I Talk To Dead Pooches
Brent Atwood, Doggie Medium

Brent Atwater states she sees dead pet's spirits and talks to them face to face. At age 5 she was talking to imaginary friends and dead pets and her mother thought they were all imaginary. She claims she now just calls them up, sees them and has a conversation with them. However, sometimes they just show up. When they do show up, often times, the pet would reveal embarrassing things about their previous owner. Brent says she loves being a clairvoyant, "You never know what an animal is going to say. They will tell you if you drink or smoke too much, have flatulence problems or your spouse is cheating on you."

Brent states that while the owners of these pets might think the information is embarrassing, she thinks it reveals the intimacy shown between the pet and the parent. Just think about it, your pet is with you when you eat, when you're in the bathroom and when you're in the bedroom. Your pet is there 24/7 with it's eyes on you. Because of this, Brent informs us that she has instructed her dog that he is not to speak to anyone after her passing!

When you talk to a pet in spirit, they have a sort of freedom because you are not giving them orders like to stay or sit. They then have a tendency to express their opinions quite vividly and quite specifically and want you to know that they do have an opinion.

Before Brent gives us any examples of what pets have said about their owners, she states its important to know that she has received permission from the people and she won't talk about anything in her readings that someone doesn't want her to.

One such example is that one cat stated that they liked the lover better than the women's husband. Another time a lady said she didn't smoke, but her bunny revealed that she did and would often go out behind the garage for a cigarette. Then there was the time where the husband was very sloppy and the cat wouldn't sit in his lap. When he asked why, the cat said, "Well, you pass gas so bad, I can't breathe!" There was another one that mentioned the husband needed to cut his toenails and quit walking around in his boxers because it was tacky. A pet also told that a guardian that her prominent physician husband was a kleptomaniac. And lastly, one that told a man that the woman in his life was an alcoholic and that he needed someone better in his life.

Animals don't mince any words because they don't have to, according to Brent. They just tell the complete and total truth.

Before Brent can do any readings with animals, she looks at their picture and then she asks their permission to speak with them. She is sometimes met with a "No." She also had two cats that stopped in the middle of a reading and told her that they no longer wanted to talk to her.

Brent can also speak with living animals, but prefers to speak with those that have passed. This is because the ones on the other side are so clear and straightforward, which she prefers. She tells us that most animal communicators do it telepathically where they get an image in their mind. But Brent actually calls the animal up and sees it walk towards her in spirit form.

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One Woman's Quest to Save the World One Goat At A Time
Leanne Lauricella, Goats of Anarchy

Leanne Lauricella traded her Mercedes in for a Chevy, gave up her fast-track career and moved to a farm to raise goats. She's now the proud guardian of 50+ goats, including "Polly," the goat that wears a duck costume. Her viral video has people up in arms asking why she's dressing her goat in a duck costume. She has a pretty good reason.

Years ago Leanne Lauricella was an Event Planner in New York City doing corporate events. After living in the city for some time and after getting married, Leanne decided that this isn't what life was supposed to be for her. She wanted something different and something more.'

Leanne is originally from Houston, Texas, so she was in no way a 'farm girl' and didn't grow up near any farms. However, in New Jersey there are many beautiful farms. As Leanne started to drive by them and saw pastures of little goats, she felt she had to have some.

She ended up buying a couple of baby goats, Jax and Opie, and fell in love with them. Then two goats turned into five goats. She eventually told her husband that she couldn't do both the goats and work in the city, so she had to make a choice. She hated her life and decided that the city had to go and from now on it would be the goats. She then took a leap of faith and quit her job. This was frightening, as she had never 'not' had a job before.

Starting off, Leanne created an Instagram account and called it "Goats of Anarchy," because she wanted to share how silly and funny her goats were with her family and friends. On her very first day of unemployment, Instagram featured one of her photos on their home page and she received 30,000 hits. Leanne took this as a sign that she was on the right track and that she was supposed to do something with animals. It has since grown from there and she now has about half a million followers.

Leanne ended up with fifty goats because she states everyone knows she's the only crazy goat lady that takes in all of these special needs cases. People are always asking her to take in goats and she has received requests from all over the country. She receives so many request that she now has to turn some of them down.

Most people originally know Leanne from her goat Polly, who wears a duck costume. Polly is blind and she has some neurological issues as well as anxiety issues. Leanne got Polly when she was two months old. She is now almost a year old and she stays in the house. Leanne has tried taking Polly outside and she panics. Leanne remembers when she first got Polly she continually swaddled her, which is similar to an autistic child who likes the comfort of being wrapped in a blanket. Wrapping Polly seems to comfort her. On Halloween, and Leanne emphasizes she doesn't make it a practice to put costumes on her goats, she decided to put a costume on Polly, because she was one of the goats who didn't mind being dressed up. When Leanne put the costume on Polly, she immediately went to sleep. A couple of days later, Leanne tried putting the costume on Polly again. When she did, she got the same reaction, as it seemed to calm Polly.

Polly's picture of her in a duck costume went viral. Many people, including MTV, wanted to come out and take pictures. However, Polly wasn't cooperative, as she just wants to sleep when she wears her duck costume.

Known as "Goat Mama," Leanne Lauricella is the founder of Goats of Anarchy, a non-profit organization that aims to rescue and rehabilitate baby goats with special needs. Leanne has also come out with her book titled, "Goats of Anarchy," where you will find short bios on her goats as well as cute, funny pictures.

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Ticks Hitchhike on City Dogs Too - Dr. Debbie

Ticks are common parasites known to infect people, pets and spread disease. Over 850 tick species exist worldwide, although fewer than a dozen species are of risk to pets in the U.S. But here in Las Vegas, pet owners often dismiss the existence of ticks with the likes of Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster. Think ticks are only a problem for pets that travel or visit the mountains? Think again.

The Tick Tale
Ticks are parasites known to infect mammals, reptiles and birds and feed on their host's blood. Although of tiny size, ticks ingest 200 to 600 times their weight in a blood meal.

Ticks are attracted to a host's movement, body warmth or exhaled carbon dioxide and then latch on. Through this feeding behavior they can transmit diseases to pets such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Ehrlichia, Babesia and Tularemia. Disease transmission takes some time and may occur after 36 to 48 hours of feeding behavior.

Some ticks can live months or up to a year off its host without a feeding, so year-round prevention is important for pets at risk for continued exposure.

Battling Ticks
There are many topical tick control products available for pets. Speak with your veterinarian for an product that is effective and safe with your pet's individual health in mind. Cats are sensitive to some ingredients, may develop toxicity, and should never be treated with a product labeled only for dogs. Additionally, pet owners using multiple products on their pet should first consult with their veterinarian to ensure safe use of combined products.

In addition to topical tick control, environmental treatment with foggers, sprays or pest control service should be considered for heavy infestations. Limit tick habitat zones by maintaining landscaping, avoiding overgrown grass and keeping shrubs and plants trimmed.

Pet Screening
Perform daily tick checks during tick season. Examine your pet for ticks in areas that the parasites hang out - around the head, behind ears, armpits and between toes.

When removing a tick, avoid handling it directly. Wear gloves or handle with Kleenex since ticks can pass infections to people as well. Grasp the tick with tweezers close to the skin. Extract the tick by pulling straight out of skin. Don't squeeze, twist or leave any legs behind. Disinfect the area and dispose of ticks in rubbing alcohol.

Here's a photo of a typical tick, born and bred in Las Vegas and recently extracted from one of my Shih Tzu patients named Kane. Kane never leaves the state, doesn't hike in the mountains, and enjoys the comforts of a house-dog lifestyle. A tick was discovered on Kane after a day of supervising his owner's yard work and shrub trimming.

Maybe Kane's story will be an eye-opener for city dwelling pet owners. Pet parasites like fleas, ticks and mosquitoes still lurk in that urban jungle.

Visit the Dogs & Ticks website for more information ticks, diseases and prevention.

Featured veterinarian known as "Dr. Debbie" on national pet radio program, Animal Radio. Ebook author of "Yorkshire Terriers: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend"; "Pugs: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend"; "Mini Schnauzers: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend"; and "Shih Tzu: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend." Dr. Debbie's books.

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5 Must Know Things About Greyhounds
Robert Semrow, Listomania

Greyhounds are known for their unique appearance and for running very fast. Throughout history they have been revered and honored in various ways. Most people are aware that Greyhounds are great runners, but aren't aware much beyond that. To celebrate Adopt a Greyhound Month, I thought I would share 5 Must Know Things about Greyhounds.

I want to start with something that every pet parent should know, but likely doesn't. Much of the blood given to pets for blood infusions comes from Greyhounds. My own soul dog, Sugar, received blood transfusions from an organization that utilizes retired Greyhound racing dogs. These dogs are given tremendous care and a forever home either through adoption or by the organization itself. One of the reasons Greyhound blood is used is because they have a universal blood type. So the next time your pet needs a blood transfusion, think about thanking a Greyhound.

Next is one of the more obvious traits of Greyhounds. They are fast. Very Fast. In fact, they can reach speeds of up to 45 Miles per hour in short distances. They are the fastest dog breed alive. And for those of you who think that having a Greyhound means being a runner yourself, you'd be wrong. They love a good brisk 15 minutes a couple of times a day, then they love to just hang out and relax with you. So, they are very much the same or less than most breeds when it comes to exercise needs.

Another interesting point to know is that Greyhounds are culturally popular throughout history. From the Bible to Shakespeare to Greek and Roman Mythology, specific mentions of the breed are found. Greyhounds hold a special place throughout history. In fact, Greyhounds were once revered as gods in Ancient Egypt and were long a favorite of royalty in Europe.

While they sometime appear to be timid and aloof, they are in fact gentle loving beings that thrive in a loving environment and seek out affection and togetherness. They are often used as therapy dogs and have been used to assist autistic children because of their gentle and attentive nature.

Finally, as one of the oldest dog breeds in existence, they have seen a lot. As hunters in Ancient Egypt to New World discoverers with Columbus on his second voyage to North America, they've seen a lot. They are sight hounds with above average sight when tracking things on the move. They are very adept at tracking fast moving things at a distance.

Greyhounds are always a showstopper and a show starter. They are so regal and yet so willing to jump in and get involved. Their historical relevance may be second to none and their inclusion throughout history, literature and culture is certainly well documented.

Share your Greyhound observations on our Animal Radio Facebook Page.

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Animal Radio News - Lori Brooks

Pets Reduce Obesity in Babies
A study at the University of Alberta in Canada finds that being exposed to pets early in life may reduce the risk of developing not only allergies, but obesity too!mResearchers found that babies from families with pets, especially dogs, had higher levels of two types of microbes that are known to lower risks of allergies and obesity. About 70-percent of study participants were dog owners. The team examined stools from 746 healthy infants in Canada and found the bacterium was abundant in babies exposed to pet dander. Those two bacteria have been linked to reduced childhood allergies and obesity. The theory is that exposure to dirt and bacteria early in life, for example in a dog's fur and on its paws, can create early immunity. Although researchers aren't sure whether the effect occurs from bacteria on the furry friends or from human transfer by touching the pets. The study also found the presence of pets in the house reduced the transmission of strep during birth, which causes pneumonia in newborns.

'Cat Man' Trend
The Pet Food Manufacturing Association is reporting a 25-percent rise over the past year of men with cats in the UK. That's a full one million more cat-owning men. However, the group's numbers on this story don't really add up so reporters did some additional investigation. They found a professor at Australia's Flinders University who is studying "cat men" around the world. It turns out this is not the first research being done on this topic. In 2013, a study found that undergraduate students rated photographs of men labeled as cat people less masculine than images of men labeled as dog people or not labeled at all. So how about in the United States - are cat men trending? The evidence is kind of fuzzy. In 2010 the Pew Research Center survey found pretty minor gender differences when it came to people with furry roommates. Among male pet owners, 21-percent had cats, compared to 24-percent of female pet owners. The two sexes were pretty much even when it came to having dogs. But there is progress for stereotyped men who love cats. Last year, a Brooklyn photographer published book called "Men With Cats," featuring striking portraits of men and their felines. Also the claws of attraction are changing and there are many men finding that cute kittens may be the best way to a woman's heart. A British newspaper reports that posing with a cat for profile pictures makes single men more popular on romance sites, according to dating experts. That can only mean more guys selflessly posing with their felines on popular dating sites and Instagram pages like #hotdudeswithkittens.

Man Fined For Unleashed Snake
A man who was fined for allowing his pet snake to slither along freely in a South Dakota park says an animal control officer suggested he use a leash to restrain the reptile. Jerry Kimball said he initially thought the recommendation was a joke because it was April Fool's Day. However, he was fined $190 and ticketed for "Animals Running at Large." The officer approached Kimball after a woman complained that he was free walking his Fire Bee Ball Python. A supervisor for the Sioux Falls Animal Control said a city ordinance requires all pets to be leashed or restrained in public adding that, "If it's in public and it's not on a leash, it's at large." The ordinance doesn't really distinguish between animals, she said. Kimball says he considers it his mission to rid the public of its fear of snakes. He told a local newspaper, "That's my purpose in life: To let people know that snakes aren't killers. What better way to give back than to help people understand these misunderstood creatures?" Kimball said he plans to fight the ticket in court.

USPS Bite Rankings by State
The U.S. Postal Service has released its dog bite rankings, saying more than 6,700 mail carriers were bitten by dogs nationwide last year. Los Angeles topped the list with 80 reported bites, followed by Houston with 62 bites; Cleveland at 60; San Diego at 57; Detroit at 48; Denver at 47; Chicago at 46; Indianapolis at 44; and Minneapolis at 43 bites.

Benefits of Pet Ownership Scientifically Proven
It's a good time to be a pet in America, as pets are incredibly well loved. According to a 2015 Harris poll, 95-percent of owners think of their animal as a member of the family. About half buy them birthday presents. And it's a two-way street. People who have pets tend to have lower blood pressure, heart rate and heart-disease risk than those who don't have pets. Those health benefits may come from the extra exercise that playing and walking require and the stress relief of having a steady best friend on hand. Scientists are now digging up evidence that animals can also help improve mental health, even for people with challenging disorders. Animals of many types can help calm stress, fear and anxiety in people. Among the scientifically proven benefits:
- In one study, a stressed-out group of adults were told to pet a rabbit, a turtle or their toy forms. The toys had no effect. But stroking a living creature, whether hard-shelled or furry, relieves anxiety. It worked for people regardless of whether they initially said they liked animals.
- Animals don't have to be cuddly to help. In a 2016 study published in the Journal Gerontology, elderly people who were given five crickets in a cage became less depressed after eight weeks than a control group. The act of caring for a living creature seems to make the difference.
- Among the most-studied therapy animals, horses have been involved in medical treatment plans in Europe since the 1860s. Activities like grooming a horse and leading one around a pen have been shown to reduce PTSD symptoms in children and adolescents.
- Animals can focus people's attention. When people at an Alzheimer's disease facility dined in front of aquariums with brightly colored fish, they ate more, received better nutrition and were less prone to pacing. They were also more attentive and less lethargic.

How Does Having About 500 Animals Sound To You?
If you've got $7 million and don't mind moving to Texas, then there's a deal for you. South of Houston, 80 lake-dotted acres known as the Bayou Wildlife Park are for sale. The price tag includes 19 vehicles for getting about and giving tours, as well as a 10,800 square foot "barn-dominium" with an apartment. It also includes 500 animals including rhinos and wildebeests, along with pygmy goats and other critters. There is also a "crocodile pond" with a safety fence. The park's 80-year-old owner has said he's ready to retire and turn it over to someone who can handle it. Let's hope someone who knows what they're doing makes this purchase. Wildlife sanctuaries are already bursting at the seams with castoff animals.

Listen to the entire Podcast of this show (#1061)