Animal Radio®

Beth Stern Guests Yes, she is the wife of Howard Stern. But more importantly, Beth Ostrosky-Stern is an avid animal advocate. She's fostering a bunch of animals at home. She says Howard is really into her pets, and sometimes he gets very emotional when the animals find homes. Listen Now Cats Actually Have A Language Con Slobodchikoff is studying animal linguistics. He's noticing patterns that indicate language among cats and even prairie dogs. He even says that someday we may have an App that will translate our conversations with animals. Listen Now Pet Restraints FAIL New research from the Center for Pet Safety reveals that the pet restraints tested have a 100% failure rate. Does this mean you shouldn't use them when traveling with your pet? Absolutely not. However, Lindsey Wolko has the lowdown on what works and what doesn't when it comes to keeping your pets safe in the car. Listen Now Don't Worry About Bugs In Your Food - They Were Intentionally Added Acclaimed European chef David Faure isn't worried about his diners finding a bug in their meals. In fact, he's started intentionally adding a variety of creepy crawlies to the dishes he serves at his restaurant. He says the biggest obstacle in his quest is finding a reliable local supplier of edible insects. Listen Now Eating Poop - Don't Knock It Not a week goes by without a listener calling to ask why their dog is eating other dogs' feces. While there are many theories as to why this happens, Dr. Debbie gets to the bottom of it and sheds light on the very common problem. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Flight Attendant Accused of Smuggling Animals An American Airlines flight attendant is taking legal action to clear her name after being accused of hiding rats in her underwear and sneaking them onto a plane. Louann Giambattista has filed a lawsuit seeking unspecified damages, claiming the accusations have left her with "debilitating anxiety." Giambattista's problems began last year when one of her American Airlines co-workers allegedly noticed an unusual bulge in the admitted animal lover's pocket. Listen Now Don't Kiss The Lions! That's the lesson for a Canadian teenager who was mauled by a lion in South Africa. Lauren Fagen was attempting to kiss the fur of a caged male lion at a wildlife rehabilitation center. Fagen says she's lucky to be alive.  She'll be out of the hospital next week. Listen Now Dog Owners Are In The Majority In The U.S. According to the latest American Pets Poll, 52% prefer pups as pets, while just 21% would rather have a cat. But few people believe in the stereotypical "crazy cat" lady or man. Just 23% think "cat owners are weirder than dog owners." Listen Now When Is "Too Many" A Problem? Dr. Debbie becomes concerned when a listener calls in with 11 dogs. By all outward appearances, this pet lover is out-of-control and unable to care for so many animals. For some, this crosses the line from animal care to animal abuse and into the world of mental and psychiatric problems. Listen Now Taming Aggressiveness After many dog maulings and attacks, the owner always says they never expected their dog to be so aggressive. "He's the nicest, friendliest dog I've ever known - I don't understand what happened." Alan Kabel understands a dog's mind, and he'll tell you why Fido gets mad. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Vet Locks Himself In Hot Car Dr. Ernie Ward aimed to raise awareness about the extreme heat a car can reach and the potential dangers it poses to dogs. So he "shvitzed it out" inside his Coupe, all the while videotaping it for posterity. He shares his experience with us. Listen Now Plastic Surgery For Pets Pets and their owners do tend to look alike after a while, but are some pet owners going to extremes to prove the point? Animal expert Kim Baker says we're seeing more and more pet owners taking their pets in for cosmetic surgery. Listen Now Pets Earn Frequent Flyer Miles Pets are being rewarded for loyalty not just by their owners, but by airlines, as part of a growing number of pet frequent flier programs. Dogs and cats that travel on a Virgin Australia domestic flight can now collect points for their owners that can then be used to obtain discounts on future flights. Listen Now Overtime for the Dream Team Can you give your pet Aspirin? Do our pets have the same blood as humans? How does Clicker Training work? Should there be a Cat Leash Law? Dr. Debbie, dog trainer Alan Kabel, and Britt Savage tackle these curiosities. Where else will you learn this stuff? Listen Now Going the Distance What are you willing to do or pay to keep your pet healthy? More and more of us are pawning our wedding rings just to afford the more expensive surgeries to heal our pets. Is $3000 too much to pay to fix Fido's torn ACL? Listen Now World's Most Luxurious Cat Food At $40 A Can British celebrity chef Simon Rimmer believes he's come up with the world's most luxurious cat food. He worked closely with animal experts to create a "once-in-nine-lifetimes" food experience featuring roasted duck, lobster sushi rolls, and Beluga caviar. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Pets Cause 3-Billion-Dollars Damage A new study reveals that American pets have bitten, chewed, licked, drooled on, and otherwise damaged more than eight million devices, resulting in repair and replacement costs exceeding $3 billion. The most commonly damaged device is the smartphone. Sandy Robbins shares the study's amazing results. Listen Now Poison Ivy Leaves of three, let it be. A good tip to avoid Poison Ivy, unless your dog gets it and gives it to you when you pet him. It's more common than you think. Joey Villani, the Dogfather, has Poison Ivy this week. He got it while grooming a dog. He has tips and cures for the itches. Listen Now Cat Ruins Intimate Moment What happens when an Animal Radio® listener's boyfriend is bothered by a cat when he's in the mood for love? Bottom line, your pet should not be in the same room when you're making love. Not only is it a "mood-spoiler," but according to Dr. Debbie, somebody could get hurt. Listen Now Pampered Pet Resort Costs $72,000 for Two Weeks Man's best friend now has a place to go if they need a couple of days away from their two-legged companions. The new Paw Seasons canine holiday resort in Long Ashton, England, offers dogs a luxurious vacation that comes complete with spa and grooming sessions. The actual owners, however, are not allowed to stay at the resort. The two-week package costs more than $72,000. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Kenny Lee Lewis Guests Guitarist for the Steve Miller Band, Kenny Lee Lewis, kicks off their Summer tour with a stop at Animal Radio. Kenny shares his Central California home with Sophie, a dog he fell in love with after he promised his daughter a pup if she got good grades. Listen Now Preventing Cancer Dr. Gerald Post is back with basic things you can do to reduce the odds against your pet. If Cancer is detected and treated early, many of our pets have a great chance at a healthy outcome. Dr. Post has the lowdown on pesticides and your pet. Listen Now Handicapped Pig Gets Wheelchair When a patient brought a deformed pig into Dr. Len Lucero to be euthanized, the doctor couldn't do it. He ended up adopting Chris P. Bacon and creating a wheelchair out of a child's Erector toys. Now the pig is styling with his new wheels and inspiring Facebook followers worldwide. Listen Now Tick Season Explodes There is no doubt that this tick season is more populated than ever. With typical spot-on chemical treatments losing their efficacy, we're turning to alternatives for fighting those little buggers. WAHL's Pat Kopischkie has great ideas when it comes to tick control. Listen Now Leash Aggression Without even knowing it, we can be training our dog to be aggressive. The tool that we rely on to restrain our dog may actually be at the root of problems. Dr. Debbie has a cure for pulling and growling issues. "It's all about thinking like a dog." Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Be Fearful if Fido is Flying in Cargo Bay Area NBC Investigative Journalist Elyce Kirchner reports on why the airlines are getting away with murder, literally. There is an incredibly high number of pets that don't come out alive after flying in the cargo compartment. We'll have the list of the top airlines and the worst. Listen Now "Pet" Dreams Puppy lovers have 'fessed up, they have "pet dreams" when they leave their four-legged friends behind on holidays. A new survey shows that eighty per cent of pet owners would cancel or change their travel plans if they could not trust someone to mind their pet. One in six pet owners would chat to their pet on Zoom while away on holidays. And one in seven confessed to having "pet dreams'' about their animal companions. Listen Now World's Ugliest Dog Contest Chronicled They're sooo ugly, they're cute. Vicki DeArmon has been the brainchild behind the wildly-popular Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair. Now she's taken the photos from these contests and printed them into a coffee-table book perfect for ogling. Listen Now Database Links Puppy Mills To Pet Stores The ASPCA announced the launch of a new Internet tool that allows consumers to link pet stores that sell puppies with USDA licensed commercial dog breeders. Consumers are able to search the database by pet store name, USDA license number, name of the breeding facility, or by zip code and specific breeds. They are hoping that this new tool will allow consumers to make informed decisions and refrain from buying puppies at pet stores. Listen Now Doc Halligan Fills-In TV Vet Dr. Karen Halligan fills in for the vacationing Dr. Debbie. She'll be answering your questions alongside Groomer Joey "Dogfather" Villani, Trainer Alan Kabel, and Communicator Joy Turner. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Jo Anne Worley Guests Not only is she an outstanding comedian, Jo Anne Worley (Laugh-In) spends much of her time caring for the animals. She's the sitting President of Actors and Others for Animals. This is her second time visiting the Animal Radio® Dream Team. Listen Now The Truth About Vaccinations Dr. Debbie finally puts an end to the vaccination confusion. How often do your pets really need Distemper, FLV, and Rabies shots and boosters? Diseases like Parvo can be fatal and avoided with a simple shot. Listen Now A Real Life Pet Entertainer Lee Day's business card says "Pet Entertainer." We had no idea what this really meant. So we decided to get her on the show to entertain your pets. Grab Fluffy and Fido and bring them around the radio for today's show. They may be quite entertained. Listen Now Chanel Designer Wants To Marry His Cat Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld says he'd marry his cat if it were legal. Lagerfeld recently announced he's "fallen in love" with his pampered feline named Choupette. In the past, he's been known to buy her an iPad and a silken pillow to sleep on. In an interview on CNN, he said he never thought he'd fall in love like this with a cat. Listen Now Is Your Dog Left or Right-Pawed? If your otherwise well-behaved dog barks at the postman, the reason could well be in its feet. Scientists have found that 'left-pawed' canines are more aggressive towards strangers than their 'right-pawed' counterparts. They tested dozens of pets with a special toy to find out which side they favored and then analyzed their behavior. Listen Now ...and our Dream Team is answering your pet-related questions. Read more about this week's show.

NASCAR's Cory Joyce Returns He's using his star power to create a better life for animals. Cory Joyce is working closely with the Humane Society of The United States as well as a local shelter in his North Carolina hometown. Listen Now Naming Your Pet Vinnie Penn believes that naming your pet is the single most important thing you will do. He has tips for avoiding embarrassing naming mistakes. And please, don't name your Chihuahua "Thor." Listen Now 77 lb Dachshund Sheds 40+ Pounds Obie, a Dachshund, has lost so much weight that he had to have skin removed so it wouldn't drag on the ground. His guardian, Nora Vanatta tells us the entire story, including the bitter custody battles with Obie's former owners. Listen Now Police Dog Wears Camera A technology used by the military is now available to civilian police departments. The Massachusetts Plymouth County Sheriff is using a camera mounted on a dog wearing a bullet-proof vest. While the camera may be helpful, who is going to go through hours of video featuring butt-smelling? Listen Now Salmon & Beef Flavored Yogurt For Dogs! Frozen yogurt makers in Germany are hoping their salmon and beef-flavored concoctions will be a hit. Twin brothers Roman and Raoul Krohn say they first got the idea when they were kids. Their grandma told them that feeding dogs regular ice cream could be deadly, so they eventually came up with a lactose-free formula that is perfect for pooches. Listen Now Basketball-Sized Hairball Veterinarians are optimistic that a 17-year-old tiger will fully recover after having surgery to remove a gigantic hairball. The tiger named Ty hadn't eaten for two weeks, and that's when owner Vernon Yates got concerned. Vets examined the 400-pound feline and realized it had a hairball the size of a basketball in its body. The hairball weighed four pounds. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

If Your Dog Is Fat - You Might Be Too Obesity troublingly affects about three out of five pets. This week, we're conquering this problem with stories, tips, and tricks to ensure your pet's health and happiness. You'll hear about the kitty that ate McDonald's every day, an inventor who created a cat treadmill, and a 77-lb. Dachshund. Listen Now Top Behavioral Problem Separation Anxiety not only tops the list of dog behavior problems, but the dog's owner or guardian most often brings it on without knowing it. Alan Kabel has sure-fire ways to teach an old dog new tricks. Listen Now Dogs Going Postal Dogs go postal in Los Angeles more than any other U.S. city. The U.S. Postal Service released rankings of the best and worst cities for dog attacks on mail carriers. Los Angeles recorded 69 incidents last year. San Antonio and Seattle round out the top three worst cities. Wichita, Kansas, is the safest city with just 20 attacks. Almost six thousand postal workers were attacked by dogs in 2012. Listen Now Worm Season With Mosquito season comes an increase in parasitic worms that could ultimately be fatal. Joey Villani tells you how to keep the skeeters away, and Dr. Joel Ehrenzweig tells listeners about over-the-counter products that are safe for your pets, but put a damper on any worm's day. Listen Now Dogs Are Good For Our Hearts The American Heart Association (AHA) has declared that pets, especially dogs, are good for a person's heart. Further proof that dogs are among the best friends a person could have. Dr. Glenn N. Levine, director of Baylor University's cardiac care unit, says, "Pet ownership, particularly dog ownership, is probably associated with a decreased risk of heart disease." Listen Now Plus, the Animal Radio Dream Team answers questions about your pet. Read more about this week's show.

A Dog and a Comic Walk Into A Bar Comedian Brian Donnelly has taken on a new job- as a dog owner. His MSPCA rescue pet named BT will soon be showing off his acting chops on the comedian's new web series called "StepFriendz." Listen Now Current Day Noah's Ark Rodolfo Almira and three friends have begun to build a replica of Noah's Ark. Apparently, Almira was inspired by the images of animals in need following Hurricane season. Following measurements laid out in the Bible, Almira and his three buddies set out to make the ark a reality. But the project hasn't been without its setbacks. Almira has been slapped with building code violations. Listen Now Pups at LAX Los Angeles International Airport launched the PUP program (Pets Un-stressing Passengers) a new customer service initiative designed to un-stress passengers. Spokesperson Heidi Huebner says the program revolves around passenger encounters with one of several dogs throughout LAX boarding gates, baggage claim, and ticketing lobbies. Listen Now Legal Marijuana A Problem For Dogs In Colorado Veterinarians are warning Colorado dog owners about the possibility of their animals overdosing on marijuana edibles. Health officials say they've seen a steady rise in marijuana toxicity cases as the drug becomes more readily available. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Once Upon A Flock Do Chickens make good pets? Lauren Scheuer thinks so. She got several chickens with plans of eventually eating them....until she named them. Now they're her pets, and she shares her house with them and a dog. Listen Now Man Retrieves Son's Finger From Dog's Stomach A Florida man gets criticized for his quick thinking after a caged dog bit his eleven-year-old's finger off. According to police, the boy stuck his left hand through slots in the cage, trying to pet the dog. The animal bit him, completely severing his pinky finger. The boy's father immediately pulled the dog from the cage and shot it, then cut into the dog's stomach, retrieving the finger. Listen Now Dog Hits Pedestrian With Car Police in Pennsylvania say a dog that was left in an unattended vehicle knocked it into gear, and the car struck a pedestrian. The pedestrian was found lying in the street. Police say the vehicle had been left running when the dog inside pushed it into drive, causing it to start moving slowly. Listen Now Pet Speed Dating These days, dating has gone to the dogs. At least, it did one night at the Cumberland County SPCA's first-ever Pet Speed Dating event. The shelter created the event to provide the pet-loving public an easy way to get up close and personal with many dogs and cats available for adoption. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

It's Me Or The Dog Dog Behaviorist Victoria Stilwell is back and debating the two schools of dog training. Do you really have to be mean to your pup to get him to do what you want? There's a change in the way we're getting our dogs to behave. Listen Now Ferrets Passed Off As Toy Poodles Shoppers may not be getting what they bargained for. Vendors at a market are trying to pass off bulked-up ferrets as toy poodles. The move has reportedly tricked several people into shelling out $150 for the rodents. Listen Now Fearful Fido What do you do with a dog that's afraid of everything from lawn sprinklers to rain showers? Alan Kabel explains the process of de-sensitizing your dog and re-training him to be a more confident animal. Listen Now Internet Vet Shut Down Dr. Ron Hines used to answer medical questions at his website. That is, until the state of Texas shut him down. Now, he's part of a lawsuit to restore his First Amendment rights. This litigation will set the tone for those that give advice, from Dr. Oz to Dr. Debbie. Listen Now Groomers Aren't Just for the Rich Dogfather Joey Villani has five great reasons why you should bring your dog to the groomer regularly....even if your dog doesn't need a haircut. Listen Now ...and our Dream Team is answering your questions. Read more about this week's show.

Cat Whisperer Self-proclaimed Cat Whisperer Mieshelle Nagelschneider shares her secrets to training cats. Yes, training cats! Believe it or not, Mieshelle says you can get a cat to do what you want. Listen Now Cancer Odds Did you know some breeds of dogs are predisposed to getting cancer? Dr. Gerald Post, founder of the Veterinary Cancer Center, is back on the air with a list of breeds with a better chance of getting certain cancers. Listen Now American Pets Are Obese Obesity isn't just a problem for Americans; it's a problem for American pets. According to the latest National Pet Obesity Awareness Day Survey conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, over half of dogs and cats in the U.S. are overweight. Listen Now Dog Makes Unplanned Trip To Ireland A New York woman says she was beyond upset after she found out that her dog made an unplanned trip to Ireland. It happened as Edith Lombardo-Albach was moving to Phoenix. She put "Hendrix," the six-year-old English Springer Spaniel, on a United Airlines flight. But just seven minutes before Hendrix's flight was scheduled to land, Lombardo-Albach got a call saying the dog had accidentally been sent to Ireland instead. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Freeze Dried Pets Don't want to honor your dearly departed pet by burying him in the backyard or putting her into an urn? How about freeze-drying your furry friend in their favorite position? That's the job of Anthony Eddy. He'll tell us how he got into the business of preserving pets. Listen Now Training iPad App Yes, there's an App for that! Train your dog to stop barking using Phillip Angert's new iPad application. When your dog barks, the iPad reacts with your pre-recorded video scolding him. If Fido is good, the app will reward him with a treat. Listen Now Happy Pee Animal Radio® Dog Trainer Alan Kabel shares the truth behind submissive urination. How can a listener stop their dog from rolling over and peeing whenever they come home from work? Re-training your dog can be a long process, especially if you're not training them correctly. Listen Now Small Dog Spinal Issues Some smaller dogs are predisposed to spinal nerve problems that could cause your dog to limp or lift his leg. In this case, a listener's Dachshund hops around for no apparent reason. Dr. Debbie explains how a small injury could have big results. Listen Now It's That Time Again for Shedding As Spring is Springing, we may notice our cats and dogs are starting to shed more. This is a natural process. However, Joey Villani details how you can make this year's shedding not so hairy. Listen Now What's The Safest Car For You And Your Dog? The Dodge Journey is at the top of a list of the best pet-safe vehicles for under $45,000. The car-shopping website Edmunds.com says the Journey features an in-dash cooler to store Fido's food and water. The Jeep Liberty is in the top five due to specialized pet travel gear such as crates and carriers. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

The Very Entertaining Subject of Tick Removal It may not be the topic around the water-cooler, but tick removal can be a very important subject when your own pet gets one. Simply yanking them out could leave saliva with Lyme disease in your furry friend. Dogfather Joey Villani says put that cigarette down and listen to his tip. Listen Now More Wag, Less Bark If your pup barks at everything from the mailman to a butterfly, then listen up. Dog Trainer Alan Kabel has quick and successful techniques for curbing the woof. Forget the bark collars. Alan helps you think like your dog. Listen Now Dog Shoots Man A Florida man is recovering after his dog shot him in the leg. Greg Lanier was in his truck with his dog when his four-legged friend kicked a loaded gun to the floor. The 380-pistol went off, shooting the 35-year-old in the leg. Listen Now Don't Mess With Her Cat! A woman has been accused of murdering her husband over a pet cat. The 56-year-old woman was allegedly protecting her cat when she stabbed her husband to death. This is not the first time that a woman has been accused of attacking her husband over a pet cat. In September, Texas resident Audrey Deen Miller was arrested after she allegedly shot her husband in the stomach when he threatened to shoot her cat with a pellet gun. Listen Now No Standards For Pet Travel Products New Jersey is the first state to consider requiring pets be restrained in vehicles. The Center for Pet Safety conducted a pilot study that showed that "the majority of pet safety restraints currently on the market do not provide acceptable protection in a crash situation," said Michael McHale, Subaru's director of corporate communications. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Foul Play At Westminster There are allegations that a dog was poisoned at the world's most famous dog show. PETA is even being questioned, as they have pronounced their hatred for breed shows like Westminster. We'll find out what's going on behind the scenes. Listen Now Animalwise Just how smart is your dog or cat? It turns out that scientific research says we've been underestimating the intelligence of a lot of animals. Take the earthworm for instance. Not only considered an animal, but able to make decisions. Virginia Morell explains why rat owners should tickle their rats. Listen Now Problem Chewing What can you do for the dog that chews on everything? This is one of the most common calls we get. It's actually a pretty simple problem to solve. Alan Kabel helps uncover the reasons dogs chew and how to re-direct their attention to more positive behaviors. Listen Now Charlie Sheen Buys Therapy Dog There's a 15-year-old Florida girl who didn't really know much about Charlie Sheen before this, but does now. The actor wired $10,000 to Teagan Marti and her family for a therapy dog to help rehabilitate from injuries sustained when she plummeted 100 feet from a Wisconsin amusement park ride. "I think they should name the dog Charlie," Sheen joked. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Bullet-Proof Vests For Dogs As our canine friends have become integral members of many police forces, it is becoming more apparent for the need to suit them properly for the dangerous job. That's where Sandy Marcal comes in. She's raising funds to help afford the $1000 a-piece vests that protect our working dogs. Listen Now Pet Food Stamps In these rough economic times, many pet owners are forced to abandon their beloved pets due to the inability to pay for their basic food supply and care. That's why Marc Okon formed a program to ship pet food to those who cannot afford it. He has all the details and how to apply for help. Listen Now "Bad Dog" Statute Leaves Yellow Stain on Building A giant statue known as "Bad Dog" is turning out to be good publicity for the Orange County Museum of Art. The 28-foot-tall piece of art by Richard Jackson depicts a dog lifting one leg and leaving a yellow paint stain on the side of the building. Museum spokeswoman Kirsten Schmidt tells the Orange County Register almost all of the reactions to the dog have been positive. However, some people do wish the pooch wasn't quite so anatomically correct. Listen Now The Cat's Peeing In The Dog Bed What happens when your pet relieves themselves in the wrong place? This is the most common behavioral problem we hear about. There is not always one standard solution. Dr. Debbie examines the different reasons cats and dogs do this. She'll help with a tough case of kitty revenge on the dog. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Cooking For Your Dog Why not cook something you and your dog can eat together? Nutritionist Gayle Pruitt joins us to discuss her book "The Dog Gone Good Cookbook" and share some of her favorite recipes. Listen Now Guppy Wingman Did you know guppies try to hang around uglier fish to improve their mating odds? And would you believe that someone actually got grant dollars to research and prove that, just like humans, fish have a "wingman" - or should we say "wing-fish?" Listen Now Talking Baby Talk Why are so many people inclined to talk "baby talk" to their pets? Certainly, our pets must think we're crazy. Admit it, you may have, at one time, maybe a long time ago, talked to your pet in this silly tone. Listen Now Luck Of The Dog A Utah man has his dog to thank for leading him to a winning lottery ticket. Steve Hughes stopped at a gas station in Boise, Idaho, to fill up, but his dog Stella locked him out of his truck. During his 45-minute wait to get back in his vehicle, Hughes decided to buy winning lotto tickets. Listen Now Dog Ownership Up - Vet Visits Down More Americans think of their pets as members of the family. But that doesn't mean the animals are getting better care. Two-thirds of the dog owners surveyed for the latest "U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook" say they haven't taken their pup to the vet even once. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Sleeping With Your Cat While we all love to sleep with our animals - few of us actually get a restful night. Mikkel Becker (Dr. Marty Becker's daughter) has some tips on getting a good night's sleep again. Listen Now Pet Career Boom Many of those who lost their jobs during the recession are re-inventing themselves in the pet industry. After all, it is the second fastest-growing sector. Mary Collister and her daughter started a business that sends pet goodies to your doorstep every month. Listen Now Find Out How Smart Or Dumb Your Dog Is A new online test uses the latest scientific research to tell you EXACTLY how smart or dumb your dog is. It costs $60. The test uses games to test your dog, then gives you a full breakdown of their intelligence and personality. Listen Now Public Restrooms For Pets Public restrooms in China will no longer be limited to just pedestrians. According to the Chinese-language news site Shenzhen Special Zone Daily, China plans to build bathrooms just for pets as part of new civility laws to keep city streets clean. Launched as a trial in the Luohu District of Shenzhen, the open-air pet restrooms are filled with sand and measure about 10 square feet in size. Listen Now Python Is Their Choice Babysitter A family in China is turning heads with their choice of babysitter. 13-year-old Azhe Liu is often watched after by the family's pet python, who measures 15 feet long and weighs 220 pounds. Dad Chan Liu explains that they've had the snake since Azhe was born, and the two have become inseparable over the years. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Fund A Pet Miracle Stacey Nutini has taken crowd-funding to a new high! Her one-person organization directs funds to those who need urgent veterinary care. She describes the kind of people who give dollars to help other pet owners and the vetting process. Listen Now Cleaning Up After Westminster Jerry Grymeck has the unfortunate duty of cleaning up after a bunch of dogs. Where do the dogs in Westminster stay? Hotel Penn, of course. Jerry is the certified Doggy Concierge. He spills the beans and behind the show gossip. Listen Now Stolen Cat Food Results In Grand Theft James Lawlor of Clearwater, Florida, was charged with Grand Theft after attempting to steal over $300 worth of cat food from a local Walmart. Loss prevention staff had detained James Lawlor for loading up a shopping cart full of cat food and then walking to his car without paying. Lawlor explained to officers that he had previously done this and stole the cat food to sell in what he calls "hustling." Listen Now Less Vet Visits = More Sick Pets New studies show that pet guardians are visiting the vet less and usually with sicker pets. Why this down-turn? The costs associated with vet visits, vaccines, and medications. Dr. Joel Ehrenzweig explains how you can protect your pet on the cheap. Listen Now Deer Droppings Send Message An angry artist in Canada is expressing his or her displeasure with the city's deer population with a deer statue covered in deer droppings. The Penticton, British Columbia mayor called it a "very effective way" of letting them know that there was a problem that needed to be resolved. Listen Now ...and of course, the Animal Radio Dream Team is answering your pet questions. Read more about this week's show.

Behind The Scenes At Westminster Quite possibly the largest dog show in the world, Westminster takes place Monday and Tuesday. Connie Newcomb takes us backstage and tells us what the public doesn't see. What are some people willing to do to win? Listen Now Westminster Hospitality The yearly tradition continues as Jerry Grymeck, the concierge at Hotel Penn in New York, tells us what strange requests he's getting from the Westminster show dogs and their owners. The Hotel Penn is where many of the primped pooches stay for world-famous dog shows. Listen Now Cancer, Not A Death Sentence As many as 70% of our pets will get cancer. But with medical technology advances, we can now treat our pets like we treat humans. And dogs can withstand chemotherapy better than humans. The founder of the Animal Cancer Foundation, Dr. Gerald Post, reminds us that information is the best weapon against this ugly disease. Listen Now Apps for Apes Workers in the Great Ape House at the Smithsonian's National Zoo have found a new, socially engaging outlet for their six orangutans: an iPad. Animal Keeper Becky Malinsky says the idea comes from a non-profit called Apps for Apes, which uses the program in 13 other zoos worldwide. Malinsky says the National Zoo started last year with a donated iPad, and their orangutans' repertoire has now grown to more than ten apps, including musical instruments and cognitive games. Listen Now Your Pet's Poop Is Guide To Health Your dog or cat's poop is a kind of Google on your pet's health. Picking it up isn't only is the neighborly thing to do; it's for the best interest of all pets in the community. According to Veterinary Parasitologist Dr, there are some potential health issues for people. Dwight Bowman, including roundworm, salmonella, and whipworm, which can be spread to other dogs, even the parvovirus, to those not vaccinated. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Foster Failure Even with the best intentions, sometimes we open our homes to a foster pet only to realize the cat or dog has found its way into our hearts and homes forever. Viveca Stone Berry is the "Foster Queen," whose mission is to promote fostering. Are you ready to help reduce the amount of animals that are euthanized simply because they're homeless? Listen Now Can A Pet Have Sentimental Value? A case that may reflect a pet owner's worst nightmare has made its way to the Texas Supreme Court, which must decide if a family can place sentimental value on a pet that was accidentally euthanized. In 1963, Texas adopted a "sentimental value rule," which provided that the parties involved could sue if the property was wrongfully destroyed and had no market value. Listen Now Are Your Pets Making You Tired? Many people can't seem to get a good night's sleep and already have stress, caffeine, or snoring spouses to blame. But researchers at Mayo Clinic's Center for Sleep Medicine find another surprising reason behind those tired eyes: dogs and cats. There's a solution to the problem without kicking your furry friend out of bed. Listen Now The Truth About Heartworm You don't have to go far to find different theories on Heartworm and preventative medicine. While some people think it is a waste of money, most professionals will agree that it just makes good sense. Animal Radio's Dr. Debbie tackles the myths and lays down the cold, hard truth. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

A Dog Saved My Life What makes a cop quit his job to become a writer about animals? Seems like quite a transition. Author and Animal Radio friend Allen Anderson is back to share his story and tell us what he's been up to since a brain aneurysm changed his journey. Listen Now Are Your Pets Making You Single Boston Globe reporter Stephanie St. Martin may have identified a correlation between animal ownership and being single. She says it's time to stop freaking out your dates by showing them all the pictures of your "children" on the first date. Listen Now There's A Card For That Hallmark created a Valentine's Day card for your dog. Vinnie Penn Doesn't get it. Why would you send a card to your dog? Do you also open it and read it to them? Wouldn't that Valentine-themed dog treat be a better choice? Listen Now Finding The Right Pet Sitter With so many pet businesses and services dotting the landscape these days, it's hard to know which one is the right one for you and your pet. Stacey Cohen has tips to help you choose pet sitters. Listen Now Cat Carries Contraband Into Prison A cat in Brazil was locked up after it was found carrying contraband into a prison. Attached to it were drills, a mobile phone, an earphone, a memory card, batteries, and a phone charger. A spokesperson for the prison says they are investigating the matter. However, they say, "It's tough to find out who's responsible" since the cat obviously cannot speak. The cat was taken to a local animal shelter, where it received medical care. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Westminster Opens Door To Mixed Breeds No longer is a dog required to be a purebred to compete in some of the Westminster events. David Frei explains that mixed-breed dogs still won't be eligible to compete for "Best In Show." Listen Now Spring Brings Nasty Parasites Did you know fleas can transmit tapeworms to your pet, robbing your furry friend of 25% of its daily nutrition? Dr. Joel Ehrenzweig has the low-down on tapeworm and how to avoid being a statistic. Listen Now War Yorkie Smoky was a 4 lb. Yorkie found in New Guinea during Bill Wynne's WWII tour of duty. The little dog flew 150 reconnaissance missions and holds the title of the First Therapy Dog. Bill recounts his stories about Smoky quite lucidly as if they were yesterday. Listen Now Puppy Bites Deodorant Can - Causing Huge Explosion An explosion that caused thousands of dollars in damage to a house is being blamed on a puppy and a can of deodorant. It turns out Zeus bit a hole in a can of spray deodorant and then rolled it near the gas fireplace. The can blew up when the boiler came on and caused more than $3,000 in damage. Listen Now Dependence on Technology Goes To New Heights A survey has found that about a fifth of the country may be taking their dependence on technology to new heights. The poll asked a group of pet owners to imagine a scenario in which they would either give up their pet for a month or their smartphone for a month. 20% of the respondents admitted they would rather hold on to their gadget and go without seeing their animal. Listen Now Tailless and Troubled The Manx is a special breed of feline that has no tail. You may have known that...but did you know the Manx comes with its own set of medical problems and predispositions? Dr. Debbie helps a listener treat a Manx with incontinence issues. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

The Secret Service Dogs Did you know that the Secret Service has many dogs that have jobs protecting the President and other dignitaries? Maria Goodavage went on assignment to learn about the agency's furry employees. Listen Now Pets May Benefit The Mentally Ill An ever-growing body of evidence reinforces the health benefits of animals and pets. A new study published by BMC Psychiatry explores the role pets had in support, self-management, and personal networks of those suffering from long-term significant mental illness (e.g., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia). Their research concludes, "Pets should be considered a main rather than a marginal source of support in managing long-term mental health problems." Listen Now National Answer Your Cat Day…Really? Pet World Insider Robert Semrow really loves his pet holidays. No holds barred; he's going all-out for National Answer Your Cat Day. The only thing crazier than that is his answers. "Someone get Bellevue on the phone!" Listen Now Campaign Funds Used For Traveling Bunny We've heard of all kinds of campaign spending abuses, but this is new. During an investigation of California Representative campaign expenses, the House Office of Congressional Ethics uncovered that the lawmaker had used $600 in campaign funds to cover airfare expenses for his family's rabbit. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Doggie Drive-Thru Amanda Brown opened a drive-thru fast food restaurant for dogs ONLY. Your dog can get the popular Bow Wow Bowl with their choice of protein, vegetables, or grains in an edible bowl. Bane and Vader's opened their flagship store in Easton, Pennsylvania. Amanda plans to franchise this idea, which came to her when she saw research showing that humans often ordered food for their dogs when going through a fast food drive-thru. Listen Now Microchips and Misconceptions While microchips are an essential part of pet identification, they will not help you find your missing pet unless it's picked up and scanned by a veterinarian or shelter. That's why Dr. Debbie recommends a visible tag and perhaps a GPS collar. Only a GPS collar will allow you to track your pet's location using your smart device or computer. Listen Now Shop Cats Do you know of a business that has a token cat? You'll certainly appreciate the "Shop Cats" in Tamar Arslanian's new book. She features the most notable shop cats in New York stores in pictures and written words. For instance, the wine store cat with his own chiropractor, the cat that is a mascot at a dog boutique, or the occult shop cat that totes a magic wand in her mouth. Listen Now Will There Be an Animal in the Whitehouse? A philanthropist wants to do something to make the Trump White House more like those in the past: She wants Donald Trump to have a presidential pet. The very wealthy Lois Pope, who is also the widow of National Enquirer founder Generoso Pope, announced that she was giving a ten-week-old golden retriever/poodle mix puppy to the Trumps. Listen Now Clothes Wearing Alligator Gets Pardoned Following months of negotiations with Florida state officials, Mary Thorn has been given a permit that will allow her to keep her pet alligator, Rambo, who she says is fully trained and not a "normal" gator. Mary dresses Rambo in human clothing to protect his sensitive skin. Listen Now Stealing Your Pet's Pain Killers Stealing from a sick animal may seem a low way to get a drug fix, but it happens frequently. Opioid abuse is rampant, and a survey from Baylor College of Medicine reveals a surprising number of pet owners steal their pets' medications, especially painkillers, namely the drug Tramadol. Listen Now App Replaces Trump Pictures with Kittens If you love animals, you should find this pretty amusing. Google now offers an extension for its Chrome browser called Make America Kittens Again. It replaces pictures of President-elect Donald Trump with adorable kittens. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Comedian Seth Herzog Guests NatGeo's science/comedy "Duck Quacks Don't Echo" will put to the test everyday common misconceptions. Host Seth Herzog joins us and shares some of the experiments he's doing with animals. Listen Now Pet Food Recalls On The Rise Nothing is certain in life except death and taxes and, increasingly, pet food and treat recalls. On average, there is one every 11 days. The Food and Drug Administration received over 2,500 consumer complaints regarding pet food and livestock feed. Listen Now Training Therapy Animals Paula Scott trains and certifies therapy dogs, cats, miniature horses, and plenty of animals you wouldn't necessarily think of as therapy pets. Science proves that even purring a cat can make you feel better and promote healing. Listen Now Grave Contains Remains of Animals Who Were To Be Cremated The lead lawyer in Morgan County, Tennessee, says he is looking to press charges against the owner of a pet crematory after investigators found a mass grave with dozens of dead cats and dogs. But he's still waiting on the results of the investigation. Listen Now Two Heads Are Better Than One - Ask This Cow! Sana Saida, whose name translates into "Happy New Year" in Arabic, was born in Morocco. The bovine has a condition called Polycephaly, which means having two heads, and is more common among turtles and snakes, but Sana Saida is said to be healthy. Listen Now NY Mayor Wants to Replace Horse Carriages With Electric Cars New York City's mayor wants to change how tourists get around Central Park. At a news conference, he said he wanted to replace Central Park's iconic horse-drawn carriages with electric cars. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Picking Up After Your Dog Becomes Law A company called Poo Prints claims Dallas and other cities can cash in on dog waste through DNA tracking. Dallas City Council members chuckled Wednesday when they heard about the plan, but the company is dead serious about the opportunity to find irresponsible dog owners by lab testing turds. Eric Mayer describes to listeners how his plan works to clean up your city. Listen Now Dogs Shot By Police on The Rise In response to an alleged increase in dog shootings by police officers, several people, including owners of murdered pets, are using Facebook as a tool to increase awareness of the problem and seek change to police policies toward dogs. Videos of dog shootings are all over the Internet, and it seems like there's a new one every week. Listen Now Underwater Dogs Award-winning photographer Seth Casteel, also known as "The Underwater Dog Guy," has been featured in National Geographic, The New York Times, Time Magazine, Good Morning America, The Today Show, and now he's giving listeners his best-selling book on Animal Radio. Listen Now Millionaires Have Gone To The Dogs Dogs and Millionaires have a lot in common. They are relentless opportunists (especially when it comes to rewards). They come in all shapes, sizes and colors. They defend their turf. And in general, they don't like cats. Perhaps that explains a new survey that shows that millionaires are far more dog-friendly than the rest of Americans. According to a Spectrem Group study, 58% of millionaire pet owners have a dog. Listen Now Rent-A-Puppy Business is booming for a Brigham Young University student who recently started a puppy rental service. Jenna Miller says she's had more than 100 rentals since August. The business has stirred some controversy, with the Utah Humane Society concerned about the dogs' health. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Best Dog Tricks On The Planet Babette Haggerty has trained Jack Nicklaus' Golden Retriever to bark the number of his major tournament wins on command, Curt Gowdy's Rottweiler to say, "Go Reds," and Jimmy Buffett's Maltese to dance on cue to "Margaritaville." Now, she's sharing her best on Animal Radio. Listen Now There's An App For That Steve Pelletier is a techie, a dog lover, and a fitness fanatic. Once an Economist at the Reagan White House, he's now focusing his attention on the pet obesity problem in the U.S. He's invented a smartphone app that can help your dog stay in shape. Listen Now Designer Breeds Darlene Arden busts the myths surrounding the Cava-Poo-Chon breed. This toy dog is supposed to look forever young and live to 20. These designer breeds are actually a waste of your hard-earned money and can be racked with health issues. Listen to what Darlene has to say before you run out and get the latest fad-dog. Listen Now Does My Dog Understand Time? How much does our dog know? Can they tell time? Alan Kabel schools us on separation anxiety and what is believed to be the canine perception of time. When you leave the pack, your dog may think you're never coming back. Listen Now Trained Dogs Prevent School Violence While some say school safety hinges on guns, cameras or alarms in classrooms, Mark Gomer and Kristi Schiller think specially trained dogs should take point in preventing violence in schools. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Jobs That Bite Jeremy Brandt has a strange and scary job. One minute, he'll be doing dental work on a lion. Next, he'll be tattooing a bear. It's all part of a day's work as a Nat Geo WILD television host. Listen Now Does Your Cat Have A Smart Phone? Yes, there's an "app" for that.  Just released, the Human-to-Cat Translator. This intriguing app says it can translate human words into cat language. Speak a word or phrase into your phone, and the app plays back a collection of meows, supposedly translating your English into Catlish. When we tried a translation for "come here," our cat tester showed a little curiosity but not enough to actually get off the couch. Of course, even if the app does work accurately, there's a good chance your cat will ignore you, anyway. Listen Now St. Francis of Bloomberg Ex-Mayor Bloomberg's daughter makes a pretty decent living riding horses. Georgina Bloomberg continually wins big stakes in riding competitions. But now she's taking time off to have a baby with her boyfriend. She has more info on the big Tinsel & Tails event. Listen Now Medicines Safe For Humans May Not Be Safe For Pets When people feel pain, they often reach for common medicines such as aspirin or Motrin. However, NSAID use in pets carries risks as well as benefits. Pet owners must be informed about possible side effects, including those that could signal danger. Listen Now Ahhh, The Holidaze Are Here. It's time to endure another year with drunk old Uncle Ned. This year, Vinnie Penn defends the right of the family dog to have a sock hanging from the fireplace mantle. This doesn't end well. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

120 lb. Rodent as a Pet When Jackie Coleman Wren wanted a pet, she preferred something a little more exotic. That's why she got a Capybara. This strange animal looks like an oversized Guinea Pig or Gopher and apparently has an affinity for chewing everything. Listen Now Dogs and Their People Stacie Grissom started a subscription business that delivers a box full of toys and treats to your dog every month. The business morphed into a wildly successful celebration of dogs and a new book featuring charming stories about the connections with our furry friends. Listen Now Mutts Rock Pet World Insider Robert Semrow loves mutts! He's counting down the five reasons mutts make better pets. Did you know that a mixed-breed dog is healthier than a purebred? Listen Now Dark Personality Traits of Pet Owners A research team at Oakland University wanted to know how two traits, narcissism, and borderline personality characteristics, are related to levels of attachment to both traditional pets and unusual or exotic pets. The results did not turn out the way the researchers thought they would. Lori Brooks reports on the results. Listen Now Nice Kitty Kitty A 34-year-old Houston, Texas, woman who had a fully grown male tiger and three tiger cubs roaming free in her home was charged with child endangerment. Apparently, Trisha Meyer allowed the four tigers, a fox, a cougar, a skunk, and several monkeys to roam freely in her house around her home-schooled 14-year-old daughter. The landlord kicked the woman out of the home after police notified him of what was going on. He said she had only lived there for three weeks, but he had no clue that someone could do that amount of damage to a home in that short amount of time. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Eric Lost 140 lbs. Thanks to His Dog Are you one of the 50 million people who have seen the viral video of Eric O'Grey and his dog Peety? Eric used to weigh 320 lbs. But his doctor prescribed a dog that saved his life and helped him lose 140 lbs. Eric's on this week's show to tell his story. Listen Now Pig or Service Pig? A Winnipeg, Canada, woman's fight to keep her pot-bellied pig as a service animal isn't over yet. The City Council is holding off voting until early December on Emily Hydor's appeal to keep her pig named Podgy. The delay will allow the city more time to gauge whether the pig qualifies for an exemption to the responsible pet ownership bylaw as a service animal. Listen Now Unlikely Companions Dr. Laurie Hess is back. This time, she has some wacky stories about strange animals that people call pets. From monkeys to wallabies, you'll be thankful you chose a normal pet. Listen Now Finding the Right Petsitter More and more pet owners are taking their pets with them when they travel, but not every destination is pet-friendly, and your time away from home may require you to enlist the services of a professional pet sitter. If you have ever had to find a pet sitter, you know putting someone else in complete charge of your furry family members is not easy. Animal Radio News Director Lori Brooks has a checklist for finding the perfect caregiver. Listen Now Fear Free Vet Visits Steve Dale is back on Animal Radio to talk about creating painless and fun visits to the veterinarian. Follow his tips, and your pet will enjoy visiting the vet, and you won't dread it. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Every Dog Deserves A Second Chance Bestselling author Jon Katz is back on Animal Radio. A few years ago, he was on top of the world. Then came the end of his 35-year marriage, and he went broke. He needed a second chance. Along came Frieda, a Rottweiler-shepherd mix that also needed a second chance. Listen Now Suffering in Silence Often, when an animal is sick, it goes unnoticed. Some believe that's because they can't show weakness in the wild. Animal Radio Veterinary Correspondent Dr. Marty Becker will tell you what signs to look for that indicate your furr-kid is sick. Listen Now Pot Plant Pesticides Killing Animals Half a million marijuana plants have been recovered on US Forest Service land so far this year. However, it's not what they're growing but how they're growing that's killing wildlife, tainting water supplies, and endangering hikers. NBC affiliate Elyce Kirchner reports. Listen Now Tinsel and Tails Celebrity Photographer Mike Ruiz is here to talk about the Celebrity Catwalk event and what some well-known "A-list" celebs are doing to help companion animals nationwide. Listen Now FDA To Regulate Pet Food The Food and Drug Administration proposed rules that would govern pet food production and farm animal feed for the first time. The proposal comes years after the biggest pet food recall in history. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

This Dog Knows A Thousand Words You may have heard about Chaser, the Border Collie that not only knows 1000 words but can understand sentences. John Pilley got Chaser when he was 72, and has chronicled this amazing story. Your dog may be just as brilliant! Listen Now What Does "Made In The USA" Really Mean? Meat or plant-based "jerky" pet treats have been tied to mysterious illnesses in thousands of dogs, according to the FDA. Bernadette Dunham, director of the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine, said, "This is one of the most elusive and mysterious outbreaks we've encountered." Listen Now Unlikely Loves Jennifer Holland has released another book highlighting strange and unusual animal relationships. You'll hear about the unique pairing of an Elephant and a Sea Lion. But that's not the weirdest. You'll have to listen to believe it. Listen Now Jet Set Vets Dr. Cindy Bressler has a unique job. She's a vet for the other side of the tracks. This entrepreneur started the country's only private jet, ride-along-vet concierge pet service. For a small fortune, between $1,200 and $15,000 an hour, she and her team wild administer IVs, drips, and handle any other medical issues. Listen Now ...and the Animal Radio Dream Team will be answering questions about your pets. Read more about this week's show.

Does This Collar Make My Butt Look Big? The very amusing Dena Harris joins us as she parodies all the self-help diet books with tips to reduce the fat in your cat. You'll hear purr-actical tips like, eat whatever you want, throw it up at 3am right in the middle of the bedroom floor. Listen Now What The Dog Knows Cat Warren trains cadaver dogs to look for dead bodies. How does she do it? And just how good is your dog's nose? So good they can sniff a corpse at the bottom of a lake for 100 years. Would "Ladybug" the Animal Radio Stunt Dog be good as a cadaver dog? She likes rolling in dead stuff. Listen Now Anal Glands It's all fun and games until someone gets squirted in the eye. Dogfather Joey Villani suggests you go to your veterinarian if your dog's glands need to be expressed. But just in case you want to do it on your own, he'll tell you what you need to know first. Listen Now Smelly Cat, It's Not Your Fault It's not just a Friends song. It's a real problem that can be solved using stuff you probably already have in your pantry. We'll have the reasons and the cures for your smelly cat. Listen Now Pet Insurance Now Offers Hereditary and Congenital Coverage Cats and dogs in nearly 30 states are now eligible for full hereditary and congenital coverage from several insurance carriers. Hereditary and congenital coverage is a relative newcomer to the insurance field. Listen Now Wine For Cats Wine drinkers in Japan can now share a glass with their feline friends. B&H Lifes is releasing a wine for cats. While the wine doesn't actually contain any alcohol, it is made from Cabernet grapes. It is also blended with vitamin C and catnip for a mixture that supposedly tastes similar to red wine. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Air Hollywood Actress and animal advocate Megan Blake is teaching dogs to fly on airplanes using a Hollywood studio set and aircraft simulator. For $300, you can desensitize your pup from all the noise and vibrations that happen on a real plane. Listen Now One Cool Black Cat As Halloween approaches, we examine all the strange superstitions, from Black Cats to Fat Rats. Self-proclaimed expert Kim Campbell Thornton shares the stories behind the myths and legends. Listen Now Condoms For Cats & Dogs A new website is supposedly offering an unusual way to control the pet population - condoms for cats and dogs. It claims to offer a special brand of protection dubbed Animal Instincts. But anyone trying to purchase a pack of the condoms will quickly realize they're out of luck. As soon as they click on one of the links, a message pops up telling potential customers: "C'mon, there's only one real fix, spay or neuter your pet." Listen Now Cat Competes For National Pet Insurance Award A Northern California family cat is in the running for a national pet insurance award. After racking up a $1,200 vet bill being squashed in a garage door incident, Ariel, the Carter family cat, is now in the running for the "Most Unusual Claim of the Year." Listen Now Skunk Haven An Ohio woman is trying to prove that skunks aren't the "smelly little creatures" people may think they are. Deborah Cipriani has converted her home into the country's only rescue center for domestic skunks. She has 50 skunks that have free reign of her five-bedroom house - dubbed Skunk Haven - and some of them even sleep in her bed. She also hosts an annual animal lovers event known as Skunk Fest. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Date Me, Date My Dog 70% of female respondents would marry their dog, according to comedian Leigh Anne Jasheway. Leigh Anne barks up all the major problem issues single women with dogs face when trying to mate and relate with a human male - and how to successfully have sex in front of the dog without causing dogus-interruptus. Listen Now More Ha Ha What's better than one animal-loving comedian? Two, of course. Joey Camen and his multiple personalities visit with Animal Radio. He shares an exciting, tail-wagging story about the relationship he had with Snoopy, his shelter dog. Listen Now Mice Sing To Protect Themselves We all know that birds sing, but did you know mice do as well? And the songs vary, so mice that live in the jungle of the Amazon may sound one way. Mice in Detroit have also been studied, and they sound another way. I'm not sure how mice in LA might sound. Listen Now Where Is Your Hard Earned Money Going? Vinnie Penn takes a look at the Watchdog Report. It details exactly how much money animal-related non-profits make and how they spend it. Once you hear the truth, you may think twice before making a donation to your favorite charity. Listen Now Cat Uses The Toilet A cat-lover has amazed animal experts by teaching his furr-ball "Salem" to use a human toilet. 29-year-old Luke Evans became fed up with the puss using a smelly litter tray in his second-floor flat. So he trained a nine-month-old cat to go to the toilet in his bathroom by offering cheese-flavored treats as a reward. Listen Now Cheap Guy Finishes First Joey Villani has been grooming dogs since he was a toddler (FDR was president…we think). He's sharing more secrets to grooming your pet with stuff you have around your house....like Downy fabric softener, Gold Bond medicated powder, Vinegar, Bounce dryer sheets, and corn starch. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Barking Blondes Anna Webb and Jo Good are perhaps the two funniest ladies you've ever heard. They have an affinity for our "fur-kids" - and they'll tell you how two bitches taught two bitches to survive without men. Listen Now Flea Fodder Once again, we are having a record year for fleas. And this has, quite by accident, become the thrust of today's show. Dr. Cristiano Von Simpson and "Dogfather" Joey Villani offer up great advice for ridding your pet of fleas once and for all. Can you use Listerine or Vinegar as effective protection? Dr. Debbie busts the myths. Listen Now Rent-The-Chicken.com Phil Thompkins and his wife Jenn are quite the entrepreneurs. They've successfully launched a chicken rental business just in time for a renewed interest in the feathered fowl. "Chickens are the new dogs," and many simply like having the egg supply. Listen Now Zero-Tolerance For People Wearing Animal Prints A wildlife park in the U.K. has started banning animal print clothing after zookeepers noticed the fashion choice was confusing the animals. The Chessington World of Adventures has even brought in "Animal Print Bouncers" to make sure visitors don't get in wearing anything patterned after zebras, giraffes, leopards, tigers, or other wild animals. Listen Now What's "Stud Tail?" Did you know it's pretty common for unaltered male dogs (and cats) to be missing hair on the base of their tail? It's just another one of the problems when you fail to neuter your dog. You can even avoid some cancers by snip-snip-snipping. Listen Now Purr Therapy A new cafe in Paris offers patrons a dose of stress relief with their coffee. The Cat Cafe has a dozen resident cats to provide "purr therapy." The manager there says a cat's purring has been shown to help relieve arthritis or rheumatism and to lower blood pressure and heart rate. It seems the whole concept is a hit. So many people showed up for the cafe's recent opening that about 300 had to be turned away. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

10 Pets That Inspired Great Songs From the Rolling Stones to Queen to Norah Jones, they all wrote or sang songs about the important animals in their lives. MNN.com's Laura Moss has the stories behind the music. Listen Now Fatal Canine Disease Spreads from Ohio Veterinarians across the country are stumped about a new disease, similar to Parvo, that seems to have originated from a service dog in Ohio. So far, 10 cases of Circovirus have been reported. Animal Radio Veterinary Correspondent Dr. Marty Becker reports on the latest findings and how to prevent exposure. Listen Now Blind Man Washed Into Culvert, Dog Jumps In After Him A blind man was walking his dog along a Denver street when epic floodwaters surged and knocked him over. Ronnie Webb was washed into a deep culvert as his guide dog frantically paced the edge. As Webb called for help, his dog jumped in after him. Listen Now Are Monkeys Smarter Than College Students? Britt Savage reports a study showing our primate friends may be sharper than college students. Researchers tested Duke University students and monkeys. Guess who scored higher on the exams? Let's just say the results didn't boost morale at Duke. Listen Now Spend Eternity With Your Pet New regulations will allow New York animal lovers to spend eternity with their pets. Officials have finalized rules allowing pet cemeteries to accept the cremated remains of humans. The cemeteries can bury pet owners' ashes as long as they don't charge a fee for it and don't advertise human burial services. Listen Now Dog Shoots Owner Dogs are supposed to be man's best friend, but one pooch in Fort Worth, Texas, is being blamed for shooting its owner. The accident occurred when a 78-year-old woman was watching television. Apparently, her dog walked by a shotgun that was at her side, knocking it over. When it hit the floor, the gun discharged and struck the woman in her left foot. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Get Your Licks on Route 66 We're checking in with Susan Sims and actress Ashely Bell as they trek across America on the annual adoption tour. Ashley shares the stories behind her pets at home. Listen Now My Dog Eats Drywall We hear it all at Animal Radio. This week, we'll be helping a listener's dog to stop eating the sheetrock walls. And we'll uncover the reasons our dogs have chewing fetishes and give you solutions to stop this kind of bizarre behavior. Listen Now Dare to Look Ripley's Believe It Or Not is back and Edward Meyer shares the most unusual and unique animal oddities. From the skateboarding cats to the man who married a donkey, you'll hear the strange but true stories. Listen Now Bone Trick How did this dog get one of those bones stuck on its lower jaw? Animal Radio's Dr. Debbie had the pleasure of removing it. She'll explain what happened. Let this serve as a lesson about the safety of bones. Listen Now For $349 Your Dog Can Learn To Fly Security checks and bumpy air are all in a day's training at a Hollywood film studio to prepare your dog for a safe and calm flight. The Air Hollywood class is billed as the first in a real fuselage on a sound stage with a simulator that mimics takeoff, turbulence, and landing. Listen Now Can You Train a Cat? Mikkel Becker may be the daughter of Dr. Marty Becker, but she stands on her own, especially when it comes to Positive Reinforcement. Mikkel utilizes this technique to train dogs AND cats. She'll share ways we can use Positive Reinforcement with our pets and husbands. Listen Now Bogus Service Certificates & Vests A service dog is highly trained to perform a specific task for its disabled owner. For people wanting to take their pets wherever they go, a brisk business has developed in the sale of bogus service animal certificates and vests. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Dog To English Translator Leave it to the Swedes and Tomas Mazzetti, Project Manager of "No More Woof," a device that straps onto your dog's head and translates their thoughts into one of eight different voices. While Tomas admits the technology is far from perfect, he has been able to raise over $10,000 on a crowd-funding website. Listen Now Choosing Pets Over Kids It may come as a surprise, but young couples opt to have furry kids instead of human children. While the causes are still unknown, Ron Reich's research suggests income and social media may play a role. Listen Now A Vet's Home Life with a vet is never dull, according to Scott Reeder. His wife is like most veterinarians. She ends up bringing home animals that otherwise couldn't be adopted. If you walk into a veterinarian's house, you're likely to see animals that may be missing limbs, can't see, or can't walk. Listen Now Pampered Pets Get Private Club in Las Vegas VIP lounges and entrance fees are commonplace in Las Vegas, but now there is a social club downtown just for pampered pets and their owners. The view from the outside is what most of us are likely to see. You need a special key card to get inside the Hydrant Club private park. Listen Now My Dog Can't Sleep Yes, just like humans, dogs can also suffer from REM sleep disorders. Since they can't tell you, this disorder can go unnoticed, taking years off your pup's life. Dr. Debbie tackles one such case this week. And of course, the entire Dream Team is here to answer your pet questions. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Our Pets Can Get Dementia Dr. Jennifer Bolser confirms that our dogs and cats do indeed suffer from the same mental disabilities that humans do. From depression to OCD, some of the same medicines we use are also valid for our companion animals. Listen Now Connecting With Your Pet Technology changes the way we live, usually for the better. Dave Clark created a device that allows you to connect with your pet while you're away using a smartphone. This new gadget has raised nearly $80,000 on IndieGoGo, partly because of its ability to dispense treats to your dog with a press of a button on your phone. Listen Now Didn't See That Bite Coming A new dangerous Internet video fad is becoming more popular. The scenario is often a baby or child playing with a dangerous or aggressive dog. Dogtime's Nina Stively explains how the urge to create a viral video can put our children in harm's way. Listen Now Possible Jail Time for Stealing A Cat A New York woman is potentially facing jail time after refusing a plea deal for stealing a cat. Nancy Glassman admits to taking a cat named Cosmo from a bagel shop and driving it to a local animal shelter. She believed the resident cat was being abused because of sores on its ears and its scruffy-looking fur. She was later arrested and charged with burglary. Listen Now Recalled Treats Back On Shelves Dog treats linked to hundreds of animal deaths and thousands of illnesses are returning to store shelves soon. The treats will be sold again despite having no firm evidence of what caused the deaths and sicknesses. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Lost Cat Pet Detective How does someone become a certified cat detective? Kim Freeman became certified, and now she helps cat owners find their lost furr-balls. She's even authored "How to Find Your Lost Cat." Kim will share her story and even give us tips on finding the lost kitty. Listen Now What Are The Odds? Amram Shapiro spent the better half of a decade compiling "odds" for his book. He has a fascinating peek at the probabilities that govern every aspect of human and animal life. Odds are 5 to 1 you'll be hit by lightning before you're stung by a bee, wasp, or hornet. Listen Now Pets Create Stronger Relationships and Bonds to Communities A new study from a developmental psychologist at Tufts University found that young people caring for a pet tend to have stronger social relationships and bonds to their communities. Listen Now Many Ways To De-Stress Your Pets Pets get stressed out just like humans do. Whether your dog or cat suffers from separation anxiety, fear of going to the vet, or general stress due to a hectic home environment, calming your companion is integral to maintaining her health. Thankfully, there are many natural ways that you can help your pet unwind before the stress takes its toll. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Open Wide Dr. Peter Emily is a human dentist AND a wild animal dentist. One day, you'll find him putting a crown in a person's mouth; the next, he might do a root canal on a polar bear. What happens when the anesthesia wears off one of his four-legged patients? You'll have to tune in to find out. Listen Now Dogs Good For Our Hearts The American Heart Association (AHA) has declared that pets, especially dogs, are good for a person's heart. Dr. Glenn N. Levine, director of Baylor University's cardiac care unit, said, "pet ownership, particularly dog ownership, is probably associated with a decreased risk of heart disease." The AHA writes that owning a dog "may help reduce cardiovascular risk," perhaps due to regular walks and activity. Listen Now Strange Pets Occasionally, we run into listeners with bizarre pets. This week, Nancy King tells us about her life with an Octopus. That's right. Not as cuddly as a dog, but perhaps as smart. Why would anyone want an Octopus for a pet? You'll find out this week on Animal Radio. Listen Now Going Postal Dogs go postal in Los Angeles more than any other U.S. city. The U.S. Postal Service released rankings of the best and worst cities for dog attacks on mail carriers. Los Angeles recorded 69 incidents last year. San Antonio and Seattle round out the top three worst cities. Wichita, Kansas, is the safest city, with just 20 attacks. Almost 6000 postal workers were attacked by dogs last year. Listen Now ....and of course, the Animal Radio® Dream Team, Dr. Debbie, trainer Alan Kabel and groomer Joey Villani are answering your pet questions. Read more about this week's show.

Whose Poop? Advances in forensic science have created a worldwide effort to catch up with people who don't clean up after their dogs. Many apartment owners are now requiring in their leases that dogs of tenants submit to DNA testing. There's actually a company to do the dirty work.  PooPrints offers special leak-proof containers and spatulas to make the job easier. A thumbnail-sized sample of the suspect poop is sent to the lab ... and that leads back to the dog and owner. Listen Now Setting A Fine Example What happens when a father/daughter trip to Chuck E. Cheese turns into a high-speed chase after dad steals a puppy? Britt Savage reports. Listen Now Pet Spending At All-Time High The American Pet Products Association reports we're shelling out nearly 60 billion bucks a year on our animals. Research shows empty-nesters are now spending more on their four-legged children. Listen Now That Chicken Bit Back Farmers in Georgia have found a chicken with teeth. Researchers say a recessed gene may be responsible. It is possible that this isn't the only case of toothed fowl. Listen Now Tapeworm Talk It's not a pretty topic, but it's a conversation we need to have. Tapeworms. It's not Dr. Debbie's favorite parasite (listen to find out what her favorite is), but a nuisance nonetheless. Dr. Joel Ehrenzweig tells you how to identify and treat tapeworms. Did you know you can get'em? Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Mother Nature Is Trying To Kill You Animal Planet's "Monsters Inside Me" host Dr. Dan Riskin is stirring up the airwaves with the truths about nature's ugly side. No wonder he is so entertaining. Maggot eggs got into his brain, and he lives to tell you why parasites really rule the world. Listen Now Animals In Vineyards Sara Bennett's family business, Navarro Vineyards, uses tiny sheep to keep the weeds under control. But that's not the only thing they do. Hal asks hard-hitting questions like, "What sound does a sheep make … and isn't that the same sound as a goat?" Listen Now No More Sniffles The second phase of clinical trials for a new vaccine is done, and the results are very promising. If it's successful, you'll take just four doses over 12 weeks to keep your cat allergies at bay for as long as two years. Listen Now Dogs Detect Cancer Before Medical Testing A dog's sense of smell is said to be 200,000 times better than humans. That's why dogs work detecting bombs and drugs, and now they're being trained to use those fantastic noses to detect certain health issues, like the moment a person with diabetes starts to have a hyperglycemic incident. Now, researchers at a UK charity, Medical Detection Dogs, are working on training dogs to detect the odor of cancer. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Hero People We kick off this week's Hero People series by showcasing humans going above and beyond the call of duty to improve our animals' lives. Greg Mahle spends much of his time on the road delivering death row animals to adoptable homes. Listen Now Performance Standards for Pet Travel Safety Products Nearly all of us drive with our dogs in the car. And now there are car seats to ensure safety in case of a sudden stop or an accident. The Center for Pet Studies has teamed up with Subaru of America to test car harnesses. They looked at seven harnesses using a specially designed crash test dog. Listen Now Who's the Smartest While Dr. Diana Reiss doesn't like to compare animal smarts; she is quick to explain just how intelligent dolphins and elephants are and their ability to recognize themselves in the mirror. Listen Now Carrot Dating Another genius idea or just a dud? The jury is still out on Carrot Dating. The premise is meeting singles online while bribing them with a cute little puppy. What if your date showed up holding a cuddly puppy instead of flowers? Listen Now They Get A Bad Rap Pit bulls get a bad rap. They're not necessarily vicious dogs unless trained to be… or simply untrained. Every decade has its poster dog. It used to be the German Shepherd and the Rottweiler. Let's break the myth today and save these dogs from their owners and bad press. Listen Now Separation Anxiety Alan Kabel has proven ways to treat and cure separation anxiety. It all starts with desensitizing your dog to the subtle cues you give them when you're about to leave the house. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Pet Bucket List Our Hero Person this week is Riina Cooke. When she discovered her dog had a terminal illness and only months to live, she created a bucket list of stuff to do with "Romeo" before he passed. She shares how the idea originated and some fun things she did with her dog in his last moments. Listen Now Where Animals Go To Retire Ellie Laks spends her days caring for a menagerie of abandoned or neglected animals. From cows to kitties, her property is home to over a hundred animals that will live their life out at the Gentle Barn. Listen Now Loss Prevention While microchips are a great form of identification, Ulvid Osis created a pet registration system that works in tandem with microchips to help owners find missing animals using a Google search. He'll explain how Fetch ID is peace of mind. Listen Now Titanic Pets While many documentaries and films have been made about the Titanic, none really focused on the many animals aboard the doomed crossing. Tammy Trujillo suggests you have tissue handy when you hear about one owner who wouldn't leave her dog's side. Listen Now Mexico Is Going To The Dogs Over the past decade, Mexico's middle class has been growing, creating a new market for all things dog. This includes everything from clothing and accessory boutiques to spas and restaurants that feature doggie snacks. Sales of pet-related products in Mexico have grown an average of 13 percent a year, to $2.2 billion last year. Listen Now Colorado Is The 39th State To Ban Greyhound Racing The governor of that state has signed it into law. Yes, on marijuana, no on pit bulls, and now the end of Greyhound racing with a new ban. At least seven states still allow greyhound racing. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Preventing And Treating Cancer In Your Pet Cancer is no longer a death sentence for dogs or cats. Amazing technological breakthroughs allow vets to treat cancer fairly effectively. Dr. Gerald Post from The Veterinary Cancer Center is back to answer questions. Listen Now Traveling With Your Dog Kelly Carter has traveled the world with her Chihuahua, Lucy. Now she's telling us the best places to take your pet. She even has tips for making the journey more pet-friendly and comfortable. Listen Now Bad Vet Imagine taking your dog to the vet and he falsely tells you that your furry-companion needs to be euthanized. Then imagine the vet didn't euthanize the dog but used it for transfusions without your knowledge. This allegedly happened in Fort Worth, Texas. Listen to this horrendous case as the details develop. Listen Now First Ever One Million Pibble March There's been a Million Man March and Million Mom March, and a few weeks ago, there was the first-ever One Million Pibble March on Washington. What's a Pibble?  It's one name for Pit Bulls. Thousands of pit bull advocates convened on the West Lawn of the U-S Capitol. The message was to create stronger laws against dogfights and stop legislation restricting ownership of certain dog breeds. Listen Now Creating Memories and Keepsakes Amy Cecil is bringing back the fun of paint-by-numbers to the pet world. You can easily create a masterpiece painting of your pet with Amy's "Easy 1-2-3 Art" system. You'll start by uploading a picture to her website. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

I Could Pee On This Our special guest is Francesco Marciuliano. He's the author of the Sally Forth comic strip that runs in over 700 newspapers and a series of pet poetry books that he says he transcribed from his cat. Not bad for a kid with a "Bucket List" at ten years old. You'll laugh until you hurt! Listen Now $1 Million Lawsuit Over Dog That Was Supposed to Euthanized The story of the vet in Fort Worth, Texas, who is charged with keeping several dogs alive who were supposed to be euthanized so they could be used as blood donors, keeps getting more unbelievable. The clinic has been shut down while it is being investigated for animal cruelty and faces a $1 million lawsuit. Listen Now Stuffed Pet Look-a-likes Jennifer Graham has a pretty cool business. She makes customized stuffed animals that look just like your pet. You'll submit front and side-view pictures of your furry companion. Eight weeks later, the UPS man will deliver a stuffed version of the family pet. Listen Now There's Panda-Monium in China There is panda-monium going on in pet shops all over China. Dogs that look like the country's prized pandas are all the rage. It takes about two hours to turn a dog into a panda, and the look will last for about six weeks before it is time for a touch-up. Listen Now IKEA Helps Homeless Animals In Showrooms The showrooms of two IKEA stores currently feature life-sized cardboard cutouts of shelter dogs available for adoption. Shoppers interested in the dogs can scan their unique QR codes to learn more about them. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Being A Vet Saved Her Life When Veterinarian Dr. Sarah Boston noticed a lump on her body, she insisted that it was cancerous, even though other doctors said no. She did an ultrasound at her office and validated her worst fear. The lump was removed, and she is now cancer-free. Listen Now What Would You Do For Your Dog? When this week's Hero Person found out his pup had Ventricular Tachycardia, a rare condition where a dog has a rapidly fast and sometimes irregular heartbeat, Scott Clare drove almost 5,000 miles and spent over $10,000 to treat Buck-O. Listen Now Bit 100,000 Times Brian Barczyk had 30,000 snakes at home. Yes, he was bitten 100,000 times. And yes, the ladies dig it! While Brian told people he breeds snakes, he actually said he cleaned snake poop for a living! He ran one of the world's largest snake breeding facilities and hatched over 30,000 baby snakes a year! They sold to beginner hobbyists and advanced collectors. They had snakes as cheap as $25 all the way up to $125,000 a piece. Listen Now Removing Sap Animal Radio Dogfather Joey Villani has several foolproof ways to get tree sap out of your dog's hair and that hard-to-get-to spot between their pads. No need to cut out the hair if you use the right stuff. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.