May 26th 2007

M*A*S*H BASH: Klinger Edition
Jamie Farr, Corporal Klinger
The craziest sane man to ever enlist in the 4077 hosts a 12-hour marathon of M*A*S*H on the Hallmark Channel.

Jamie Farr, better known as Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger, joins Hallmark Channel on Memorial Day (Monday, May 28, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. ET/PT) to host a 12 hour, 20 episode "M*A*S*H BASH '07: KLINGER EDITION" Marathon. Farr, who chose his own favorite episodes for the marathon, will give some insights into his cross-dressing character and reveal what happened to his infamous Fuzzy Pink Slippers. Now, where did I leave my purse?

In the beginning of his career, roles were infrequent for the young actor, and he took jobs as a delivery person, a post office clerk, an army surplus store clerk, an airlines reservations agent, and as an employee at a chinchilla ranch. But, he wasn't alone doing these odd jobs. Listen in as he tells of the odd jobs of other celebs before they landed that big roll.

Farr and his wife, Joy, are currently owned by 3 cats. Together they have written a children's book, Hababy's Christmas Eve, the story of a camel family that Jamie first introduced on M*A*S*H.

Pop Diva Sheena Easton
Utah Pride 2007
The Utah Pride Center is excited to announce that Scottish American two time Grammy Award-winning pop "Diva" Sheena Easton will take center stage at 8 p.m., Friday, June 1st, kicking off this year's 2007 Utah Pride Festival, United For Equality, June 1-3. Please visit the Utah Pride website (www.utahpride.org) for more information.

Easton whose singing career was inspired by Barbara Streisand's "The Way We Were," released her first single in the United States "Morning Train (1980)" which hit #1 in the U.S. and topped both the Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts in Billboard Magazine. Following her 1980 debut, Sheena made the cameo appearance performing her Academy Award-nominated James Bond movie theme "For Your Eyes Only." Notably, she is the only artist seen performing the song in the title sequence in the entire Bond series.

Sheena currently lives in Las Vegas with her two-legged family, as well as her four-legged family of six cats and two dogs. Her kids say she is headed for the title of "Crazy Cat Lady." If you think you spoil your pets, listen in to see how Sheena copes with hers!

Check out Sheena's tour dates at www.SheenaEaston.com.

Kip Addotta
Kip talks about relations, his own human foibles, fears, triumphs, and of course his cat "Harley," whom he says owns him, and is the longest relationship he has ever maintained with a female!

After over 30 years in the business as a standup comedian, Kip figures that about 85% of his jokes are a hit with the audience. And like most newcomers, Kip doesn't resort to the vulgarity and shock value of 4 letter words to make his audience laugh.

Kip Addotta has made over 32 guest appearances on "The Tonight Show," and is still entertaining crowds on the radio and at clubs. Catch him next at the Riviera in Las Vegas from September 11 ­ 17th.
http://www.KipAddotta.com

Kelli McCarty, Passions
Kelli McCarty currently stars on NBC's Passions as the sexy, psycho-diva Beth Wallace, opposite Galen Gering. But, this doesn't stop her from pursuing her real passion ­ animals!

Kelli currently lives with five rescue dogs and would have more if her living situation allowed it. She is the Goodwill Ambassador for Pet Orphans of Southern California, one of the oldest, active humane organizations in Los Angeles with a private shelter, founded in 1973. You may have seen her recently hosting the Dog Jog Event at Woodley Park.

McCarty's previous TV credits include Phil of the Future, Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, Dream On, Diagnosis Murder, Silk Stockings, Pacific Blue, the golf program Travel A Round [as host] and Even Stevens. Dogs and Appetizers, Recoil, The Last Bachelor, Beach House, and the documentary Rhinoskin are among her feature film credits.
http://www.PetOrphans.org

Alaska's Lone Elephant
Paul Joslin, Friends of Maggie
Maggie, the beloved elephant at the Alaska Zoo, has been at the center of a debate over whether or not she should be in this state for years.

Maggie was down and couldn't get up on her own for more than 10 hours recently and had to get help from the Anchorage Fire Department. A 24-hour watch was put in place, but was removed after she appeared to be doing okay. Since then, she has been down twice. And as the 24-hour watch was called off, no one knows just how long she was down each time.

Maggie is now up and about, but some say just because she is standing, doesn't mean everything is OK. Now it is a waiting game to see if the elephant is terminally sick, or on the road to recovery. Last year Gita, an elephant at the Los Angeles Zoo, died after a collapse and a more than 12-hour stay on the ground. An elephant named Lucy from the Milwaukee Zoo had to be euthanized after two collapses just months apart. Activists worry Alaska is too cold and too lonely for Maggie and said it makes overcoming her health scare that much harder.

Paul Joslin, the former assistant director for the Brookfield Zoo near Chicago, and now a member of Friends of Maggie, says when an elephant can't get up, there is something seriously wrong. He says to make sure she doesn't die, Maggie needs to be given to another zoo in a warmer climate--one that may be able to take better care of her than the Alaska Zoo can.

A recent poll that asked "Should the Alaska Zoo consider relocating Maggie the elephant following her inability to stand up alone this weekend? " showed results of 86% in favor of moving Maggie to a warmer climate, with only 14% wanting to keep her in Alaska.

Maggie originally arrived at the zoo in 1983 as a baby. She has been alone since 1997, when the zoo's other elephant died.

The Alaska Zoo's Board was planning to meet in August to discuss Maggie's situation. They have since decided to move the meeting up to this week. Recently, Ruby, an elephant at the LA Zoo was moved to the Performing Animal Welfare Society (P.A.W.S.,) in Northern California after years of lobbying by animal-rights activists.
http://www.FriendsofMaggie.net

Pets May Serve as Disease Watchdogs
Dr. Jim Humphries, Veterinary News Network
A national surveillance network that uses the medical records of pets could help prepare for a wide variety of emerging disease threats to humans and animals including the bird flu.

The National Companion Animal Surveillance Program was originally designed to alert people to potential anthrax or plague outbreaks. But now, using the records of pets seen at Banfield Pet Hospitals, tests were conducted on more than 10 million pet records to determine how that database could be used to monitor disease outbreaks.

Researchers collected data from 80,000 companion animals treated weekly at more than 500 animal hospitals in 44 states. Additional data included reports from Antech Diagnostics, a national network of laboratories used by more than 18,000 private veterinary practices. Researchers have developed an early warning system for the occurrence of canine influenza that is caused by a virus that appears to have jumped recently from horses to dogs. The avian flu virus could be the black plague of veterinary medicine. But, we can be proactive through early detection and vaccine development.

An early reporting system such as this for companion animals will allow us to educate veterinarians and help the public. It also will demonstrate that what is possible in human medicine, with the development of more centralized and coordinated health care delivery system, is also possible in veterinary medicine. The research was funded in part by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
http://www.VetNewsNet.com

The Golden Rule
Rae Ann Kumelos, Voice of the Animal
The Golden Rule is found in every major religion and spiritual practice known to humankind. But does it apply to animals as well? Decide for yourself what it manes to be truly golden.
http://www.VoiceOfTheAnimal.org

Groomer Reattaches Dog's Ear with Super-Glue
Mike Fry, Animal Ark Animal Shelter and Host of Animal Wise Radio with Dr. Linda Wolf
After a woman, Anni Sheriffius, picked her dog up from the groomer, she noticed dirt on her dog's ear. When she tried to wash off the dirt, her dog's ear fell off. At that time she realized that the groomer had cut off the ear and tried to reattach it with super-glue.

She immediately rushed her dog to the vet who confirmed that in fact the ear had been cut off and reattached. Her dog, Jasmine, was then treated for an infection.

While, unfortunately, the groomer was cited for operating without a license, no charges were filed because it can't be proved. The groomer is now looking for a different line of work.

"I'd like her never, ever to touch another dog. That's what I'd like to see," said Sheriffius.
http://www.AnimalWiseRadio.com
http://www.AnimalArkShelter.org

Female Lions Prefer their Men Hairy
Britt Savage
A recent study showed that female lions prefer their men hairy ­ very hairy! In the study, scientists measured the size and fullness of the lion's manes from zoos and different parts of the country and found that lions from up north, with the fuller manes, had a lot more luck with the ladies. Lions from Houston had full manes around the face, neck and shoulders, but the lions from Chicago had all that plus shaggy hair on their belly, elbows and that oh so popular back hair. But having that full mane has its price. It's hot, it collects parasites and makes it hard to get through bushes. But even so, most lions seem to be liking the attention.

Dog's Life Changes after Guardian Becomes "Chained"
Tammy Grimes, Dogs Deserve Better "Chain Off"
Don McKendree, Contestant
Dogs Deserve Better, a nonprofit working to bring dogs into the home and family, wrapped up its first-ever Chain Off Contest at Leidy Park in Mundys Corner, Pennsylvania approximately 1 hour east of Pittsburgh. 52-year-old Don McKendree, the only contestant with a chained dog living at home, placed second in the event, and then immediately went home and took his dog Nikki off the chain.

11 people began the contest Saturday, July 1. After nine days, 5 people remained chained, and players voted 3-2 to begin eliminations the next day. 1 person went home in elimination rounds each day until the final playoff Thursday, July, 13. Final elimination rounds pitted 52-year-old Don McKendree, the oldest contestant, against 18-year-old Aija Gillman, the youngest contestant. Aija topped Don by a final score of 9-7 to win the contest and the Chevy Aveo.

Contestants from Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, South Carolina, and New York converged on the little town of Mundys Corner, PA to begin a contest like no other. They lived chained to doghouses until only one remained. They competed to survive the boredom of this life . . . no books, TV, radio, smoking, or even visitors. They were allowed the bare minimum in hygiene, only cleanliness routines undertaken within the confines of four tiny port-a-john walls. They were stripped of all comforts: receiving only a chain, a collar, water, food, doghouse, sleeping bag, and shade in their stead.

Don wrote in his journal: "My house is in a low area, and it doesn't drain. It seems when you get wet and it continues to rain [there are] lots of mixed emotions--I could imagine the torture dogs must go through when people chain them outside. Sure, you can feed them, water them, and talk to them occasionally...but I'm talking about the feelings a dog has to go through but are unable to communicate. I sure am having a difficult time. I have been and done a lot of difficult things in my life, but being tied (chained) to a doghouse has got to be the roughest. Stripped of human communication ability sure puts things into the proper perspective. Let's unchain our dogs."

We talk to Tammy and Don as they are shopping at Lowes for fencing and a doggy door for Nikita, who will be removed from her chains forever.
http://www.dogsdeservebetter.com/chainoff2006pa.html

Second Hand Smoke Can Affect Your Pet's Health
Dr. Jim Humphries, Veterinary News Network
According to the American Lung Association, there are more than 4,000 chemicals in second hand smoke, of which 200 are toxic and 43 have been shown to cause cancer. Although the effects of 2nd hand smoke on domestic animals has not been widely researched as its affected humans, recent studies have linked second hand smoke in the home to higher rates of cancer and respiratory illnesses in both dogs and cats.

A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that dogs in smoking households had a 60% greater risk of lung cancer than dogs living in a smoke free environment. A different study published in the same journal showed that long-nosed dogs, such as Collies, Dobermans and Greyhounds, were twice as likely to develop nasal cancers if they lived with smokers.

A study conducted at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine found that cats in smoking households are more than two times as likely to develop a cancer called Feline Lymphoma than those in non-smoking households. The risks for cats living with a person who smokes a pack of cigarettes or more per day increases to three times that of cats living with non-smokers. Others studies suggest second hand smoke in homes is responsible for higher risks of asthma in cats, a condition that is at best difficult to treat, and in severe cases can be fatal.

Dogs that decide to eat cigarette butts left in unattended ashtrays also have problems. Nicotine is extremely toxic to dogs and can cause vomiting, seizures and death. Also, chewing tobacco sometimes contains additives that increase its flavor, that probably also increases the likelihood that dogs will find it tasty too.

And if quitting is not something you feel you can do right now, you can take measures to limit your pet's exposure, such as restricting smoking to outdoor areas and washing your hands before handling your pet.
http://www.VetNewsNet.com

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