Animal Radio®

Dr. Stanley Coren is back on Animal Radio to give us specific and detailed instructions on how to make our dog laugh. Don’t be a skeptic until you’ve heard about the research. Some breeds are more likely to laugh than others. Dr. Coren will share the science behind dog laughter and other body signs. Also, San Diego Humane Society’s Top Dog Dr. Gary Weitzman helps animal lovers find the answers to common questions, curiosities, and perplexing puzzles. He’ll focus on how veterinarians have changed the way they think about vaccines.

Scientists estimate as many as 97% of seniors suffer from behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. That’s why Tom Stevens teamed up with Jim Henson’s Creature Shop to create an affordable robotic puppy to provide companionship for seniors. Tom explains why this is so personal and how it’s making a difference. Also, a new study finds men with beards carry more germs in their beards than dogs with their normal germs.

A lawsuit has been filed in a California court saying Bark Adoptions masquerades as a non-profit animal rescue organization passing off puppy mill dogs as rescued animals and selling them for a profit. California has banned the sale of puppy mill dogs and it is believed multiple fictitious rescues are circumventing the law. Deborah Howard, founder of the Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) explains how her organization is trying to raise awareness on the issue. Also, animal related occupations that pay more than $56k annually.

Can Dogs Laugh? Dogs are capable of laughing, and they typically do so when they are playing. Canine laughter begins with the doggy equivalent of smiling but also includes a sound that is much like panting. Animal behaviorist Patricia Simonet recorded those sounds while dogs played. On analyzing the recordings, she found that they involved a broader range of frequencies than regular dog panting. We'll try to figure out what tickles their funny bone. Also, Katie Cleary is a Model, Actress and Philanthropist, Filmmaker who got her start in the entertainment business on the hit TV show America’s Next Top Model. After graduating college, Katie landed the role on NBC’s hit game show Deal or No Deal. Katie’s main passion is advocating animal welfare issues while rescuing and rehabilitating animals and lovingly finding them forever homes. She tells us about her 12 pets.

The extremely talented and very funny author, Dave Barry is our guest. He’ll tell us about the lessons he has learned from his dog, Lucy. He says Lucy taught him to effectively deal with road rage. Dave also explains why he’s not much of a cat fan. Also joining us is Steve Munt. He wants to send the cremains of his beloved cat into space. While dog lovers have been memorializing their dogs this way for years, Steve’s cat will be the first feline remains shot into space in a satellite that will circle the earth in perpetuity.

Kelly Matthews has granted her first interview to Animal Radio to talk about breaking-up dog theft rings. Her business, CritterCops.net locates stolen and lost pets. Up until now, she’s feared going public because of retribution from thieves she’s exposed. She’ll tell us what it’s like tracking down stolen dogs. Also Hill’s brand pet foods expands their recall after the FDA encouraged further testing of additional lots of food. The irony is that high levels of Vitamin D produce symptoms similar to those the prescription foods are indicated for. In other words, Hill’s K/D Kidney Diet is supposed to help dogs experiencing kidney failure - which is also what happens with too much Vitamin D. Dr. Debbie expresses grief that Hill’s did not alert veterinarians of the first recall. This is an incredible FAIL for Hill’s.

Are our dogs trained to show affection in order to get food and treats? Do they really unconditionally love you, or would they "kick you to the curb" for bacon? Animal Researcher Marc Bekoff answers these burning questions and more. He says we can 'unleash our dogs,' metaphorically speaking, by allowing them to roll in dead worms. Also, Merebeth Veit has two passions - wanderlust and a love for animals. She dumped her real estate job for transporting pets nationwide. She's driven hundreds of animals to their destination while sightseeing the country. And yes, it pays the bills.

Many celebrities have gotten into the cannabis business, such as Whoopi Goldberg, Snoop Dog, Melissa Etheridge and now Martha Stewart. At 70-years-old, Martha says she is, “Delighted to establish this partnership …and share the knowledge she has gained after years of experience in the subject of living.” Also Officials in the west Germany town of Ahlen are defending their decision to seize an indebted family’s pet pug and sell it on eBay. They state the move was a last resort because they were unable to find anything else to take that had value. The family in question had allegedly failed to pay its debts to the town, including a dog tax. The black pug, named Edda, was sold online for 750 euros or $854.

We speak to attorney Robert Tauler who is currently suing former Baywatch actress Angelica Bridges and Rover.com for negligence. Also Photojournalist Ross Taylor’s latest project captures the last moments between humans and their pets prior to euthanasia. Admittedly a difficult subject, he explains his mission as a guide to assist those going through this process. Also Photojournalist Ross Taylor’s latest project captures the last moments between humans and their pets prior to euthanasia. Admittedly a difficult subject, he explains his mission as a guide to assist those going through this process.

Born with Muscular Dystrophy, Tabitha Bell was told she would need a wheel chair by the time she was 12. Instead, she got a balance & brace service dog. The human/dog partnership was so successful that she decided to start her own non-profit to help match service dogs with those that may not be able to afford the $10,000 entry level. Tabitha tells us that she’s working on matching a 6-year old diabetic with a dog that can alert someone when blood sugar spikes. Also Emmy Nominated TV host Rocky Kanaka is on a mission to find hard-to-adopt rescue dogs their forever home - all while creating a day of fun doggie activities most could only dream of. He chronicles his adventures in a You Tube series called ‘Dog’s Day Out.’

Allan Dixon won the best job in the world. He gets paid to take pictures with animals. Allan has an uncanny ability to ‘talk’ animals into posing for a selfie with him. This might sound like the most privileged, millennial job in the world, but Dixon worked for this role. He’ll explain to Animal Radio listeners. Also Laura Vorreyer shares stories about her bustling Los Angeles dog-walking business. She’ll dole out advice for the aspiring pet-sitter.

Should Young Children Have Service Dogs?  In a recent NBC Today Show segment, a 3-year-old girl born with a debilitating lung disease was given a service dog to help her maneuver around with the always-present oxygen tank. The use of service dogs for young children is increasing in popularity. There are service dogs assigned to children with autism and other special needs. From the perspectives of veterinary behavioral medicine and dog bite safety for children, this trend deserves a second look according to Dr. Ilana Reisner. She says “children don’t understand the limitations of their canine charges.” The Truly Universal Language Darwin believed that musicality was a capacity of all animals, human and nonhuman. Dr. Henkjan Honing is researching how animals respond to music. He tells Animal Radio what he has learned about how dogs, birds, monkeys, sea lions and cockatoos interpret musical nuance. Emotional Support Alpacas Must Go An Ohio family is facing a deadline to find new homes for their alpacas, which they consider therapy pets. A neighbor claims the alpacas are a nuisance because it’s turned his neighbor’s backyard into a smelly pasture. The alpaca owners say they’ve been cooperative with the city and have already re-homed two alpacas. They now claim that they clean up after the remaining duo on a daily basis. These alpacas are not outside all the time though. They are indoor-outdoor pets. The owner claims alpacas are quieter and their poop smells less than a dog’s poo. FBI Investigating Pet Scams The FBI has issued a warning on pet adoption scams. Beth Anne Steele of the FBI says, “Fraudsters are prowling the web to find families who are so desperate for the perfect pooch that they are willing to adopt sight unseen.” The scam usually starts when someone comes across a pet adoption ad online then unwittingly engages with the scammer and proceeds to pay a series of fees.

Crazy Cat Lady Paula Poundstone We’re flashing back to comedian Paula Poundstone’s guest spot in 2012. She proudly defends being the cat mama to 16 cats (3 if the landlord asks). She’s trying to decide whether to buy cat litter or send her kids to college. Wag App Cautionary Tails A Houston couple is finding out firsthand some of the unintended consequences that can come with letting a stranger on an App take care of your pet. Their version of the unthinkable happened when they trusted a stranger on the “Wag!” app to walk Winnie, their 10-month-old Wheaten Terrier. Winnie died on that walk. The husband says Wag! representatives have not offered any details into how Winnie died. Wag did offer to reimburse the couple $188.71 for Winnie’s cremation costs if the couple signed a non-disclosure agreement, stating that, among other things, they would be legally required to keep quiet about what happened to Winnie. Just eight days before, another Wag! dog-walker in California was charged with animal cruelty after police say he kicked one of the four dogs he was walking. Cuddly Hedgehogs Carry Salmonella Government health officials are warning that there have been at least 11 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium in 8 states. All involved hedgehogs. Even when hedgehogs appear healthy, the CDC says they can carry salmonella germs in their droppings. Those germs can then spread around the hedgehog’s body and then to anything in the area where they live. Aspirin Can Be Fatal For Your Pet While Aspirin might be just what the doctor ordered after a night out drinking; your dog or cat’s body won’t assimilate the chemicals safely. Enough ‘well-meaning’ aspirin can kill your pet. Same holds true for Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen. There are a lot safer anti-inflammatory medicines that your veterinarian can prescribe.

From Caped Crusader to Canine Crusader Actor Burt Ward was the original ‘Robin’ on the hit series Batman. Now he’s devoted to giant breed dogs and runs the Gentle Giant Rescue. He tells Animal Radio that as many as 25 Great Danes share his bed with him and his wife Tracy. The Secret Life of Mac Inspired by the viral videos of cats stealing clothes and other items, author Melinda Metz weaved a story about a Klepto-kitty named Mac who will steal your heart. Why is it some cats, left to their own devices, choose to abscond with everything from lingerie to money? EMT’s Can’t Treat Animals… Yet Police in Boston are praising proposed legislation that would allow emergency medical service workers to treat police dogs injured in the line of duty. Currently, Massachusetts’ laws penalize EMT’s if they assist an animal in an emergency. Can Our Pets Become Addicted To Opioids? The opioid crisis isn’t just impacting people. A new study in Pennsylvania says there’s been a big increase in the amount of pain medication being prescribed for pets in the state. The new research shows opioid prescriptions for animals in the state are up 41% over a 10-year period. It’s unclear why there’s been such a dramatic increase. But, if opioids are so addictive for humans, are they addictive to pets?

Training Bees for Movies and TV Apiculturist Dr. Norman Gary has devoted his 83 years to bees. He’s even trained them for TV and Movies. Dr. Gary holds two Guinness World Records for bee stunts. Oh, and he plays the clarinet… covered in bees. Understanding Your C.B.D.’s It’s the latest phenomenon in pet medicines, claiming to cure everything from allergies to pain. While there may be some benefits in this marijuana derivative, veterinarians are hard-pressed to recommend the use, mostly because the unregulated product may be sub-par. But if you’re still determined, you should examine the Certificate Of Analysis (COA). Dr. Debbie and Lori Brooks help parse the confusion between brands. Does Your Cat’s Breed Really Matter A simple DNA test can make it easier to identify which traits are linked to health conditions like heart disease and obesity. Anna Skaya is the CEO of Basepaws, the world’s first-ever cat DNA test. A lucky listener will get a free DNA test for their cat. Woman Gets Stuck In Tree After Trying To Rescue Cat A woman who climbed a tree to rescue her cat ended up having to be saved by firefighters after she also got stuck in the tree. She was stuck for 45 minutes before firefighters eventually helped her down with a ladder.