Animalia the Podcast

Attorney at law Amy Khan shares her personal and professional experience with the lack of enforcement of the Dog Control Act of 2014.​This conversation provides so much information about the Act and what Class A dog owners should know and take responsibility for. The spotlight is also shone on law enforcement, local government and the judiciary. Music: Who Let The Dogs Out by Anslem Douglas

On this Carnival Friday edition of Animalia, we speak with three young vets who share their thoughts on the ageism and sexism that pervades their profession. It's a healing conversation that we hope vets and pet owners alike can learn from.The #RescueMe is a precious 7mo kitten called Jeorge and Natasha gives her commentary on the arrest and charge of the man who killed Lexi, a dog in Tobago.Listen on www.animaliathepod.com or wherever you get your podcasts.Music: Santimanitay by Carl & Carol Jacobs

On Episode 2, we chat with PhD candidate Mark Gibson of the Nurture Nature campaign about conservation and the wildlife trade in Trinidad and Tobago. Although the situation is dire, and made worse by the pandemic, there is hope of progress with NGO advocacy and improved legislation.This week's Rescue Me is Precious, a kitten being housed at the Animals Alive shelter.Listen on animaliathepod.com or wherever you get your podcasts!Music: River Dome Down by Andre Tanker

On the first episode of Animalia for 2022, Natasha speaks with Kean Moses who tells us about the first insurance policy just for pets in Trinidad and Tobago! So start the year off right by providing the coverage your pooch deserves with Pet Guard from Guardian General.Our #RescueMe is Reign, the regally handsome male pup from Tobago who's in need of a forever home.Visit animaliathepod.com for all everything Animalia or listen on your favourite podcast platform.Music: Raf Robertson & Carl Jacobs perform Forward Home by Andre Tanker

After a full year of Animalia, Natasha is taking a break. But before she does, she gives thanks to all the guests by sharing a bit about each of the 27 episodes. You can listen to every one on the website (www.animaliathepod.com) or your favourite podcast platform. Join us again for more amazing content about animals in a couple months!

Tobago is the setting for my conversation with Veronika La Fortune, the founder of Being with Horses and Healing with Horses. Veronika talks about her life growing up with animals, about working with show horses and how Tobago inspired a new journey with her equine rescues.Veronika's #RescueMe is a sweet adult dog called Faith.

This week we have an amazing rescuer from San Fernando who is doing all she can to save every dog or cat in need.Michelle Mahabir is the founder of Helping Paws Society, a non-profit organisation led by this mom and her 3 kids who, propelled by their love for animals, try to help as many animals as they can and promote spaying/neutering to help curb overpopulation, homelessness and dumping of animals. She also swears by the #adoptdontshop mantra.Michelle offers one of the cats rescued by Kitty Haven Sanctuary as the featured #RescueMe animal.

This week we have another doctor...but he's not a vet! Dr. Brendan Bartholomew talks about how a childhood encounter turned into a lifelong love for animals, his passion for rescued dogs and the solutions to the problem of stray animals in Trinidad and Tobago.Natasha's commentary is about the animal cruelty cases that continue to occur, without punishment, despite amended legislation. Enforcement of the law is a must! *NOTE: The amended fine for animal cruelty is TT$200,000 not TT$100,000 as mentioned in the podcast. Apologies for the error!

This week's guest Kristen Agostini of Trinidad Pet Crematorium talks to Natasha about cremation as an option for pet parents to pay respect to their beloved family members. Natasha's commentary focuses on the too-often reviled black cat and the #RescueMe segment is back with two gorgeous dogs up for adoption.

This week in Animalia's shortest episode, Natasha gets personal on the anniversary of her cat Toro's death. She shares letters written to officials and the press on the matter and the lack of enforcement of existing animal cruelty laws.In loving memory of Toro 2011-2020

In what is our longest episode to date, Natasha has a fascinating conversation with Dr. Carla Phillips-Savage. She's the first and only aquatic animal veterinarian in Trinidad and Tobago! The story of how she came to the field and why she stayed, as well as the connectedness of the aquatic and land environments, is reason enough to make it to the end. Natasha also provides commentary on the mass poisoning of stray dogs on a beach in Tobago.Download and listen wherever you get your favourite podcasts...and make Animalia one of them!

This week on Animalia, Natasha chats with Karissa Ali, a young woman who's passionate about animal rescue, whether domestic or wildlife. Her passion is mirrored by Marguerite Miranda (who you may have heard on Ep14) who assisted in the rescue of a dog whose parents were homeless addicts admitted to rehab. The #RescueMe segment is back as Karissa talks about 5 kittens that will be up for adoption soon. We're happy to share these similar and powerful stories that we hope will inspire you to do whatever you can to protect animals. Enjoy! Don't forget to like and share.

This week Natasha discusses the alarming rate of suicides among vets in the United States with Lisa Rawlins, a vet technician of over 20 years. You'll also hear an excerpt of a TedTalk by Dr. Melanie Bowden. In her commentary, Natasha shares about a recent experience at the vet, causing her to reflect on how pet parents don't consider what the vet has to endure every day at work.Listen,like and share wherever you get your podcasts!

What's the difference between vegan and vegetarian? This week Animalia explores the lifestyle that is veganism through the eyes of people who have made the transition. Natasha also shares her why for starting the journey towards veganism. Listen everywhere you get your podcasts!

This week's episode is a tribute to Natasha's beloved Pierre, gone way too soon and an excerpt from the Animal Justice Academy coursework focusing on animal sentience. Listen on Spreaker, SoundCloud, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

This week on Animalia, we drive home the adopt don't shop mantra with Khalid Burke, the founder of Adopt Movement, a regional organisation dedicated to finding every homeless cat and dog in the Caribbean a home. Khalid talks about his life growing up around animals, the adopt event turned into a movement, why adoption is so critical and the advantages of adopting vs shopping for a pet.Khalid's #RescueMe features three dogs in Kingston, Jamaica looking for a forever home.

We kick off 2021 with Mika Raguaa, also known as DJ Mika, a T&T import from poland by way of Germany. She was lured to Trinidad because of her love for soca music but she's also full of love for animals.Mika talks about her observations of animal welfare in T&T and shares some of her own experiences. Mika also has an NGO - Lost and Found TT - which aims to collect and preserve memories to enrich communities and families.​Mika also has two adorable kittens for adoption in the #RescueMe segment.

It felt like a decade but 2020 is finally coming to a close. All the previous Animalia guests are sharing their experiences, challenges, lessons and hopes for 2021. There are a few extras like a Chewy poem and Natasha is this week's #RescueMe (lol) but all in all, a fitting tribute to the year that was and the first 15 in what I hope will be many, many more episodes of this special podcast.

On this episode, Natasha chats with the vibrant and passionate Marguerite Miranda, the proprietor of Pet to the Vet, an ambulance and transport service in Trinidad. It's gruelling work but how does she manage to keep up her winning attitude and infectious laugh? You'll have to tune in to find out! Natasha's commentary is about her solution to the stray animal population and she has a slightly different take on the #RescueMe segment. Animalia can be heard via the website (animaliathepod.weebly.com) or your favourite podcast platform.

This week on Animalia, we borrow an excerpt of a discussion on animal welfare on the long-standing, award-winning Eye on Dependency, hosted by Garth St. Clair and Natasha Nunez. One of the guests on the Sunday evening staple on i95.5FM was Elspeth Duncan, founder of Venus: Doggess of Love, who address many of the fundamental problems and solutions to the woeful structure in place for the care of protection of animals in Trinidad and Tobago.

Episode 12 is for Madison and for all animals who have lost their lives to the abuse, neglect or cruelty of humans. Listen to citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, including the host, express their concern about the recent judgement in an animal cruelty matter involving a black dog from Embacadere.

Make no bones about it, Dr. Emily Cappon of Sunnyview Vetcare is serious about nutrition! That's the topic this week - what to feed and not to feed your dog, cat or bird. Dr Cappon was so generous with information, there was no room for Natasha's commentary!Dr. Cappon's #RescueMe is an 8wk old male kitten she's fostering called Liam.

This week on Animalia, Natasha welcomes Amanda Ahloy to talk about her fostering journey. She's a self-professed Kitty Whiskerer who has adopted six of the cats she fostered! Amanda also talks briefly about animal abuse, which Natasha also touches on in her commentary, supplemented with a story from Sally whose dogs were tortured by a neighbour. The connecting link between most animal cruelty cases in T&T is that they are not prosecuted to the fullest nor slightest of the law.Amanda's #RescueMe is one of the residents at TTSPCA, a sweet one-year-old cat called Mae.#Animalia is a weekly podcast created, hosted and produced by Natasha Nunez, with love in the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.FB - Animalia the PodcastIG - @animaliathepodEmail - animaliathepod@gmail.comAnimalia Logo - Aaron CharlesTheme Music - Pond5

We're back from a little break and we're hitting you straight away with all the information about feline urinary tract disorders. Our guest Dr Shirelle Sammy breaks down the signs, symptoms, treatment and prevention. Dr Sammy also talks about her personal experience with unruly pet parents as well as how she became an accidental gooner. Brooklyn, a 6mth old ginger is Dr Sammy's #RescueMe animal up for adoption.#Animalia is a weekly podcast created, hosted and produced by Natasha Nunez, with love in the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.FB - Animalia the PodcastIG - @animaliathepodEmail - animaliathepod@gmail.comAnimalia Logo - Aaron CharlesTheme Music - Pond5

This week we celebrate all our guests as we present *drum roll* the Best of Animalia! You'll hear a snippet of the interview from each guest from episode 1 to 7, based on one of three themes - adopt don't shop, spay and neuter and relationships - all topics that ran through the podcast thus far. Our #RescueMe is also a flashback...remember the brother cats Krispin and Angelo? They still haven't been adopted yet, so we're making another push for them to find a furever home.#Animalia is a weekly podcast created, hosted and produced by Natasha Nunez, with love in the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.FB - Animalia the PodcastIG - @animaliathepodEmail - animaliathepod@gmail.comAnimalia Logo - Aaron CharlesTheme Music - Pond5

We're pleased to welcome our second male voice to Animalia...and this one gets double points for being a vet! Dr Marc Driscoll prefers cows and sheep as patients, is a lecturer at the UWI Vet School and is the President of the TT Vet Association. He gives his opinion on the adopt vs shop debate and tells us the story behind his cats' interesting names.His #RescueMe story involves three abandoned kittens in need of a safe, loving forever home.#Animalia is a weekly podcast created, hosted and produced by Natasha Nunez, with love in the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.FB - Animalia the PodcastIG - @animaliathepodEmail - animaliathepod@gmail.comAnimalia Logo - Aaron CharlesTheme Music - Pond5

Pawfection awaits when Lyselle Harripaul is around! She's the dog groomer who is our guest this week, discussing all the ways in which the field is rewarding and harrowing. We also get into animal welfare issues such as adopting vs purchasing a pet. At Animalia we're all for the #adoptdontshop philosophy but it's good to hear alternative views.There's no #RescueMe segment this week but previous unadopted animals will be featured again on the socials.#Animalia is a weekly podcast created, hosted and produced by Natasha Nunez, with love in the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.FB - Animalia the PodcastIG - @animaliathepodEmail - animaliathepod@gmail.comAnimalia Logo - Aaron CharlesTheme Music - Pond5

In a slight departure from the regular format, Natasha interviews her husband Garth St Clair about his love-hate relationship with animals in general, and the cats they've had together in particular. This episode will make you laugh, cry and give you a little insight into the ways a 20+ year friendship and almost 9yr marriage has survived the differing views of each partner.There's no #RescueMe segment this week but previous unadopted animals will be featured again on the socials.#Animalia is a weekly podcast created, hosted and produced by Natasha Nunez, with love in the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.FB - Animalia the PodcastIG - @animaliathepodEmail - animaliathepod@gmail.comAnimalia Logo - Aaron CharlesTheme Music - Pond5

We finally have a vet! On Episode 4, Dr Nicole Straker of Pet Well TT Mobile Veterinary Services talks about shelter medicine as opposed to regular practice, the other benefits of spaying and neutering and shares details about a must-have item for every pet owner. Dr Straker's #RescueMe is an adorable kitten Lila, the offspring of a stray, who is ready for lots of snuggles in a furever home.If you think Animalia should feature a vet visit once a month, let us know! In the meantime, enjoy this episode...we talked so much, there may be a part two!#Animalia is a weekly podcast created, hosted and produced by Natasha Nunez, with love in the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.FB - Animalia the PodcastIG - @animaliathepodEmail - animaliathepod@gmail.comAnimalia Logo - Aaron CharlesTheme Music - Pond5

Episode 3 is full of fire with Tamara Ramlagan, a fiercely passionate woman when it comes to animals. She talks about her work with the Animal Rescue Association, the state of dog breeding in Trinidad and Tobago and gives some helpful tips on doggie care. In the #RescueMe segment, Tamara advocates for one of a litter of 4 month-old pups that was dumped in garbage. #Animalia is a weekly podcast created, hosted and produced by Natasha Nunez, with love in the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.FB - Animalia the PodcastIG - @animaliathepodEmail - animaliathepod@gmail.comAnimalia Logo - Aaron CharlesTheme Music - Pond5

Episode 2 features cat rescuer and foster extraordinaire Kimlin Harrilal, the founder of The Cat Sitter. Kimlin shares her lifelong desire to rescue, the joys and pains of fostering, how she started her cat sitting business and begs pet owners to do their part in reducing the stray population by spaying and neutering. Kimlin also suggests one (or more) of the five kittens you can hear in the background of her interview in the #RescueMe segment. #Animalia is a weekly podcast created, hosted and produced by Natasha Nunez and with love in the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.FB - Animalia the PodcastIG - @animaliathepodEmail - animaliathepod@gmail.comAnimalia Logo - Aaron CharlesTheme Music - Pond5

The first episode features artist and animal rescuer Elspeth Duncan, the founder of Venus Doggess of Love. Elspeth shares the inspiration behind Venus, the magic of street dogs or pothounds as they're known as in T&T and makes a case for the #adoptdontshop rallying cry. Elspeth also gives the nod to brother cats Krispin and Angelo in the #RescueMe segment. #Animalia is a weekly podcast created, hosted and produced by Natasha Nunez and with love in the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.FB - Animalia the PodcastIG - @animaliathepodEmail - animaliathepod@gmail.comAnimalia Logo - Aaron CharlesTheme Music - Pond5