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Animal Radio Network
October 26, 2002 - November 2, 2002
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In this newsletter:

ð WHAT IS A PUPPY MILL?
ð RINGLING BROTHERS ELEPHANT ABUSE VIDEO
ð 10 HUMAN HABITS THAT DRIVE CATS CRAZY
ð OUR COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS CONTINUES...

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THIS WEEK ON ANIMAL RADIO NETWORK
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ðWhat do military personnel do with their pets when they're called for duty? We'll explore the available options, and tell you about the people that foster these animals.

ðABC Good Morning America's Dr. Marty Becker describes the migration from the backyard to the bedroom.

ðCat Fancy's Arden Moore - How our cats can reduce stress.

ðSteve Lovvorn reveals the truth about puppy mills.

ðASPCA's Dr. Jill Richardson - Being prepared for accidental poisoning.

ðThe Natural Dog author, Dr. Mary Brennan - Chiropractic adjustments for your pet.

Next Week:
ðPet Estate Planning
ðSpayUSA Founder, Esther Mechler
ðChild Actor Myles Jeffrey
ðBonnie Bergan, Assistance Dog Inst.

DID YOU KNOW? ALL Network advertising profits go to care for homeless, abandoned and otherwise neglected animals? Monies also propagate further education about the importance of spaying and neutering.

HEAR OUR MISSION:
http://animalradio.com/about.ram

This week's show is underwritten by the animal conscious folks at:
Animal Designs (http://www.AnimalDesigns.com);
Holistic Pet Center (http://www.HolisticPetCenter.com);
The Missing Link (http://DesigningHealth.com);and
Batzibelt (http://www.Batzi.com)

HERE'S HOW TO LISTEN: A list of 72 AM-FM RADIO STATIONS that air Animal Radio Network is at the bottom of this newsletter. Consult your station for day and time.

IF YOU CAN'T FIND A RADIO STATION - You can listen online using the FREE Real Audio Player. Listen any day or anytime online. Shows are updated every Saturday at 2pm PST.

Click to LISTEN ONLINE NOW: http://animalradio.com/cfc.ram

If the Animal Radio Network is not in your city, call your favorite radio station's Program Director and ask for it!


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WHAT IS A PUPPY MILL?
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By Norma Bennett Woolf (Copyright 2001 by Canis Major Publications. All rights reserved. Used by permission)

The term "Puppy mill" means different things to different people:

Is a Puppy Mill. . .

* A place where several breeds of dogs are raised and the breeder always has puppies for sale?
* A dirty, trashy place where one or several breeds of dogs are kept in deplorable conditions and puppies are always available?
* A place where a single breed of dog is raised in acceptable conditions
and puppies are always available?
* A place where lots of dogs are raised, where breeding is done solely
for financial gain rather than protection of breed integrity, and where
puppies are sold to brokers or to pet stores?
* All of the above?

The answer depends on who you ask. . . .

A hobby breeder dedicated to promoting and protecting a particular breed or two might consider all of the above "breeders" to be puppy mills. Animal shelter and rescue workers who deal daily with abandoned dogs might agree. Operators of clean commercial kennels, licensed by the US Department of Agriculture, will strongly disagree, for the very mention of "puppy mill" damages their business and that of the pet stores they deal with.

John Q Dog Owner probably thinks of puppy mills as those places exposed on "20/20" or "Geraldo". They have seen the cameras pan back and forth over trash, piles of feces, dogs with runny noses and oozing sores, dogs crammed into shopping carts and tiny coops, rats sharing dirty food bowls and dry dishes. They've seen the puppy mill owner captured on tape, dirty, barely articulate, and ignorant of dog care, temperament, genetic health, or proper nutrition. He's belligerent, too, demanding to be left alone to earn his
livelihood.

But is the television crew simply seeking the sensational and applying these appalling conditions to the entire dog producing industry? Just what is a puppy mill?

After World War II, when farmers were desperately seeking alternative methods of making money when traditional crops failed, the US Department of Agriculture encouraged the raising of puppies as a crop. Retail pet outlets grew in numbers as the supply of puppies increased, and puppy production was on its way.

However, the puppy farmers had little knowledge of canine husbandry and often began their ventures with little money and already-rundown conditions. They housed their dogs in chicken coops and rabbit hutches, provided little socialization, and often eschewed veterinary care because they couldn't afford to pay. Animal welfare organizations such as the Humane Society of the US (before it became politicized by the animal rights movement) investigated conditions at these farms and eventually were successful in
focusing national attention on the repulsive conditions at "puppy mills."

Puppy mill conditions were a major impetus in the passage of the national Animal Welfare Act. However, as often happens, the appellation has been bastardized to mean any breeder who breeds lots of dogs, no matter what the conditions of the kennel or the health of the puppies. The AWA is administered by the US Department of Agriculture. The act lists several categories of businesses that handle dogs:

Pet wholesalers are those who import, buy, sell, or trade pets in wholesale channels, and they must be licensed by USDA to conduct business;

Pet breeders are those who breed for the wholesale trade, whether for selling animals to other breeders or selling to brokers or directly to pet stores or laboratories, and they must also be licensed by USDA to conduct business; and laboratory animal dealers, breeder, and bunchers must also be licensed, as must auction operators and promoters of contests in which animals are given as prizes.

Hobby breeders who sell directly to pet stores are exempt from licensing if they gross less than $500 per year and if they own no more than three breeding females.

The AWA does not list a definition of either "commercial kennel" or "puppy mill." The American Kennel Club also avoids defining "puppy mill" but does label a commercial breeder as one who "breeds dogs as a business, for profit" and a hobby breeder as "one who breeds purebred dogs occasionally to justifiably improve the breed, not for purposes of primary income."

AKC does not license breeders. [More on the AKC] The USDA issues licenses under the Animal Welfare Act after inspecting kennels to determine whether or not minimum standards for housing and care are being met. They require a minimum amount of space for each dog, shelter, a feeding and veterinary care program, fresh water every 24 hours, proper drainage of the kennel, and appropriate sanitary procedures to assure cleanliness.

USDA licensed more than 4600 animal dealers, more than 3000 of them dealing solely in wholesale distribution of dogs and cats, in 1992. Animal welfare proponents claim that there are many dealers (commercial kennels? puppy mills?) who have avoided the system, and that USDA does not have enough inspectors to seek them out and enforce the law. These welfarists have lobbied for stricter laws in the "puppy mill states" in the midwest.

It's easy to say that John Jones or Mary Smith runs a puppy mill or that pet store puppies come from puppy mills, but the label is tossed about so frequently and with so little regard for accuracy that each prospective dog owner should ascertain for himself whether or not he wishes to buy a dog from John Jones, Mary Smith, a pet store, or a hobby breeder. Here are our Dog Owner's Guide definitions to help you decide:

Hobby breeder: A breed fancier who usually has only one breed but may have two; follows a breeding plan in efforts to preserve and protect the breed; produces from none to five litters per year; breeds only when a litter will enhance the breed and the breeding program; raises the puppies with plenty of environmental and human contact; has a contract that protects breeder, dog, and buyer; runs a small, clean kennel; screens breeding stock to eliminate hereditary defects from the breed; works with a breed club or kennel club to promote and protect the breed; and cares that each and every puppy is placed in the best home possible.

Commercial breeder: One who usually has several breeds of dogs with profit as the primary motive for existence. The dogs may be healthy or not and the kennel may be clean or not. The dogs are probably not screened for genetic diseases, and the breeding stock is probably not selected for resemblance to the breed standard or for good temperament. Most commercial breeders sell their puppies to pet stores or to brokers who sell to pet stores.

Broker: One who buys puppies from commercial kennels and sells to retail outlets. Brokers ship puppies by the crate-load on airlines or by truckload throughout the country. Brokers must be licensed by USDA and must abide by the shipping regulations in the Animal Welfare Act.

Buncher: One who collects dogs of unknown origin for sale to laboratories or other bunchers or brokers. Bunchers are considered lower on the evolutionary scale than puppy mill operators, for there is much suspicion that they buy stolen pets, collect pets advertised as "Free to a good home", and adopt unwanted pets from animal shelters for research at veterinary colleges or industrial research laboratories.

Backyard breeder: A dog owner whose pet either gets bred by accident or who breeds on purpose for a variety of reasons. This breeder is usually ignorant of the breed standard, genetics, behavior, and good health practices. A backyard breeder can very easily become a commercial breeder or a puppy mill.

Puppy mill: A breeder who produces puppies hand over fist with no breeding program, little attention to puppy placement, and poor health and socialization practices. A puppy mill may or may not be dirty but it is usually overcrowded and the dogs may be neglected or abused because the breeder can't properly handle as many dogs as he has. Puppy mill operators often denigrate hobby breeders and their dogs in attempts to make a sale.

Unfortunately, some people who are well-ensconced in your local dog scene could be categorized as operating puppy mills. Prospective buyers should be careful to question anyone they are considering as a source for a puppy.

If you think you've found a puppy mill and wish to report it, there are several actions you can take. You can visit http://www.canismajor.com/dog/stopmill.html to learn more.

Steve Lovvorn uncovers Puppy Mills this week on Animal Radio Network. Click to LISTEN ONLINE NOW: http://animalradio.com/cfc.ram

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RINGLING BROTHERS ELEPHANT ABUSE VIDEO
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The ASPCA Advocacy Brigade is engaging in a double-lawsuit. The ASPCA and a former Ringling Bros. trainer use shocking videoÊof circus elephant abuse to take the circus to court.

VIEW VIDEO: http://www.aspca.org/media/ringling-56.rm

Hear ASPCA ON-AIR every week on Animal Radio Network
Log on, Learn more! http://animalradio.com

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10 HUMAN HABITS THAT DRIVE CATS CRAZY
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By Arden Moore - Hear her this week on Animal Radio Network

You think you've done everything right until you get the look: that "do-you-mind?" glare of disbelief and disgust from your cat. Without uttering a single meow, your cat can comment eloquently on your violation of feline etiquette.

Cats are candid creatures. They don't mask their feelings. They don't shrug off mistakes. With luck, they grudgingly tolerate your faux pas. My tabby trio ÷ Little Guy, Callie and Murphy ÷ have patience with me, knowing I lack their keen senses of sight, smell and hearing and their ability to decipher body language. After all, I'm only human.

For help in building a better bond with our cats, we consulted John C. Wright, Ph.D., a certified applied-animal behaviorist from Macon, Ga.; Amelia Kinkade, a professional animal communicator from North Hollywood, Calif.; and Tracy McFarland, DVM, a Santa Clarita, Calif., veterinarian who operates www.catdoctor.com. Here is our list of cat complaints and what we can do to keep the peace.

ðBlaring music
Your cat naps peacefully on the sofa until you slip a Fabulous Thunderbirds CD into your stereo and crank up the volume. Yowl' Your cat heads skyward, lands harshly and then dashes to the opposite end of your home. "Cats definitely have a legitimate gripe against loud music, especially heavy metal music," McFarland says. "To a cat, everyday household sounds are magnified. A pot that falls on the kitchen floor sounds like the world falling apart to them." Feline ears are much more sensitive than human ears.
They have more hair-cell receptors and their cone-shaped cars capture more sounds.
ÊÊÊÊ Solution: Pump down the volume. Make your teenager wear headphones. Opt for classical or jazz radio stations or CDs. Cats seem to like these musical styles best, perhaps because they are rhythmical and don't pack surprise beats.
ÊÊÊÊ Cats tell Kinkade they don't need the radio on when their owners leave the house, says the author of Straight From The Horse's Mouth: How To Talk To Animals and Get Answers (Crown Books). "The constant noise from commercials drive cats nuts."

ðTossing and turning in bed.
Nobody likes having their sleep interrupted, especially cats. Sleep is the favorite pastime of cats, who spend two-thirds of their day dozing. When restless humans cause commotion by shifting feet or flipping from one body position to another under the sheets, it's like someone jarring you awake by jumping up and down on your mattress. No wonder your cat reacts by toe pouncing or biting.
ÊÊÊÊ "Cats instinctively want to attack things that move ÷ like feet under the bedspread," McFarland says. "I've discovered that girl kitties are much more fussy about bedtime rules. Boy kitties tend to be more easygoing and tolerant. If you move too much at bedtime, most cats will just give up on you and find another place to sleep."
ÊÊÊÊ Solution: Sleep on your back and don't move a muscle. Or, more realistically, provide a cat bed in your bedroom or leave your door open for them to leave. If necessary, protect your toes by wearing thick socks.

ðYelling and raising your voice.
The human equivalent of catfights greatly annoy our feline friends. They don't tolerate spousal spats or loud parental lectures. Cats feel the need to flee and will often seek a quiet sanctuary, such as under your bed, says Wright, author of Ain't Misbehavin' (Rodale). "When you fight with a teenager or a spouse, cats typically are not sure what's going on," Wright explains. "They go from first being alert, to being interested and then to being terrified. Cats love ritualistic activities, set routines. They usually don't know how to deal with an upset in routine, like their people yelling. The loud voices often freak them out and cause them to dart out of the room."
ÊÊÊÊ Solution: Solve problems in a civil tone, rather than yelling and finger-pointing. If necessary, enroll in an anger management class to benefit all household members.

ðSuper-stressed humans.
Cats are four-footed mood barometers. They know when we're happy, sad, angry or bummed without us saying a word. "Cats read our body languages so well," Wright says. "When we're stressed, our muscles tend to be tight; our posture rigid and our pupils dilated ÷ not inviting signs to a cat."
ÊÊÊÊ Solution: Recognize that you can't totally control your life and, more importantly, remember to savor positive moments and events. "I encourage my clients to come home from work and spend a few minutes with their cats," McFarland says. "Spend quality time talking with your pets every night and think of good things that happened that day that you can share with your animals. They may not understand your words, but they do understand your tone. This activity can help reduce your stress."
ÊÊÊÊ Cats absorb anxiety from their owners, Kinkade says: "People are like cups and cats are like sponges. When our emotional debris fills up and over, our pets soak it up and get sick. Leave your problems at the office. Try to make your home a sacred space with music, incense or candles."

ðDirty litter boxes.
Picture your home without a clean bathroom. You must resort to a pungent port-a-potty on a humid day. You hope you have the lung capacity to hold your breath and complete your deed before you need to inhale. Disgusting, right? Cats belonging to delinquent litter-box scoopers feel the same way.
ÊÊÊÊ "A dirty litter box is a major pet peeve for cats," McFarland says.
"They deserve a box that is scooped every day ÷ and more than one box if there is more than one cat in the household."
ÊÊÊÊ Solution: Win over your cat by actually cleaning the box once or twice daily and re-filling it with clean litter once a week.

ðTardy Feedings.
Your alarm clock blares at 6 a.m. Five minutes tick by and you have yet to feed your tail-thumping, impatient cat. Ten more minutes elapse. Another 15 and you still haven't made a move toward the cat bowl.
ÊÊÊÊ "Cats are creatures of routine, and meal time is one of the high points of their day," McFarland says. "If you get up and immediately feed your cat every morning, she gets into a routine and starts to expect to be fed within minutes of your waking up. When you miss the feeding schedule or delay it,
you can have one really upset cat."
ÊÊÊÊ Solution: Try to stick to a regular feeding schedule you can
realistically maintain. For those times when you can't be home to open and serve some canned food, consider getting a timer dish that keeps the canned food chilled and ready for on-time servings. Or, enlist the help of a friend, relative or pet sitter to step in as surrogate chef for your hungry
cat.

ðCarrier, car, clinic.
These represent the Three C's of concern. Pull out a carrier for your annual veterinary visit and ÷ poof! ÷ your cat becomes a fleet-footed Houdini. Cars represent a major disruption for homebody housecats. The final insult: being poked and prodded by a stranger in a place filled with yapping dogs and hissing cats.
ÊÊÊÊ Solution: Turn the carrier from a torment to a treat. Select a model that is truly the cat's meow ÷ cushy and well ventilated, with a comfy towel or bedding inside, and large enough for your cat to rest comfortably. Leave it out and open in your house so your cat views it as "no big deal." Tune the car radio to a jazz or blues station at a low volume. Avoid sudden stops, Wright says.
ÊÊÊÊ "If you have two cats that are buddies, consider taking both to the veterinary clinic," Kinkade suggests. "The one that doesn't need medical attention can provide emotional support to the one that does needs shots or a physical exam. Also, keep your mind on happy homecoming thoughts and reward your cat when you return home with a treat like tuna or salmon."

ðIll-mannered children.
Children, especially those under 10, seem determined to lunge at, loom over and force bear hugs on cats. Every time the cat walks by, they want to grab, pat, play dress-up or give chase.
ÊÊÊÊ Solution: "Your cat needs an escape route and a safe zone inaccessible by a young child," Wright says. "Once your child is old enough to learn and understand household rules, teach them how to behave around the family cat. Say things like, 'Do allow the cat to come to you so you can play with it' and 'Don't disturb the cat when sleeping or eating.' "

ðAdopting another cat or a dog.
It's truly a cat's life ÷ until the day you come home cradling another cat or kitten ÷ or worse, a dog. The notion of sharing the home with another pet is enough to upset many cats.
ÊÊÊÊ Solution: "I tell the current household pet that I'm bringing in the new animal for them and it is his or her job to be kind and teach the newcomer our house rules," Kinkade says. "What you are doing is helping the resident cat feel more in control and not feel like they have just been hijacked. Cats like the role of responsibility. They don't feel as threatened."
ÊÊÊÊ Let the two animals get to know each other initially by smell, Wright says. Keep them in separate rooms and run a shirt or towel over both coats to exchange scents. Then, let them view one another from a distance. Cats are territorial, so make sure the new pet has its own possessions ÷ do not force them to share a bowl, toys or litter boxes.

ðForced affection.
I'm guilty of committing this major cat sin. After a business trip, I burst through the door, chase down my cats and want to engage them in a big group hug. No surprise that all three dart in three different directions. Once I calm down and sit on the sofa, all three slowly approach and greet me on their own terms.
ÊÊÊÊ Solution: "The more you try to force affection on your cats, the less they want to give you," McFarland says. "Being overly affectionate can actually drive your cats from you. Play hard to get ÷ in other words, act more like a cat, pretend not to care ÷ and your cats will seek you out for attention and affection."

(Arden Moore is a columnist for Cat Fancy and Prevention Magazine. She's back this week on Animal Radio Network. She'll teach us how to use our cat as a stress reducer. LISTEN NOW at http://animalradio.com)

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ANIMAL NEWS CENTER NEWSLETTER
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Much of the news you hear on the Animal Radio Network comes from the authoritative sources at Animal News Center. Now you can receive the Animal News Center Newsletter by subscribing at: http://www.anc.org/newsletter/index.cfm

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WHAT NEXT?
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Animal Radio Networks Countdown to Christmas continues...

"Dog-e-Tagú" is a digital dog tag. It is 1 3/8 inches (36mm) around, weighs 3/4 of an ounce (21g) and is worn in a similar fashion to a common metal tag. With up to 40 lines of information, one can store large quantities of data, such as cell phone numbers, pager numbers, e-mail addresses, county license numbers, rabies vaccine numbers, veterinary and neighbor contacts,etc. Beyond simple data, Dog-e-Tagú can also contain messages such as:

"I like my tummy rubbed"
"I can't hear, I'm deaf"
"I am 9 years old and I can't see very well"

A high resolution digital display is viewed when either of the two buttons are pushed. All of the information can be scrolled, forward or backward, stopping at any time. If you move, your area code changes, or you are out of town for the weekend, you can quickly update the information by simply pushing buttons on the device. The buttons are used in simple sequence to enter information one letter or number at a time while graphic symbols are used to help you through this process. This also allows for moving Dog-e-Tagú from pet to pet.

Dog-e-Tagú uses proven technology to provide a shock resistant case, which is waterproof to 165 feet (50m), and works in a wide range of temperatures. The lens is scratch resistant, and the display automatically illuminates once either button is pushed, making it easy to read at night or under any low light conditions.

It is securely attached to the dog's existing collar, and is easily viewed without being removed. Unlike conventional tags, where as many three tags may be needed to convey the necessary information, Dog-e-Tagú provides a silent solution to the constant clatter of metal tags.

Dog-e-Tagú is just one of the featured products in the upcoming holiday shopping shows on Animal Radio Network. You can learn more at: http://dog-e-tag.com and HEAR our countdown on Animal Radio Network: http://animalradio.com

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ANIMAL RADIO NETWORK STATION AFFILIATE LIST
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AK Dillingham KRUP 99.1
AL Birmingham WSMQ 1450ð
AL Florence WBCF 1240
AR Hope KXAR 1490
CA Los Angeles KOST 103.5ð
CA Palm Springs KPSI 920
CA San Bernardino KHPY 1530ð
CA San Luis Obispo - KVEC
CA Santa Barbara - KTMS 990
CA Santa Maria -
CT Bridgeport WICC 600
CT Hartford WNTY 990
FL Lake Wales WIPC 1280
FL Sebring WWTK 730
GA Jasper WYYZ 1490
IA Marshalltown KFJB 1230
ID Idaho Falls KZNI 1260
ID Pocatello KZNR 690
IL Chicago WBIG 1280ð
IL Chicago WRMN 1410ð
IL Princeton WZOE 1490
IL Sterling WSDR 1240
IL Vandalia WTRH 93.3
IN Marion WGOM 860
KY Murray WKJM 1320
KY Murray WNBS 1340
LA Lake Charles KAOK 1400
MA Boston WBPS 890ð
MD Baltimore WHFC 91.1ð
ME Portland WLOB 1310ð
ME Rumford WLOB 96.3
MN Duluth-Superior WDSM 710
MO Osage Beach KRMS 1150
MO West Plains KWPM 1450
MS Greenwood WABG 960
NC Charlotte WSPC 1010
NC Greenville WJNC 1240
NC Newport WTKF 107.3
NM Clovis KICA 980
NM Los Alamos KRSN 1490
NV Las Vegas KSHP 1400ð
OR Salem KYKN 1430
PA Ambridge WMBA 1460
PA Pittsburgh WBVP 1230ð
RI Providence WNRI 1380ð
RI Providence WPEP 1570ð
SC Charleston WTMA 1250
SC Florence WJMX 970
SC Greenville WAIM 1230
TN Chattanooga WGOW 1150
TX Brownwood KXYL 96.9
TX Del Rio XERC 650
TX Lubbock KKYN 1090
TX Texarkana KTFS 940
TX Tyler/Longview KRBA 1340
VA Johnson City WFHG 980
VA Johnson City WFHG 92.7
VA Richmond WHAN 1430ð
WA Tri-Cities KTCR 1340
WV Bluefiled-Beckley WHIS 1440
WV Tazewell WTZE 1470
WY Cheyenne KRAE 1480

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DID YOU KNOW?
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ðThe Animal Radio Network boasts over 2 million weekly listeners.
ðThe Animal Radio Network Show airs in 72 medium to major markets in the US, and on the internet.
ðSponsorship profits goes directly to the animals.
ðNo guests were paid to be on the program. All hosts contributed their time.
ðAnimal Radio Network reduces surrenders and euthanasia through education.

We need your underwriting. Visit http://animalradio.com to learn how you can help support educational programming that reduces surrenders and lowers euthanasia. Obtain our media kit online.

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