Animal Radio®

NatGeo’s science/comedy “Duck Quacks Don’t Echo” will put to the test everyday common misconceptions. Host Seth Herzog joins us and shares some of the experiments he’s doing with animals. Also, nothing is certain in life except death and taxes and, increasingly, pet food and treat recalls. On average, there is one every 11 days. The Food and Drug Administration received over 2,500 consumer complaints regarding pet food and livestock feed. Also, Paula Scott trains and certifies therapy dogs, cats, miniature horses, and plenty of animals you wouldn’t necessarily think of as therapy pets. Science proves that even purring a cat can make you feel better and promote healing. Also, the lead lawyer in Morgan County, Tennessee, says he is looking to press charges against the owner of a pet crematory after investigators found a mass grave with dozens of dead cats and dogs. But he’s still waiting on the results of the investigation. Also, Sana Saida, whose name translates into “Happy New Year” in Arabic, was born in Morocco. The bovine has a condition called Polycephaly, which means having two heads, and is more common among turtles and snakes, but Sana Saida is said to be healthy. Also, New York City’s mayor wants to change how tourists get around Central Park. At a news conference, he said he wanted to replace Central Park’s iconic horse-drawn carriages with electric cars.

A company called Poo Prints claims Dallas and other cities can cash in on dog waste through DNA tracking. Dallas City Council members chuckled Wednesday when they heard about the plan, but the company is dead serious about the opportunity to find irresponsible dog owners by lab testing turds. Eric Mayer describes to listeners how his plan works to clean up your city. Also, award-winning photographer Seth Casteel, also known as “The Underwater Dog Guy,” has been featured in National Geographic, The New York Times, Time Magazine, Good Morning America, The Today Show. Now, he’s giving listeners his best-selling book on Animal Radio. Also, in response to an alleged increase in dog shootings by police officers, several people, including owners of murdered pets, are using Facebook as a tool to increase awareness of the problem and seek change to police policies toward dogs. Videos of dog shootings are all over the Internet, and it seems like there’s a new one every week. Also, dogs and Millionaires have a lot in common. They are relentless opportunists (especially when it comes to rewards). They come in all shapes, sizes and colors. They defend their turf. And in general, they don’t like cats. Perhaps that explains a new survey that shows that millionaires are far more dog-friendly than the rest of Americans. According to a Spectrem Group study, 58% of millionaire pet owners have a dog. Also, business is booming for a Brigham Young University student who recently started a puppy rental service. Jenna Miller says she’s had more than 100 rentals since August. The business has stirred some controversy, with the Utah Humane Society concerned about the dogs’ health.

Babette Haggerty has trained Jack Nicklaus’ Golden Retriever to bark the number of his major tournament wins on command, Curt Gowdy’s Rottweiler to say, “Go Reds,” and Jimmy Buffett’s Maltese to dance on cue to “Margaritaville.” Now, she’s sharing her best on Animal Radio. Also, Steve Pelletier is a techie, a dog lover, and a fitness fanatic. Once an Economist at the Reagan White House, he’s now focusing his attention on the pet obesity problem in the U.S. He’s invented a smartphone app that can help your dog stay in shape. Also, Darlene Arden busts the myths surrounding the Cava-Poo-Chon breed. This toy dog is supposed to look forever young and live to 20. These designer breeds are actually a waste of your hard-earned money and can be racked with health issues. Listen to what Darlene has to say before you run out and get the latest fad-dog. Also, How much does our dog know? Can they tell time? Alan Kabel schools us on separation anxiety and what is believed to be the canine perception of time. When you leave the pack, your dog may think you’re never coming back. Also, while some say school safety hinges on guns, cameras or alarms in classrooms, Mark Gomer and Kristi Schiller think specially trained dogs should take point in preventing violence in schools.

Jeremy Brandt has a strange and scary job. One minute, he’ll be doing dental work on a lion. Next, he’ll be tattooing a bear. It’s all part of a day’s work as a Nat Geo WILD television host. Also, there’s an “app” for that.  Just released, the Human-to-Cat Translator. This intriguing app says it can translate human words into cat language. Speak a word or phrase into your phone, and the app plays back a collection of meows, supposedly translating your English into Catlish. When we tried a translation for “come here,” our cat tester showed a little curiosity but not enough to actually get off the couch. Of course, even if the app does work accurately, there’s a good chance your cat will ignore you, anyway. Also, ex-Mayor Bloomberg’s daughter makes a pretty decent living riding horses. Georgina Bloomberg continually wins big stakes in riding competitions. But now she’s taking time off to have a baby with her boyfriend. She has more info on the big Tinsel & Tails event.Also, when people feel pain, they often reach for common medicines such as aspirin or Motrin. However, NSAID use in pets carries risks as well as benefits. Pet owners must be informed about possible side effects, including those that could signal danger.Also, it’s time to endure another year with drunk old Uncle Ned. This year, Vinnie Penn defends the right of the family dog to have a sock hanging from the fireplace mantle. This doesn’t end well.

When Jackie Coleman Wren wanted a pet, she preferred something a little more exotic. That’s why she got a Capybara. This strange animal looks like an oversized Guinea Pig or Gopher and apparently has an affinity for chewing everything. Also, Stacie Grissom started a subscription business that delivers a box full of toys and treats to your dog every month. The business morphed into a wildly successful celebration of dogs and a new book featuring charming stories about the connections with our furry friends. Also, Pet World Insider Robert Semrow loves mutts! He’s counting down the five reasons mutts make better pets. Did you know that a mixed-breed dog is healthier than a purebred? Also, A research team at Oakland University wanted to know how two traits, narcissism and borderline personality characteristics, are related to levels of attachment to both traditional pets and unusual or exotic pets. The results did not turn out the way the researchers thought they would. Lori Brooks reports on the results. Also, a 34-year-old Houston, Texas, woman who had a fully grown male tiger and three tiger cubs roaming free in her home was charged with child endangerment. Apparently, Trisha Meyer allowed the four tigers, a fox, a cougar, a skunk, and several monkeys to roam freely in her house around her home-schooled 14-year-old daughter. The landlord kicked the woman out of the home after police notified him of what was going on. He said she had only lived there for three weeks, but he had no clue that someone could do that amount of damage to a home in that short amount of time.