bought at a local Target. She had already made her salad, poured on the dressing and was just about halfway through eating it when she saw something in her bowl that was moving. Being a strict vegetarian, the woman says she was so traumatized after finding the frog in her salad and that she has no desire to eat salad ever again. However, she quickly scooped up the little frog and rinsed off the dressing, but she noticed the frog was barely alive so she did chest compressions on it - frog CPR - and it survived. His name is now Lucky.
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Uber for Dog-Walkers
Tobi Skovron has created an App that will summon a vetted dog-walker. He touts his high-end service as the next step in the evolution of pet-based technology.
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Protecting Your Pet From The Sun
Our pets are at a higher risk than we are for sun-related Melanomas. You need to protect them from the sun, even if they're indoor animals. Dogfather Joey Villani and Dr. Debbie share what you need to know for your pet's safety and well being.
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10-Year-Old Hero
This week's Hero Person will charm you! She's just a little girl. But she has a huge heart for the animals. Samantha Frenck created a 501c3 non-profit that brings toys and blankets, among other things, to shelter animals.
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Pet Friendly Cities
Forbes went in search of America's most pet-friendly places to live. The criteria included having the best landlords, lowest pet fees and most pet specialty stores and services. You might be surprised which city topped the list.
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Pet Store Switch
What happens when you switch the pets in a pet store for animals from a shelter? Would the customers notice? A pet store in Brazil partnered with local pet shelters to secretly switch those pricey purebreds for rescues. Then the store went a step further and simply gave the shelter pets away to worthy families.
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The Truth About Anesthesia Free Dental
Your local pet store may offer an Anesthesia Free Dental Cleaning. This is NOT an alternative to teeth cleaning. Doc Halligan says a real cleaning will help your pet avoid serious trouble down the line with infection of vital organs.
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Movies Impacting Breed Popularity
After analyzing a number of movies released between 1927 and 2004 featuring dogs and evaluating AKC registration trends, researchers confirmed that movies definitely have an impact on breed popularity. "Lassie Come Home" was associated with a 40% increase in Collie registrations. After the remake of "101 Dalmatians," in 1996 animal shelters reported a 35% increase in the number of Dalmatians surrendered.
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NFL Player Locks Himself In Hot Car
New Orleans Saints' Tyrann Mathieu's video for PETA is still heavily circulating online. If you haven't seen it, Mathieu is the NFL player who locked himself in a car to demonstrate the danger that dogs endure when they're locked inside a car on a hot summer day. After just a few minutes in the heat, Mathieu starts to breathe and sweat heavily.
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Can Dogs Be Autistic?
Bull terriers who compulsively chase their tails may be autistic, at least that's what Dr. Nicholas Dodman, Director of the Behavior Clinic at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, believes. He studied the subject for years and now says that like autistic people, such tail-chasing Bull terriers may be socially maladapted, unpredictably aggressive toward others and/or may stare into space for no apparent reason. Dodman's study is the first to propose that autism may occur in dogs.
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Trump Your Cat
Throughout the course of his time in public life, everyone has been wondering about Donald Trump's hair - or lack of it.  Is it a comb-over? Is it a toupee? And with his announcement that he's running for President again, there's a reemerging social media trend called #trumpyourcat. Here's how it works:  First, you gather up all of the lint and loose pet hair in your house then you put it on your cat's head … then take a picture of your cat and post.
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The Chicken Chick
Chickens are more popular than ever in urban settings and as pets. By popular demand, we're having the Chicken Chick on the show to share her vast chicken knowledge. Even if you aren't considering a fowl friend, Kathy Mormino will amuse and educate.
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Photographing Your Pet
Amanda Jones is one of the top best pet photographers in the nation. Her last collaboration is a coffee-table book with 30 dogs photographed during their youth and again in their senior years. It's a compelling contrast between puppy-hood and a dog's golden years. Amanda will have tips for photographing your pet.
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Oldest Living Cat
A 26-year-old cat named Corduroy has been named the oldest living cat by Guinness. His owner has had him since he was a kitten and she was only 7. Though Corduroy is now the oldest living cat on record, he is not the oldest domestic cat to have ever lived, that designation belongs to Creme Puff, who lived to the awe-inspiring age of 38 years and 3 days.
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Custody Battle Over Pets
Dr. Debbie has the top things you need to know when battling for custody over a pet. It's best to consider how it will affect your furry friend. The law doesn't always favor the pet in such battles. Some couples even stay together, just for the pet.
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All Pet Store Dogs Must Come From Shelters
Earlier this month a federal judge in Phoenix, Arizona upheld a city law requiring that all dogs sold in pet stores must come from shelters, which will also help to relieve shelter overcrowding. Phoenix is one of about 60 cities in the U.S. that have similar laws designed to put an end to puppy mills by driving potential pet buyers toward homeless animals.
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Things Your Vet Wished You Worried About More
Animal Radio Veterinary Correspondent Dr. Marty Becker has a list of things he wishes his clients would pay more attention to than they do. He'll also tell you what you unnecessarily worry too much about.
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Healthiest Breeds
Pet Breeds compiled a list of 33 dog breeds that either have a clean health record, or are associated with only one, two or three health problems at most. And, the top seven have NO major or minor health concerns at all. They are…(drum roll please).
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How To Pick A Pet Food
Lucy Pet Foundation's Doc Halligan has what you need to know in order to pick the best food for your pet and your budget. Just because it's expensive doesn't mean it's good. You'll learn how to read the label.
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Pets May Be Breeding Ground For MRSA
Research suggests family pets might actually be reservoirs for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. Researchers believe pets might be an important factor behind the increase of MRSA outbreaks.
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Pets Destroy Eight Million Electronic Devices
A study says American pets have bitten, chewed or damaged at least 8-million electronic devices! All that damage caused an estimated $3 billion in repair and replacement costs! Researchers found 1/3rd of the damaged devices were smart-phones; 2/3rds of the incidents happened when the pet was not being supervised. And interestingly, male pets are 50% more likely than female pets to damage electronic devices.
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Black Dog Syndrome
While there is no hard evidence to back Black Dog Syndrome, it is largely felt that black animals take a back seat when it comes to adoption. Pet Photographer Fred Levy believes it's because they are hard to photograph and don't look desirable online photos. He'll have tips for photographing your black dog or cat.
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Selecting A New Car With Your Pet In Mind
So who influences you when you need to buy a car? According to Auto-trader, more than half of America's 54 million dog owners consider buying a vehicle based on its ability to accommodate their best friend, which is their dog. The list includes cars with features pet owners need, like fold-flat rear seats, rear lift gate, under-floor storage and rear climate control. There are 9 cars on the list and we'll tell you what they are.
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Using Pets To Teach Anti-Bullying
Allison Basinger from the Kansas City based "Wayside Waifs" animal welfare organization is on the cutting edge of the anti-bullying education movement. She's using her dogs, Justice and Paxton to help 3 through 5 graders learn a more compassionate lifestyle.

Get Your Licks
Former host of CBS's Lucky Dog, Brandon McMillan, the cast of The Young and The Restless and Susan Sims are in Los Angeles to kick-off the 7th Annual "Get Your Licks On Route 66" Adoption Tour. There's no better time than now to find your forever friend.

Pamela Anderson Says Company is Not Cruelty-Free
Actress and animal-rights actress Pamela Anderson has written a letter to MAC Cosmetics owner and friend John Demsey expressing disappointment in the brand for testing on animals. Anderson used to be a spokesperson for the brand, but recently learned that the supposedly cruelty-free brand admittedly tests on animals where it is "required by law," like in China.
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Lost Pet Recovery
Donna Lewis is a Lost Pet Recovery Expert for LostMyDoggie.com & LostMyKitty.com. This nationwide service will automatically dial all the phones within the radius of the lost pet alerting neighbors. Does this work? The service claims an 85% success rate. If you've lost your pet and have the cash, then this might be a good solution.
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Your Cat Probably Doesn't Miss You When You're Away
According to a study that observed the relationships between a number of cats and their owners, domestic cats do not generally see their owners as a focus of safety and security in the same way that dogs do.
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5 Signs You Need To Get To The Vet ASAP!
Animal Radio Veterinary Correspondent Dr. Marty Becker counts down the top 5 things to look out for that indicate a health emergency for your pet.
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Patient Compliance
More than half of pet owners disregard instruction for medicating their pets as prescribed by their vet. This can have horrific results, especially where antibiotics are concerned. Doc Halligan has tips on easily pilling your pet.
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Guy Adds Two-Headed Snake to His Two-Headed Collection
A west coast freak show owner who paid $50,000 for "Medusa", a three-foot-long, 4-year-old two-headed Honduran Milk snake born in Florida, recently purchased a rare two-headed albino snake. The proud new owner says he's wanted the snake since the day it was born four years ago, but price just kept getting higher." By the way, this guy currently holds a Guinness World Record for having the biggest collection of two-headed animals.
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Nude Birding
Olaf Danielson has made a hobby out of birding without any clothes. Olaf is an author, religious scholar, storyteller and adventurer. He will share some of his favorite stories of seeking out rare and exotic avian wildlife... while naked as a jaybird.
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Who is Tracking Your Pet Purchases?
With the pet industry growing so fast, any information that can be gained from your purchases for your pets is going to be extrapolated every way possible for those companies which profit from your spending habits. Search data pulled by Hitwise from major pet supply websites in June shows the majority of both cat and dog owners, or at least those doing the buying for their pets, are women and that the women who own dogs make nearly twice as much as those who have cats.
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Training Pit Bulls for Good
Jeff Jenkins is the ringleader for the Midnight Circus, a pit-bull agility performance that shows the often-misunderstood dogs in a positive light. He's helping youngsters train their pit-bulls to do tricks instead of fighting.
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Pet Crematory Intentionally Gives Back Wrong Ashes
A pet cemetery and crematory in Illinois is accused of deceiving clients by giving them ashes that were not be from their deceased pets. Police found three deceased animals inside an old freezer at the facility and fortunately one of the animals had been micro chipped. Authorities contacted the owner who said they had already received their cat's ashes. But the only thing illegal in this case was misrepresenting ashes of an animal because pet crematories in Illinois are not regulated.
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Are Kittens and Puppies The Key to a Successful Marriage?
You're thinking love, communication, trust, common interests and that kind of stuff, right? But, a new study from the University of Florida says it could also be cute, cuddly puppies, kittens and bunnies. The team of psychological scientists found that to break the 'familiarity breeds contempt syndrome' or boredom that can happen in long-term relationships, couples can make better associations with their spouse through a positive stimulus like puppies and bunnies.
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Diva Duck
Shellie Powell has an unusual pet. She is the proud guardian of "Diva," a pet duck that wears a diaper and shoes. Diva goes with Shellie everywhere, including Walmart, Target and PetSmart. Shellie is training Diva the Duck to be a Therapy Pet.
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Taking The Fear Free Movement Home
Many veterinarians are practicing "Fear Free." Pets that like going to the veterinarian are generally healthier. Now, the Fear Free movement is coming to your home with ideas for enriching your pet's life everyday. Dr. Marty Becker is back to explain how your pets can live an improved lifestyle.
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Can Kissing Your Pet Make You Fat?
Researchers are looking into the connection between having a pet and obesity. They are interested in gut health and trying to find out if certain microbial swaps (such as a kiss or a lick with your pet) might help or hurt when it comes to weight problems in both pets and people. Current evidence actually suggests heavier people have heavier pets, which some scientists believe could be due to microbial swaps from a human to a dog.
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How Hot is Too Hot?
Your dog doesn't need to be in a hot car to suffer from heat exhaustion. Temperatures above 82 degrees are enough to cause a fatal reaction. Steve Burdo from Contra Costa Animal Services sat inside his Acura as temperatures soared about 115 degrees. He did this to bring attention to the new California law that allows people to break into cars to rescue hot animals.
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Scammer Targets Lost Pets
The number of pet related fraud cases are on the rise. The latest is Texas where a woman's cat mysteriously disappeared from the front porch where he would take his afternoon nap every day. The day after he vanished, she put up fliers all over her neighborhood. Less than a week later, she received a call from a man who asked if there was a reward for the cats return. He then said she could get Romeo back for $300 and offered to finance the payments for 8 months!
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Cocktails for Pets
Taryn Nahm wants you to kick back a few cocktails with your pet. She says you can bond with your pet while you relax with a beverage. Taryn created pet cocktails that look just like the human adult versions, except without alcohol.
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Fear Free Tips You Can Use
Do you have trouble getting your pet to the vet? You're not alone. Certified Trainer Mikkel Becker has some great ideas for making a vet visits easy and enjoyable. Check out our Fear Free Expert Series.
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Antibiotic Resistant Virus Outbreak
There has been a Campylobacter outbreak associated with puppies sold at Petland stores and it's the humans that have handled these puppies that are getting sick. So far, more than 55 people in 12 states have now been diagnosed in this outbreak, which is so serious that at least a fourth of the patients have been hospitalized.
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Millenials Choosing Pets Instead
Millennials, or Generation Y, are those born between 1982 and 2004 and they are quickly changing the world of pets. According to the American Pet Products Association, Millennials are now the largest segment of pet owners. They found Millennials invest more time in their pets, evaluating their needs more thoroughly and spending more money.
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If Your Pet Is Unwell - You Might Be Unwell Too
New research shows that if your pet is unwell, it can make you unwell, leading to depression, anxiety and a poorer quality of life. It's the same problem that was previously found in the human world.
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Turning Your Pet Into A Viral Sensation
Kelly Lund and Loki, his Husky - Wolf mix, didn't intentionally become a viral Internet sensation. Kelly casually posted a picture on Instagram that was picked up by Reddit, Bored Panda and Buzzfeed. Now Loki has a half-million followers and a new book. Kelly will give us tips on making your pet a star.
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Pit Bulls Aren't Getting A Fair Shake
Fiona Gilbert has Multiple Sclerosis. a degenerative neurological condition that affected her ability to walk. Without her service dog, she cannot function or work. The only problem is that Koda, her service animal is a pit-bull mix. As a frequent flyer on Delta Airlines, she is no longer welcome because her service dog is banned on the carrier.
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Social Media's Top 10 Pet Influencers
Forbes came out with multiple lists on social media influencers. On the list of Pet Influencers, probably the best-known Internet pet that still commands the most eyeballs and makes money to match her fame, is the long-deceased 'Grumpy Cat.' Why are these animals so engaging and why are they so valuable to advertisers? Collectively, the top 10 Pet Influencers have 50 million followers.
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Parrots Change Traffic Pattern
Kea parrots are big and about 18 inches long. They're native to New Zealand where they can be a pest, but they do attract the tourists. These big parrots have been caught on camera shifting traffic cones into active traffic lanes. Why? The New Zealand Transportation Agency thinks they know why.
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Pentobarbital Horse Meat Used In Pet Food
Through the freedom of information act, some new information has come to light in the case of a pet food company having pentobarbital tainted horse meat in some of its canned food. The manufacturer was in compliance and had a license to use horse-meat at that time. However, it turns out they had been processing horse-meat as early as 2015 without a license. Records show an inspector found it on the premises of the processing plant during an inspection that was made as a result of complaints over health concerns and unsanitary conditions at the facility.
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Should You Trust Pet DNA Tests?
Dr. Lisa Moses says there is a place for DNA tests, but only as a novelty. While these tests may show a predisposition towards breed specific diseases, she warns against making medical decisions based on a DNA swab or blood tests.
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What We Know About Our Cat Food
A study of 2,000 cat owners reveals many of them are oblivious about what foods could be harmful to their cat's health. More than 50% of those questioned did not know that milk, grapes, raisins, garlic and onions are hazardous to a cat's health. A fifth of owners don't even know their cats are carnivores, with one in 10 feeding them raw vegetables and another one in 20 serving up salad leaves.
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Pets Cause 1000 Fires Per Year
"Unattended pets often set their homes on fire and pets can't call 911," according to Zsolt Sapy, the COO of Smoke Alarm Monitoring. Just how does this happen? What can you do to stack the odds in your pet's favor?
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Kids Prefer Rats Over Cats Or Dogs
Right Pet has announced the findings of its 8-year pet ownership study that used the data of nearly 17,000 pet owners across 113 countries. The biggest revelation is that children between the ages of 10 and 17 years old say they get more satisfaction owning pet rats rather than cats or dogs.
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Cat Lovers Dream Job
If you've ever thought of quitting your job and living out your life saving cats on a picturesque Greek island, here's some great news. A cat rescue in Greece, called God's Little People Cat Rescue, is looking for a new caretaker. They're looking for a part-time caretaker to look after 55 cats with free lodging in the form of the sanctuary manager's house that overlooks the Aegean Sea.
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Ed Asner Loved Himself Some Kitty!
The late iconic actor Ed Asner is our flashback to 2010. Bet you didn't know Ed was a "cat" guy? His satirist banter and love for his personal kitties makes this one of most memorable moments of Animal Radio.
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Charleston Airport's Newest Employee
Russ Kennedy holds down security at Charleston's Yeager Airport. He's also the handler for Greg, a border collie that clears runways from geese and other wildlife that could cause a fatal aircraft accident.
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The Truth About Dog-Lick Bacteria
A Wisconsin man made headlines after a dog lick led to a rare infection resulting in the amputation of part of his legs and arms. This has set off unwarranted alarm. While the bacterium is extremely common in dogs and cats, the risk posed by being licked is infinitesimally low.
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Counting Cats
A coalition of animal groups in Washington, D.C., have started the D.C. Cat Count, which will try to create a more accurate estimate of the city's entire cat population, including both feral cats and pet cats. The project is expected to take three years and cost $1.5 million. The groups hope the information will help improve efforts to manage the cat population. The project will use many different strategies to arrive at a total population count, including an app allowing residents to snap their own images of cats they encounter.
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Is It A Dog Or Ball
A dog groomer in Japan is literally turning dogs into fluff balls. Yoriko Hamachiyo is clipping usually small dogs into a ball. He does this by cutting their hair so they look like a soft, fluffy round ball, a ball with legs.
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Dog Fraud
Dogs can communicate through scent, leaving their mark everywhere. New research finds that smaller dogs "cheat" by using higher raised-leg angles to leave higher urine marks, thus exaggerating their size to other dogs that would come along and sniff later.
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Bart's Voice Loves Animals
The voice of Bart Simpson is our flashback guest. Nancy Cartwright really loves animals. She has an entire menagerie at her L.A. ranch. Her prized pet is a fiberglass cow. Nancy felt that because she's always saying, "don't have a cow man," that she should have one. She also has seahorses.
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Doug Gray Guests
Animal Radio's Season of Stars continues with the lead singer for The Marshall Tucker Band, Doug Gray. He shares his life with animals, including anecdotes about his Persian kitties, "Cheech & Chong."
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Overprotective Owners
Are you fearful that your dog will catch a disease if you let him out of the yard. You're not alone. Numbers of "backyard prisoners" are growing and causing more behavioral problems in the long run. Both Vladae and Dr. Debbie have answers to battle this epidemic.
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Dog Dials for Help
Emergency responders in the U.K. say a 2 year-old Basset Hound dialed 9-9-9, the British version of 9-1-1, while he was choking on the phone's cord. The dog reportedly knocked over the phone and became tangled in the cord, and somehow managed to dial for help.
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Luggage-Inspecting Beagles
Izzy is among a small number of Beagles employed by TSA that lives and works at an airport. His job is to smell luggage for fruit, meat, plants, seeds and vegetables. Federal officials won't disclose how many canines are employed as "passive response dogs."
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Cat Thwarts Suicide Attempt
San Francisco Police spent hours trying to convince a jumper not to jump. It wasn't until the officers brought in the jumper's tabby cat that the standoff ended. Never underestimate the bond between people and their pets.
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Pet Obesity Continues To GROW
Being overweight can seriously impact our health and that of our pets. The Association for Pet Obesity estimates that nearly 54% of cats and dogs in the US are overweight or obese. Lori Brooks has tips to tell if your pet is a healthy weight. We'll also discuss the safest methods for lowering your pets caloric intake and increasing exercise.
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Anonymous Hero Saves Dog
An anonymous real life hero saved the life of a dog that was trapped inside a burning home this week in Tennessee.  As someone who witnessed it describes it said, "This guy in a gray mustang pulls up says, 'I do this for a living,' and he runs in and he comes out about two minutes later with this beautiful dog in his arms." Less than a minute later the roof of the home caved in.
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Halloween Pet Hazards
Pets often find it truly scary during this time of year. The things that make Halloween a treat for people can overwhelm many pets. Some parts of Halloween can even be dangerous. On the other hand, some pets absolutely love the holiday. There's no shortage of dogs and cats that love the attention and adulation they receive in their costume. We'll help you determine which side of the scale your pets find most comfortable. Dr. Debbie sees more patients the day after Halloween. She'll explain why and what you can do to avoid the vet.
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Should Homeless People Have Pets?
Dr. Gillian Squirrell has developed a nonprofit program, Working Dog LLC, for vulnerable adults and young people working with dogs as a way to develop interpersonal and workplace skills. Dr. Squirrell tells us that Working Dog LLC has a small fund for the development of ideas about how to improve support for homeless people and their animal companions. As we know, these clients and their animals can fall through gaps in service provision. Should homeless people have pets? Dr. Gillian states that that is an interesting conversation starter. This is a very under-researched and little understood area. There is a lot of judgment attached to homelessness as well as a lot of fear. People range on a continuum from "Absolutely they shouldn't, they can't look after themselves, to thinking it's a really cute thing," states Dr. Gillian.
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Cats With Jobs
Author Lisa Rogek has found 50 cats that have jobs. This isn't easy. Cats are notoriously not workers, unlike dogs. From Grumpy Cat to Kitty Models, Lisa will share the stories behind these frolicking felines.
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Having A Safe Halloween
Halloween can be a fun time for your pets. But some animals just aren't cut out for the holiday and would be safer cuddled inside on the night of trickery.
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Rodent Traps a Pet Hazard
There's a warning for pet owners after a cat was found with its head stuck in a rodent trap. The cat, which was seriously injured, was caught in a Fenn Trap, meant for squirrels and rats. Luckily the cat was found and rescued by a Good Samaritan. Since the incident last month, the SPCA is now calling on people to be aware that setting these traps could be breaking the law.
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Pets In The Classroom Have A Profound Impact
A new study reveals having a pet in the classroom may provide real educational value through leadership skills and character building. Despite some of the challenges to having classroom pet, such as coping with loss and teachers spending their own money to care for the pet, the study found six objectives proving the benefit of caring for a classroom pet, like teaching children responsibility compassion, empathy, respect and leadership through animal care and providing relaxation when children are stressed.
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Pet-Prenup
When a marriage breaks up, it's the children who often get caught in the middle, but pets can end up becoming the subjects of custody battles too. Now the British animal charity Blue Cross has come up with what it calls a 'Pet-Nup' that spells out who will get the family pet if a couple splits up.
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Goldfish Undergoes Life Threatening Surgery
You don't hear very often, maybe never, about a goldfish having an operation. But you don't often hear about a goldfish having a life-threatening tumor growing from its head. Little George of Melbourne, Australia had both.
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Our Hero Needs a Hero!
This week's Hero Person has her hands full with paraplegic and quadriplegic dogs. Elizabeth Forsberg has adopted animals that normally would be put-down because of their handicap.
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Beagle Returns Lost Airport Items
If you leave something behind when you get off a plane, getting it back can be a real pain. Not so anymore if that plane lands at Amsterdam Airport Schipole. Sherlock will get it back to you, no problem. Sherlock is a beagle specifically trained to return lost items to passengers.
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Makeovers For Dogs & Cats
One pet groomer in Yekaterinburg, Russia is doing more than just baths and hair cuts, she's giving dogs and cats makeovers into creatures like mythical green dragons or yellow and black striped bumblebees. Daria Gotz says she only uses dyes made from botanical extracts that wear off once the animal's coat grows out. See the Video
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…and, of course, Dr. Debbie and Dogfather Joey Villani are answering your pet questions about jumping dogs, TPLO surgery, doggy A.D.D., teaching your bird to talk, fleas, eating poop, ear-mites, hairballs, motion sickness, allergies and aggressive behavior. Call from the free Animal Radio iPhone/Android App.
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Catification
Cat expert Jackson Galaxy is back. This time he has great ideas for turning your house into a cat-friendly playground without losing its aesthetic appeal. It's not enough to just have a feeding bowl and litter anymore. Cats need stimulation. Jackson has a plan, even if you're a renter. Oh, did we mention we have giveaways of Jackson's book?
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Human Separation Anxiety
Forget about canine separation anxiety. Let's talk about how much we miss our pets when we go out of town. 10% of us call our pets to say hi. 4% of us send postcards to our pets. And a whopping 23% of us buy souvenirs for our critters. Tammy Trujillo has all the details about our obsession with our pets.
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Char Char
Actress Charlotte Ross guests this weekend. This charismatic fireball loves the animals. You've seen her on Glee, NYPD Blue, Nashville and Arrow. But her biggest role is being a voice for the voiceless.
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Myths About Fleas Treatment
There are lots of home-remedies for fleas that simply don't work or can be dangerous for your pet. No, Motor Oil doesn't work, and is obviously very dangerous. Lemon juice doesn't kill fleas either. Nor does Dawn dish detergent. Dr. Debbie & Dogfather Joey Villani have what you need-to-know to effectively and safely rid your pet and house of fleas.
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Let's Pass On Gas
Our Hero Person this week is trying to put an end to an archaic method of euthanization. 22 states still use the gas chamber to get rid of unwanted animals. Joe Dwyer adopted a dog that survived a gassing. Now the lucky dog, "Daniel," is the poster-dog for anti-gas chamber legislation.
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John O'Hurley Yaps About The Thanksgiving Dog Show
You might remember him from Seinfeld. He was the first winner on Dancing With The Stars and People's Sexiest Man of the Year. John O'Hurley, host of the National Dog Show on NBC, is back to spread Thanksgiving cheer and Holiday warm-fuzzies all over Animal Radio® airwaves.
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Pet Ownership On The Rise
More than half of the people in the nation have at least one pet according to a new Rasmussen survey. 49% have a dog and 23% have a cat. 24% have more than one kind of pet. Only 3% have a fish, bird or some other sort of animal. An overwhelming majority of pet guardians, 92% say they talk to their pet.
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Microchipped Dog Returned After Eight Years
A couple in Atlanta has their Shih Tzu, Jordan, back after eight years. The last time Mike Nuanes saw Jordan he was just a puppy. He's sure someone snatched Jordan out of their backyard. They did everything to find him, but no luck until a few weeks ago, when the Fulton County Animal Services called to say Jordan had been turned in as a stray. Luckily, Jordan was microchipped, the key to his finally getting home.
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Looking for Holiday Gift Ideas for your pet?

TV Host Helps Pet Product Entrepreneurs
QVC's Carolyn Gracie loves her animals. Besides a house full of rescues, she also is quick to bring a pet into the QVC fold. "If you want to sell-out a product, bring a pet on TV with you," Carolyn advises. She regularly pitches products from small up-and-coming pet product entrepreneurs.
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The Pet Chef
Lisa Hennessy decided she was done with commercial dog food for her Collie. She started creating healthy, fresh dishes that her dog could share with her. Lisa tested dozens of recipes and compiled them into several cookbooks. She's here to share some of her recipes with you.
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Woman Spends $35,000 For Lost Dog
How much would you spend to try and find your dog if he got lost? The sky is the limit it seems for Janet Mihalyfi of Georgetown. Her 5-year-old, Rottweiler mix, Havoc, has been missing for a year this month. So far she's spent $35,000 dollars trying to find him.
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Sneezy Squirrel Goes Viral
When Mary Krupa befriended a wild squirrel, she learned that she could easily dress "Sneezy" up and take photos of the rodent in hats and clothing. Now, she regularly meets up with the squirrel for photo sessions.
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Could Testing Cosmetics on Animals Be Banned In US?
Testing cosmetics on animals has recently been banned in Europe and India and a similar ban here in the United States will be on the front burner when the new Congress convenes in January. Virginia Democrat Don Beyer is expected to take the lead on the issue. Their state, Virginia, is home to several big cosmetic companies.
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Guardian Sues Over Dog Killed Because of Ebola Exposure
The nurse in Spain who recovered from Ebola, but whose dog Excalibur was killed by Spanish Health authorities, is suing. Teresa Romero's lawsuit seeks the equivalent of $186,000 for the loss of her dog and another $186,000 for damage done to her name.
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Looking for Holiday Gift Ideas for your pet?

Pet Nanny Spills All
After selling her successful Pet-sitting business, Lindsey Grant wrote a book about the strange and curious relationships we have with our pets. Some of her client's requests make for a noteworthy book. She'll also be talking about how Switzerland, her new home, treats animals.
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Must-Hear Hero
You'll love this week's Hero Person. She's 84-year-old Dolly Jefferson. And she had no qualms about intercepting angry coyotes to save a neighbor's dog. Now she's making news nationwide.
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Sidecar Dogs
Movie Producer Eric Ristau released his latest masterpiece about the many dogs that travel alongside their owner in a motorcycle sidecar. Sit Stay Ride: The Story of America's Sidecar Dogs is the full-length movie that launched with a Kickstarter campaign, and now proceeds benefit animal welfare.
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Banned Pit-Bull Service Dog Can Stay
Authorities in Louisiana have backed off on its demand that Zeus be gotten rid of or be destroyed. In October, Moreauville passed a law banning Pit Bulls or Rottweilers. When they targeted Zeus, the whole thing blew up on national television and on the Internet. Zeus helps the Owen's daughter O'Hara who uses a wheelchair and has spasms, which Zeus monitors and gets her help when she needs it.
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GOD Spelled Backwards
Actress Sylva Kelegian not only guests this week, but she is also our Hero Person. Changing focus from acting to animals, she's on a mission to reduce the homeless population in LA. She wrote a book about her journey.
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College Pet Therapy
There is not much out there to make taking college finals fun, but Iowa State University found a way to make them a bit less stressful. Pet therapy. ISU set up a room at the library where stressed out students could come in and spend some time playing and petting a group of dogs.
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Fat Pets - Fat Pet Parents
Chances are your New Years resolution has something to do with weight-loss. We should also be thinking about our pets too. They become very sedentary during the winter and putting on the pounds is not uncommon. Animal Radio Veterinary Correspondent Dr. Marty Becker has a plan for you and your poochy-pet.
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Movers Packed The Cat
The Barths, were moving from Virginia to Hawaii. Just before they were ready to go their cat "Mee Mowe" disappeared. They postponed their move for three days hoping that she would show up. They finally had to go. They got to Hawaii and 36 days later their belongings arrived. They heard a very faint meow coming from one of the boxes. Yup, there was Mee Mowe.
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English to Doglish
Britt Savage has tips on naming and teaching your dog their name. Many dogs think their name is "Max get out of the trash" because we don't use it properly.
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High-Speed Rescue
Mario Chiozza is this week's Hero Person. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw a dog tossed out of the car in front of him on Interstate 40. Despite the 55 mph. rush-hour traffic, he managed to capture the dog and save her. "Savior" is the catalyst for Mario's mission.
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Licensing Groomers
Animal Radio's very own Joey "Dogfather" Villani is behind legislation to protect your pet while they're at the groomer. Currently, anyone with a scissors can groom your pet. This bill would mandate certification and a license, just like your barber.
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Holiday Pet Tips
Dr. Kathy Hillestad is here to help make your holiday safe and fun for your pets. She has the details about good and bad foods and plants. This year, as Lithium batteries become more prevalent in devices, more animals are swallowing them.
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Do You Sleep With Your Pets?
Research presented at the Sleep conference showed that 54% of pet guardians sleep with their pets and that 30% of those said they wake up at least once a night because of them. 63% said they have poor sleep quality. Some people though say they sleep better WITH their pets.
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Santa Sent Packing after Pit Bull Incident
An autistic 7-year-old girl and her service dog waited in line to see Santa at a SoCal Mall. Santa's elf told them they would not be allowed near Santa because the jolly man was afraid of Pit Bulls. The family complained and Santa was sent packing.
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The Secret Language of Dogs
Accomplished dog trainer Victoria Stilwell returns to Animal Radio airwaves to help us decode our dog's behavior. She'll tell us what some common dog gestures mean. New studies show our dogs are much smarter than we give them credit for. Do dogs feel guilt? They sure look guilty when you catch them doing something bad.
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Holiday Dangers for Pets
Pet World Insider Robert Semrow has his list of the Top 5 Holiday Traditions That Can Land Your Pet on the Naughty List. Make sure you listen carefully so that you won't end up at the Vet Clinic.
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Pet Gift Guide
Judy-Claus continues her countdown of the greatest pet and pet lover gifts for the holidays. These are inexpensive and invaluable toys and gadgets that have been tested by the Animal Radio pets. We'll have giveaways of every single item to help you fill-out your gift giving. This week we're featuring a new tool for fast-eating dogs that will slow them down and improve on their foraging skills. We'll also give away a toy that combines a ball with Emojis.
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Ripley's Weird Animals
Edward Meyers is back for his yearly visit. He collects oddities for Ripley's and he'll be sharing his strange picks for animals that are a bit out of the ordinary, like the cat with BIG eyes and the dog that ate a round of gun ammunition.
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InsPurrational Posters for Cats
Mo Golden and Ross Cowman created a business of making motivational posters for cats. At first it was a novelty idea, but it turned into something truly beneficial for both cats and humans explains Ross.
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Bringing Pets Into Hospitals
Donna Jenkins is pioneering a movement to allow visitation of patient's personal pets during long-term treatment. She formed Zachary's Paw For Healing after her son passed from a terminal disease. During his final hours he requested a visit from the family pet but didn't want to sneak the dog into the cancer treatment facility.
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Becker is Back
Did you get a pet for the holiday? Dr. Marty Becker is back with tips that every new puppy or kitten owner should know. These tips could save you a lot of grief.
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Michael Vick Lobbies for Bill to Protect Pets
Former NFL quarterback Michael Vick got the celebrity treatment as he visited the Pennsylvania state Capitol last week to lobby for a bill to help protect cats and dogs from being left in unattended vehicles. Vick was a star quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons when he plead guilty to federal conspiracy charges in 2007 for his role in a dog fighting ring and served nearly two years in prison. He claims to have been reformed and spoke on behalf of animals saying, "The bottom line is that all animals thrive (on) kindness and respect. They depend on us like our children depend on us."
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Tests Show No Safe Travel Seats
Two years ago, in a first of its kind crash test, the leading pet harnesses, which were trusted by owners, failed again and again. Now, the Center for Pet Safety is testing pet travel seats. So are there any safe pet seats? Really, the answer is No. The Director at the Center for Pet Safety says they "do not recommend pet seats at this time for pet owners" to use for their pets in cars.
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Pet Blood Banks
Nicole Humphries runs a blood bank for companion animals. She'll answer the itching question, is dog's blood different than cat's, or is a German Shepard's blood different than a Pug's? And where does all this blood come from? You never see a pet blood-mobile in the neighborhood.
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Cat Escapes Carrier on Delta Flight
A mischievous cat escaped its carrier on board a Delta flight last week and to the horror of a cat fearing flight attendant, the cat roamed free in the cabin. Of course, someone caught the incident on video and it had some comical moments. The poor cat's owner fell asleep with headphones on and somehow it managed to get out of the carrier.
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The Rising Cost of Cancer Treatment
For owners of dogs and cats stricken with cancer, expensive treatments only adds to the emotional difficulties. Just the initial cancer diagnosis can cost $2,000. A standard course of chemotherapy costs between $3,000 and $5,000. A bone marrow transplant costs between $16,000 and $25,000 and the cure rate is only about 33%. These aren't just wealthy people. Some used their life savings, and even refinanced their houses to pay for the treatments.
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It's a Crime To Insult The King's Dog
Some really strict new laws there now make it a crime to insult the Thailand monarchy and now a factory worker could go to jail for 37 years for making disparaging posts on Facebook about the king's dog. Turns out that the man was charged after making a "sarcastic" Facebook post about the dog. The 88-year-old ailing King rescued Copper from an alley and in 2002 he wrote a best selling book about her. She is so revered there that the media must address the dog as ma'am.
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Share Your Food With Your Dog
The "Dog Food Dude," Rick Woodford is back. He says you should share your food with your dog. But doesn't that go against everything we've been taught about proper nutrition? No, not if you're doing it right.
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New York May Be First State to Ban De-clawing
If Linda Rosenthal has her way; New York will be the first state to make it illegal to declaw a cat. The Manhattan assemblywoman has introduced a bill to ban the controversial procedure sometimes called de-knuckling because it's actually the entire knuckle, which is the last bone in the cat's toe that is removed. Declawing of cats is already banned in many countries, including Australia, India, Spain and the United Kingdom, as well as seven cities in California, including Los Angeles and San Francisco.
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The Comeback of the Doghouse
Ask most pet owners and they'll tell you their dog sleeps in bed with them. The days of the doghouse seem to have all but disappeared. But Larry Hobbs has a booming business making high-end Eco-friendly doghouses. He'll explain why.
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UK's Dogs Must Be Microchipped
Beginning in April, all dogs in England, Scotland & Wales will have to be microchipped with their owners' details registered and kept up to date in huge database to encourage "responsible pet ownership." To help people get it done, Dogs Trust, the UK's largest dog welfare charity, is offering free microchipping. It's hoped that "Compulsory microchipping will help reduce the number of lost and abandoned dogs and it will allow authorities to directly identify dog owners and hold them accountable for their dogs' behavior and welfare.
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Dog Loses 100-pounds
At the beginning of a new year, everyone makes a resolution to lose weight. Well, Buddy the dog has a jump on all of us after losing more than 100 pounds. Buddy the 180-pound, 6-year-old, morbidly obese Australian Shepherd spent the last 9 months dieting and now weighs 71 lbs. He lost so much weight that he underwent skin removal surgery.
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Can Pets Commit Suicide?
Dr. Nicholas Dodman (Program Director for the Animal Behavior Department at Tufts) researched several alleged cases of pet suicide to see if it's possible. He's here to report on his findings and to answer the provocative question.
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Laws to Protect Pets Left Out in the Cold
While many states mandate that pets are not allowed to be kept outdoors in extreme weather for extended periods of time without insulated housing, others barely consider hypothermia deaths to be animal cruelty. Fortunately, some states and local governments are now enforcing harsher punishments for people who allow their pets to perish in weather extremes like the recent blizzard on the east coast.
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Get the Smell of Fresh Cat Head in a Bottle
Do you think the back of your cat's heads smells wonderful? A Japanese company has researched that scent, recreated it, and is now bottling it. The head of Yamamoto Perfumery spent four months doing research, sniffing many cat's heads to replicate the smell. The result? Fluffy Brow Scented Fabric Water. It can be sprayed on fabrics or anything to give them a lovely cat-head smell. A bottle sells for 1,200 yen or about $10 each.
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Cold Weather Tips
Doc Halligan and Dogfather Joey Villani have incredible tips for helping your furry-friends through the winter. Everything from their coat to their diet change when the weather gets frigid.
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Woman Has 1000 Cats
A woman in California has 1,000 cats. But she's no hoarder. Lattanzi runs Cat House on the Kings, the largest cat sanctuary in the country. It all started when she volunteered to bottle feed kittens for a rescue back 25 years ago. Today Cat House on the Kings has 45 paid personnel who help to care for the cats and maintain the property including a veterinarian and seven vet techs are also part of the team.
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Emotional Support Animals
Often confused, there is a major difference between Emotional Support Animals and Service Animals. Lori Brooks has the lowdown on what this means for you and your Emotional Support Tarantula. Yes, he'll be able to get on a plane, but he may be legally turned away from your favorite restaurant.
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Dog-napped!
Stolen pets are on the rise. It doesn't matter what breed you have. An estimated two million pets were stolen last year in the United States. That's up 32% according to the American Kennel Club. And the number of actual dogs stolen could be potentially much greater. You need to be extra careful with your furry-family or they might end up in the ugly under-belly of human nature.
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Welcome the Pets in Bed
Many experts say "keep the pets out of the bed." But a recent study from the Center for Sleep Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona could change some minds. Researchers surveyed 150 sleep center patients and found that more than half of pet owners allowed their pets to sleep in the bedroom. One out of five described their pets as disruptive, but 41% said their pets were quiet and even beneficial to their nightly sleep.
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Zika Virus and Animals
The big question this week is about the Zika Virus - and if our pets can be affected. While there is no evidence yet that they can carry it or transmit it, the relevant question is if they can be sickened by it.
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Road-kill Clothing
Pamela Paquin is an "ethical designer." She collects road-kill to turn into "Petite Mort," or stoles, collars and coats. The average price is $1000 for one of her creations. Many of her clients are upscale and affluent. Pamela says this is a tribute to the animals.
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Petco Stops Selling Treats From China
Petco has kept it promise and removed all dog and cat threats made in China from the shelves of it stores nationwide. Last May, the chain became the first national pet retailer to say it would stop selling the treats after reports began showing up Chinese-made treats were making animals sick, and worse. The move includes pet treats made for the Petco Brand 'unleashed' and those sold online.
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Top Dog Names
Next time you go to the Dog Park, you're likely going to hear someone calling for Max or Bella. Those are the top two names bestowed on puppies in 2023. Vetstreet.com says other popular names for boy dogs after Max were Charlie, Rocky, Buddy and Cooper. Rover.com says there was a 37% increase in food-themed names like Coconut, Ginger, Kale, Peanut, Guinness, Vino, Mochi and Whiskey.
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Young Heroes
This week's Hero Person is 9-year-old Orly Sedransk. After a visit to her local shelter, she was moved to do something to make a difference. Through a 50/50 raffle, she was able to raise enough money to help the municipal shelter purchase cages to hold cats.
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Pet Food Stamps Program Shuts Down
When Pet Food Stamps, Inc. was formed, it got attention from all over, including being featured on CNN, CBS, ABC and Animal Radio. Founder Marc Okon raised $65,000, enough to handle the nearly 200,000 people who'd asked for help. He resigned last April, saying he was overwhelmed with applications and closed the program.
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Genius Idea For Shelter Pets
Actress Kim Sill is back to tell us about her latest project. She's putting adoption stores inside malls. Kim is saving hundreds of death row cats, dogs and bunnies by changing their adoption venue to the more appealing atmosphere.
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Valentine Dangers
While you may not associate Valentine's Day with pet dangers, Doc Halligan from the Lucy Pet Foundation thinks you should be extra cautious. She see more animals the day after Valentines (only third after Christmas and Halloween), usually because pets swallow something they shouldn't have.
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Using Dogs To Treat Cancer
Author Arlene Weintraub explains how vital the roles of dogs are in the search for a cure for cancer. Veterinarians and Oncologists are working together to discover new treatments for Cancer.
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Few Pet Friendly Rentals in Los Angeles
Have you ever searched for a home or apartment to rent that allowed you to have pets? Yes, it's nearly impossible to find in Los Angeles where 62% of the rental units do not accept pets. Now, the LA City Council has voted to make some changes in hopes of making landlords more open to accepting pets at their properties.
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15-Year-Old, 3-Legged Dog Saves Family - Twice
A small, 15-year-old, three-legged dog might not seem like much of a threat, but this dog took a bullet for his family in Wisconsin and saved them from a man who had broken into their home and attempted to rob them. A bullet grazed the top of the dog's head and became lodged in his neck.
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Pets Can Give You A Tax Break
If you foster an animal, you can deduct some of the associated costs. Things like vet bills, food, grooming; they qualify as charitable donations, which are deductible up to 50% of your adjusted gross income. But once, you officially adopt the animal, that animal is no longer considered a foster, so you will lose the deductions.
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Saving Elephants
This week's Hero Person is rescuing elephants from circuses and zoos. Often mistreated, the gentle giants are exploited for our entertainment. Scott Blais, co-founder of an elephant sanctuary in Tennessee, Skypes with us from Brazil, where he is currently rescuing 50 elephants.
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Body Art Is Not For Animals
It will soon be a crime throughout New York State to pierce or tattoo a companion animal. There is an exception for markings one under a veterinarian's supervision. The laws were prompted by people showing off what they did to their animals on the Internet, including a woman who was piercing kittens and selling them as 'gothic.'
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Pet Owners Get Emotional Distress Award in Death of Pet
The Maryland Court of Appeals has ruled that a jury can award damages to pet owners for the emotional distress they suffer following the injury or death of a beloved animal due to gross negligence. The Court let stand a $200,000 award to Roger and Sandra Jenkins. Their Labrador retriever was shot and killed by a Frederick County sheriff's deputy.
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Better Living Through Pheromones
Animal Radio Veterinary Correspondent Dr. Marty Becker is back with the scoop on pheromones. Can the synthetically produced smell be helpful in calming cats and dogs, or is it a waste of money?
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Pedigree vs. Mutt
It's long been thought that mutts are much healthier, both mentally and physically, than those pure bred for pedigree. While there may be some truth to this, it is not always the case. Author Michael Brandow describes how the quest for status has harmed man's best friend.
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Man Finds Dog 18 Months Later
Richard Brower's German Shepherd, Dozer, was stolen 18 months ago. He looked everywhere. After a year-a-half, Richard decided to share his home with a new dog. He did an online search for 'German Shepherds for sale,' which led him to the local animal rescue and right there was Dozer on the front page.
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Therapy Ducks?
Former Ohio National Guardsman Darin Welker uses ducks to treat his PTSD. The town council says he hasn't presented enough evidence that the ducks serve a medical need and that he would face imminent harm without them.
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Zombie Cat in Custody Battle
Last week, we had the story of Bart the cat that was hit by a car and buried but was actually still alive. Bart dug his way out and made it to his neighbors yard. Bart is now officially, and fondly known, as the Zombie Cat. If you think his story couldn't get stranger, think again.
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Quit Your Crappy Job
If you've ever thought of quitting your job to work in the pet industry, you'll should hear this week's guest. Jamie Migdal created a website to match you with the perfect pet-related job. From Dog-walking to Marketing, the jobs pay quite well.
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Sewer Trolling Hero
This week's Hero Person definitely goes above and beyond for animals. His latest rescue was a small Chihuahua dumped into a sewer. Dusty Showers probably needed a few showers after crawling through raw sewage to find this pup that everyone else had given up on. This isn't his first heroic stunt. Besides the long list of animals he has rescued, Dusty also rode his bike across the country to raise funds for Cancer research.
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Owner and Dog Receive Similar Pacemakers
Catherine Pipon was diagnosed with a condition known as heart block. Doctors inserted a pacemaker. Recently, her five-year-old Cairn Terrier Molly was diagnosed with the same condition. Catherine spent over $5,000 to get a pacemaker for the dog. The pacemakers are nearly identical and their conditions are so similar that Catherine and Molly share the same doctor Jersey General Hospital. Molly goes in after hours, so other patients don't get upset that a dog is being seen at a people hospital.
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Flea Facts and Tick Talk
Animal Radio Veterinary Correspondent Dr. Marty Becker is back to help you keep your pets flea-less and tick-less. The good doctor has the ugly truth about how ticks infect you and your pet with a multitude of nasty viruses. And are fleas becoming resistant to spot-on preventatives?
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APPA Releases Pet Spending Figures
The American Pet Products Association (APPA) released the yearly numbers of dollars spent within the pet industry. APPA says we spent 58 BILLION in last year on 397 million pets, including everything from freshwater fish and reptiles to cats and dogs. We spend over 20 billion on pet-food alone. No wonder the business is so cutthroat as many compete for our dollars.
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8 1/2 Year Old Hero
Our Hero Person this week lives in Johannesburg, South Africa and she's 8-and-a-half years old. Alyssa Carter parlayed her love for Rhinos into fundraising to keep them from being poached. So far, she has been able to raise $23,000 by selling candy and trinkets to schoolmates and family.
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To Vaccinate Or Not To Vaccinate
Dr. Debbie teaches us all about the Titer test. The test determines the amount of antibodies in your pet, and ultimately if it is really necessary to vaccinate. She'll tell you why you should vaccinate and what types of animals should avoid vaccination altogether.
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Amtrak On Track To Become Pet Friendly
Amtrak is one step closer to becoming pet friendly. The House of Representatives has approved 8 billion in funding for a pilot program for people traveling with pets. At least one car per train would allow pets in kennels as long as they meet size requirements. The bill now goes to the Senate and then to the White House, where it reportedly is being supported.
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Dogs With PTSD
Former Navy Seal Michael Ritland created a non-profit to help military dogs transition to civilian life. Just like our human soldiers, dogs need help acclimating back into a normal environment. Small noises can cause extreme emotional distress in our enlisted canines.
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Unique Adoption Ideas
The Aloft Hotel in Asheville, North Carolina is helping the local shelter find homes for adoptable dogs with their unique program. So far they've found homes for almost two-dozen dogs. Wait until you hear how they're doing it.
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Police Dog Removed From Force
A Florida Police Dog is being kicked off the for for biting a Dunkin' Donuts worker in the calf. "Renzo" had been a police dog for about a year. This is his second bite incident.
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Jerky Treats Update
Most stores are no longer selling jerky pet treats made in China. The treats were connected to thousands of dogs getting sick and at more than one thousand deaths. But the FDA could never determine WHAT it was in the treats that were causing the issues. With the treats off the shelves, for the most part, the number of complaints to the FDA has gone down dramatically, but the agency says it still plans to continue it's investigation.
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A Flight Attendants View of Service Animals
Since there is no real certification for service or emotional support animals, anything goes. Flight attendant Heather Poole is fed up with trying to make everybody happy. She questions the credibility of "emotional support" pigs, horses and monkeys. Yes, these are animals she's had the pleasure of accommodating on her LA-NY route.
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Airline Apologizes to PTSD Sufferer
Former U.S. Marine Eric Calley suffers from (PTSD) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He is quite thankful for his service dog, "Sun." Calley had a run-in with a US airline when they denied proper seating for his service dog and berated him with insults.
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Homeopathic Drugs Need Regulation
No matter how hyper your dog is, you would never give it an alcoholic drink to help it relax? You might have been doing just that if you used the product Good Dog made by Pet Organics. It turns out that among those 'natural ingredients' is 13% alcohol, about the same amount that is wine.
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Disabled Vet Evicted Over Unpaid Pet Fee
We've been seeing more and more stories about the fees landlords charge people who move in with pets. Now, an unpaid pet fee has resulted in a disabled Army Veteran and his service dog being evicted from a mobile home in Bandera, Texas. David Palasek refused to pay the pet fee, citing Section 504 of the Fair Housing Act that states service animals are not pets, so are not subject to a pet fee.
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Our Hero Saved 400 lb. Drowning Bear
What would drive Adam Warwick to jump in alligator filled waters to save a bear that was drowning? Adam is our special guest this week and he tells an adrenaline filled rescue story. When he's done telling you what he did for this bear, you'll ask yourself if you would've done the same thing.
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5 Must Know Things About Your Dog
Pet World Insider Robert Semrow has done the research. He's come up with the 5 things you should definitely know about your dog. Before you embark on training your favorite pooch, check out theses tips for training the untrained.
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What to Do With The Poo
Rose Seemann is the author of "The Pet Poo Pocket Guide" and our guest. She has some shocking realities about our pet's waste. There's more poo than we think accumulating in landfills and polluting our environment. She'll be using the gold standard of monumental measurement, the football field. And you'll need a lot of them to house all our pet's poo.
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Building A Dog Treat Business
Bri Bradley is co-owner of a brand new dog treat business. What makes her business so different than the hundreds of other dog treats? She customizes the treats for your dog. You tell her what flavors, carbs, proteins and vegetables to put in and she'll bake them and deliver them right to your door.
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No Jerky Is Safe
It was thought that China was the source of the jerky that's making dogs sick across America. But new research shows that even US sourced jerky is a problem. The FDA is scratching their head. Nobody seems to exactly understand what part of the jerky is making animals sick. At this time, the best advice is to stay away from all jerky treats.
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Allergies for You and Your Pet
Did you know your pet can have a host of allergies this time of year? That might explain the itching, hair loss, and eye issues. Dr. Debbie will try to help you determine the source of your pet's allergies and how to resolve them.
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Steve Garvey Guests
Legendary first baseman Steve Garvey is back for his third time to explain his relationship with his 140 pound Rottweiler, among other things. Steve is now working closely to help the Lucy Pet Foundation score a home run. He won't be talking politics!
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Using Cats to Fight Cancer
Everybody loves cat videos. Rachel Gitlin figures that her creation, Cats vs. Cancer, will use the power of cat videos to raise money, through advertising, to help assist in the fight against human cancer. She'll explain the model and tell you how you can help too.
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Pet Law
Attorney Debra Hamilton gave up practicing litigation law to focus on the animals. As a mediator, she negotiates peaceful resolutions to pet-related discourse. Besides the obvious, divorce and pet-custody issues, she also deals with bad breeders and pet trusts.
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Links Between Cats and Human Schizophrenia
Looking for a link to help explain mental illness, new research shows that growing up with a family cat is a commonality among people who develop schizophrenia.
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Germans Allows Adjoining Cemetery Plots and Urns
The German Cemetery Association is offering pets and people adjoining urn spaces. The cost is between $1,100-1,600. Although the ashes of pet owners and their animals will now have the chance to sit side by side, cremations are still legally required to be carried out separately.
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Dogs Help Mourners At Funeral Homes
Dogs are used in all kinds of ways to help humans feel better, emotionally. Funeral directors say dogs, especially trained therapy animals, can lighten the often awkward, tense atmosphere at a wake or funeral service and sometimes seem to know exactly who needs their help.
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Crimes and Lies Against You
Every time you enter the pet food aisle, manufacturers are vying for your patronage and their share of the 139 BILLION dollar pet-food sector. They will do just about anything to get your business, except make a truly human edible food. No wonder, only four companies account for 67% of the marketplace. Susan Thixton will tell you the lies the pet-food companies want you to believe.
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Pets Make Us Happier, Richer & Healthier
Blue Cross pet charity conducted a survey of pet owners and found that they tend to earn nearly $5,000 a year more than those without an animal and are more likely to work full time. They are also happier in general, spend more time with their families and have jobs they enjoy. Lori Brooks reports on this new research and has some illuminating results.
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Cat Survives 2-Month Move In Mattress
Moosie a 2-year-old gray tabby cat has been reunited with his family after he miraculously survived a two-month journey trapped inside a mattress when his owners moved from Texas to Alaska. A moving company left with the military families belongings while the family stayed behind and spent three more days in Texas searching for Moosie. Turns out, Moosie was already en route to Alaska— inside a futon mattress.
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Pet FBI
Harnessing the power of the Internet for good, Maresa Fanelli pioneered the pet lost and found database for Columbus, Ohio in 1998. Today she's the driving force behind Pets Found By Internet, reuniting lost animals all across America. She explains how it works and families she's reunited.
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