Animal Radio® Show #479 February 7, 2009
The Spiritual Lives of the Animals We Love
Sylvia Browne, All Pets Go To Heaven
Sylvia Browne, the world famous psychic, states that all animals have a personality as well as an afterlife. One of the reasons that she wrote this book is not only because she is a maniacal pet lover, but also because she got sick and tired of scientists and even some religious people saying that animals don’t have souls and that got her fired her up. She states that she has seen pets from the other side with their owners, and not only that, but when we go over, we also see our pets.
Animals communicate with us from the other side almost telepathic. You just know that if you get centered into your animals, and you love them, and you’re very cognizant of their behavior, you can really tell when they’re happy or sad, when they are grieving or when they are comfortable.
Her book, “All Pets Go To Heaven,” contains stories of such encounters as well as communicating with your pets. In fact, she states that she was able to potty train her dog in a couple of days just by taking his face in her hands and talking to him just as she would if he were a person. Now people might think she is crazy for doing this, but she states that it works! And stop that baby talk – she says your animals think you are an idiot when you do this!
Sylvia also hates it when people think that animals are dumb. Another pet peeve of hers is when you are grieving for the loss of an animal, and then someone walks up to you and says, “It’s just an animal.” That makes her so crazy she wants to nail them!
When her spirit guide told her that when she goes to the other side, all of her pets will be waiting for her, she thought to herself, good, because there are some pets she would rather see than people!
http://www.sylvia.orgTemple Grandin, Animals Make Us Human
Not many people know that Temple Grandin is autistic, and you would never know it by speaking with her. She is now 61 years old, but when she was 2 and 1/2 years old, she had all of the autistic behaviors, including rocking and temper tantrums along with no language. At that time, no one knew what autism was and her parents were told she should be institutionalized. Fortunately, she was able to get good, early education. She recommends anyone who has a young autistic child, to have a good teacher spend about 20 or more hours per week on one-to-one education, and perhaps even get them a therapy dog.
Her autism has made her a visual thinker, which enables her to design equipment for animals and do test runs in her head. This also allows her to go inside the minds of animals. As a result, she has designed humane and stress-free slaughter systems that are used now to process about half of all the cattle in the United States and Canada. Animals are sensory-based thinkers, which means they don’t think in language, they think in smells, sound and in visual pictures, as well as in touch sensations.
As an autistic person, Temple knows that fear is her main emotion. So she knows what fear is like, and that a lot of animals get scared. What she has tried to do in her new book, Animals Make Us Human, is to look at behavior from an animals’ point of view. She discusses the core emotional system that all animals have of fear, rage, seeking and separation anxiety.
Grandin also has a problem with the popular television trainer Cesar Millan. After watching 2 years worth of Cesar Millan's "Dog Whisperer" episodes, she feels that Cesar was good with Rottweiler types of confident dogs with aggression problems and felt that he did some good things. However, she doesn't believe that he knows how to handle separation anxiety.
Temple Grandin has a Ph.D. in animal science and is a professor at Colorado State University. She is also the author of four previous books including the classic memoir Thinking in Pictures. HBO has just wrapped production on “The Temple Grandin Story” starring Claire Danes as Temple, which is set to air in May 2009.
http://www.templegrandin.com/templehome.html
Vladae,
The "World Famous" Russian Dog Wizard
Toy Fox Terrier Is Aggressive With Other Dogs
This 4-year old is very aggressive towards all other dogs and is ready to attack. One of the problems is that this dog has never been socialized or has played with other dogs. This is a very serious problem and Vladae suggests that she immediately get a trainer to come in and work with her dog hands-on. In the mean time, he suggests the guardian start with the structures of discipline.
http://www.animalradio.com/vladae.html
Vinnie Penn, Animal Radio's Resident Party
Animal
Changing of the Guard – White House Dog Selection
I’m very enthusiastic about the changing of the guard, the whole inauguration thing and watching it. It was an incredible day and an historical day. But what I’m really waiting on is the dog selection, and I know that all of you are too, because you’re pet lovers. We’ve heard a lot about it and it has gotten a lot of media coverage, “What’s their dog going to be,” “ The two little girls get to bring a pet into the White House,” and you know it’s going to be a Beagle. And I’m against that too. I was thinking about it, and I would love for it to be kind of a hybrid dog we’ve never heard of before, like a Chiwauzer, half Chihuahua and half Schnauzer; or a Schnoodle, half Schnauzer and half Poodle. I would like it to be kind of kooky like that. At first I thought that all of this talk about, hey, the Obamas are going to get a dog, they’ve got to have a pet, it’s not the White House without a pet. Every pet has to stain the carpet in Lincoln’s bedroom. And I just thought, is this what we should really be hearing a lot about? And then I got caught up into it, and I want to see if, I want to know what they are going to get! And one last thing, I’ve got a name. They should name it Palin, Palin the Pup. I think that’s awesome – you tell me!
Llamas at the Pumpkin Patch
I took my daughter and my son, I have a son too, his name is Luke and he is 2-years old, out to the Pumpkin Patch, way back when just before Halloween. And it was interesting because that had llamas there, which half of the day I spent calling “Yamas,” until finally an irritated parent corrected me.
My children were fascinated by the llamas behind the fence. They had scheduled times when you could see the llamas, which I thought was great because they would say at such and such an hour bring the kids by and they would bring a llama out. So we did it twice, because my kids wanted to go back and see the llamas a second time. They were so fascinated by this creature as they should be. And, I want my children to be fascinated by animals. But it seemed as if the Pumpkin Patch scheduled the times that the llama would come out with his bowel movements times, because every time the llama came out, he defecated right in front of all of the children and parents.
Couldn’t they have gauged or gotten a better handle on exactly when the llama would be having a bathroom break and bring him out afterwards? No matter how cute I tried to cover it by saying, “look Luke, there’s the mama llama – eewww!”
Dr. Jim Humphries - Veterinary Minute
Elderly People with Pets Have Reduced Healthcare Costs
Helping elderly people and their pets is not just the right thing to do, but it can also reduce healthcare costs, and that can save lives. Pets can be a great source of comfort and joy. By emphasizing our pet’s role in our mental and physical lives, over a period of time we can also reduce overall healthcare costs to society. We know that people who live with companion animals receive numerous health benefits. For example, people with pets visit the doctor less often and use less medication. People with pets recover from illness more quickly. People with pets have lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure. And exercising a pet can provide valuable exercise to an animal’s elderly guardian. There are measurable social and economic benefits to elderly people by providing services and care for their pets. Get involved with your local humane society and see where you can help.
Animal Radio® News with Bobbie Hill
Be Wary of Dog Food & Toys Containing Peanut Butter
Since the FDA recently traced sources of Salmonella contamination to a peanut plant, pet owners are being advised to discontinue using peanut butter products. The ASPCA recommended pet owners stop using peanut butter or peanut paste or any pet toys containing peanuts. PetSmart is recalling its dog biscuits marketed under the name Great Choice after ingredients were found made by a company linked to the outbreak. While a healthy adult dog is usually resistant to the illness caused by Salmonella bacteria, exposure could be more serious in puppies, sick or elderly dogs. Pet owners are urged to wash their hands thoroughly since Salmonella can be passed between pets and humans.
Don’t Buy Animals Over the Internet
Scam artists are everywhere and now comes a warning from the ASPCA about an Internet offer that’s too good to be true. Ads claiming to offer adorable cute puppies “free to good homes” are the latest trend. The ASPCA warned all pet owners not to purchase any animal from the vast unregulated marketplace without doing some serious homework. Bottom line according to the animal welfare group is never to buy a pet you’ve never met in person.
Ratchet Will be Trained As Therapy Dog
Remember the story of Ratchet the dog rescued in Iraq by army Specialist Gwen Beberg...Ratchet flew home in October thanks to Operation Baghdad Pups and now his rescuer is back. Gwen returned home to Spring Lake Park Minnesota to a hero’s welcome that included a feisty Ratchet. Gwen’s parents have been caring for her dog that, she says, “ Loves Minnesota...he thinks its one gigantic field of treats.” Gwen is studying massage therapy at Northwestern Health Sciences University and plans to train Ratchet to be a therapy dog.
Groomer Charged With Animal Cruelty
A Pennsylvania dog groomer was formally charged with cruelty to animals this month after she allegedly tried to sell pierced “gothic kittens” on the Internet. Holly Crawford, who has several body piercings, was charged with three misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, three summary counts of cruelty and three counts of conspiracy. Crawford plans to enter a plea of not guilty, saying in her first interview that she didn’t see any difference between piercing a cat or a human. She added that she used sterile needles and surgical soap on the kittens and checked their piercings several times a day to make sure they were healing properly. Crawford admitted her dog grooming business plummeted since the raid on her home last month.
Dogs Allowed in Homeless Shelter
The Belgian city of Liege has adopted a new policy to help persuade homeless pet owners to come in from the cold. The city’s social welfare agency agreed to allow dogs in the local soccer club that doubles as a cold weather shelter. Before the policy was enacted, homeless people with dogs refused to come inside without their dogs, no matter how far the temperature dropped. Officials are hoping this trend expands to other European cities.
Kitty Cat Kindergarten Classes
An animal welfare group in the Pacific Northwest is offering Kitty Cat Kindergarten classes. The Washington Humane Society Behavior and Learning Center’s goal is to make sure their adoptees are healthy and happy. The four-week classes teach owners basic kitty health, nutrition and behavior facts. Kitten socialization is a big part of the class, which teaches grooming too. Dog owners have had the option of “puppy classes” for years but most cat owners have to learn on their own. The Washington Kitty Kindergarten isn’t the first of it’s kind - that happened 5 years ago down under in Australia by cat behavior consultant and veterinarian Ilona Rodan - who brought her cat practice with her to Madison, Wisconsin in 2004.
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Animal Minute With Britt Savage
Pet Cremations Made Into Jewelry
Oh, what a beautiful ring! Is it a diamond, a sapphire- a cat! Cat owners are getting creative with pet cremations. While most owners go for the traditional grave in the backyard or a cremation urn, some owners are having their pets made into jewelry.
Paperweights, crystals and jewelry have all been created by Life Gem, a company that can turn a doggy into a diamond for about $2,000 to $25,000.00. There’s also Floramorial, a company that makes soil that converts cremated ash into a planting medium to grow a memorial flower.
Other owners opt to keep their pet’s ashes in a thumb-sized urn so they can take it with them wherever they go. You can even get a huggable plush toy filled with your pet’s ashes.
It’s all just a way of showing that dog is man’s best friend, or maybe diamond’s are a girl’s best friend, or maybe a little of both!
Your Vet Questions Answered with Dr. Debbie
Cat Licks Hair Down To The Skin
This 6-year-old cat licks spots on her body down to the skin. Some spots she has done this to are the base of her tail, on the front of her paws and also on her belly. In cases like this, Dr. Debbie looks at the areas of the lower abdomen and the front legs. For cats that work on those areas, she tries to see if it is more of an obsessive-compulsive disorder and behavior problem as opposed to allergies.
Cairn Terrier Has Bad Breath
This guardian says his dog’s breath can “Knock the socks off you!” She is only one year old and her guardian says she has the worst breath he has ever smelled on any creature. Her teeth are in great shape and she gets her teeth brushed frequently. As far as her guardian knows, she doesn’t have any bad habits of eating things in the yard or even eating her own poop. In older pets, the main reason for bad breath is dental disease, and while it is uncommon, this can also be the case for young dogs. Another cause could be the loss of puppy teeth, which results in blood in the mouth, which can also cause an unpleasant odor. She should be checked out by her vet.
Does My Fish Have Cataracts?
This foot-long placastumus is in a 55-gallon tank and he has an eye problem. The eyes look like they have something similar to a thin piece of tissue paper over their surface. This guardian has medicated the tank for fungus and bacteria, but they eyes have not responded. Cataracts are possible in fish, but if it were a cataract, it would be smooth and not look like it is sitting on top of the eyes and be irregular, as the guardian describes his fish. Dr. Debbie suggests the guardian look for a veterinarian that specializes in fish medicine or even check with a local fish stores to see if they have an expert available to look at the eyes.
12-Year-Old Cat Is Losing Weight
This cat is normally slender, but she has lost about a pound and is now down to around 4 and 1/2 pounds, and also has loose bowels. While she has always been a good eater, she is now asking for food more often. There are no changes in her diet or in her disposition. Dr. Debbie suggests that the first thing to do is to have her thyroid level checked. Middle aged to older cats often get a condition called hyperthyroidism, where the thyroid gland produces too much of that hormone. This can lead to a ravenous appetite, weight loss, some excitability, diarrhea and vomiting.
Birds Are Eating Wooden Toys And Cage
These two birds, a cockatiel and a lovebird, are eating their wooden play toys as well as parts of their wooden cage. Is this normal? Dr. Debbie advises that this is normal for birds, and they will chew on anything given the opportunity. She suggests that if they are in a wooden cage, you should immediately get them in a non-painted galvanized steel cage. They are also on a birdseed diet, which is very deficient in nutrients. She recommends a palletted diet, which looks very colorful, and is a processed food that has all of the proper nutrients. This may not be so easy to do, as they will always go for the seed first. But over time they should be able to adjust. Also, if you take the birds out of their cage frequently, this will help socialize them and will add to their mental stimulation so they won’t be so bored and will cut down on their chewing.
Dog With Congestive Heart Failure Is Picky Eater 
This 6-year-old Yorkie has congestive heart failure and has been put on a diet of Science Diet H//D, which she will not eat. Her guardian has even tried adding boiled chicken to the food, but she won’t touch it. Her guardian was told to keep trying. However, the Yorkie went four days without eating any food. Unfortunately, the dog has now resorted to going outside and eating the other dog’s poop. Dr. Debbie suggests looking for other prescribed foods especially for pets with heart disease. There are several other brands out there that might work.
Can Dinovite Replace Bad Dog Food?
If you feed your dog a lesser quality of pet food can you give them a supplement like Dinovite to make up for the lack of proper nutrition in bad food? The answer is no, you can’t eat a bad diet and make up for it in supplements. Just like in people, you can’t eat cheeseburgers everyday and pop some vitamins and think everything is okay. You should always start with a good nutritional food, and then if you want, you can add special supplements to that. Dr. Debbie personally doesn’t use this type of supplement on her dogs, and she is leery of products that claim that they are a cure-all for what ails a dog.
Talk With Your Animals with Joy Turner
Is New Puppy Happy?
Stevie wants to speak with Bradley, who is a pound puppy, maybe half black Lab and half Dachshund mix, who seems to be a little insecure. Joy talks to Bradley and finds out that he was rescued from the pound about a year ago but still fears that he might be sent back, and wants reassurance that that is not going to happen. Stevie tries to assure Bradley that there is nothing he could possibly do to make her take him back to the pound.
http://www.joyturner.com
http://www.talkwithyouranimals.com
Susan speaks with 
Justin Rudd, who has created a special event for all Bulldogs to strut their stuff. The Annual Bulldog Beauty Contest is scheduled for Sunday, February 15th in Long Beach, California. Every year, English Bulldogs are invited from all around the world to participate. They have had as many as 300 registered bulldogs at these events. Last year they added a separate competition for French Bulldogs, and this year they are adding a separation competition for Pugs.
The winners in the past have received crystal dishes from Tiffany & Co.; they also get a jeweled crown as well as dog food, treats and toys. Each category consists of the Top 10 as well as an overall winner for each category.
Even if you don’t have one of these dogs to enter, come out for a day of fun! There will also be an adoption event going on for both cats and dogs looking for forever homes.
Fido Friendly Magazine:
The Travel Magazine For You & Your Dog, a complete guide to Fido-friendly accommodations across the United States and Canada. "Fido Friendly is the only magazine dedicated to the travel lifestyle of man's best friend, and the one magazine your dog will thank you for." And don't forget to join the Fido Friendly Travel Club.
http://www.fidofriendlytravelclub.com
Clive Pearse, HGYV Designed to Sell & Design Star
Shelter Dogs
Clive Pearse recently went on a terrible mercy dash that fortunately turned out very well. He went to an animal shelter and grabbed six dogs that were going to be euthanized.
It all started when Clive got one of those emails about animals currently in shelters whose time was running out. This email was about 23 animals that were in trouble in Bakersfield, California. Clive lives in Los Angeles, but along with a friend, drove to Bakersfield. They felt that had to do something. They grabbed six dogs, an amount they felt they could handle quickly. Clive and his friend weren’t the only ones there. There were also many other people that responded, along with a woman from Las Vegas who was loading 20 dogs into a truck. Clive was able to find homes for the six dogs that he rescued.
Clive wants to make people aware that they don’t have to wait until they get that S.O.S. email to do something, and that if we can, we should do something a little bit sooner. Clive was able to find people who knew people, who knew people, who would foster. He has even accumulated his own “I will take a dog” list. You all probably know someone who will either take or foster a dog, so please compile your own list.
Clive wants to remind everyone about all of the dogs in the shelters, and look for people that you know who would adopt or would foster. He also wants to give a mention to the Bakersfield Animal Shelter. Sadly, they still have many animals that need homes. Go see Angela, Sally, and Sherri and tell them “That Clive sent you (the Brit).” And if you can’t make it to Bakersfield, go visit your local shelter and help out.
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