Animal Radio® Show #623 November 12, 2011         John O'Hurley, National Dog Show Actor/host John O'Hurley, best known as "J. Peterman" on Seinfeld, and the first winner of Dancing With The Stars, is the host of Thanksgiving favorite, The National Dog Show, along with David Frei, the "Dean of Dog Show Commentators." Today, almost 20 million people gather for the holiday; at home in front of the television before football takes over; rooting for their favorite breed (or mixed breed) along with the doggie on the couch next to them.   The National Dog Show airs on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, on NBC immediately following the “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade™” More than 2,000 purebred canines, representing over 160 breeds compete in a “ladder” elimination format for Best in Breed, Best in Group and Best in Show honors. John also gives us some exciting news for this year's show.  There will be six new breeds eligible for the first time, one of which is the Mexican Hairless, also known as the "Xoloitzcuintle," which is one of the oldest breeds that almost became extinct.  Tune in to the dog show as he tries to get people in the audience to pronounce the name! While some of these breeds have been around for many years in other parts of the world, they now have enough of a following in the Untied States.  To be considered a member of the AKC, they have to have a certain amount of numbers and a geographic distribution, meaning that they don't all live in the same place.  And last but not least, they need to have a parent club (an association) that watches over them. But they didn't forget the everyday dog and are also honoring him. Throughout November and December, where dog lovers can upload a photo of their favorite pooch at www.petcentric.com. or visit a new PetCentric Facebook page. Purina will donate $1 for every person that goes to the site up to $50,000 to the ADOPT A PET  program. Winners will be chosen in five categories: Best Expression, Best Athlete, Best Troublemaker, Most Loveable and Best John O’Hurley look-alike.    For the dogs that look like him, John says, "It doesn't hurt if they're pompous and arrogant like me." Does Your Dog Look Like John O'Hurley? John is heading back to Broadway for Chicago The Musical for their 15th Anniversary.  He currently has two everyday dogs, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Sadie and a Havanese named Lucy, both three years old. http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/33929567     The Longest Living Two-Faced Cat Marty Stevens, Frank & Louie  Frank and Louie the cat was born with two faces, two mouths, two noses, three eyes — and lots of doubts about his future. Now, 12 years after Marty Stevens rescued him from being euthanized because of his condition, the exotic blue-eyed rag doll cat is not only thriving, but has also made it into the 2012 edition of Guinness World Records as the longest-surviving member of a group known as Janus cats, named for a Roman god with two faces. Janus cats almost never survive, as most have congenital defects, including a cleft palate that makes it difficult for them to nurse and often causes them to slowly starve or get milk in their lungs and die of pneumonia.  They usually don't live beyond just a couple of days. Marty states that Frank does the eating for both of them, because Louie doesn't have a bottom jaw and he does have a cleft palate. Marty used feeding tubes to nourish them for three months, hoping that would also save them from the danger of choking on food going down two mouths. Marty obtained Frank and Louie' when their breeder had taken him to the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, where she was working at the time, to be euthanized when he was just a day old. Marty offered to take him home, but experts told her not to get her hopes up. He is "very, very laid back, not afraid of people, very friendly and he's actually more of a dog than a cat," Marty said. "He walks on a leash, he goes right in the car; he loves car rides."  People often want to touch Frank and Louie's long, luxurious fur while she is out walking him. "It's funny because people walk up to him thinking it's a nice, fluffy white cat and they're walking up with a big smile on their face to pat him, like, 'Oh, what a beautiful cat' and I see a look of horror come over their faces when they actually see his face," Marty said, laughing. Thirty years ago, a cat like Frank and Louie might not have been given a chance to live.  Marty states they other than their appearance, Frank & Louie are like a normal cat with just one brain and thankfully they get along! See Frank & Louie on YouTube.     The Dogfather's Grooming Tip with Joey Villani Sterilize - Don't Cross-Contaminate Your Pets! Do you have multiple pets?  If so, you probably used the same tools on every pet.  These might include nail clippers, eardrops and even clippers, to name a few. But what you may not realize is that you may be cross-contaminating your pet.   For example, if you are cleaning your dog's ear (perhaps using clippers to cut away the hair) that might have an infection, you can pass it on to your next pet by using the same instruments on their ears. You probably also have one pair of nail clippers that you use on multiple pets.  When clipping a pet's nail and you accidentally cut into the quick, that blood is still there when you use it on your next pet.  If you also accidentally cut into their quick, you are cross-contaminating these pets, which can transmit disease from one pet to another.  And if you use quick stop to coagulate the blood when you cut your pet's nail too short, it can also be contaminated.  Always use a q-tip and not your finger. Anything you use on any pet must be cleaned and disinfected after use.  You can wipe it down by using rubbing alcohol or by purchasing a spray disinfectant.  DOGFATHER'S GROOMING TIP Brought To You By SeniorPetProducts.com.  Use the code "SAVE25" to receive 25     Animal Radio® News with Stacey Cohen  Flea & Tick Medications Off The Shelves Having trouble finding your flea and tic meds for your animals?  Here is why!  Randy Crooks, who manages a Russell Feed & Supply store in north Fort Worth, has sold items for animals for decades. So, he knows his stuff. That's why you won't get top-of-the-line flea and tick medications at his store unless you ask for it. These days, it's kept under the counter. "The people that are going to buy it, they come up and buy it. The people that were looking to do other things with it, check the price and leave," said Crooks. A 3-month supply of brands like Advantage and Frontline costs about $50. When they were on the shelves, they disappeared. Still, many pet stores still have the medications right out on the shelf. Those stores are getting hit hard. One PetSmart in southwest Fort Worth keeps the medications in protective plastic cases. Warnings are posted on the shelves so customers know cameras are watching. Still, thieves hit the store seven times in the past two months. Police say, often, the stolen pet medications end up for sale online. We found nearly a dozen posts for flea/tick medication on Craigslist, so we tried to contact the posters. Cat Lost In Baggage 2 Months Ago Has Been Claimed  Jack the cat, at large at John F. Kennedy International Airport since escaping from his cage in the American Airlines baggage claim area two months ago, has been found. The cat got loose in the airline baggage center at JFK on Aug. 25, after Karen Pasco checked Jack and another cat in as cargo. A day later, parts of the airport were shut down in preparation for Tropical Storm Irene. Since then, more than 16,000 FaceBook fans of Jack the Cat is Lost in AA Baggage at JFK have been following search efforts that have included at least two Jack the Cat Awareness days, a pet Amber Alert and the hiring of a pet detective. "I'm relieved and happy that Jack has been found," Pasco said, "He needs some time to get back in health after the ordeal, but is in good hands with the vets who are taking care of him." If You Have Bad Neighbors You Life Is Gonna Be Poopie  A Fairfax County jury deliberated for less than 20 minutes before exonerating a Fairfax woman of failing to clean up after Baxter, the fluffy Westie-Bichon Frise mix she cares for.  The verdict came after a tense, funny and strange day-long trial that featured photos of dog piles submitted as evidence, a lengthy dissection of Baxter’s diet and a witness who brought a bag of poop to the courthouse, although not inside. Virginia and Christine Cornell had accused next-door neighbor Kimberly Zakrzewski of violating the county’s "pooper scooper" law by allowing the pooch to relieve himself on the grounds of their condominium complex, "This case wasn’t about whether I picked up after Baxter. It was about two women who wanted to harass me," a teary Zakrzewski said shortly after the verdict was read and her supporters clapped. "I can only hope this verdict will be the end of the harassment for me." All three testified that they had feuded for years and felt unsafe in one another’s presence. Police were regularly called to their building over accusations of slashed tires, damaged doormats and more. The Cornells photographed Baxter’s alleged waste, and the pictures were submitted as evidence. Christine Cornell said on the stand that the sisters went so far as to shadow Zakrzewski and Baxter one day, hiding behind a tree and snapping pictures. "Not once during these three days did [Zakrzewski] bend down or did she produce a doggie bag," Christine Cornell testified. Zakrzewski testified that she carried a supply of plastic bags and always cleaned up after Baxter. But perhaps the strongest testimony for Zakrzewsk, and the most surreal moment of the tria came when Michelle Berman, Baxter’s owner, took the stand. "Is that consistent with the stool Baxter creates?" Zakrzewski’s attorney, Kosa So, asked Berman, presenting a photograph that the defense had submitted as evidence. Berman glanced over and answered definitively: "I’ve never seen something that big come out of my little dog.  Earlier, Berman said she had brought a bag of Baxter’s poop to the courthouse in case it was needed as evidence. She had left it in her car. .More proof that if you have bad neighbors you life is gonna be poopie. PETA Sues SeaWorld PETA attracts the attention of comedian Stephen Colbert with their latest lawsuit. The animal rights group announced that they're suing SeaWorld, asking a federal court to declare that five orcas are being held as slaves in violation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. The host of Comedy Central's "Colbert Report" isn't buying PETA's claims.  PETA General Counsel Jeff Kerr says this is the first time any group has sought to extend the protection of the 13th Amendment to animals. PETA maintains that SeaWorld's orcas are denied freedom and kept in small concrete tanks so they can perform tricks for the passing amusement of humans. Consider Lifestyle When Selecting A Dog  When selecting a new dog, it is important to consider your lifestyle, expectations and resources. Now that you have the basics on what to consider when selecting a dog or puppy, consider the options of where you could to get your new pet. Purebred dogs: If you are considering a purebred dog, you should carefully research the breeder before buying a puppy. Try to visit the breeder at his or her home, and meet the mother dog and pups before making a final decision. If a breeder refuses to let you see the puppy’s onsite location or insists on meeting you in a separate location, be wary. It is crucial to see the environment of the dog you are choosing so you can ensure that your potential new pet has been properly cared for. The American Kennel Club’s Web site has plenty of information on finding a reputable breeder. Rescue dogs: Adopting a dog or puppy from the animal shelter is socially responsible and substantially less expensive than purchasing a purebred puppy. The adoption fee often includes some vaccinations as well as surgical sterilization. While it’s true that mixed breed dogs are generally healthier, with a lower risk of hereditary diseases, than purebred dogs, it can be more difficult to predict temperament, full-grown adult size,and specific needs of mixed breeds. You should ask why the dog was rescued and find out as much as possible about its health history. Rescued dogs sometimes have chronic health and behavior issues that require specialized, long-term care. Whether you choose to adopt a dog from an animal shelter or from a breeder, remember that it is your responsibility to properly care for your new pet. Schedule regular veterinary checkups and consult with your veterinarian on vaccinations, diet, sterilization and housetraining. By taking the time to research your decision, you can ensure that you make the right choice when choosing a pet. Vampires Are Real  Halloween has come and gone but... and I say a BIG BUT… there are real vampires in the world. They just happen to be fish. Several species of candiru catfish inhabit South American Rivers. Some seek out larger fish and use their spiny mouths to attach themselves to the gills of their victims, where they make an incision with their teeth and drink their fill of fish blood. Some species actually burrow inside the bodies of their prey, leaving a wound that looks like a bullet hole. Once inside they suck blood from the internal organs. This is the fish that gained international fame recently when one swam up a man’s (you know), where it fed for several days before having to be surgically removed. NEWS UPDATE Brought To You By PetzLife.com.  Use the code "RADIO" to receive 20% off!       Listen to the entire Podcast of this show (#623)

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