 Animal Radio® Show #583 February 5, 2011
How Far Would You Go To Keep Best Friend?
John Woestendiek, Dog, Inc.
 John Sperling, billionaire businessman, self-described rebel and founder of the University of Phoenix, was as intrigued as anybody when Dolly the sheep was cloned. In 1997, with some spare cash lying around, he decided to see if it was possible to clone his lover’s dog Missy. Using Texas A&M as his breeding grounds, he employed the veterinary school lab to start testing on whether or not it was possible to clone a dog.
About the same time, a former statewide beauty pageant winner, in Wyoming, Bernann McKinney, began investigating how she might clone her best friend Booger, a rescued pit bull who saved her from a dog attack and became her aid-dog, her guardian, and as she called him, her savior. When Booger died, McKinney did everything in her power—including investing more than $50,000 of her parents’ money and traveling to Korea from the US four times—to bring her beloved Booger back through cloning. The result was five new Boogers - the first successful commercial cloning of a canine- delivered in 2008.
Bernann later admitted that the dogs were not identical to the original Booger, some of the clones has illnesses and that there was a point where all five of her clones were picked up by animal control and put in the pound because of behavioral issues.
 Most people think that when you clone your animal, you will get an identical pet, both in looks and personality. That couldn't be farther from the truth! You will get a genetic identically dog. You might also get an animal that looks similar, but that is only because of the multiple efforts and surplus clones. When the first companies started cloning pets, they stated that it was basically your same pet coming back again, guaranteed. They then toned it down a bit and no longer issue those statements.
DOG, INC. looks at the ethics behind cloning, the doctors and scientists on the forefront of this biotechnology, and the eccentric characters who – on both the supply side and the demand side – got the ball rolling on making commercial cloning available to the general public –a costly pursuit in more ways than one.
How far would you go?
http://www.dogincthebook.com
What Happens To Your Pet If Something Happens To You?
Chris Jones, Trusted Pet Partners
 Over 500,000 pets go to shelters each year due to their owner's death or disability. Over 250,000 are killed. A pet trust will legally protect your pet's future if you're not there.
Recent laws guarantee your pets will be cared for as you direct in your pet trust. In the past, there was no guarantee your wishes would be enforced by the courts.
Attorney Chris Jones has created an Internet site called TrustedPetPartners.com, where they offer enforceable, legal trusts for pets in all of the states for which laws have been passed providing for protection of animals. The current states where pet trusts are not currently valid are Minnesota, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Many years ago, the legal documents, which provided protection for animals, were not legally enforceable. In other words, you could set up in your will or trust provisions for the care of your pet and nominate someone to be in charge of them. However, they could pocket the money and get rid of your pet, or take care of them however they choose to, and no one had the ability to enforce those provisions. Now, there are legal provisions in almost every state that say that they are enforceable.
The next question is how much money do you put in a trust for your pet? The easy way to figure this out is to look at what you are spending now on vet bills, food, etc., every year and calculate how many years you feel your pet might live.
If you have an attorney draw up a pet trust, you can expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 to $2,500. At TrustPetPartners.com you can do it online for $289. This one trust can include all of your pets and you will not be charged for any changes down the road.
If you create a pet trust with TrustedPetPartners now through May 31, 2001, they will give you a $100 discount. Just use the code: AR2011.
http://trustedpetpartners.com
Dodge Journey Pet Destinations
What Is Your Favorite Place To Take Your Pet?
People who have pets love to travel with them. At Dodge, they have made it easier with their pet friendly vehicle, the Dodge Journey, which contains concealed storage bins, Chill Zone glove box cooler and second-row dual in-floor storage bins with removable and washable liners (very handy for muddy paws!) Call us with your favorite place to take your furry-friend: 1-866-405-8405.
This week's Dodge Journey Pet Destination:
 Bradley lives in San Francisco and likes to take his dog, an Italian Greyhound, to Alamo Square Park. It is located at Fulton and Scott Streets. He states it is a very large park, at least 30 acres. While most of the park is "on-leash," there are areas designated for "off leash." This park is across from the famous Painted Ladies. It is also the park in front of the house on the old TV show Full House. If you have a dog that loves other dogs and you love San Francisco, you both have to visit this park!
To view Past Dodge Journey Pet Destinations, click here.
The Dogfather's Grooming Tip with Joey Villani
Severely Matted Dogs
Joey visited a salon this week when a woman came in with a Labradoodle who was matted to the skin. You could tell that the woman kept herself looking clean with nice clothes, but the dog was a wreck.
The woman was told that the dog was so matted the only thing they could do was to clip the dog down. It would actually have injured the pet to try to comb out all of the knots. The woman did not want to listen and argued with the groomer. She even offered to pay more money if they would comb out her dog.
Joey was so upset, he jumped in and threw her out of the salon, and it wasn't even his place!
Joey states that the dog was so bad, his guardian should be required to sign a release form that if the dog is clipped down, the salon is not responsible for any irritations, cuts or abrasions, because at this point, that is what happens with a severely matted dog.
 Joey wants people to understand that when a dog is extremely knotted, either by neglect for lack of brushing, or washing and wetting your dog at home and not brushing the dog through the drying process, you can't cut through it. He also mentions that in a dog that has been wet and not brushed, the mats will start at the skin, when they would normally form away from the skin.
On a severely matted dog, you have to use a blade that can cut between the skin and the hair that is not matted. That can sometimes only be between 1/16th of an inch. It is almost as if they are shaving the dog. Think about it. If you are an adult male and haven't shaved for 5 months and then all of a sudden you have to shave, do you think your skin is going to be irritated a little bit after shaving? The same thing happens to your pet's skin. It is a very delicate process. But what's worse is if you have a beard full of dreadlocks. Are you going to brush it out? Probably not, as you would tear your skin out. That is what would happen to your pet's skin if you try to brush out severe mats.
When your dog's mats get that bad, take it off and let your groomer educate you on what brushes and combs you need to do a proper job.
Contrary to popular belief, groomers do not like to clip and shave dogs. Most people think that groomers are lazy and it is easier for them to just shave it off. But in fact, it is more difficult in most cases.
 DOGFATHER'S GROOMING TIP Brought To You By SeniorPetProducts.com. Use the code "radiospp" to receive 25% off!
 Animal Radio® News with Laurie Roberts
LaRussa Not a Fan of Vick
St Louis Cardinals Manager Tony LaRussa is second on the list of major league games managed. He is also the founder of ARF, the Animal Rescue Foundation in his home in the San Francisco Bay Area. And, he is not a fan of Michael Vick. LaRussa believes that because Vick has come back in such a big way athletically with the Philadelphia Eagles, he is getting much less condemnation than he deserves. LaRussa believes a big PR move was behind Vick's contrition and that Vick still does not believe that what he did was horrible.
Don't Walk Your Dog in the Cold
Veterinarians are advising not to take your dog out for that daily walk on frigid mornings, with some ending up at the vets with vomiting and nausea. Veterinarians also advise to keep your pets on a high protein diet, as that helps boost their immunity.
Weirdest Things Ingested by Pets
VPI Pet Insurance has a list of the weirdest things ingested by pets last year, which cost pet owners $3 million dollars to treat. Within the top 50 - TV remote, wooden toy train, rosary crucifix, hearing aid, jumper cables, Frisbee, part of a deer antler, an extension cord and a jellyfish.
 Dog Comforts Dental Patients
At the office of 12-year dentist Tracy Taddy, and her dentist Dad in La Jolla Ca., patients are made more comfortable by a visit from Mona the mutt. Mona has only been visiting the office with her owner Tracy for a few months, but already more than half the patients ask to have her in the room during and exam or procedure. When a patient needs a Mona fix, the 10 pound Chihuahua-Dachshund mix settles on their lap, on a comforter made by an appreciative client, snuggles into a ball and stays for as long as it takes. Dr. Taddy says, "Immediately the anxiety level goes down."
 Dog Teaches Kids To Care For Pets
The Johnson County Humane Society in Indiana takes Mira, the three-year-old German Shepherd Mastiff mix, on visits to local schools to help teach kids how to care for their pets. Mira's name is short for miracle, as she isn't even supposed to be alive. She was part of a litter born to an ill mom, and she and her littermates were taken to a shelter to be euthanized. They were put down and put in a freezer to be disposed of later. Mira was found alive after four days in the freezer. A shelter worker who was ordered to take Mira to a vet to be euthanized, instead gave her a warm bath, had her examined, then found her a new home. Nowadays, Mira helps the Humane Society teach kids how pet ownership comes with a responsibility, like spaying and neutering, to reduce the number of unwanted animals facing the same fate that Mira did.
Rats and Red Wine?
Rats, according all the cartoons, like cheese. Now, apparently, they also like red wine. Scientists have discovered that resveratrol, which is found in the skin of red grapes, has been beneficial in lab tests to convert cells into healthy heart tissue. One group of rats was given resveratrol supplements with their regular food for two weeks and one group just got the food. The rats that got the red wine supplement had healthier heart tissue, as the resveratrol acted as an anti-oxidant. Researchers believe this treatment could be beneficial on a regular basis and especially for heart attack survivors.
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