Talking Animals Duncan Strauss

Arin Greenwood–a wearer of many hats, mostly animal-related, including Director of Philanthropy Communications at Austin Pets Alive! former animal journalist extraordinaire (HuffPost, Washington Post, The Today Show website, et al), and novelist–maintains a sizable social media presence, posting regularly on Facebook, which in a way, spawned this interview. That is, I was struck by the poignant story Arin chronicled through a series of Facebook posts, starting with the emotional gut-punch of losing their longtime, beloved pointer mix, Murray…grieving that profound loss. Then, the posts recounted the ensuing phases and steps they took, reflecting the feeling that they wanted to eventually welcome another dog into their family, while remaining mindful of the peace and well-being of their three cats. Thinking this sort of discussion could help folks who’ve lost a dog, and are navigating through similar stages–an important, and in many ways, universal narrative amongst dog lovers–I invited Arin back on the show (she’s been a guest multiple times) to elaborate on the actions, and emotions, she captured in those FB posts. One facet that stood out in her account is Arin’s and her husband’s inclination to foster dogs, including when they were about to hunker down with a hurricane headed their way. Clearly an advocate of “foster to adopt,” a shelter practice that introduced the couple to dogs they almost did adopt, but opted not to—because one of them didn’t feel quite ready emotionally, or the dog (in this case, a handsome canine named Jimmy) turned out to not be a good fit with the cats and as a pooch powerhouse, worried he might be a bit too much dog for her on walks and elsewhere, Arin recalled. And she describes the latest pooch in their “foster to adopt” convention, then named June Bug, urged to meet  by a friend, they resisted for a couple of months—then made the acquaintance of a kind, but fearful and super-shy dog. Spoiler alert: Rechristened Judy (full name: Dog Judy), this young lady is now a sweet, relaxed, affectionate pooch, living quite happily with Arin, her husband—and the cats. [Who’s who–upper left: Judy…upper right: Arin, Judy & Elfie…lower left: the late, great Murray, with Chappy…lower right: Judy & Elfie]
ALSO: I spoke briefly with with Steven Meserve, founder and CEO of Loving Cats Worldwide, which organizes sprawling feline-oriented events across multiple countries, very much including the U.S. Indeed, the Tampa CATStravaganza is happening May 18 & 19 at the Tampa Convention Center. It will feature local rescues participating in an adoption event, an International Cat Competition, cats strutting in the CATwalk, a Best in Show competition, a feline-oriented shopping village, and more. For more information, or to enter your cat in a competition, follow this link: https://lcwwgroup.com/events/tampa-may-2024
COMEDY CORNER: Nate Fridson’s “Horse Racing” (DS edit)    (https://www.instagram.com/fridskins/x)
MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE:  We didn’t play “Name That Animal Tune” today.
AUDIO ARCHIVE:
Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/TAMay1Final.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Lee Asher–a staunch advocate of dog adoption whose profile has risen dramatically in recent years, owing to a handful of factors, including multiple compelling stories: his ADHD and attendant childhood isolation prompted him to regularly visit his local animal shelter as a kid, years later crisscrossing the country in an RV, traveling to animal shelters, accompanied by his own pack of 10+ dogs—recalls those formative years, feeling disconnected from his peers and profoundly connected to pooches. Addressing the schoolkid experience of contending with his attention deficit disorder, Asher projects the fortitude of a motivational speaker, saying things like “vulnerability is power,” providing a glimpse into the resilience and drive that helped propel his canine kinship into starring in the Animal Planet series, “My Pack Life,” and becoming a social media juggernaut. Archer observes that it’s not uncommon for comments on his posts to pledge that once that person retires, or wins the Lottery, they plan to open a sanctuary–an assertion he firmly refutes, urging folks to volunteer at their local shelter in even the smallest of ways now; do not wait. He notes that whatever else he was doing—attending college, launching a career in the financial field, and so on—he always worked on getting dogs adopted, and always had a pack wherever he went. He traces the path of making the complicated decision to leave his job in finance (alienating those who helped him land that position), sell his possessions, buy an RV, and hit the road, driving to animal shelters across the country, promoting adoption, accompanied by his then-pack of around 10 dogs. This journey lasted about two years, followed by some shorter stints—then COVID hit, closing shelters to visitors, pulling Asher off the road, and galvanizing him to open his first sanctuary in Estacada, Oregon. That facility and others didn’t just house dogs, but also cats, horses, alpacas, sheep, and other animals—the backdrop for his 2022 Animal Planet series, “My Pack Life.” He addresses the question that many of his Florida followers had raised in the run-up to this interview—the possibility of Asher opening a Florida sanctuary—basically confirming that this is a distinct possibility, but not an imminent one, wanting to focus for now on the existing sanctuaries, his burgeoning social media operation, and other projects. One of those projects involves a speaking tour, under the title, “Unlock Your Superpower,” including Florida appearances at the Florida Theater, in Jacksonville on May 29, at the Hard Rock Orlando on May 30, and the Capitol Theater, in Clearwater, on May 31. (https://www.theasherhouse.com/, https://www.facebook.com/TheAsherHouse/, https://www.instagram.com/theasherhouse/?hl=en, https://theofficialleeasher.com/tour/)
 
ALSO: I spoke briefly with Dara Eckart, CEO of Friends of Strays, the St. Petersburg no-kill shelter (caring for animals for 45 years, Eckart noted), which has organized a Free Microchip and Vaccine Clinic for Dogs on April 27. She outlines the key details of the Clinic, including that it’s limited to Pinellas County residents, offered to dogs only (and two dogs maximum per party), and that it happens from 8am to noon—or until supplies run out; it’s first come, first served—at 863 3rd Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL, 33701-2703. Dogs participating will receive a microchip, along with rabies, kennel cough, and DAPPv vaccinations, plus one bag of food. Plus, Eckart explained, The St. Pete Free Clinic will provide one box of human food per party. No advance registration is required for the Clinic. (https://www.friendsofstrays.org/, https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofStraysAnimalShelter, https://www.instagram.com/friendsofstrays)
COMEDY CORNER: Jeremy Hotz’s “Bronx Zoo” (DS edit)   (https://jeremyhotz.com/)
MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE:  We [...]

Matt Hamilton–writer-director of “Raptors: A Fistful of Daggers,” an unusual two-part edition of the PBS series, “Nature,” which premiered April 10, while the second episode debuts on April 17—recalls the impetus for creating this double-shot of cinematic raptor mania. Part of his explanation involved not having seen a documentary that delved deeply into the realm of raptors. Let’s just say that, with “Raptors: A Fistful of Daggers,” Hamilton definitely filled that void. Noting that one theme that emerges from these two films is that– owing to harsh habitats and/or dangerous prey–raptors face enormous day-to-day challenges, I ask Hamilton about parallel challenges he may have faced as a filmmaker seeking to capture footage of these birds in action. His response amounted to an emphatic Yes, citing circumstances ranging from areas where the temperatures dangled at 40-50 degrees below zero, while another location was beset with a cyclone, relentless rain, then Hamilton recounted, that same place was hit by an earthquake. But, he noted cheerfully, such are the vagaries of natural history filmmaking, where you often need to “put a smile on your face” and forge ahead. We engaged in a philosophical discussion about how the work of natural history filmmakers may be shaped by the general feelings about a species they’re profiling—meaning, how a decidedly charismatic animal, like a lion or elephant, may be handled or depicted onscreen differently than, say, raptors, which are decidedly not charismatic. Hamilton explains how he selected the birds featured, among the some 500 species of raptors. As part of this, we also discussed some of raptors that constitute the film’s second installment, subtitled “Extreme Lives,” including The Florida Snail Kite, whose story involves a tale of adaptation and evolution worthy of a sci-fi anthology. Deliberated, too, were the Honey Buzzards (whose predatory practices align more with a horror flick), and the Secretary Bird. [Photos by Matt Hamilton]  (https://www.pbs.org/show/nature/, https://www.facebook.com/PBSNature/, https://www.instagram.com/pbsnature/)
COMEDY CORNER: Matt Braunger’s  “Owls”  (https://www.mattbraunger.com/)
MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE:  George Harrison’s “Dark Horse”
AUDIO ARCHIVE:
Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/TAApril10Final.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Deborah Howard—founder-president of the Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS), self-described, you may recall, as “the only national nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to protecting companion animals from cruelty in pet shops and puppy/kitten mills”—returns for a conversational sequel to our January interview, because we didn’t have time to discuss the ways CAPS has broadened its mission in recent years. Being careful not to assume everyone listening this time had also heard the January conversation, we spent the initial moments addressing CAPS’ core mission, engaging in a lightening round of Puppy Mills 101. This led to Howard issuing cautionary tales about pet shops, pet store chains, and online puppy sales, about which CAPS has produced a documentary, slated to be available on YouTube, Vimeo, and the organization’s social media pages.Howard makes it clear that the dark problems with puppy mills—weak, often sick dogs, bred incessantly in vile, stinky, caged circumstances, devoid of human interaction or socialization—have been exacerbated in the internet age, with websites displaying idyllic settings from which these pooches-for-purchase ostensibly emerge. Heck, even Craig’s List is a problematic source of puppy mill dogs in this way, Howard notes. In what may constitute a natural outgrowth of this work combatting puppy mills that Howard has been doing since 1989, CAPS has moved into animal shelter reform in California—producing a short documentary on this topic. A focus of these efforts has been Kern County Animal Services (KCAS), in Bakersfield, which sounds like a facility that’s really jumped the rails: metal buildings (it can get blazing hot there), no regular spay/neuter procedures, dramatically low save rate, overcrowded, often filthy enclosures, riddled with urine and feces…When Howard is asked what led the Kern County Animal Services to stumble so far astray—I suggest possible explanations might involve budget problems, leadership issues, shelter &/or county policies—she speculates that it’s likely a combination of those factors. She adds that given its Central California location, she was surprised to find that none of KCAS’ handouts or literature were offered in Spanish. Howard underscores how important she feels—as another element of CAPS’ widening mission: pursuing national Latino outreach—that important documents, PSAs, spots for radio & TV, should be produced in both English and Spanish. To that end, CAPS enlisted Jacqui Pinol, the animal advocate and bilingual actress, to record spay/neuter PSAs for TV and radio, in English and Spanish. (https://www.caps-web.org/, https://www.instagram.com/caps_web/, https://www.facebook.com/CompanionAnimalProtectionSociety)

ALSO: I spoke briefly with Spencer Conover, Assistant Director of Pasco County Animal Services (PCAS), discussing the Shelter Slumber Pawty they’re throwing this weekend—part of a national coalition of shelters offering a sleepover event at their facilities on April 6-7, though he notes Pasco County is the only Florida shelter participating. Conover explains The Pawty functions fundamentally as a fundraiser for PCAS—there’s a fee charged to attend—while providing the Slumber Party People an array of opportunities and activities, including settling in for the evening at the Shelter with the adoptable animals currently housed there, catered dinner and breakfast, a movie, games and more. He added PCAS will be taking reservations through Friday evening. (https://www.pascocountyfl.net/services/animal_services/index.php, https://www.facebook.com/groups/507994392606451)
 
COMEDY CORNER: Eddie Izzard’s’ “Horse Whisperers”  (https://www.eddieizzard.com/en)
MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE:  We didn’t play “Name That Animal Tune” today.
AUDIO ARCHIVE:
Listen Online Now: [...]

Ed Stewart, co-founder, president and CEO of the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)—which blazed a trail in animal rescue, welfare, education, and legislation, and this year, marks its 40th anniversary—recalls what she and co-founder Pat Derby were doing in the earliest days of PAWS. Stewart notes that Derby, his longtime partner who died in 2013–and an eloquent, red-headed dynamo, who was not to be trifled with—had long rescued animals before they joined forces in forming PAWS. He points out that animal rescue and advocacy characterized their formative years, but so, too, did efforts early on assisting in the formulation of California legislation, including a law that helped mitigate the ivory trade as well as the bull hook ban (a collaborative campaign with the Oakland Zoo and the Humane Society of the United States)—a critical regulation in that it precluded circuses and other entities with performing elephants (which use bull hooks to “control” them) from plying their trade in California. At my urging, Stewart offered a rapturous remembrance of Derby (and I added my own affectionate recollection of her), enthusing about everything from her deep familiarity with great literature, to her immensely articulate statements as a high-level animal advocate, to her supreme talents in helping traumatized elephants heal. We talked about ARK 2000, the glorious 2300-acre sanctuary PAWS operates in San Andreas, CA, housing 11 elephants, as well as big cats, bears, capuchin monkeys, and more, noting the newest resident is a skittish bobcat, and other animals are on the horizon, but Stewart said he couldn’t discuss those because they’re part of court cases where those critters have been seized. Stewart says the annual cost to feed and care for an elephant there, not counting additional medical costs, is about $70,000. PAWS welcomes donations: https://www.pawsweb.org/donate_online.html The broad intention of this conversation was to urge Stewart to reflect on the 40 years of PAWS, including key developments, challenges and milestones across those four decades. I also asked him to look ahead a bit to PAWS’ future, to which he chiefly replied by mentioning that he’s 73, and had his own battle with cancer a couple of year ago. So a succession plan centers around Stewart ceding leadership to Dr. Chris Draper, currently Chief Operations Officer, and whose experience includes serving as Head of Animal Welfare & Captivity at the Born Free Foundation. [Photo Credits: Courtesy PAWSweb.org] (https://www.pawsweb.org/, https://www.facebook.com/pawsweb.org, https://www.instagram.com/pawsark2000/)
ALSO: I spoke briefly with George Heinrich, the field biologist and environmental educator who specializes in Florida reptiles, who on April 6, is slated to deliver a lecture entitled “Conserving Wildlife and Wildlands: Building a Career in Herpetology,” at Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center, in Tarpon Springs. Heinrich explains that this lecture, along with other endeavors—very much including his summer nature camps—are intended to cultivate in kids an interest in reptiles, echoing how his lifelong passion for amphibians and reptiles began during his childhood in New England, where he observed salamanders and turtles in the local woods there. All these years later, it’s worked out pretty well: He has his own related company, Heinrich Ecological Services, and serves as the Executive Director of the Florida Turtle Conservation Trust. (https://www.ftct.org/, https://www.heinrichecologicalservices.com/)
COMEDY CORNER: Paul F. Tompkins’ “Alternative Pets”  (https://paulftompkins.com/)
MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE:  We didn’t play “Name That Animal Tune” today.
AUDIO ARCHIVE:
Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/TAMarch27Final.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

In what might be called The Sequel, this represents the second portion of the interview I conducted on Feb. 12 with Temple Grandin, onstage at the Paramount Theatre in Austin. We covered a wide range of topics last week, though that discussion featured a preponderance of autism talk, hardly surprising given Grandin’s expertise, personal experience and the audience assembled to hear this conversation. Again, this interview wasn’t designed for “Talking Animals”—it was created for a conversation to be conducted onstage at the Paramount, in front of an audience of about 1200 Grandin admirers–but I do feel it was worth sharing on the show. And  today’s installment is a good deal more animal-oriented than last week’s, and also more varied, as we’re additionally presenting the audience question-and-answer segment, which inherently was characterized by a mishmash of subjects. So, this portion of the conversation ranged from her lamenting that she no longer rides horses (at 76, she says she’s worried that she might fall), to confessing that before our talk, she Googled me and read some of my old Washington Post pieces, to describing her favorite ways to spend a rare day off. The audience question-and-answer segment included queries from folks on the spectrum—including a young girl whose classmates think autism is weird, and she was seeking guidance for how to handle this (Grandin responded, in part: “Tell them Einstein was autistic…he had a pretty good career”—the parent of an autistic child, and a woman who had been a student of Grandin’s in one of the first years of her longtime stint as a professor of animal science at Colorado State University. (https://www.templegrandin.com/, https://www.grandin.com/, http://www.tgecautismfund.org/)
ALSO: I spoke briefly with Courtney Scott, Elephant Consultant with In Defense of Animals, who first provides an overview of the animal protection organization that’s been toiling in this field for some 40 years. Scott filled us in on the disturbing development of the Bay Area Renaissance Festival in Dade City, Florida now featuring a live elephant, named Lady Essex, performing tricks and, apparently, offering elephant rides. She outlines the harm—from a skeletal and physiological standpoint—done to an elephant providing rides to humans on its back. Scott recommend steps people can take to urge Festival organizers to halt this elephant action–ideally well before the Festival is slated to end on March 31—offering a phone number (352-999-5946) and an email: info@bayarearenfest.com to contact those organizers.
 
COMEDY CORNER: Beth Stelling’s “Beth’s Pests”  (https://bethstelling.com/)
MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE:  We didn’t play “Name That Animal Tune” today.
AUDIO ARCHIVE:
Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/March6FINAL.mp3 | Open Player in New Window