Animal Radio‪®‬ Animal Radio®

Our Hero Person this week has been serving animals for decades since a near-death experience changed how he viewed our furry friends. Mike Arms is the Top Dog at the Helen Woodward Center in San Diego and he’s no stranger to Animal Radio® airwaves. Also, researchers say that dogs, like people, can be optimistic or pessimistic. This information could dictate whether certain dogs are cut out for certain jobs. A pessimistic dog that avoids risks would be better as a guide dog, while an optimistic, persistent dog would be more suited to detecting drugs or explosives. Also, a Pizza Hut in Australia has apologized for offering a ‘free small animal’ with the purchase of 10 large pizzas. The deal was offered in connection with a local pet store. The corporate office at Pizza Hut says the promotion was not approved, and no animals were given away. Also, Karen Zaxton’s mom has no technical skills, but she devised a great idea to combine the microchip with a GPS locator. Not until now has the battery technology been available for powering a rice-sized chip. Also, Dr. Debbie tackles litter-box problems every day. She has a winning record! She’ll explain why cats don’t use them and how to solve inappropriate elimination issues.

Several high-profile recent pet deaths highlight the possible need for government regulation of the over $6 billion pet grooming industry. Our very own “Dogfather,” Joey Villani is spearheading the move towards regulation for the pet grooming industry. Also, The first year of being a pet parent to a cat will cost about $1,035; for a dog, that number is $1,843, as estimated by the ASPCA. The estimates seem somewhat conservative by Animal Radio’s standards. Also, Doc Halligan has the 411 on pet vaccines. Can they cause cancer? Are they really necessary? Is there a way to tell if your pet needs them or can skip them? Why are the pharmaceuticals only testing for one year? Also, just like people, there are some really wealthy pets in the world! The richest of them is probably not a shock to you – it’s the long-deceased “Grumpy Cat!” Grumpy’s owner has made over 100 million dollars for appearances, modeling, book deals, and ads. That’s a larger net worth than Cameron Diaz or Jamie Foxx. Also on the list is “Moose” the Jack Russell who starred as “Eddie” on Frasier, “Keiko” the killer whale, “Rin Tin Tin,” the dogs who starred as “Lassie” and Virgin America spokes-dog “Boo.” Also, according to Dr. Lori Marino, new research shows that pigs are smart as, if not smarter than, chimpanzees and dogs. The often lowly regarded swine may even have self-awareness, something our companion animals don’t understand.

From the FX television show, Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll, we are thrilled to have the passionate animal advocate, Elaine Hendrix, is Animal Radio’s special guest this week. During the day, she’s an actress; during the evenings, she’s dedicated to raising awareness for animal welfare, a cause close to her heart. Also, Melanie Monteiro just released an incredible 3-hour online course to educate pet guardians about CPR and other emergency care. Covering everything from bloat to car accidents, she’ll teach you what you need to know to save your pet’s life! Also, Animal Radio’s “Dogfather” Joey Villani is on the cutting edge of legislation to regulate the pet-grooming industry. Until laws are in effect, he wants you to know how to tell a good groomer from bad. He’ll tell you what red flags to look out for. Also, Pets FBI Ohio and its 50 volunteers, which reunite lost pets with their owners, are having trouble solving a case where a scammer is taking advantage of worried pet parents. Be warned that his individual calls people who have lost a pet and says he will help find the pet. He claims he’s with Pet FBI Ohio. Also, Viral Internet stories claiming that the pet food treat “Canine Carry-Outs” has the same ingredients as anti-freeze are simply erroneous. Dr. Debbie explains the hoax to curious listeners.

This week’s Hero Person is a whole bunch of people. We applaud the motorcycle riders who came together to fight animal abuse wherever it rears its ugly head. Greg Belcher tells us the story behind the biker club. Also, it appears this year will be one of the biggest for canine flu. Many Chicago pet events, including the Annual Bark in the Park, have been canceled because this is ground zero. Some dog parks have posted signs warning dog guardians that they are entering at their own risk if their dogs have not been vaccinated. According to reports, more than 1,300 dogs have been affected by the disease in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. At least six of the dogs have died. AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) spokesperson Dr. Douglas Aspros has the information you need to keep your pet safe and healthy. Also, The Humane Society of Utah has teamed up with photographer Guinnevere Shuster to come up with a better way and it worked. She put dogs in a photo booth and let the shutter fly. The pictures turned out to be amazing and really showed off the individual dog’s personalities. In fact, all the dogs in the shoot were almost immediately adopted. Also, Animal Radio’s New Pet Product Special concludes this week. We’re giving away our #1 pick, an Arlo Wireless Pet Monitor Camera to help you keep an eye on your critter from your phone or any computer. Phil Pyo shows off this amazing new technology.

Second-generation Hollywood dog trainer Teresa Ann Miller has trained the dogs and other animals you see in movies and TV. She was brought up on-the-set while her dad worked on such notables as The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction. She shares her captivating stories about the animal stars of the stage and screen. Also, Utah’s police department is the latest to add a program to its police academy to teach cadets how to deal with pet dogs. The program was championed by Sean Kendall, whose Weimaraner Geist was shot and killed by a police officer after coming into the dog’s backyard looking for a lost child. Also, it turns out that many well-known restaurants have secret menus that cater to your pooch. You do need to make sure that your pet can handle some human-ish food before you order. For example, Starbucks will serve up a Puppuccinno. It’s a small cup filled with whipped cream. Dairy Queen’s Pup Cup is a little bit of vanilla soft serve, topped with a dog treat. If you’re on the West Coast, there’s In-N-Out where you can order a Pup Patty. Also, Animal Radio’s New Pet Product Special is underway. We’re featuring the latest in cutting-edge technology for your pets. We have giveaways for you! Dr. Roger Mugford is back to claim our number-two pick for this year, the Green Interactive Feeder. This gadget will slow your dog down during dinnertime, preventing upset and bloat. Also, Top Dog at the American Pet Products Association, Bob Vetere is back to explain why the pet industry is exploding and how we spent $60 Billion. It should come as no surprise that pet-food comprises one-third.

Christina Lindquist is a forensic investigator. She uses evidence from animals, usually dogs and cats, to nab the bad guy. You’ll hear about a murderer that was busted when he stepped in dog-poop and a rapist that was tied to the crime when a dog urinated on his car tires. Also, after several studies saying that kissing your dog could expose you to some unhealthy things comes a study that says “Go ahead and kiss that dog!”  Researchers think that the microbes contained in a dog’s gut could have a probiotic effect on the human body, encouraging the growth of positive microorganisms. Also, imagine if you cross HGTV with Animal Planet. You’ll get the PBS special Animal Homes. Host Chris Morgan joins us and explains how some animals build their homes bigger and better and shinier to attract the opposite sex. Also, Dallas Pets Alive has started naming their adoptable animals with popular online search terms to increase their exposure by having them pop up more often in trending news feeds. Also, in Tokyo, they’ve come up with a pretty cool idea. It’s called Dog Heart and you can actually rent a dog for a few hours. You can just hang out at their facility or take the dog out for a walk around the neighborhood or maybe to the park. A half-hour of playtime costs about $8 US and taking the dog for a walk for an hour runs about $30. It’s becoming very popular. But the Japanese Coalition for Animal Welfare has some valid worries.