Talking Animals Duncan Strauss

Rebecca Reid–Director of Education at Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, a multifaceted operation (wildlife refuge, veterinary hospital, rehabilitation facility, education center) in Jupiter Farms, Florida—discusses the readily observable love for her job, and its probable roots in her passion for animals, and being outdoors, while growing up in New Jersey. Reid recalls it was a childhood joyously replete with catching salamanders, hanging with rabbits, and playing with the family dog. This would seem to foreshadow her work with animals at Busch Wildlife—and it eventually would, but there was an initial period when she was working in restaurants, not going to school—followed by a time, when she was attending college, dovetailing with her discovery of Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, where she began volunteering. After a time, Reid moved into Busch’s Education department, and a while after that, the woman leading that department left the Sanctuary, opening the opportunity for Reid to become Director of Education. She’s held that position for more than eight years now. Remarking that Busch Wildlife offers a sprawling array of education programs, presented not only at the Sanctuary, but offsite, too, I note that they clearly place a premium on education. Reid quickly concurs, explaining that it’s a central facet of their mission, in that 90% of their rehabilitation cases currently involve human interaction with those animals—the hope is that their educational efforts will decrease those human-animal interactions (well-meaning as they may be) reducing the number of the Sanctuary’s rehab cases. Reid assesses the ways in which the education programs have evolved under her watch, expounding on how she has devised a significant revision to the format of school field-trip visits—making good use of the additional, larger facilities that exist at the new, almost 20-acre spread they relocated to this year from the six-acre previous campus. Her aspiration for the revised format, slated to be implemented in October, will be a much more interactive program for the students, cultivating, Reid hopes, “little scientists.” This reinvented approach is no small matter, in that it involves a towering number of young students—Reid leads a team of educators who greeted upwards of 12,000 schoolchildren to the Sanctuary last year. Reid explains another facet of their education programming that’s enormously important: instructing disadvantaged students—more than 2500 annually—who, in some cases, find it impractical to travel from their schools, so Reid and her colleagues commute to some of those campuses, to give their Busch Wildlife talks. Putting her on the spot a bit, I ask Reid about being named a finalist in Palm Beach Illustrated’s annual “Educator of the Year” award—you can vote for her, through July 30, here  (https://www.buschwildlife.org/, https://www.instagram.com/buschwildlife/, https://www.facebook.com/BuschWildlife) 
ALSO: I played back a brief interview I recorded with H.H. German, the founder of Sigma Comics, and the writer-creator of “Calico,” believed be the first comic-book hero dedicated to fighting animal abuse. I’ve spoken with German periodically over the years, since Sigma Comics launched the “Calico” series, which has been lauded in animal-welfare and comic-book circles. Indeed, German mentions that he was just notified that “Calico” has achieved top-level sales success in the realm of independent comic-book series, at major national events, like San Diego Comic-Con. We spoke just before German and the “Calico” team were due to shove off for that international event held for decades in San Diego, where they planned to unveil Sigma Comics’ first trade book, CALICO: Street Math, which German explained, collects issues 1-8 of Here Comes CALICO and adds bonus material. Extending the tradition begun with the series, the trade book is being crowdfunded through Kickstarter, [...]

Journalist Joshua Hammer–author of a captivating piece in the current issue of Smithsonian Magazine, entitled “Pablo Escobar’s Abandoned Hippos are Wreaking Havoc in the Columbian Jungle”—recalls how, having been casually aware of the Escobar/hippo situation, he decided to deeply delve into what turned out to be a more complex, colorful saga than anyone could’ve reasonably anticipated. Recognizing those listening would need to be of a certain vintage to be conversant with Pablo Escobar—a Columbian drug lord whose cocaine business flourished in the 1980s and early 1990s (he died in 1993)—I asked Hammer to provide an overview of Escobar. Drug lords tend to buy certain things with their wealth—houses, cars, boats—but Escobar additionally bought a bunch of exotic animals in order to create his own private zoo. Hammer describes Escobar’s critter-shopping, noting that part of his attraction to hippos was that the drug baron wanted his menagerie to solely house herbivores. Another hippo attribute—this one less known, but central to the immense problems the Smithsonian article spotlights—is they’re prolific breeders. Their normal stomping grounds are sub-Saharan Africa, and it’s thought that Escobar initially brought in 4 hippos (3 females, 1 male) to help launch his Columbia jungle zoo. Hammer reported, and reviewed in our conversation, that a government count last year estimated the population at 169, while another expert Hammer spoke with suggested that number was closer to 200. Biologists project the hippo tally in 2040—if the breeding is unchecked—will be around 1400. That’s a giant number of giant animals—a gargantuan invasive species, in every sense. There’s more than a little discussion—both in Hammer’s piece and my conversation with him–of efforts to control, and reduce, the hippo population, culminating in an initiative to perform surgical castration. That’s not only a complicated procedure, but also one quite risky for both human and hippo, and for those reasons, thus far is making only a small dent in the neutering required to truly decrease the populace. We wrap up the chat asking Hammer for a bit of prognostication, assessing what the future holds for the Escobar hippos as their numbers continue to expand, while humane solutions for curtailing that expansion—and probably the patience of government officials—dwindle. His prediction is grim. (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/pablo-escobar-abandoned-hippos-wreaking-havoc-colombian-jungle-180984494/) [Hippo photo by Gena Steffens]
ALSO: I spoke briefly with Alexa Sawyer, Public Services Librarian at St. Pete Beach Public Library, about an hourlong program, “Herpetology 101,” she coordinated, and that the library is hosting presented by Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center–on Tuesday, July 23, at 1pm. She discussed what to expect at “Herpetology 101,” intended for K-12 students. She went on to explain how that program represents just one of many animal-oriented programs she organizes at the St. Pete Beach Library, having forged alliances with assorted local animal organizations, which are pleased to participate as one way to carry out their own educational mission, typically providing an “animal ambassador”—a real animal that helps illustrate the presentation, not to mention hold the audience’s attention. Sawyer noted that these programs often inspire attendees’ interest in learning more about those particular animals through books at the library, thereby establishing (or solidifying) a lifelong love of books. And libraries. (https://www.spblibrary.com/, https://www.instagram.com/stpetebeachlibrary/, https://www.facebook.com/SPBLibrary)
 
COMEDY CORNER: John Mulaney’s  “Baby Grandma” (https://www.johnmulaney.com/)

MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” Sparks’ “Hippopotamus,” instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE:  We didn’t play “Name That Animal Tune” [...

Tracey Callahan Molnar–handler and chief human of Beacon, the therapy dog who’s become increasingly beloved across the U.S.A. Gymnastics world and beyond, emerging as a media sensation along the way—recounts her own career as a gymnast and coach, specializing in rhythmic gymnastics. A fundamental narrative of this conversation reflects the intersection of gymnasts and therapy dogs, so Molnar recalls her own history with those kinds of canines. It partly involves her husband’s battle with pancreatic cancer, noting that hospital stays for surgery and chemotherapy introduced the couple to therapy dogs, which they instantly warmed to. It also occurred to them that their own pooch, Tulsa, had the temperament and other attributes to become a therapy dog. Sure enough, Tulsa, did eventually start working as a therapy dog (Sadly, this was after Molnar’s husband died.) She remembers how, after she and Tulsa underwent their training and other preparations, and started working as a team, what she found most rewarding about making those visits. This, clearly, was a precursor to the alliance she later forged with Beacon, whom I called “the belle of the ball,” referring to the 2024 United States Olympic gymnastics team trials, held June 27-30 in Minneapolis. At those trials—where he and a small pack of therapy dogs were on hand, helping calm the nerves of the gymnasts (and coaches)—Beacon landed at the center of a major piece in The New York Times, as well as similarly Beacon-centric coverage from such other media outlets as ESPN, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, The Today Show.com, People Magazine, and NBC News. That reporting captured how gymnasts couldn’t get enough of Beacon, spending time with him whenever possible, lovin’ on him, and vice versa, getting their picture taken with him (like Simone Biles, pictured above), inevitably observing that he wore a credential around his neck that included the designation “Goodest Boy,” pointing out that various participants at the trials sometimes posted about the dog on Instagram. It appeared that Beacon was putting in very long days in Minneapolis, and Molnar describes the array of measures she followed to help mitigate the pooch’s fatigue and emotional wear-and-tear. She also outlined what it takes to be an effective therapy dog, delineating what makes Beacon so distinctive and charismatic. In the final moment of our chat, she touches on his longtime quirk: Beacon hates to be hot, so he likes to climb into the refrigerator to cool down, something he’s done since his puppy days. Molnar explained that she’s careful to limit the length of those fridge visits, and always leave the door open. This all underscored the impression that Beacon is one cool canine. https://www.instagram.com/goldendogbeacon/  (Photos of Beacon & Molnar, and Molnar solo, by John K. Cheng; Photo of Beacon & Simone Biles by Tracey Callahan Molnar)
 
ALSO: I spoke briefly with Karri Head, who oversees marketing and events for Pet Pal Animal Shelter–located in Saint Petersburg–primarily about the Cat Yoga class they’re offering at the Shelter on Tuesday, July 16, at 6pm. Head also provided a short overview of Pet Pal Animal Shelter, including its history and mission. She described what to expect at the Cat Yoga class, including that probably 8-10 cats from the shelter will be roaming amongst the 12-18 humans, creating a possible scenario of doing downward dog poses amidst standing upright felines. Additionally, she notes the opportunity the yoga students will have to adopt one of those roaming kitties afterwards, though that’s the purpose of the class. Head mentions additional details of the class, including how to register. (/https://petpalanimalshelter.com,  https://www.facebook.com/events/pet-pal-animal-shelter/cat-yoga-returns/1138369110617590/)
COMEDY CORNER: Eddie Pepitone’s  “Dog Therapy” (https://www.eddiepepitone.com/)
MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking [...]

Dr. Mikel Delgado–a certified cat behavior consultant and author, most recently, of “Play With Your Cat! The Essential Guide to Interactive Play for a Happier, Healthier Feline”—traces the path that preceded her status as a cat expert with a PhD, including dropping out of school and playing bass in punk bands, sharing stages with such luminaries as Sleater-Kinney and Mission of Burma. Delgado notes that she’s a longtime cat companion, even during her time as a touring musician, probably why she was amenable when a friend suggested she join him in volunteering at the San Francisco SPCA, a nationally-revered shelter that’s been caring for animals since 1868. (I’m pretty sure they’re getting the hang of it.) In Delgado’s telling, this S.F. SPCA gig proved pivotal. She not only loved the work, but in a development that may have foretold her current career, Delgado found herself drawn to helping the shelter cats that were exhibiting the most profound challenges, in the Cat Behavior Department. She recounts throwing herself into that realm, including reading every book about feline behavior she could get her hands on, and volunteering so many hours at the shelter that when a job opened up, it was practically automatic that she was hired. A while later, she decided to return to school, pursuing her undergraduate degree, then shifting to the extended quest for her doctorate, yielding a PhD in animal behavior and cognition from UC Berkeley. Research followed as a postdoctoral fellow at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, as did a book, “Total Cat Mojo,” co-written with Jackson Galaxy. In this new book, “Play With Your Cat!,” Delgado emerges as an   enthusiastic—bordering on insistent—advocate for playing with your cat. We discuss that, even as a longtime cat cohabitant, I found the book absolutely eye-opening, a reaction I suspect will be widespread. At my request, she delivers an explanation akin to an elevator pitch on why it’s so important to play with our cats, articulating the crucial role it plays in maintaining their health and well-being. Additionally, Delgado explains how tightly intertwined cats’ powerful hunting drive is with their urge to play. Indeed, the book’s second chapter is entitled “Cats Play Because They Hunt.” Delgado addresses the types (not brands) of toys she recommends, and why—extensively explored in the book, which we should mention also features nifty illustrations by Lili Chin—and some of the many topics covered across the pages of “Play With Your Cat!.” Including, owing to a question emailed to me a couple of days before the show, how to integrate a new kitty into a household of existing cats—the question she’s most frequently asked in her cat consulting business, Feline Minds, and one that has too many variables to answer in a brief exchange on the radio. (https://mikeldelgado.com/, https://whatyourcatwants.com, https://www.instagram.com/mikel.delgado/, https://www.facebook.com/whatyourcatwants/) [Photos courtesy Dr. Mikel Delgado; Illustration by Lili Chin]
COMEDY CORNER: Joe Zimmerman’s “Crows” (http://www.zimmermancomedy.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/2024/07/TAJuly3Final.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Dara Eckart–CEO of Friends of Strays, St. Petersburg’s oldest no-kill animal shelter, currently undergoing a significant transformation, including opening a cats-only adoption center, The Cat Box on July 1—outlines the shelter’s history, citing key milestones of the early years. Eckart explains that Friends of Strays began in 1978, when co-founder Jean Bomonti, who’d been volunteering at a shelter, became increasingly displeased by the sheer number of stray cats brought into that shelter, and how they were treated, including not-infrequently being euthanized. It’s fitting that Bomonti and her initial Friends of Strays friends traveled around St. Pete, rescuing stray cats, aiming to find homes for them, within a no-kill operation…when, 45-plus years later, the shelter is unveiling a new, free-standing building (bright-green, no less!), The Cat Box, entirely devoted to cat adoptions. Eckart recalls arriving at Friends of Strays some seven and a half years ago, and while not given a mandate, exactly, she says there had  clearly been a leadership void that she was expected to fill. Too, an expectation to run Friends of Strays as an business (Eckart had a  tech/business background, while no animal welfare/rescue experience.) She goes on to recount changes she implemented, which yielded bigger and better budgets—and what those things yielded, including the resources to hire an in-house veterinarian (at first, just one day per week, eventually full-time), and a director of development. A more polished, professional operation has other virtues, including attracting significant philanthropic gifts. For example, Eckart notes that The Cat Box represents the first of three phases of what will constitute the Schwartz Family Adoption Campus, while phase two focuses on the creation of the dog-only adoption facility, the Milkey Bone Dog House, as in the Milkey Family Foundation. And so on. (https://www.friendsofstrays.org/, https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofStraysAnimalShelter, https://www.instagram.com/friendsofstrays)
COMEDY CORNER: A special edition of the Comedy Corner today, in recognition of Friends of Strays’ new cat adoptions center, The Cat Box, I played Todd Barry’s recent “Tonight Show” set, which consisted of all cat material: “Pet Cats” (https://www.toddbarry.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/2024/06/TAJune26Final.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

This was a truly distinctive edition of “Talking Animals”: For starters, the show was part of WMNF’s full day of special programming devoted to celebrating Juneteenth. Second, my two (in-studio!) guests were both stellar, veteran WMNF programmers: Harrison Nash, the universally-beloved DJ, in his 36th year at MNF, currently the host of “It’s The Music, Tuesday.” And Glen Hatchell, who spent 17 years at WMNF before leaving to fully pursue his passion for dogs, learning everything he could about training canines and their behavior. These efforts led to a job as the Behavior and Enrichment Manager at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, as well as stints every 3-4 months on “Talking Animals,” presenting the show-length feature, “Ask The Trainer,” in which listeners are invited to call or email questions about their dogs or cats, particularly involving behavioral issues or training. Another trait that distinguished today’s show: It marked the 10th installment of “Ask The Trainer,” which we’ll summarize in a moment. We asked Harrison about his background and he briefly outlined his history at WMNF, having hosted shows that mainly featured the blues (usually including some zydeco) to the inherently more eclectic format of “It’s The Music.” Naturally, we also dedicated some time to discussing Juneteenth, including the history and growing recognition of the holiday. In response to my admittedly-difficult-to-answer-question, Harrison rattles off some of his favorite music artists. As for this 10th edition of “Ask The Trainer,” the session began with someone who wrote in to Glen about their dog Cooper, a 4 ½ year old, female Lab/Brittany Spaniel mix, who won’t walk on a leash—”she pulls the second you start a walk.” The writer had tried a variety of solutions: assorted specialty leashes, stopping as soon as Cooper pulled, treats, etc.—all to no avail…Other questions for Glen included one about a dog who loved to eat Hibiscus flowers—and another pooch, Arrow, who loves to eat poop—the Golden Doodle named Louis who has the not-uncommon habit of jumping on people he doesn’t know, even a query about Florida’s latest bear legislation, seeking to loosen the criteria for when it’s permissible to shoot the animals…Glen also noted that he recently retired from the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, and is now on something of a sabbatical, pondering his next professional move, hinting it will likely involve multiple species.
COMEDY CORNER: There was no Comedy Corner today.
MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme, Aretha Franklin (ft. The Boys Choir of Harlem), “Never Gonna Break My Faith, Nina Simone’s “To Be Young, Gifted and Black,”  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/2024/06/TAJune19FinalVersion.mp3 | Open Player in New Window