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ANIMAL RADIO NETWORK
January 18, - January 26, 2003
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In this newsletter:

* POLICE SHOOTINGS OF DOGS TRAGIC AND ALL TOO COMMON
* PET LOSS PREVENTION AND RECOVERY - MICROCHIPS
* PREPARING A FIRST AID KIT FOR YOUR PET

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THIS WEEK ON ANIMAL RADIO NETWORK
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*ASPCA ON AIR - Training our police to treat animal abuse seriously.
*15 Ways To Keep Your Pussycat Purring!
*The Doggie Clothing industry, bigger than you think.
*Attack Cats! Annie Bruce
*Declawing - It's not humane! Alternatives that work. Some that don't.

Next Week:
*Animal Law with attorney Adam Karp Esq.
*Carol Gurney - Communicating with your Pet

This week's show is underwritten by the animal conscious folks at:
-The Missing Link (http://www.DesigningHealth.com);
-Antser (http://www.theantser.com);
-MyPetPrescriptions.com (http://www.MyPetPrescriptions.com);
-SpeeDVD (http://www.DigitalDaycare.com);
-Glo-Collar (http://www.glocollar.com).

Did you know? All advertising profits from Animal Radio Network go directly to help the animals helped by the ASPCA, Best Friends, Friends of Pets, and quarterly grant disbursements.
HEAR OUR MISSION NOW: http://animalradio.com/about.ram

HERE'S HOW TO LISTEN: A list of 70+ AM-FM RADIO STATIONS that air Animal Radio Network is at the bottom of this newsletter. Consult your station for day and time.

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Animal Radio Network is going International. Soon to be in Switzerland, France and Germany!! Details TBA.

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YOUR RESPONSE
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We had quite a hailstorm of response to our last newsletter and our article on the ills of Puppy Mills and Online Puppy Auctions. We wish we could publish all the e-mail, but there is simply not enough space in this newsletter. You may view other responses online at http://animalradio.com.

Mel responded:
"I understand there are homeless animals out there, however after careful review I chose not to adopt from a shelter for two main reasons.Ê They want too much money, I can get a puppy that fits my need exactly for what many shelters ask for dogs.Ê The other is the amount of work they want you to go through to adopt a dog.Ê I need small dogs, and very rarely does the county pound get any.Ê There is a small animal shelter in northern VA that wants 200-250 for a dog depending on if it is fixed.Ê That is in addition to the 10 page pre adoption application and a home visit.Ê There is no need for me to waste my time and energy to do that when I can go up the street to a nice local breeder and get my little dog that has been living with its parents in a loving home all its life.Ê It is the same price or possibly cheaper and a whole lot less work.Ê I am sorry but as long as there are shelters out there making it so hard for normal people to adopt dogs people are not going to do it.Ê Maybe not all shelters are like this, maybe just the few I have seen.Ê But from using petfinder.org for months with no luck I have to sympathize with those who want dogs.Ê Many of the places on petfinder require a lot to adopt or only adopt in a limited area.Ê These shelter practices only keep puppy mills and bad breeders in business."Ê

Elyse Zucker responded:
"Hi! As a concerned animal lover and a very proud animal caretaker I would like to know if there is anyway we can stop the auctioning of pets on ebay. Please advise me so I can start getting the word out."

Tom Townshend responded:
"I'm astonished to see that such businesses exist. I guess it's all about educating people like myself. I didn't even know so many animals were being put down and that there is a surplus of cats and dogs. Thanks for enlightening me. Now I will tell others."
Ê
Your comments are welcome at Hal@animalradio.com

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POLICE SHOOTINGS OF DOGS TRAGIC AND ALL TOO COMMON
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(Portland, Ore) TV viewers were stunned and outraged this week to see graphic video footage of a Tennessee police officer shooting a playful dog as family members watched in horror. But while the video (which has aired on CNN and other TV outlets) was shocking to most who saw it, Animal Legal Defense Fund Cruelty Case Coordinator Bradley Woodall wasn't surprised to learn of a beloved companion animal gunned down by police.

Woodall tracks animal abuse cases for ALDF's Anti-Cruelty Division, based in Portland, Ore. In the last few years, he's noticed a disturbing trend, a sharp increase in reports of police officers shooting dogs.

"I used to get one or two calls about this every month," says Woodall, "Now I'm getting one or two a week."

Woodall and other members of the Anti-Cruelty team work closely with local law enforcement agencies to combat animal abuse. Unfortunately, though most police officers take their pledge to protect and serve seriously, for some cops that pledge doesn't seem to include the family dog.

Among the many such cases in the ALDF database:

- Florida, October 2000: Late one night, a Miami-Dade officer walked onto Daton Fullard's property, where Fullard's 11-year-old Alaskan malamute, Lord Atka, was chained. Fullard says the officer fired seven rounds at the animal, hitting him three times. Lord Atka survived, but later had to be euthanized. According to the police department's internal investigation, the dog was threatening the officer. But the department never explained what the officer was doing on Fullard­s property in the first place or why it took so many shots to subdue a chained, aging, previously docile dog.

- Montana, April 2001: The police chief of Ekalaka shot a dog chained in the front yard of a family home. The chief defended his actions by saying the dog was unlicensed and a nuisance.

- New Jersey, September 2001: Plainfield police officers shot a sheriff's department dog performing his duties. The dog, who had been a rescuer at the World Trade Center just weeks earlier, was subduing a fleeing suspect. The officers did not recognize the dog and fired a total of 18 shots at point blank range.

- Florida, May 2002: A rookie Riviera Beach cop, arriving at the wrong house to check a silent alarm, shot and killed Paul Potter's 8-year-old Springer spaniel. The officer later claimed that the dog attacked him, a claim Potter disputes. After an internal investigation, the officer was fined one day's pay.

- New York, October 2002: An off-duty NYPD officer shot and killed a Rottweiler in a public park in Chester, N.Y., as families gathered for a youth football game nearby watched in disbelief. Witnesses reported that the dog was not threatening anyone when he was killed.

According to Woodall, incidents like these can often be traced back to the same cause: lack of training. Frequently, officers receive no instruction in animal behavior, leading them to misinterpret a non-threatening dog's intentions as hostile. All too often, Woodall says, these officers resort to lethal force when other, more appropriate options, such as calling in animal control authorities or using pepper spray, are available.

Both Fullard and Potter, the victims in the Florida cases above, are considering taking their grievances to court through an attorney referred by ALDF. And they aren't the first to turn to ALDF for help. Kim and David Brown have been fighting for justice for their dog Immi for nearly five years.

Immi was killed in 1998, when a policeman shot the 3-year-old Rottweiler five times as Kim Brown pleaded with him to stop. Witnesses reported that the dog made no aggressive moves whatsoever before the officer began firing. Through ALDF, the Browns hooked up with an attorney, who filed
a lawsuit alleging intentional infliction of emotional distress and a violation of the couples' civil rights. A federal judge dismissed the suit in May 2000. The Browns appealed, backed by ALDF amicus briefs on the strong emotional bonds between humans and animals. In October of 2001, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the lawsuit, noting "the strength of community sentiment against animal abuse."

Though the court was ruling on Pennsylvania law, its decision could be cited in future cases elsewhere. That might provide some comfort to the Smoaks, the family who witnessed the slaying of their dog in Tennessee.

"It can be difficult to hold a police officer accountable in a case like this," says ALDF Anti-Cruelty Director Pamela Frasch. "But it can be done, and it should be done."

ALDF has been assisting the Smoaks by providing information on animal law.

For nearly a quarter-century, ALDF has been pushing the U.S. Legal system to end the suffering of abused animals. Founded by attorneys active in shaping the emerging field of animal law, ALDF has blazed the trail for stronger enforcement of anti-cruelty laws and more humane treatment of animals in every corner of American life. Today, ALDF­s groundbreaking efforts are supported by hundreds of dedicated attorneys and more than 100,000 members.


Hear Animal Attorney Adam Karp Esq. discuss the aspects of animal law this week on the Animal Radio Network (http://animalradio.com)

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ARN FOCUSES ON FINDING LOST PETS - MICROCHIPS
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Animal Radio Network embarks on a four-week investigation into loss prevention and recovery of your four-legged friends. Author Joseph Sapia joins us for an in-depth study of what works, and what doesn't.

Microchips:
A microchip implant is a tiny micro-electronic device consisting of a silicon chip and a passive coil all inside a bio compatible glass pellet about the size of a grain of rice. It's actually a tiny radio transponder. The chip is encoded with a unique, unalterable identification number. Once the chip is implanted under the skin, you simply register the chip with the registry company, who will keep all of your contact information in its database in much the same way other registries keep track of tattoo numbers and tag identification numbers.

If your pet is taken into a shelter or to a veterinarian, scanned, and a chip is discovered, they will contact the registry who in turn will contact you. Chips can even be traced to the veterinarian who did the implant. This is important because if you have a chip implanted and your pet escapes before you've had a chance to register it (or if you move and forget to update your contact information with the chip registry), the chip can be traced to the veterinarian who implanted it. She or he will likely know how to get in touch with you. A microchip could also save your pet from becoming a research experiment, as new grant and funding requirements are forcing research laboratories to scan animals that have been slated for experimentation or research for microchips.

In August of 2001, the one-millionth pet was enrolled with Companion Animal Recovery (CAR) (www.akccar.org), the lost pet registry run by the American Kennel Club (www.akc.org). CAR has been responsible for over 60,000 lost pet recoveries since 1995. CAR is also the official registry for the Home Again microchip, one of the two leading microchip implants on the market today. AVID (American Veterinary Identification Devices), another leader in microchip implants and the maker of the FriendChip, reports equally impressive results. AVID's PETtrack system has helped recover 132,000 pets since 1991. For more information on AVID, visit their website at www.avidid.com.

Although microchipping pets has been done for several years, it is only since the invention of the universal scanner that it has become widely accepted. In the earlier days of microchipping, there were several different chip manufacturers, each requiring a different scanning device. The situation was so bad that it was not unusual for shelter workers to have to use four different scanning devices on a single animal. Fortunately for us and our animals, the industry has standardized, with the development and subsequent proliferation of the universal scanner. More than 100,000 universal scanners have been sold to veterinarians and animal shelters, or given away through free scanner placement programs.

Also, the newer chips employ anti-migration technology which allows the chip to adhere to the tissue almost immediately, thus preventing it from moving around under the skin, which was a major drawback of earlier chips.

With incompatability and migration problems solved, with organizations like The American Kennel Club endorsing the technology, and with major corporations like Schering-Plough (Home Again Microchip) involved, consumer as well as professional confidence is growing. More and more veterinarians are doing implants and promoting the use of chips.

Adapted from:
The Complete Guide to Lost Pet Prevention & Recovery
Hear Joseph Sapia on Animal Radio Network this month.
(http://animalradio.com)

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ELIMINATING TRACKED LITTER
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There are a lot of manufacturers that claim they have invented the device that works when it comes to keeping litter in the litterbox. Some of the devices and contraptions are as simple as raised and formed plastic. Others require batteries. Even the litter companies now tout trackless litter.

We tested the Litter Buster Mat. The highly textured, grass-like surface of the Litter Buster Mat attracts and holds litter like a magnet, so the litter on your cat's paws doesn't end up tracked throughout the house. It is easy to clean. Just shake out litter regularly and periodically rinse with water.

We liked that you can use it as a door mat or in front of the doggie door to help stop dirt from being tracked into the house.

While the Litter Buster Mat did reduce litter-tracking, it didn't eliminate the problem. It's still the most inexpensive solution we've tested thus far; at $12.99, or larger for $19.99.

Our testing continues on-air. Hear the results on Animal Radio Network this month. http://animalradio.com

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FIRST AID FOR YOUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIEND
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It is more important than ever to stop procrastinating and put together the tools you'll need in an emergency situation with your family and pets. It's inexpensive and many companies make "already prepared" first aid kits for your cat, dog, bird, ferret, etc....

Are You Prepared To Answer Questions Like These-Even In An Emergency?

ðIf your pet is hurt, can you tell whether its heart rate is normal or showing signs of serious injury?

ðWhat is the best way to safely control a wounded cat that is scratching anyone who attempts to help?

ðIf your bird breaks a blood feather, can you stop the potentially fatal bleeding?

ðDo you have pet-specific medication to treat a wound--without hurting your pet?

ðCan you treat an injured horse or sport dog in the field or on the trail?

And even in non-emergency situations, you may want to have a thermometer to get your pets temperature. Since your pet can't tell you they're not feeling well, you need whatever tools that can help your diagnose and treat minor and major medical issues until you can get professional veterinary
attention.Ê
Ê
The most important thing you can do for pets is to care for them - even in emergencies.
Ê
Here are some suggestions for basic kits.

*1 - Pair Latex Gloves (personal protection from blood)
*2 - Packages 2" x 2" Gauze Pad (apply to wounds)
*2 - Packages 3" x 3" Gauze Pad (apply to wounds)
*1 - Pair Scissors (trim hair and cut bandage or tape)
*1 - 1" x 6 yd. Sterile Gauze Bandage (wrap wounds)
*1 - Bottle of Eye & Skin Wash, 1 Fl. Oz. (flush wounds)
*2 - Packages of Antibiotic Ointment, 1 gr. (wound)
*2 - Packages of Hydrocortisone Cream (rashes, itching)
*2 - PVP Iodine Antiseptic Swabs (sterilization)
*2 - Insect sting swabs (apply to insect bites/stings)
*1 - Roll 1/2" x 21/2 yd. Adhesive Tape (secure bandage)
*5 - Cotton Swab (apply ointments or creams)
*2 - Soap Towelettes (clean wound or hands)
*1 - Pr. Plastic Forceps (splinters/tick removal)
*1 - Bottle of Ipecac (to induce vomiting)
*1 - Blanket Wrap or Trauma Pad (too keep you pet warm)
*1 - Thermometer (to diagnose problems)
Early identification of changes in your pet's body temperature will allow for quicker medical treatment resulting in a more favorable outcome. If you suspect your pet is sick, a thermometer should be the first diagnostic tool to measure your pet's temperature.

We'll be uncovering the multiple manufacturers of pet first aid kits (and tips on how you can make your own) next month on Animal Radio Network.

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FINAL THOUGHT
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Why I'd rather be a dog...

ð If it itches, you can reach it. And no matter where it itches, no one will be offended if you scratch it in public.

ð No one notices if you have hair growing in weird places as you get older.

ð Personal hygiene is a blast: No one expects you to take a bath every day, and you don't even have to comb your own hair.

ð No one thinks less of you for passing gas. Some people might actually think you're cute.

ð Who needs a big home entertainment system? A bone or an old shoe can entertain you for hours.

ð You can spend hours just smelling stuff.

ð No one ever expects you to pay for lunch or dinner. You never have to worry about table manners, and if you gain weight, it's someone else's fault.

ð It doesn't take much to make you happy. You're always excited to see the same old people. All they have to do is leave the room for five minutes and come back.

ð Every garbage can looks like a cold buffet to you.

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ANIMAL RADIO NETWORK STATION AFFILIATE LIST
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AK Dillingham KRUP 99.1
AL Birmingham WSMQ 1450
AL Florence WBCF 1240
AR Hope KXAR 1490
CA Los Angeles KOST 103.5
CA San Bernardino KHPY 1530
CA San Luis Obispo KVEC 920
CA Santa Barbara KTMS 990
CA Santa Maria KSMA 1240
CT Bridgeport WICC 600
CT Hartford WNTY 990
CT New London WSUB 980
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 1280
IL Chicago WRMN 1410
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 890
MD Baltimore WHFC 91.1
ME Portland WLOB 1310
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
NY Crown Point WISP 1250
OH Portsmouth WPAY 1400
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
SD Mitchell KORN 1490
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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