Who Says You Can't Train A Cat?
Mieshelle Nagelschneider, The Cat Whisperer

Self-proclaimed Cat Whisperer Mieshelle Nagelschneider shares her secrets to training cats. Yes, training cats! Believe it or not, Mieshelle truly believes you can get a cat to do what you want it to do.

So are Mieshelle's seven cats well behaved? She says, "Yes!" Mieshelle states that the most common issue with cats is the litter box. People say everything was fine until the cats turned around age two. Mieshelle explains this by saying that is when they reach their social maturity and want to structure their social hierarchy. They want to work out a timesharing arrangement for the box with the other cats in the household, but fi they can't do it very easily, they will just carve out their own area like under the dining room table or on your couch. However, even with seven cats, she has no litter box issues, as she has plenty of them scattered around her house.

So can you really train a cat? Mieshelle states that you can train anything with a brain, even a goldfish. If you have fish, you might notice how they all swim up to the top of the tank when you are standing there with the food. You have trained them to do this. So hopefully we can train our casts, as they have trained us very well!

Unlike dog, cats don't have any need to obey us, as they are not pack animals. However, some of them are motivated by food or attention. You can clicker train your cat do simple tricks like "high-five" or to come when called. Cats are usually kept inside the house, so the really need to have their minds working. So training them with a positive- based rewards system lick clicker training is a good thing.

When asked how to keep a cat from "door darting," which means they run out of the open door at every opportunity, Mieshelle suggests whenever the door is open, to train him to go to a certain place, far from the door, where he will receive a treat. He will eventually learn that when the door is open, he needs to go to his place for a treat.

In Mieshelle's new book, The Cat Whisperer, cat owners will learn:

* How to harness the power of "friendly pheromones" to improve their cat's appetite, exploration, grooming, and play
* How to tell when their cat might be having a medical issue, and how to solve behavioral habits that are usually caused by medical problems
* Where, when, and how to create a litter box environment that will provide their cat with easy access and reduce its anxiety
* How to end aggression in multiple-cat households and help their cats coexist peacefully

Mieshelle Nagelschneider has worked extensively with thousands of cat owners and vets, and has logged in more hours solving cat behavior issues than any other animal behaviorist or veterinarian in the world. In 1999, she founded The Cat Behavior Clinic, a science-based consulting service that helps cat owners around the world understand and help their furry felines.

http://www.randomhouse.com

"Mock" Reality Animal TV
Joyce Fitzpatrick & Brian Shackelford, Animal Control TV

In the spirit of Reno 911, producer Joyce Fitzpatrick and Brian Shackelford are developing a TV sitcom about the daily lives of Animal Control agents.

This hilarious new "mock" reality TV Pilot is called "Animal Control TV: The Series"! It's very much like Reno 911 but with Animal Control Officers. It takes a funny look at the world of Animal Control Officers and the people, pets and animals they deal encounter in the field. They poke fun at the day-to-day antics and situation of Animal Control Officers and this show is different than say a show like "Animal Cops," because it's a scripted comedy, filmed like reality but really isn't!

The audience also gets to see behind the scenes of the wacky producer Allen Davies and his production crew and how crazy it is to tape a show like this and what he has to go through to get it done.

Animal Control TV is the brainchild of Joyce Fitzpatrick, who is the creator, executive producer and writer; as well as Brian Shackelford, who is also a creator, director, cinematographer and co-writer.

It all started when Brian Shackelford, who has had the luxury of working behind the scenes of other reality TV shows and knows how they are put together, approached Joyce Fitzpatrick, who loves animals and who had dealt with officers and animal shelters. They then came up with the idea together.

Joyce, who has a background of working with animas, tells us of her time working with the shelters where she went out on a call. It turns out the house they were called to was President Clinton's brother's house. Joyce said she was so busy doing her job, she didn't realize whose home it was. The call turned out to be over an animal that didn't have a license. I guess he was "ratted out." But couldn't he just have made a phone call to his bother?

Joyce and Brian have started a Kickstarter Campaign and have raised $30,000 to foot the bill, with about $25,000 to go. The pilot of Animal Control TV has been produced and they would like to film 6 more episodes.

Check them out on Facebook and Twitter.

http://www.animalcontroltv.com

What Breeds Are Predisposed To Cancers And What Types?
Dr. Gerald Post, Veterinary Cancer Center

Believe it or not, some breeds of dogs are pre-disposed to getting cancer. Dr. Gerald Post, founder of the Veterinary Cancer Center, is back on the air with a list of breeds that have a better chance of getting certain cancers.

There are things you can do to help prevent cancer in your pets. Give them a good balanced diet, keep them at a good weight and keep them active. Also, have them seen regularly by a vet, so if something does show up, you can find it early.

However, there are some breeds that are predisposed to either one or multiple cancers. Here is a list of some of those breeds:

*Golden Retriever: Lymphoma, Hemangiosarcoma
*Rottweiler: Osteosarcoma, Histiocytic Sarcoma
*Flat-coated Retriever: Lymphoma, Histiocytic Sarcoma
*Scottish Terrier: Transitional Cell Carcinoma
*Greyhound: Osteosarcoma
*Large and Giant breed dogs: Osteosarcoma
*West Highland White Terrier: Transitional Cell Carcinoma
*Boxer: Lymphoma, Mast Cell Tumor, Brain Tumor
*Chow Chow: Gastric Carcinoma

By knowing what breed you have and what to look for, sometimes you can catch diseases, as well as cancer, at an early enough stage so that you can potentially cure them. When your dog reaches age 5 or so, you should routinely do ultrasounds, x-rays and physical exams every 6 months to a year. These tests are not necessarily expensive, and can cause you and your dog a lot less pain and suffering, as well as save you money in the long run.

And if you have a large breed dog, you should be on the lookout for any type of acute lameness. Bone cancer in these dogs are much more common than in smaller dogs.

But what about mixed breed dogs? No, they don't have a better chance of getting cancer from the breeds they are descended from, but are less likely to get cancer at all. Mixing of two breeds' genes tends to bring out the best in both.

And what about our cats? Most veterinarians only see domestic shorthaired cats, so breed specific literature on cancer risk is much less robust in cats than it is in dogs. There are, however, certain breeds of cats that are at risk for other diseases. Some British breeds have one type of blood type, while Siamese cats tend to have one type of mast cell tumor.

With new genetic testing we will be able to determine if the increased risk is breed related or family/line related.

http://www.vcchope.com

The Dogfather's Grooming Tip with Joey Villani

How To Maximize Your Specialty Shampoo
If you use a specialty shampoo, such as a medicate one or one for fleas and ticks, remember that you need to work with these a little bit differently than regular shampoos to make them work right.

If you are using a medicated shampoo, you must clean your pet first. If your pet is dirty, the shampoo will not be as effective. These products don't have the cleansers in them to remove the dirt. So when you apply it to the pet, you will not get the maximum results, because it is not absorbed into the skin. What happens is that it basically floats on top of a layer of dirt and grease. So when you rinse it away, it didn't do its job. So if you're using a mediated product, remember to always clean the skin first. You can do this by using a mild based shampoo. You don't want to use anything harsh or full of a lot of detergents, as this can irritate the problem and make it worse. Bathe your pet with the mild shampoo and then bathe your pet with the medicated shampoo.

If you are using a pesticide shampoo, like one for fleas and ticks, it is the opposite. Fleas and ticks will die from a heavy type of detergent product, such as Dawn Dish soap, but only use this in a pinch. Even though it works great, it is very drying to your pet's skin and coat. If you are using a flea shampoo, you want to apply that first. If you use regular pet shampoo first, and then follow it with flea shampoo, the fleas want to get away. They will jump off the pet or run into their ears and nostrils, anywhere so they can get away. But if you apply the flea shampoo first, it will kill the fleas. You can then use a regular shampoo to clean your pet and flush everything away.

Animal Radio® News with Stacey Cohen

Do Your Research Before Getting Baby Chicks
Spring may inspire you to welcome baby chicks into your flock, but you should nix that idea if you're not prepared to care for them long after the holiday is over. "You have to understand that these animals do live longer than a couple years," says Lacy Campbell, operations manager at Audubon Society of Portland's Wildlife Care Center. "You have to plan accordingly." Chicks are live animals, not disposable toys, and require very specialized care. First, chicks are social, so you should get at least two or three, says Robert Litt, owner of the Urban Farm Store and co-author of "A Chicken in Every Yard" with wife Hannah Litt. "If you get just one chick by itself, it will be very lonely and noisy, and may essentially die of loneliness or stress," Litt says. They'll need a properly equipped area called a brooder, which simulates the warmth and protection of a mother hen. The chicks will spend the next six to eight weeks in the brooder. They start growing in their feathers after only two or three weeks and begin to look like miniature chickens by five or six weeks. At night, you'll need to provide them with a secure coop to ensure they're warm and safe from predators. In city limits, the raccoon is poultry enemy No. 1. "They can smell a chicken from a mile away," Litt says. Chicks can carry salmonella, but infection can be easily avoided with common-sense behaviors, like washing your hands after handling chicks. Never put them up to your face to kiss or snuggle with them. If you feel you cant keep it, whatever you do, don't release it into a field or park. For one thing, it's not humane. Not only that, releasing a domesticated animal like a chicken or rabbit into the wild is illegal. Animal abandonment is considered a Class B Misdemeanor in Oregon, punishable by a maximum jail sentence of six months and a $2,500 maximum fine. Overall, owning chickens can be a rewarding experience (think of all those fresh eggs you'll get), but only if you're responsible about it.

Dog Is Among Privileged First To Be Blessed By New Pope
A yellow Labrador Retriever was among the firsts privileged to receive a physical blessing from Pope Francis's hands. Belonging to a visually impaired radio journalist, Asia entered the Vatican's vast Paul VI audience hall on Saturday and quietly sat down close to his owner as the pontiff thanked thousands of journalists from all over the world. They all came to Rome to cover the conclave that led to his election as the first Jesuit, first non-European, first Latin American pontiff. "As I waited in line to enter the hall, the security guards told me that most likely I wouldn't be allowed to get in with the dog," Alessandro Forlani, who works for Italian RAI radio, wrote on his Facebook page. "But after a few minutes, Vatican officials gave me the green light and I was accompanied by a Swiss guard to the audience hall. They let me sit near the first row of seats," Forlani said. At the end of the pope's magnetic speech, a selected group of media notables and Vatican-linked communicators was presented to the pontiff. While the journalists lined up to be greeted by Pope Francis, some performing the "baciamano," the traditional kissing the pope's ring, others embracing him in bear hugs, Vatican officials approached Forlani. "They said that Pope Francis had asked to meet me. He had seen Asia and wanted to see both of us," Forlani said. Asia walked on the stage, briefly sniffed the Pope's white dress and black shoes and then waited patiently as Forlani talked to the pontiff. "I asked for a blessing for my wife and daughter at home," Forlani told Discovery News. In a fitting image for a pope inspired by the patron saint of animals, Francis bent down to caress the dog. "He said, 'and a special blessing for you dog too.' He broke the ceremonial rules as my presence on stage with Asia wasn't previously arranged," Forlani said.

Bills Make It Illegal to Expose Ghastly Conditions at Factory Farms
Bills being shopped in six states by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) would make it a crime to film animal abuse at factory farms or lie on job applications, in hopes of shutting down animal rights activists who infiltrate slaughterhouses to expose ghastly conditions. "The meat industry's response to these exposes has not been to try to prevent these abuses from taking place, but rather it's really just been to prevent Americans from finding out about those abuses in the first place," Paul Shapiro, spokesperson for the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), told Raw Story. "What they're doing is trying to pass laws throughout the country that don't just shoot the messenger, they seek to imprison the messenger." The proposals mandate that evidence of animal abuse be turned over to law enforcement within 48 hours, or face a financial penalty. Several of the bills also make it a crime to lie on slaughterhouse job applications, which activists commonly do in order to get footage like the content of a video published by the HSUS, embedded below.

Dog Makes Unplanned Trip To Ireland On His Own
A New York woman says she was beyond upset after she found out that her dog made an unplanned trip to Ireland on its own. It happened as Edith Lombardo-Albach and her family were moving to Phoenix. She tells ABC News that she put Hendrix the six-year-old English Springer Spaniel on a United Airlines flight to meet up with her husband and daughter, who had already made the move to the desert. But just seven minutes before Hendrix's flight was scheduled to land, Lombardo-Albach got a call saying the dog had accidently been sent to Shannon, Ireland instead. Edith says she almost fainted at first, although the airline promised someone in Ireland would feed and walk Hendrix before the dog made the seven hour trip back to the Newark, New Jersey airport. Edith says she spent some time with Hendrix before he had to hop on another plane to reach his final destination in Arizona. United apologized for what they called a rare incident, and refunded Lombardo-Albach's money.

American Pets Are Obese
Obesity isn't a just a problem for Americans, it's a problem for American pets. According to the latest National Pet Obesity Awareness Day Survey conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, over half of both dogs and cats in the U.S. are overweight. Fifty-two percent of dogs tipped the scales at what their veterinarian would consider to be "overweight" or "obese," along with 58 percent of cats. Those figures account for approximately 80 million dogs and cats who are living under the care of Americans who are at increased risk for disorders like diabetes, osteoarthritis, hypertension and many cancers. In cats, the study found a significant escalation in the number of type 2 diabetes cases. For dogs, certain breeds, like Labrador retrievers and golden retrievers, were found to be at greater risk for obesity than others.

Dog Ingests 111 Pennies
A dog in Manhattan is doing just fine after vets successfully removed more than one hundred pennies from his stomach. The owner of the 13-year-old Jack Russell terrier tells the "New York Daily News" his dog is more like the Tasmanian Devil since the energetic pooch eats just about anything he can get. That includes 111 pennies that were knocked to the floor when he went after a bag of bagel crumbs left on a desk. Vets pulled the pennies out five at a time during a two-hour operation and they got to keep the change.

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