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. Also, 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...

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...

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. Also, 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...

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.” Also, 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. Also, emergency...

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. Also, 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. Also,...

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. Also, in 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...

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. Also, 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...

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. Also, 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. Also, there has been a Campylobacter outbreak associated...

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. Also, 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...

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. Also, 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...

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. Also, 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,...

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. Also, 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...

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. Also,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. Also, Lucy Pet Foundation’s Doc Halligan has what you need to know...

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. Also, 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...

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. Also, 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...

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.Also, 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. Also, this week’s ‘Hero Person’ will charm you! She’s just a little girl. But she has a...

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. Also, 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...

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? Also, 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. Also, when Police...

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. Also, 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...

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.” Also, 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...

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. Also, 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...

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. Also, it’s that time of the year when...

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. Also, 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...

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 breathe out their butt, or that Giraffes only sleep 3 hours a day? Also, 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...

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. Also, 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...