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ANIMAL RADIO NETWORK
February 22nd - March 2nd 2003
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In this newsletter:

* PROTECTING OUR PET IN CASE OF TERRORISM
* BARK...STOP, DROP, & ROLL - Teaching police how to deal with animals
* OBESITY IN YOUR PET - ASPCA ON-AIR
* IF I CATCH FIDO DIGGING IN MY GARDEN AGAIN.....

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THIS WEEK ON ANIMAL RADIO NETWORK
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*KINDRED SPIRITS author DR. ALLEN SCHOEN returns!! - Herbs for your Pets
*Ophthalmologist, DR. JEANETTE DA SILVA - Your pet's vision and cataracts.
*Behaviorist, DR. ROLAN TRIPP - How Exercise Affects Behavior
*BEST FRIENDS' FAITH MALONEY on Angel Canyon

Next Week:
*Becky Robinson - ALLEY CAT ALLIES
*Shawn Kohn - W. Hollywood DECLAWING Legislation

This week's show is underwritten by the animal conscious folks at:
- THE MISSING LINK (http://www.DesigningHealth.com);
- MYPETPRESCRIPTIONS.COM (http://www.MyPetPrescriptions.com);

Did you know all advertising profits from Animal Radio Network go directly to help the animals helped by the ASPCA, BEST FRIENDS, and FRIENDS OF PETS.
HEAR OUR MISSION NOW: http://animalradio.com/about.ram

HERE'S HOW TO LISTEN: A list of 70+ AM-FM RADIO STATIONS that broadcast 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 ANYDAY, ANYTIME ONLINE. Shows are updated every Saturday at 2pm PST.

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

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HOW CAN A RADIO SHOW HELP?
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(A message from our Executive Producer)

The Animal Radio Network was created in 2001 for the purpose of reducing the unnecessary euthanasia of millions of healthy cats and dogs ...just because they donât have homes.

How can a radio show help these animals? By educating pet owners about the importance of spaying and neutering their pets, we avoid millions of unwanted pregnancies. Educated pet owners are also less likely to surrender their pets to a shelter.

Animal Radio Network has another purpose too. By soliciting underwriters and sponsorships, we can take all the profits from advertising and divide them among various non-profit animal welfare organizations. This year, the APSCA, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Friends of Pets Animal Rescue, and another non-profit TBA will share in Animal Radio Network profits. A claim that no other radio show can make.

Iâm proud to announce that for the year 2004, Spay/USA, one of the pioneers in early spay and neuter assistance, will be an Animal Radio Network beneficiary.

Animal Radio Network is listener-sponsored programming. We rely almost solely on your support. All guests and experts, as well as voiceover talent, have "come together" to donate their time for this worthy cause.

It probably comes as no surprise that Iâm going to ask for your help with this huge project. It seems as if the ãnot-for-profitä business always has me asking someone for something. As much as I dislike it, itâs a necessary evil that accompanies most philanthropic endeavors.

If what we do here at Animal Radio Network has ever touched you, and if you support what weâre doing, we would like to know. There are many ways you can show us and help the animals.

The obvious way you can help is by making a donation of time, products, services or money.

Another way you can help is by patronizing the commercial sponsors who already support Animal Radio Network programming. Our partners essentially make this season possible by offsetting production costs. These folks are: Designing Health, makers of ãThe Missing Linkä supplement, and MyPetPrescriptions.com online pet pharmacy.

I like to think of Animal Radio Network as a big family of animal lovers who have banded together for one simple mission. In a world of chaos and uncertainty, I take comfort in befriending everyone who joins this quasi-grassroots cause. These are a special breed of compassionate humans, without whom there would be no Animal Radio Network. From the hundreds of writers, experts, celebrities, and voiceover talents, to the radio stations that air Animal Radio Network, salespeople and fundraisers who tirelessly work to help us help them, Thank you all.

If you would like to learn more about helping us help them, please log on to http://animalradio.com and select ãHelp Us, Help Themä at the bottom of the front page. And thank you in advance.

Hal Abrams
EP Animal Radio Network
Hal@animalradio.com

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YOUR OPINION - WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY
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As always, we welcome your response to articles in our bi-weekly newsletter. 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.
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POLICE SHOOTING:

John and Emily Gilligan of Hartsdale, N.Y. responded:

I hope Ms. Jean Isachenko of Waterloo, Ontario, filed a complaint against the officer that came into her house and threatened to shoot her dogs. Now is the time to have legislation put in place to hold police responsible for shooting animals.

***

Chris Rabior of Fenton, Mo responded:

Why am I suddenly reading how many times Cops threaten or actually kill pets, for no apparent reason....I don't understand how they can get away with this...

And I want to know what has to be done to change the laws in Missouri that Animal Abuse is taken more seriously, I was sickened that Michael T. Hughes got away with beating his Dalmation to death with a SledgeHammer for hours on end while neighbors heard the screaming of the dog, Dusty nipped Michael's 2 year old son and then Michael beat him to death while taking Beer breaks in between the torture, and The Judge in K.C. gave him 3 years probation, if he does as the Judge asks he will be allowed to own animals again, This is inconceivable....Is there anything we the people can do??
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DECLAWING:

Baron Stillwater of Lake Charles, LA responded:

Thank you so much for the "heads up" on declawing. We had no idea what it really is, nor that it is illegal in most countries. We will look for other solutions to our scratching problems. And "Zues" thanks you too.
_________________________________________

Your comments are encouraged and welcomed at
postmaster@animalradio.com

Coming up on Animal Radio Network: ALTERNATIVES TO DECLAWING and What we're doing to TRAIN OUR POLICE to prevent shootings. Learn more at http://animalradio.com

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BARK...STOP, DROP, & ROLLú
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American Humane Launches Unprecedented Training To Law Enforcement in Tennessee after dog shooting.

DENVER, Feb. 13, 2003 -- American Humane, a national expert on animal behavior and animal handling techniques, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) set a national precedent this week with the successful completion of the first animal temperament assessment training for law enforcement officers.

The training, known as Bark...Stop, Drop, & Rollú, came as a result of the much-publicized shooting of a family dog, Patton, by a Cookeville, Tenn., police officer during a routine traffic stop.

In the animal world, body movements are the main form of communication. In the training, officers were taught to correctly judge an animal's aggression level by studying its ear posture, eye movement, mouth position, body posture and stiffness, body thumps and jumps, tail position, and lip and tongue movement.

"Most people incorrectly assume a wagging tail is an indication that an animal is friendly and means no harm. In fact, a wagging tail can actually be a sign of aggression. The worst bite I ever had was from a dog wagging its tail," says Dr. Weiss.

In the training, Dr. Weiss described three types of aggressive animals:

1. Dominant aggressive animals are most likely to attack. They are characterized by ears pointed up, legs stiff and straight under the body, whites of eyes showing, low growling, and a stiff body and tail.

2. Fear/defensive aggressive animals attack only if they are afraid and have no way to escape. They are characterized by squinting or bulging eyes, ears laid back, rear end low to the ground, and tail low and possibly tucked between the legs. They often are very noisy in an effort to scare away their threat.

3. Prey aggressive animals are motivated by a desire to chase moving objects. They are characterized by ears set forward, tail above the spine and often wagging, high-pitched bark or whine, and back legs usually extended from the body.

All three types can be easily diffused and deterred from attacking by following American Humane's Bark...Stop, Drop, & Roll method. When an officer hears a bark, he or she should immediately stop forward movement. The officer should then immediately lower his or her eyes and assess the dog for evidence of aggressive posture. To dogs, a direct stare in the eyes signals a challenge. At the same time, the officer should take a sideways position, which is less threatening to animals. All these actions signal to the animal that the officer is not a threat and provide the officer time to get the situation under control.

"The training is difficult for some officers because it goes against the grain of everything they learn in the academy. Officers are taught to take control of situations by using a deep, loud voice and assuming a 'tall' posture and looking the subject in the eyes -- what is called a command presence. But to animals, these behaviors signal a threatening situation and may cause the animal to attack," says Kerri Burns, a consultant for American Humane and former police officer.

"In the animal kingdom, if an animal feels its life is in danger and there is no way to escape that danger, it will attack. It will bite," adds Dr. Weiss.

Law enforcement agencies wishing to know more about this training should contact American Humane. www.americanhumane.org.

Learn more about "Training our men in blue how to appropriately handle animal abuse cases" - this week on Animal Radio Network (http://animalradio.com)

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WHEN YOUR PET LEAVES HOME
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As Spring is rapidly approaching, we are getting more opportunities to take our four-legged companions outside, and perhaps even far distances on vacation. We'll be focusing on "Traveling with your pet and transporting your pet." Upcoming segments will include everything from the "doggie seat belt" industry to "pet friendly" airlines.

Q. Can you tell me where I can find statistics regarding the transport of dogs? I feel that in general it is safe, but I need to get my hands on some numbers to show my spouse.

A: At a meeting between USDA and airline officials, the AVMA learned that over sedation is the most frequent cause of animal deaths during airline transport.Ê Though very few of the thousands of animals transported during the past five years have died while being transported, investigations revealed that almost half the deaths results from sedation.Ê The second most frequent cause of death was environmental stress, especially in Brach cephalic (pug and snub nose) breeds.Ê Third in frequency were disease complications from corona virus, parvovirus and respiratory diseases that
were not evident during examination, but had a sudden, debilitating onset with the stress of transport at high altitude.Ê Least common, in fact, rare, were deaths caused by mishandling by the carriers.ÊÊ
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ Ê
As far as we know, no one body or organization currently has statistics on the number of animal incidents during air transport. However, this will change in the very near future as one of the stipulations of the Lautenberg Bill was that the airline industry and USDA need to develop a system of reporting animal incidents during transport.ÊÊ

We especially liked what Ann Landers said:
http://www.ipata.com/gen_materials/Cargoholds.pdf
Adapted from www.IPATA.com. Hear feature segments on Transporting your pet coming up this spring on the Animal Radio Network (http://animalradio.com)

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OBESITY
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Obesity is an extremely common problem and, as in the human, can be detrimental to the health of the dog or cat. The overweight pet has many added stresses upon its body and is at an increased risk of diabetes, liver problems, joint pain and other diseases.

Obesity develops when energy intake exceeds the energy requirements. The excess energy is then stored as fat. Once the pet is obese, it may remain obese even though excessive caloric intake may not continue. The majority of cases of obesity are related to simple over-feeding often coupled with lack of exercise.
Ê
Certain groups of dogs appear more prone to obesity than others:

* specific breeds of dogs (e.g. Labrador, pug)
* older dogs

A successful weight management program should include three major areas:

* The correct diet
* Exercise
* Modification of the owner's feeding behavior.

Less data exists concerning obesity in cats, however the condition appears to be less common. It has been suggested that cats have a much better ability to regulate their own energy intake. An additional factor to be considered when managing obesity in cats is hunting; it may be necessary to confine the cat to the house or to hospitalize it to prevent "additions" to the diet.

For both dogs and cats, as a subjective assessment of body condition, you should be able to feel the backbone and palpate the ribs in a healthy-weight animal. If the ribs cannot be felt or cannot be felt without pressing, there is too much fat. Also, looking down on the animal from above, there should be a noticeable "waste" between the back of the rib cage and the hips. Viewed from the side, there should be a "tuck" in their tummy; the abdomen should go up from the bottom of the rib cage to inside the thighs. Cats or dogs that fail this simple evaluation may be overweight.

Diet: The need for calories drives the urge to eat in dogs and cats. Overweight animals consume more calories than they require. The patient's daily caloric requirement must be determined, a suitable food selected (one which will provide optimal nutrition along with caloric restriction) and the proper amount calculated to effect weight loss. The diet should contain a normal level of a moderately fermentable fiber and a fat system that prevents the skin and coat from deteriorating during the weight loss. Diets that dilute calories with high fiber lead to increased stool volumes, frequent urges to defecate and variable decreases in nutrient digestibilities.

Exercise: Increasing physical activity can be a valuable contributor to both weight loss and ideal weight maintenance. Regular exercise burns more calories, reduces appetite, changes body composition and increases resting metabolic rate. In addition to restricting the dog's caloric intake through proper diet, it is extremely important to develop a suitable exercise program.

Owner Behavior: A successful weight management program requires a permanent change in the behaviors that have allowed the pet to become overweight. Some tips for a successful weight loss program include:

* Owner commitment to the pet's weight loss.
* Separate the pet when the family eats.
* Feed the pet several small meals throughout the day.
* Feed all meals and treats only in the pet's bowl.
* Reduce snacks or treats.
* Provide non-food related attention.

Adapted from aspca.org. Hear ASPCA On-Air every week on Animal Radio Network
(http://animalradio.com)

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"IF I CATCH MY DOG DIGGING ONE MORE TIME...."
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"If I catch my dog digging in the garden one more time..." Fortunately the thought of taking drastic action gives way to frustration as you try to cope with a dog who digs.

The annoying habit of digging ranks high on the list of behavior problems of dogs. Unfortunately, there is no one answer to solve this particular problem.

In some instances, the instinct to dig is the heritage of the breed. Over the centuries dogs have been bred for a variety of tasks ranging from the close interaction of toy breeds with their owners to sporting dogs who require regular sessions of physical activity. Nordic dogs dig holes to cool themselves. The heritage of terriers (from the Latin, "terra," for earth) has been to dig underground after rodents and small game. Dachshunds were developed to chase badgers into their holes.

Some dogs, regardless of heritage, may be more inclined to dig if they are left alone in the yard for long periods of time. Digging is often the result of boredom and this can be a learned behavior in some dogs.

Companionship is a primary reason for having a dog. Being a companion means forging a bond through regular play and exercise with your dog. Without this stimulation, dogs often turn to digging or other forms of destructive behavior to alleviate their boredom.

The problem of "the digging dog" may go beyond the instincts of the breed or boredom and relate to other problems. A dog that is pushed outdoors after it misbehaves in the house may continue its misbehaving by digging in the yard. Controlling your dog's behavior inside addresses that problem as well as unacceptable digging outside.

A dog left alone may be reacting to the absence of family members. If this is the case, you need to work with your dog to help it tolerate gradually longer absences. Your veterinarian can help you plan this behavior modification training.

During summer months, if your dog digs a hole to cool itself, consider providing a cooler location for it such as an umbrella, or inside the house or basement. If your dog is housed outside, be certain it has access to some shade throughout the day and that fresh drinking water is always available. Some dogs find hot weather comfort in their own wading pools with fresh, cool water.

Some dogs tend to roam and will dig under a fence to get out of the yard. Ideally, a fence should fit tight to the ground or even be buried a few inches underneath to prevent a dog's crawling or digging out from under it.

If your dog is trying to escape, try to determine why it is leaving home. Is it simply bored, or an intact male indulging in sexual wanderlust? Unless you plan a responsible breeding program which includes placing puppies in good homes, neutering is recommended. A neutered dog is generally calm and tends not to wander.

If you find it virtually impossible to discourage your dog from digging, provide it with a "digging area." When your dog digs in this designated area, praise it and reward it with attention or a treat. If your dog digs outside this area and is caught in the act, a firm "no" is usually a deterrent. However, all family members must cooperate and must reprimand the dog only when it is caught digging outside the designated area.

In this aspect of training, as in all others, family members most work together as a team. Giving a variety of verbal commands confuses a dog. One overly indulgent family member can create problems by not cooperating in training a dog. Dogs pick up on this and may use that family member to their advantage.

A final thought

Your dog's behavior is influenced by the lifestyle you maintain for it. Regular walks or play periods with your dog and praise for tricks you teach it will make its life fun and stimulating. Such a dog is less likely to develop annoying behavior problems resulting from boredom.

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PROTECTING OUR PET IN CASE OF TERRORISM
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There's no doubt that the safety of you and your family has become more and more of a concern as the threat of chemical warfare may become more and more a reality. The thought is sometimes so uncomfortable that we tend to sweep it under the carpet instead of doing what we can to protect our loved ones.

There is a large contingent of people who are preparing for themselves and their human counterparts, but little planning is done for our four-legged friends.

Basic items should include enough bottled water for your pet for two weeks (don't forget our water supply may be fouled), a first aid kit, canned food (don't forget the opener), blankets, and even something familiar for your pet to play with and cuddle (they'll be in a new and unfamiliar environment). Don't forget to pack an extra bottle of your pet's medication. If you own a carrier & leash, you may want to pack that too.

Also remember to prevent losing your pet by utilizing an effective identification system. After disasters, your pet may become disoriented. Loud noises could scare your friend. We simply can't express the importance of good identification, whether it be a microchip, tattoo, or simply a collar tag.

As we prepare for biological warfare, we need to think about protecting our animals from inhalants. This can be easier said than done. Even the gas masks designed for humans are not 100%. You can only do your best to prepare for the worst case scenarios.

The number of potential terrorist chemical agents makes the job of those charged with protecting our population in the cities difficult. To protect a military force we can use vaccines or drugs, and provide full-face respirators which our troops can put on with adequate warning of an attack.

After an attack, we can use tools to identify the toxin or germ and and the exposed population and treat them with drugs or, in some cases, inoculation. Unfortunately, officials won't place Fido at the top of the priority list for treatment. So it is up to you to protect him.

What makes protecting your pets even harder is that In the case of a surprise attack, we may be only able to react to an already exposed population, which at the time, may look and feel no different than you and I do today. Hospitals may be the first to notice that the attack has occurred. The attack may resemble disease outbreak in massive numbers. It may not be until the Health and Human Services Department, who conduct research on these organisms, will be able to identify what has happened. Then it may not matter if your cat is the only one in the neighborhood to own a gold-platted and monogrammed kitty-mask.

And of course it's no surprise that our love affair with our pets would be exploited with an Iraqi invasion looming on the horizon. Supergum Ltd., a defense contractor that provides chemical and biological protection suits to the Israeli army as well as specialized gas masks and protective clothing for children, has come up with a product to meet what it says is a "growing demand for pet protection."

"Many Israelis feel like their pets are part of the family. We've received dozens and dozens of calls from people wanting something for their pets. We now have an answer for them," said Roni Srour, vice president at the Tel Aviv-based company.

Israelis, preparing sealed rooms in their homes to protect them against chemical or biological agents, will wait out any danger by wearing gas masks. Pets, however, won't tolerate such a breathing device for more than a few minutes.

To give animals a constant supply of fresh and uncontaminated air in case of a chemical attack, Supergum, this month, rolled out a new product called How Meow, a translucent plastic tent equipped with the specialized air filters and blowers used on protective suits the company sells to the army.

Owners put their pet in a travel cage or other enclosure and place Supergum's plastic tent around the container. When owners seal the sheeting, a battery-operated blower ensures a six-hour supply of fresh air inside for the pet, while the filters keep contaminated air out.

Product development director Sheila Baron said the design was thought up with the comfort of pets in mind. Owners could place water and food as well as toys inside the enclosures before they seal the sheeting. Depending on the size of the enclosure, pets also would have limited freedom of movement.

The system doesn't come cheap. "How Meow" kits, which come in three sizes depending on the type of animal, and range from $185 to $350. By comparison, Supergum's adult sized biological/chemical weapons suits cost around $100.

Srour said he expects to sell about 5,000 kits, including sales to Israeli police canine units.

Currently, "How Meow" is for sale only in Israel. However, Americans interested in purchasing kits can contact the company on the Web: www.supergum.co.il.

So all in all, if your not intrigued by the prospect of fitting your python with a face mask, or putting your gerbil in an oversized zip-lock bag, then, like me, follow the same suggestions that Dan Rather has been showing off for months. This includes creating a tight seal in your house or pets
quarters.

And remember, while applying duct-tape around drafty areas will reduce the amount of air circulation, it cannot prevent you or your pet from breathing in poisonous agents.

Learn more about protecting your pet in case of terrorism at
http://animalradio.com.


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FINAL THOUGHT
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"How many photos do you have of your pet versus your spouse or significant other?

More Spouse: 21%
About the Same: 24%
More Pet: 39%
N/A: 16%

Source: AAHA 2002 Pet Owner Survey

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