GUEST: Jason Hribal, historian and author, most recently of "Fear Of The Animal Planet: The Hidden History Of Animal Resistance," which examines zoos, circuses and aquariums, and the array of circumstances behind the animal escapes and attacks that occur at those facilities.
Jason Hribal, an author who holds a PhD in history, discusses his latest book, "Fear Of The Animal Planet: The Hidden History Of Animal Resistance," explores zoos, circuses, aquariums & comparable operations and specifically examines tragedies like the orca Tilikum drowning her trainer at Orlando's SeaWorld, the incident where that Siberian tiger leaped over the fence at the SF Zoo and mauled three visitors who'd been tormenting her, and circus elephants who trample, gore or otherwise attack their trainers, often leaving other humans nearby completely unharmed as they focus their fury on the trainers. A significant portion of the conversation with Hribal was framed around the book's sections dealing with the treatment and behavior of animals at Ringling (and other circuses), as this show was pegged to the opening that day of Ringling's Tampa engagement (a "Talking Animals" tradition since the show's inception in 2003). (www.AKpress.org/2010/items/fearoftheanimalplanet)
ALSO: We spoke briefly with Bryan Wilson of Animal Rights Foundation of Florida (ARFF), one of the organizers of protests of the Tampa Ringling performances. (www.AnimalRightsFlorida.org)
MUSIC: Neko Case's "I'm An Animal," Dandelion Collective's "The Bear Who Wanted To Fly," Florence & The Machine's "Dog Days Are Over," instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Pink Floyd's "Sheep"
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January 12
2011
GUEST: Melanie Sue Bowles, founder-director of Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary and author
, most recently, of "The Dogs of Proud Spirit." (Full disclosure: I provided a blurb for the book jacket.)
Melanie Sue Bowles, who alongside husband, Jim, founded Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary on a five-acre parcel in Myakka City, Florida--
it now sits on 320 acres in Mena, Arkansas--discusses some of the history and evolution of Proud Spirit, as well as what takes place
in a given day caring for nearly 70 horses. (Over the years, The Bowles have cared for some 300 horses.) She also spoke about her t
ransformation from cat person--indifferent, at best, to dogs--to such a devoted, passionate dog lover that she and Jim slowly took i
n dog after dog at Proud Spirit, until the number of dogs living with them (including a sizable contingent of Corgis) in their home
reached 12, generally the canine population they maintain to this day. This saga, and others, constitutes the core of Melanie's thir
d and latest book, "The Dogs of Proud Spirit. (www.HorsesOfProudSpirit.com)
ALSO: We spoke briefly with Rick Medina of Animal Based Charities (ABC), about the organization and about two events they wer
e holding this weekend. (www.AnimalBasedCharities.org)
MUSIC: The Specials' "Do The Dog," EELS' "I Like Birds," King Khan & BBQ Show's "
Animal Party," instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: U2's "An Cat Dubh" {in Gaelic: The Black Cat}
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January 19
2011
Michael Mountain, previously the president (he was also a co-founder) of Best Friends Animal Society, discusses his new venture as co-founder and editor-in-chief of Zoe, a newly-launched online news magazine.
Michael Mountain, the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Zoe, an "online news magazine for people who care about the animals, nature and our planet," discusses the genesis and chief objectives of this new venture, partly through the prism of his previous experience as president (and a co-founder) of Best Friends Animal Society, which operates what's widely considered the country's largest animal sanctuary for domestic animals in Kanab, Utah. Beyond Zoe presenting articles and editorials on an enormous array of animal, nature and environmental topics, Michael explained that it also plans to produce projects and campaigns, such as StubbyDog, which seeks to rehabilitate the image of pitbulls--give the breed a good name, as it were. Michael also addressed some of his editorials, including those dealing with Michael Vick (and why he believes Vick is, so far, ineligible for the tale of redemption many are trying to script for him) and three instances of President Obama's blind spots in the realm of animal welfare.
(www.ZoeNature.org, www.StubbyDog.org)
ALSO: We spoke briefly with Jim Jablon of Wildlife Rehabilitation of Hernando County--who, as a gambit to raise awareness and funds for his facility--pledged to spend the month of January in the lion enclosure, with two lions, Ed & Lea. (www.WROHFlorida.org)
MUSIC: Franz Ferdinand's "The Lobster Quadrille," The Bevans' "Panting Dogs," The Neville Brothers' version of "Fly Like An Eagle," instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE:The Beatles' "I Am The Walrus"
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January 26
2011
GUEST: Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick, a Kenyan author, conservationist and expert on raising and reintegrating orphaned elephants into the wild, work she's engaged in for some five decades.
Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick, a Kenya-based, internationally-renowned expert on rehabilitating and rearing wild animals, discusses how she grew over the years to specialize in reintegrating orphaned elephants in the wild, work she's performed since the 50s, much of that time under the auspices of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, named for her late husband. Dr. Sheldrick explained the challenges of caring for these orphaned elements, including feedings every three hours and needing to teach them all sorts of behaviors their mothers otherwise would have--and, most notably, that many of these baby elephants arrive there so traumatized that they've lost their will to live.
Considered the first person to have perfected the milk formula for infant milk-dependent elephants, Dr. Sheldrick discussed the intricate procedure for creating the milk, and the trial-and-error experimentation over the years that led to the successful formula. She also noted the circumstances through which these elephants become orphaned--chiefly, ivory poaching, which Dr. Sheldrick feels has steadily escalated in recent years. She also outlined the around-the-clock duties of the keepers who look after the orphan elephants, and what she looks for in hiring keepers--and how the elephants are the final arbiters, deciding which keeper candidates will get hired.
(www.SheldrickWildlifeTrust.org)
ALSO: We spoke briefly with Barbara LaPresti, who's leading the effort proposing an anti-tethering ordinance in Hillsborough County that would limit the manner and length of time that dogs could be tied up outside.
MUSIC:Adrian Belew's "Elephants," Syd Barrett's "Effervescing Elephant," Antibalas' "Elephant," instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE:Clarence (Gatemouth) Brown's version of "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens"
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February 2
2011
GUEST: Marc Maron, a veteran comedian, cat fanatic and host of the immensely popular and celebrated podcast, "WTF."
Marc Maron, a veteran, highly accomplished comedian and cat fanatic whose podcast, "WTF," has become enormously popular and celebrated--its profile ratcheting up several notches in the wake of a major Sunday New York Times feature and a spotlight in Rolling Stone--discusses the cats that live in and around his, the fabled "Cat Ranch," from which "WTF" emanates. He also describes what the cats do for him in his struggle with anger and various issues routinely addressed on the podcast, or how observations about the cats' behavior can serve as jumping off points for discussions of his own. Maron addresses the way that, as the conversations unfurl over an hour-plus, they often land in profoundly poignant territory, whether it's the two-part episode with Louis CK (a powerful meditation on how friendships evolve over decades), the chat with Maria Bamford where exploring the rage of her ex-boyfriend became about Maron's rage or the episode with Mike DeStefano, who chose WTF as the setting to fully reveal for the first time that he's HIV-positive and recount the period that his wife was dying, then died, of AIDS. He also explained the factors and traits that have made him a great listener--not usually the forte of first-rate comedians.(www.WTFpod.com)
ALSO: We spoke briefly with Jennifer Anderson, program director at Animal Coalition of Tampa (ACT), about their forthcoming Neuterathon (neutering up to 500 males at $5 animal) and plans to provide $10 microchipping at the forthcoming Talking Animals Festival. (www.actampa.org)
MUSIC:John Doe's "There's A Black Horse," Iron & Wine's "Rabbit Will Run," instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE:Prince's "When Doves Cry"
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February 9
2011
GUEST: Dr. Jennifer Conrad, a veterinarian and Director of The Paw Project, which educates the public about the harmful effects of feline declawing.
Dr. Jennifer Conrad, a veterinarian and Director of The Paw Project--an organization that seeks to educate the public about the harmful effects of feline declawing, to end the practice of the declaw surgery, and to rehabilitate big cats that have been declawed--discusses the declaw surgery, making it clear that it actually involves amputating parts of the cat's toes. (The Paw Project recently issued a 34-second video that addresses the fuzzy understanding many people have about declawing cats.) She also addresses the reasons people typically have the declaw procedure performed on their cats--and the ill effects on the cat and its behavior--and the array of alternatives to it. Dr. Conrad touches on the way veterinarians--and key veterinarian associations--tend to be in favor of the declaw surgery, and that many freely admit performing the procedure is a cash cow. She notes the separate but perhaps equal issue of big cats being declawed, and that part of The Paw Project's mission is to perform reparative surgery on those declawed cats; she was about to do her 76th surgery. There was also discussion of how many countries in Europe and elsewhere that have outlawed the declaw surgery. (www.pawproject.org)
ALSO: We spoke briefly with Marti Ryan, of Hillsborough County Department of Animal Service, about the forthcoming PAWfect Valentine event and some of the Department's other imminent events. (www.hillsboroughcounty.org/animalservices/)
MUSIC:Mike Doughty's "Year Of The Dog," Jeffrey Lewis & The Junkyard's "Good Old Pig, Gone To Avalon," My Morning Jacket's "Cobra," instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE:Stray Cats' "Stray Cat Strut"
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February 16
2011
GUEST: Rick Chaboudy, co-founder and executive director of The Suncoast Animal League.
Rick Chaboudy, co-founder and executive director of The Suncoast Animal League--a non-profit, no-kill animal rescue agency located in Palm Harbor, FL--addresses some aspects of how the agency operates by way of recounting, step-by-step, what Suncoast did upon receiving an influx of 51 new dogs from Georgia less than 48 hours before this interview. Upon arrival in Florida, all the dogs immediately had foster homes to go to, a measure of Suncoast's infrastructure and the way such social networks sites as Facebook and Twitter have greatly enhanced the organization's ability to communicate (& update) their needs at various stage of such rescue efforts. Rick also discusses adoption and introduced listeners to three adoptable animals he'd brought in studio: the beautiful white cat Snowball and impossibly cute 8-week-old puppies, Buddy & Smokey. He also describes Mutt March, Suncoast Animal League's annual fund-raising event & party, to be held the Saturday after this interview. (www.SuncoastAnimalLeague.org)
ALSO: We spoke briefly with Lori Spaulding, of Florida All Retriever Rescue (FARR), about the organization, where many of its animals come from, how their fostering & adoption works, and its forthcoming Pups At The Pub event. (www.FloridaRetrieverRescue.com)
MUSIC:Neko Case's "People Got A Lotta Nerve," Nellie McKay's "The Dog Song," The Rolling Stones' "Monkey Man," instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE:Steely Dan's "Black Cow"
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February 23
2011
GUEST: Dr. Armaiti May, a vegan veterinarian based in the Los Angeles area.
Dr. Armaiti May--a vegan veterinarian based in the West Los Angeles area, and whose practice involves making house calls--discusses her formative years as a kid drawn to animals and looking after injured or sick ones, as well as being raised a vegetarian. She also traces her path from there to embracing a vegan lifestyle, attending veterinary school at UC Davis and some of the challenges posed in vet school for a vegan-animal rights advocate (including certain surgical training), noting that her advice to aspiring vet students includes not disclosing they are a vegan-&/or animal rights advocate in the application or interview process, unless applying to an especially progressive school. She also described the philosophical factions that can form among veterinarians; for example she and other like-minded vets refuse to perform the feline declawing surgery, whereas other vets have no reluctance, just as she and other vegan vets are willing to help guide dog & cat patients onto a vegan diet if their humans prefer, whereas some vets feel this can pose health
risks for those animals. She also recounts some of her efforts--and perspective--as a very active animal advocate, who regularly performs vegan outreach in Southern California, while also providing some details of a forthcoming speaking tour in Florida. (www.VeganVet.net)
ALSO: We spoke briefly with Lynda Sheehan, founder of Gulfport's Get Rescued, who discussed the history and evolution of the annual event (held this year on Feb. 26), which now also includes a nighttime component called Get Rescued Celebration.
(www.GulfportMA.com)
COMEDY CORNER: Jeff Wayne's "The Wolf, The Bear And the Alligator" (www.JeffWayne.com)
MUSIC:They Might Be Giant's "I Am A Paleontologist," Sandy Atkinson's "Talkin To The Animals," instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE:Genesis' "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway"
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March 2
2011
GUESTS: Sherry Silk and Cathy Bellatin, from The Humane Society of Tampa Bay.
Sherry Silk--executive director of The Humane Society of Tampa Bay (HSTB)--discusses how the animal welfare/rescue landscape has shifted in the 2 1/2 years since our last interview, including the effect the economic climate has had on donations & adoptions, as well as newer wrinkles and trends, like the growing impact and value of Facebook. From the perspective of 30 years in the field, she also addressed the singular difficulties/challenges of leading an organization like HSTB--and the not infrequent instances where similar organizations are beset with polarizing issues (particularly euthanasia) and controversies, often torn asunder by them--and measures she takes to avoid those pitfalls. The conversation also included Cathy Bellatin, HSTB's director of special events, who described the then-forthcoming 24th Bark In The Park event and some its likely highlights, as well as how Bark has changed and evolved over nearly a quarter century. Partially related to Bark In The Park featuring numerous adoptable pets, we met three that Sherry & Cathy had brought into the studio: Jasmine (a cute Siamese kitten who, in walking freely in the studio, managed to start a cued-up song at an inappropriate moment and turned off Sherry's microphone) and two equally-cute puppies, Thelma, and Tiffany, who was adopted later that afternoon. (www.HumaneSocietyTampa.org)
ALSO: We spoke briefly with Suzanne Liggett, of Heart&Soles Yoga and Education Services, who discusses her background and the free yoga classes for kids she'll be offering at the Talking Animals Festival.
(riverview-heartsandsoles.blogspot.com/)
MUSIC:Beth Orton's "Worms," Radiohead's "Morning Mr. Magpie," instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE:Tom Jones' "What's New, Pussycat?"
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March 9
2011
GUESTS: Captain Paul Watson, founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, also known from television's "Whale Wars."
Captain Paul Watson--the founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, a co-founder of Greenpeace, and the reluctant star of the reality TV series "Whale Wars"--discusses how he and his mostly-volunteer Sea Shepherd colleagues recently made international news by halting the Japanese whale hunt, mid-season, in the Southern Ocean. This includes addressing the tactics employed by Sea Shepherd there, and how the Japanese whalers began the season with a diminished fleet and contending with increasing economic struggles--and the attendant prediction that the Japanese are unlikely to resume whaling. He also spoke to the related status of "Whale Wars," leveled some searing criticism at Greenpeace, offered some observations about the annual Canadian seal hunt, and recounted an anecdote illustrating, amidst the sort of attacks that Sea Shepherd sometimes absorbs, how the Dalai Lama truly understands and endorses Sea Shepherd's modus operandi. (www.SeaShepherd.org)
ALSO: We spoke briefly with Twila Cole, Special Events Coordinator of the Humane Society of Pinellas, who discusses the organization and some of its forthcoming events, including Mutt Strut and Bark At The Ball Park.
(www.HumanePinellas.org)
AND: We also spoke with Bobby Dailey, General Manager of the Carollwood Petco store (full disclosure: Petco is a sponsor of The Talking Animals Festival), who discusses Petco's major, nationwide adoption event being held March 12-13, the ongoing importance of pet adoption at Petco (he said that last year 300 animals found homes at his store alone), and more.
(www.Petco.com)
MUSIC:Smashing Pumpkins' "Bullet With Butterfly Wings," (snippet), Nick Lowe's "The Beast In Me," Yellow Ostrich's "Whale," instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE:Elton John's "Crocodile Rock"
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March 16
2011
GUESTS: Pioneering comedian Elayne Boosler, who's also founder of non-profit animal organization, Tails of Joy
Elayne Boosler--who's been a touring comedian since the 1970s, and was slated to perform locally two days later--discusses the circumstances that led to founding her own non-profit animal organization, Tails of Joy, in 2001. She also describes how Tails of Joy functions, and the enormous, international scope of rescues and other animal organizations that it supports. She confirms that at her stand-up performances, any merchandise she sells or other revenues generated from signing items, etc., all proceeds generated go to a rescue or other organization in that area. (A current exception: half the proceeds are sent for assistance of animals in Japan, half still go to a local organization.) She also explains that she's spent the last two-plus years fostering dogs (often pit bulls), and enthuses about Facebook, which she's embraced as a boon personally, professionally and for the fund-raising and support work of Tails of Net.
(www.ElayneBoosler.com, www.TailsOfJoy.net)
ALSO: We spoke briefly with Dr. Jeanne Hart, of Tampa Mobile Veterinarian Service, about her background, her practice, the Healthy Weight Check-Ups she'll be conducting at the Talking Animals Festival, and more.
(www.TampaMobileVet.com)
COMEDY CORNER: Jim Gaffigan's "Eat Vegetarian" (snippet) (www.JimGaffigan.com)
MUSIC:Split Lip Rayfield's "Blue Tick Hound," Sons of Hippies' "Animal Battle," instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Rolling Stones' "Beast of Burden"
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March 23
2011
GUESTS: Heide Illgen, a veteran trainer with Southeastern Guide Dogs.
Heide Illgen--a dog trainer at Southeastern Guide Dogs, where she's worked for nearly 20 years--discusses some of the biggest misconceptions surrounding guide dogs. She also explains the process and attendant timetable of a dog potentially becoming a guide dog, a tightly-scripted saga that begins with puppies that Southeastern breeds at their facility, volunteer puppy raisers and more, long before Heide or a fellow trainer would begin their work. Heide also addresses the sort of behavior or other traits that might identify a puppy as ineligible to continue down the path toward work as a guide dog, and the sorts of alternative programs those dogs might enter, including Paws For Patriots, which among other facets, pairs trained dogs with veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). She also outlines the costs associated with training these dogs and their humans, which can be upwards of $60,000, and the myriad ways that volunteers are central to the Southeastern operation.
(www.GuideDogs.org)
ALSO: We spoke briefly with Connie Brooks, a locally-based and nationally-recognized expert on responding to disasters that affect animals--from hurricane to oil spills-- about DART (Disaster Animal Response Team), how she developed the interest & expertise in this realm, notable disasters the DART team has deployed to, the related talk she'll deliver at the Talking Animals Festival, and more.
(www.BayAreaDART.org)
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Little Feat's "Dixie Chicken"
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March 30
2011
Photo by Dawn Morgan Elliott
GUESTS: A roundtable discussion, featuring a small cross-section of people who'll participate in the forthcoming Talking Animals Festival.
Shaking up our customary guest format, we held a roundtable discussion, featuring a small cross-section of of people who were set to be participants in the then-forthcoming Talking Animals Festival--the idea being that this would represent a more universal cross-section well outside the confines of the Festival. The roundtable included: Ronny Elliott...Tampa-based animal advocate & singer-songwriter, who began his music career more than 45 years ago & became a vegetarian nearly as long ago. Ronny performed animal songs at last year's Talking Animal Festival, was slated to do so again at the second Fest, and during this radio show, performed two, "Nothing About Heartache" & "Dakota"; Belinda Diaz...from Pit Bull Happenings, a Port Richey-based pit bull rescue-advocacy organization. This represented the first time at the Festival for Belinda & Pit Bull Happenings; Jim Janolek...who would be participating in the Festival for the first time, yet doing so wearing two hats: food vendor (operates vegan hot dog stand, Lettuce Eat Healthy) and speaker with a colorful life story, including chapters as Marine drill instructor & PETA investigator; Veronica Simonetto...a vendor who runs a Tampa pet sitting business, Tailored Pet Sitting, & was a vendor at last year's Festival, where she bid in the silent auction & landed the week at the Kauai condo. The freewheeling discussion touched on an array of topics, from when animals first meant something to each of the guests, to breed bigotry (particularly against pit bulls, but also against Chihuahuas), to feelings about PETA, to personal views about maintaining a vegetarian or vegan diet (or not), to what animal welfare issue is most significant currently, etc.
(www.RonnyElliott.com,
www.PitBullHappenings.com,
www.Facebook.com/lettuceeathealthy,
www.TailoredPetSitting.com)
COMEDY CORNER: There was no Comedy Corner today
MUSIC:eels' "Little Bird," Ronny Elliott performed "Nothing About Heartache" and a cover of Larry Murray's "Dakota," instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: We didn't play Name That Animal Tune Today
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April 6 & April 13 2011 Shows Pre-Empted There were no "Talking Animals" broadcasts on these
days because they were pre-empted by WMNF's Spring Fund Drive,
April 6-13. A huge, heartfelt "thank you" to all
those who donated or otherwise supported the program--and
the station
April 20
2011
GUESTS: Richard X. Heyman, veteran singer-songwriter and animal rescuer.
Richard X. Heyman--an extraordinary if underappreciated singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist who's been rescuing cats and other animals in New York City for nearly 30 years, and been creating music longer--discusses his two new albums, "Tiers/And Other Stories," includin a song, "No Time To Rest On Sunday," about cat rescue. He also addressed the circumstances behind "Birds," another new song that touches on Heyman's effforts to feed numerous birds and squirrels throughout New York City, and the criticisms of Heyman surrounding those efforts. Heyman recounted how he first got involved in animal rescue nearly three decades ago, and the evolution of that work, including humane traps he created or innovated over the years. Toward the end of the conversation, he described plans for some New York multi-media performances in support of "Tiers/And Other Stories." (www.RichardXHeyman.com).
ALSO: We spoke briefly with Barbara Howard, head of Friends Of Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges about its mission and how proceeds from the April 23 Birdstock II event in St. Petersburg will be earmarked for renovation of those Refuges.
(www.TampaBayRefuges.org)
COMEDY CORNER: Matt Braunger's "Owls/Dalmatians" (snippet) (www.MattBraunger.com)
MUSIC: Richard X. Heyman's "Birds," Richard X. Heyman's "No Time To Rest On Sunday," instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Roy Hargrove's version of "Everybody Wants To Be A Cat"
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April 27
2011
GUESTS: Wendy Kelly, an animal behaviorist who owns Pet Peeves Animal Training, Inc.
Wendy Kelly--an animal behaviorist who's the founder and owner of Pet Peeves Animal Training, Inc., based in Clearwater, FL--discusses her transformation from human therapist to animal behaviorist, including the patterns and categories of behavioral she tends to see regularly in her practice. She also explains the assessment process she undertakes with each new client, and how this dictates how she will proceed with the animal and its human(s). To help illuminate this part of the discussion, we include a case study of sorts involving a once-challenging, very fearful boxer named Barksdale--incorporating comments from one of his humans, Margaret Murray, including the dramatic change in Barksdale's day-to-day behavior. Wendy also does a somewhat instant assessment of our dog Daisy, fields some listener calls, and briefly mentions her Pawsitive Life Foundation and her forthcoming book, "Buji And Me: 7 Lessons From The Dogs Who Rescued Me," due out in November.
(www.PetPeeves.info)
ALSO: We spoke briefly with Linda Orr, one of the founders of Countless Cats Rescue, Inc., and she provided an overview of how the organization operates, and outlined details of their then-forthcoming yard sale fundraiser in Brandon.
(www.petfinder.com/shelters/FL965.html)
MUSIC:John Hiatt's "My Dog & Me," Lauris Vidal's version of "Queen Bee" (recorded live at Talking Animals Festival II), instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Michael Jackson's "Rockin' Robin"
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May 4
2011
GUESTS: Wayne Pacelle, President & CEO of The Humane Society of The United States--and author.
Wayne Pacelle--The President & CEO of The Humane Society Of The United States (HSUS), the country's largest animal protection organization, with upwards of 11 million members--discusses his new book, "The Bond: Our Kinship With Animals, Our Call To Defend Them." He explains his chief motivations for writing the book, and his expectations for it, including the intended gambits (beyond peddling books) underneath the 75-stop book tour. Wayne also addresses the bill introduced by Florida State Senator Jim Norman making it a crime to take photos or video of a farm or its animals without the property owner's consent, how Norman significantly scaled back the initial version of the bill to increase its prospects of passing, how there's a counterpart bill pending in Iowa, and HSUS efforts to combat the bills. He spends considerable time assessing his decision to enlist Michael Vick in HSUS' ongoing campaign against dogfighting (something we discussed at length in our Sept. 2009 conversation), which has become a deeply polarizing issue inside and outside the animal welfare. He also touches on the Taking Action For Animals conference HSUS holds in Washington, DC each summer, and responds to listener calls and e-mails.(www.HumaneSociety.org)
ALSO: We spoke briefly with Yvonne Guibert, proprietor of Groovy Cats & Dogs, who told us about her store, about healthy pet food and about the Natural Wellness Pet Expo that Groovy was to host that Saturday.
(www.GroovyCatsnDogs.com)
MUSIC:Jeff Beck's version of "Tiger Rag," Cracker's "Guarded By Monkeys," instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Rondellus' version of "War Pigs"
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May 11
2011
GUESTS: Bestselling author Mark Kurlansky, whose new book is "World Without Fish."
Mark Kurlansky -- author of the award-winning New York Times bestseller "Cod: A Biography Of The Fish That Changed The World" and other books, including "Salt: A World History"--discusses his new book, "World Without Fish." He also explains his strategy in approaching the writing of "World Without Fish," ostensibly a book for kids about what's happening to fish, the oceans and the environment, but one that operates one a number of levels (thanks in no small measure to it being gorgeously illustrated by artist Frank Stockton), likening it to a family film. When asked about the line on the book jacket reading "For Ages 9 And Up," with the suggestion that some of the book may be too nuanced--or even, at times, contradictory--for kids as young as nine to comprehend, he responds that the book was vetted by his then nine-year-old daughter, Talia. Also, Mark addresses the central themes of the book, the aspects of overfishing that eludes the wider population, and how "Chilean Sea Bass" is a double misnomer (rarely Chilean and definitely not bass).
(www.MarkKurlansky.com)
ALSO: We spoke briefly with Maggie Fitzsimmons, who came up with the idea for "Kids For Paws," a fundraising contest for kids ages 6-13 taking place the month of May, benefiting Animal Coalition of Tampa (ACT) Spay/Neuter Clinic. Maggie Fitzsimmons is 12 years old, making her the youngest guest in the nearly eight-year history of "Talking Animals."
(www.actampa.org)
MUSIC:The Hollywood Flames' "Two Little Bees," Antsy McClain & The Trailer Park Troubadours' "The Ballad Of Skippy And Rover," instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: The Marvelettes' "Too Many Fish In The Sea"
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May 18
2011
GUESTS: Ron Kagan, Director and CEO of the Detroit Zoo.
Ron Kagan'who's been Director of the Detroit Zoo for nearly 20 years, and whose career working for zoos has spanned 35 years--discusses the philosophy behind functioning as something of an iconoclast in the zoo industry, including how he arrived at the decision (with input from the community, among others) that it was no longer right or reasonable to continue displaying elephants at the Detroit Zoo, closed down the exhibit, and sent those elephants to the 2300-acre PAWS sanctuary in San Andreas, CA. He also touches on an overlapping situation currently under way with the Toronto Zoo deciding to no longer exhibit elephants. Ron also responds to an e-mail we received that day from Sherry Silk, Executive Director of the Humane Society Tampa Bay, but who spent much of her career as Operations Manager for the Michigan Humane Society in Detroit--recounting how Ron allowed the Humane Society to hold adoptions in the Zoo parking lot, which became the biggest off-site adoption events in the country (750-800 animals adopted in a weekend), and praising Kagan for his "very progressive" thinking...and he notes how this is an example of his view that the care and treatment of all animals exists on a continuum, rather than more segmented camps of pets, zoo animals and other captive animals, wild animals, etc. He also opines that a significant issue currently facing zoos and zoos directors involves more closely examining climate and weather in deciding what animals to display,
and not display, at a given zoo.
(www.DetroitZoo.org)
ALSO: We spoke with Andrew Grantham, the man and voices behind the "Ultimate Dog Tease" video (www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGeKSiCQkPw), the viral sensation that racked up about 25 million hits on YouTube in the first two weeks after it was posted. Andrew--the Talking Animals Guy on "Talking Animals"!--discusses how he makes his videos, including "Ultimate Dog Tease"--and how people can buy related merchandise, with all proceeds going to the Nova Scotia SPCA (talkinganimals.spreadshirt.com)--and what's next for him professionally.
(www.YouTube.com/TalkingAnimals)
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Simon & Garfunkel's "At The Zoo"
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May 25
2011
GUESTS: Brian Wendel - the creator and executive producer of "Forks Over Knives," a powerful, acclaimed new documentary that presents an array of scientific and anecdotal evidence that most degenerative diseases (heart disease, Type 2 Diabetes, some cancers) can be controlled, if not reversed, by adopting a whole foods, plant-based diet-- discusses the impetus to he felt to get the film made, and chief his goal in doing so. He also comments on the way the medical and pharmaceutical industry disdains diet-oriented advances with these and other diseases, a dynamic that resulted in Dr. T. Colin Campbell--a nutritional biochemist at Cornel, and one of the film's key scientific figures--being marginalized at Cornell after his research prompted him to alter his stance, losing an important class and other favored assignments at the university. Brian also explains how the film came to chart the progress of the people with chronic conditions who, under the tutelage of doctors, embrace a whole foods, plant-based diet, and see huge medical progress--this ends up including the doc's writer-director Lee Fulkerson.
(www.ForksOverKnives.com)
ALSO: We spoke with RaeAnna Saks, the founder and CEO of The Little Cats Rescue, Inc., who provides an update on the rescue operation and offers details about its fundraiser the next night at the Sweet Tomatoes in Port Richey, and then the fourth Thursday of each month at the restaurant.
(www.TheLittleCatsRescue.org)
MUSIC: Big Joe Turner's "The Chicken And The Hawk," Minus The Bear's "Animal Backwards," instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: The Beatles' "Dig A Pony"
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Streaming episide coming soon
June 1
2011
GUEST: Paula Poundstone, Comedian and Serious Cat Enthusiast
Paula Poundstone -- The singular comedian who for much of her 30+ year career has laced her routines with cat tales, often based on observations and misadventures with the sizable flock of felines sharing her home--discusses the current household cat population (16), and how the tally got that high. She also mentions some of the cats by name, and describes their traits or how they're viewed by the cat tribe at large. Paula addresses some of the production flourishes (and occasional limitations) of the YouStream "Poundstone Diner Cam" a webcam fixed on the cats' single food & water bowl, and some of the YouTube pieces about her cats. She also outlines the challenges of servicing the litter boxes and persuading people helping her to maintain the high standards she's established over the years, particularly when she's traveling. She explains the very simple way the opportunity arose to become a regular panelist on NPR quiz program "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!," and how much fun she has on the show.
(www.PaulaPoundstone.com)
ALSO: We spokepoke with Linda Hamilton, Executive Director of the Animal Coalition of Tampa (ACT), about Hillsborough County's apparent suspension of the spay/neuter voucher program designed to enable low income residents to afford to get their dogs and cats spayed or neutered, the implications of the suspension, and possible efforts to get the program reinstated.
(www.ACTampa.org)
MUSIC: Bela Fleck's "Snakes Alive," Magadog's "Monkey In Your Warehouse," instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Carl Perkins "Put Your Cat Clothes On"
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June 8
2011
GUEST: Andrew Westoll, the author, most recently, of "The Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary"
Andrew Westoll--the author, most recently, of "The Chimps Of Fauna Sanctuary: A True Story of Resilience And Recovery," a gorgeously-written, often-poignant account of Westoll's 10-week stint living as a volunteer at Fauna Foundation, a sanctuary just outside Montreal for chimpanzees retired from biomedical research--discusses he decided volunteering at Fauna had the makings of a book. He also addressed what--even as a primatologist--he found surprising and notable about the Fauna chimps. Andrew also outlined what most of these chimps had endured before they arrived at the Sanctuary, and how psychologically disturbed many had become as a result--including describing the fairly recent theory that's emerged suggesting chimps can experience a form of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He explained the components and virtues of The Great Ape Protection And Cost Savings Act, and urged listeners to contact their representatives about supporting the bill's passage. Andrew also described some Fauna chimps, past and present, including Jean, Rachel and Tom, to whom Andrew dedicated the book.
(www.AndrewWestoll.com, www.FaunaSanctuary.org, www.FaunaFoundation.org)
ALSO: We spoke with Catherine Doyle, Elephant Campaign Director for In Defense of Animals, chiefly about the organization's International Day of Action For Elephants in Zoos, to be held Saturday June 11, including a demo at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo.
(www.HelpElephants.com, www.IDAUSA.org)
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Soundtrack & Theme Orchestra's "Theme From Planet Of The Apes"
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June 15
2011
GUEST: Queen guitarist Brian May.
Brian May--the Queen guitarist who first joined us in the latter part of 2010, discussing an array of UK animal issues (fox hunting, a proposed badger cull, etc.) that had become his concern and that of his animal protection campaign, Save Me--helps mark the eighth anniversary of "Talking Animals" by returning to the show to provide updates on some of those issues. Brian also discusses the recent advent of the so-called "Red Tape Laws" by which the government is attempting to quietly toss out laws that protect the environment (and sees the parallel suggested by the speech delivered days earlier by former Secretary Of Interior Bruce Babbitt, excoriating the Congress for its "assault on our environment"). Too, he addresses another parallel UK/U.S. issue--attempts to curtail or halt circuses that use animals, and a ban in England that appeared poised to go through before 10 Downing Street blocked the ban eleventh hour. Brian also relates the story behind playing on "You & I," a track on Lady Gaga's new album, and touches on other music updates, including touring with singer Kerry Ellis behind her album "Anthems" (which Brian produced), a Queen documentary, "Days Of Our Lives," a pending collaborating with Tangerine Dream.
(www.BrianMay.com, www.Save-Me.org.uk)
ALSO: We spoke with Ken Koenig, of Dunedin Doggie Rescue, about the organization and its history and mission, as well as a forthcoming major event.
(www.DunedinDogs.com)
MUSIC: The Head And The Heart's "Cats and Dogs," The White Stripes' "Little Bird," Damon Fowler's version of "Roadrunner," instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Buffalo Springfield's "Bluebird"
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June 22
2011
GUEST: Holistic veterinarian Dr. Deva Khalsa
Dr. Deva Khalsa--a holistic veterinarian based in Clearwater, FL as well as co-author of "Healing Your Horse: Alternative Therapies" and the author of "Natural Dog: A Holistic Guide For Healthier Dogs--discusses how she began her holistically-oriented veterinary practice more than 25 years ago, how she built a large and thriving practice in Philadelphia, and how she now eschews a physical practice in favor of providing telephone consultations to clients. She also explains precisely what it means to be a holistic veterinarian, citing examples of the broader array of remedies and holistic modalities she can incorporate in treating an animal. Dr. Khalsa responds to numerous and varied questions posed by listeners about the health and conditions of their animals, and alternative ways to treat them.
(www.DoctorDeva.com
MUSIC: The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band's "Jollity Farm," Tribal Style's version of "Like A Lion In The Morning," instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: B-52's "Rock Lobster"
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Streaming episide coming soon
June 29
2011
GUEST: Animal behaviorist & author John Bradshaw
John Bradshaw--Foundation Director of the Anthrozoology Institute at the University of Bristol, and a longtime academic and scientist specializing in animal welfare and behavior--discusses his new book, "Dog Sense: How The New Science Of Dog Behavior Can Make You A Better Friend To Your Pet," and the reactions to it. John explains, drawing on research and studies--his own and that of many colleagues--how certain principles (dog as wolf, dog training emphasizing the "pack approach," dominating the dog and physical punishment for behavior have proven ineffective and unsound. He also addresses the senses (beyond the keen sense of smell) and skills that dogs possess that were previously unknown or underappreciated. He also provides a technique to employ with dogs who are unhappy or worse at being left alone during the day, and more.
