Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll and Pet Matchmaking
Elaine Hendrix, Pet Matchmaker

From the hit FX television show, Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll, Elaine Hendrix is Animal Radio's special guest this week. During the day she's an actress, during the evenings she's an animal advocate.

The last time Elaine Hendrix was a guest on Animal Radio, she had started The Pet Matchmaker, a pet matchmaking service. No, this is not a dating service for dogs, but to actually match people up with the appropriate pets. Elaine wants people to find a pet that is suitable for them. She does this by finding out a little bit about the person and their lives.

Most people adopt an animal on an emotional impulse. They see a pet and think they're cute! They might also see a pet at a rescue event and think that it needs help. Unfortunately, they don't always think about what type of home they have? What type of family do they have? What do their finances look like? Elaine wants people to be really practical and really reasonable when it comes to getting animals.

And if you've already found true pet love, The Pet Matchmaker can help you, too! From expert advice to fun activities and ideas on how to enrich your animal/human bond, The Pet Matchmaker is filled with useful information. They are the ultimate resource community dedicated to the well being of pets and their pet parents.

Elaine is busier than ever now, and she loves it! She has recently launched a Podcast and will be launching an App for The Pet Matchmaker. Her day job as an actress is also going really well and her nighttime, Super-Hero job as an animal rescuer is never ending. She only wishes she could devote more time to the animals.

Elaine is from East Tennessee and currently lives in Los Angeles, CA with her rescue companions. Rossmore is an elderly, diabetic and blind dog, who is as sweet as ever. She has also added a new dog through her new relationship, Bixby. Then there are her cats, Kimbo and Goodie Cornbread. Of course, she still has Ellie, whom she rescued several years ago, and is her soul mate! She also has a revolving door of fosters at any given time! Elaine admits that she lets everyone sleep in the bed with her.

Ellie travels with Elaine pretty much wherever she goes, as well as to the set when Elaine is filming "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll." When Denis Leary found out she brings Ellie with her, he told her that, "That dog better be coming to the set!" Ellie has become the unofficial official mascot for the show.

Catch Elaine on ‘Sex And Drugs And Rock N Roll' Thursday nights at 10:00pm on FX.

http://www.thepetmatchmaker.com

Online CPR Course For Pets
Melanie Monteiro - Safe Dog Handbook, & Online Course

Melanie Monteiro, author of "The Safe Dog Handbook," just released an incredible 3-hour online course to educate pet professionals and pet guardians about CPR and other emergency care. Covering everything from bloat to car accidents, she'll teach you what you need to know to save your pet's life!

Whether you're a pet parent or a pet professional, this web-based dog safety course provides you with lifesaving skills, knowledge and confidence to set yourself up for success in a crisis during a life-threatening emergency, in those moments before you can reach a vet for treatment. There may be times when you need to react before you get to a veterinarian, if an animal is choking or if they are suffering from heatstroke, and you may even have to perform CPR.

Many people live in areas whether there aren't any hands-on training courses for pet emergencies. So Melanie has taken all of the things she teaches in her hands-on courses and workshops and has put them into this video-based course. The videos contain mannequins as well as real dogs.

One of the videos available is on "bloat." Melanie has actually made this video available for a free preview to anyone who visits the site. It is amazing that this was actually caught on tape. Melanie worked with an Akita group who had accidentally videotaped a dog "bloating." They had just rescued this dog and were filming him for their website, when he started exhibiting signs of bloating. But because the dog was elderly and blind, they originally thought he was just disoriented.

Bloating is one of those things that if you've never seen it in person, it is very hard to recognize when it is happening to the dog. Bloating is extremely life threatening and every moment counts. It requires an immediate trip to a veterinarian. Luckily, the Akita in the video made a full recovery.

The on-line course is broken up into 36-individual lessons. It is set up to allow you take it at home on your computer. You can take the lessons just bit by bit, individually, whenever you have time. You can also go back and take a refresher course.

The course has been approved by some of the top veterinarians in the country. Visit the Dog CPR, First Aid & Safety Online CPR Course to learn more. Upon completion of the online course, you will receive a downloadable certificate, containing your name and date of completion.

Who knows, the life you save may be that of your own pet!

http://www.thesafedoghandbook.com

"Surfin' Jack"
Joey Herrick, Lucy Pet Foundation

Joey Herrick, founder of the Lucy Pet Foundation, talks about his spokesdog, Surfin' Jack. Surfin' Jack is an amazing dog with a great story.

Joey knew he was going to shoot a football commercial for Super Bowl. Even though it didn't actually air during the actual Super Bowl, it did air on Super Bowl Sunday, during Hallmark's Kitten Bowl. It also made it into the Top 10 Super Bowl websites. But first he needed a dog for the commercial, as well as for the shampoo line he was working on. He was looking for a dog that could do both. Joey knew he wanted a certain dog with certain looks and sent out a drawing to shelters in the hopes of finding him.

The selection was narrowed down and Joey and a camera crew actually went to the different shelters to interview them. They also brought along a trainer and Veterinarian Doc Halligan to ensure they were healthy.

They found the perfect dog named Nicole, a golden retriever, but was informed that there was a lot of interest in the dog. They were told to come back in a week and be prepared for a bidding war. Fortunately, Joey was the only one who showed up, so he took the dog home. The dog's name was then changed from Nicole to Jack, short for Jackie.

Next came the training. Years prior, when Joey was in the pet food business, he met trainer Mathilde De Cagney on the set of Frasier who trained Eddie, the Jack Russell Terrier, when he would take food for Eddie. Joey convinced Mathilde to work with Jack to teach him all kinds of tricks. Jack was not an easy dog to train, as he was neither food nor prey driven, but he eventually learned the tricks.

Even though Jack lived a sheltered life, she now likes toys and treats and was taught how to catch a ball and to do all of the tricks necessary for the commercial. Check out LucyPetProducts.com where you can see Surfin' Jack's pictures, as well as the very moving commercial, which represents the 80,000 cats and dogs that are euthanized each week. The commercial has received millions of hits from around the world.

Jack's story in the shelter could have had an unhappy ending. Here was a dog in a shelter and nobody came for her, but she was one of the fortunate ones and was saved. She has now been in a football commercial seen by millions of people. She also has her own products and is about to become a very famous dog. Remember, if you're looking for a pet, the shelters have many wonderful animals to choose from.

Joey Herrick started the Lucy Pet Foundation, a 501©(3) charity, that does spaying and neutering, as well as education. He then started Lucy Pet Products to help fund the foundation and doesn't take any salary from either company, it all goes back to the animals.

The first products from the Lucy Pet Product line are shampoos and leave-in conditioners. There are six different varieties, with Surfin' Jack's own shampoo.

What's next? Obviously with a name like "Surfin' Jack" the next step is to teach Jack how to surf!

The Mission of The Lucy Pet Foundation is to reduce pet overpopulation by having mobile spay/neuter clinics across the country and to support causes that benefit animal welfare. The Lucy Pet Foundation currently has two buses that travel around Southern California focusing on spaying and neutering. These buses are state of the art surgery units. Their next focus is in generating more funds to expand the work of these buses and have more across the country.

The Lucy Pet Foundation not only offers free and reduced spays and neuters, they also do microchipping, vaccines and de-wormings. Spaying and neutering is not only great for pet population control, but it has been proven that an animal will live on an average of 40-percent longer after having this surgery.

Here is a list of upcoming free or reduced fee mobile spay and neuter clinics in California:

August 17, 24, 29 & 31
SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC
Location: Morgan Park, City of Baldwin Hills, 4100 Baldwin Park Blvd, Baldwin Park CA
Check in 7:30am
ACCEPT COUNTY AND CITY VOUCHERS
Please call 1-855-499-5829 or Email: Info@lucypetfoundation.org to schedule an appointment.

August 19, 21, 26 & 28
SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC
Location: Inland Valley
Check in 8:00am
Prices Vary
ACCEPT COUNTY AND CITY VOUCHERS
Please call 1-855-499-5829 or Email: Info@lucypetfoundation.org to schedule an appointment.

Friday, August 28
CATS ONLY
ACCEPT COUNTY AND CITY VOUCHERS
Check in 7:30am
Location: Centinela Feed & Pet Supplies, 22840 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance, CA
Please call 1-855-499-5829 or Email: Info@lucypetfoundation.org to schedule an appointment.

Remember, you must get on a list to have your pet seen at these locations. Please call The Lucy Pet Foundation toll free at 1-855-499-5829 or Email: Info@lucypetfoundation.org to schedule an appointment, or register at the events.

See the current list of clinics at http://www.lucypetfoundation.org.





The Dogfather's Grooming Tip with Joey Villani

What To Do Until Grooming Is Regulated
Animal Radio's "Dogfather" Joey Villani is on the cutting edge of legislation to regulate the pet-grooming industry. Until laws are in effect, he wants you to know how to tell a good groomer from bad. He'll tell you what red flags to look out for.

Don't just drop your dog off; know where your dog is being housed. Ask them about the equipment they use. How will they dry your dog? Do they disinfect between pets? Some groomer use bleach in their kennels, which is good, but they immediately put another dog in without airing out the bleach smell. Ask them if they allow it to dry completely before placing another dog in the kennel.

Do they walk your dog? If they do, do they use a regular leash and collar? This is not acceptable in these circumstances. These dogs need to be on a harness or slip noose so they can't slip out. Another thing, where do they walk your pet? There are many diseases transmitted by dogs and you don't want your dog to be walking in areas used by many other dogs.

Ask questions, and remember there are no dumb questions when it comes to the safety of your pet. When to comes to an unregulated business, these questions need to be asked. Listen to what the groomer says, and if you don't like the answers, take your pet elsewhere.

Second Hand Smoke Sickens Pets - Dr. Debbie

Looking to save money on veterinary care or wondering how to keep your pet in peak health? If you are a smoker and have pets, there are some very compelling reasons to quit - second hand smoking's link to causing cancer and illness in pets. If threats from your spouse haven't gotten you to stop smoking yet, maybe looking at that furry friend on the couch next to you will. The life you save may be his.

It's long been known that smoking causes serious health repercussions in people, even to non-smokers in the same environment. According to the Center For Disease Control (CDC), secondhand smoke contains 7,000 different toxins, hundreds which are toxic and 70 which cancer-causing.

In people, secondhand smoke is linked to cardiovascular disease, lung cancer and childhood asthma, ear infections and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Similar research in pets has found that animals from smoking homes are at greater risk of chronic lung disease like asthma and bronchitis, respiratory cancers and other cancers.

Pets are exposed to smoke and chemicals not only through inhaling air, but also by ingesting the toxins directly. Smoke particulates settle on pet's fur or are transferred from the owner's hands through petting. Pets then ingest cigarette's toxins through licking humans, self-grooming and grooming other household pets. Cat's especially fastidious nature permits increased intake of smoke residues through kitty grooming behaviors.

What Are Secondhand Smoke Effects In Pets?
Research from Tufts University discovered that cats exposed to smoking had a higher risk of developing the malignant cancer, lymphoma. In fact, cats living in smoking homes had double the risk of developing lymphoma as cats from non-smoking homes. When two people in the home smoked, the risk of lymphoma in cats increased to four times.

Other veterinary research identified increased rates of oral, nasal and lung cancer in pets from smoking households. Cats from a smoker's home are four times as likely to develop the disfiguring cancer, squamous cell carcinoma. And in yet another study, long snouted dog breeds from smoking homes were at greater risk of developing nasal cancer, likely due to greater absorption area in long nasal passages.

How Can You Safeguard Your Pet's Health?
If you are a smoker, consider stopping - for your sake and your pets. Short of giving up the habit, take steps to minimize second hand smoke on your pets. Only smoke outdoors, away from pets. Wash your hands after smoking, before handling your pets. If you enjoy lighting up in the car when driving, leave your pet at home. Even with car windows down, cigarette smoke inside a car creates a toxic environment for pets.

Have your dog and cat examined by your veterinarian every six months. Alert your veterinarian to any lethargy, trouble breathing, and coughing or unexplained weight loss. Early detection and treatment permits the most effective treatment of chronic respiratory conditions and cancers. Your pet's veterinarian can detect illness through regular exams and preventative screenings.

While smoking isn't the only factor causing cancer in pets, it is increasingly scrutinized as a significant health risk, one that we humans can control. The health decisions we make not only influence our children's health, but also affect those devoted pets that warm our hearts and beds.

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."

http://www.drdebbie.net

It's a Wacky Wednesday Here at the Animal Radio® Studios

WackyWed Contest IS ON - LIKE your FAVORITE pic and the three pics with the most LIKES & SHARES are this week's winner will receive Brew Buddies Brew Chews from Omega Paw.

TO ENTER Send us your FUNNY pet pic to WackyWed@AnimalRadio.com - (Please put WACKYWED in the subject line & give us your pet's name, your name & where you hail from) If YOUR pic is chosen then spread the word to your friends & family on Wednesday - the pics w/the most LIKES and SHARES will be the winner!

This week we are giving away Brew Buddies Brew Chews and Brew Buddies Brew Sticks from Omega Paw, which are specially crafted with flavorful malted barley.

Brew Buddies Brew Chews are made with real chicken that is combined with malted barley, brewer's rice and brewer's yeast to give Brew Buddies its distinctive taste. Brew Buddies come in Original and Dark Flavors. Brew Buddies Brew Sticks are soft and chewy sticks that are made with malted barley just like in your beer. Not only are they yummy and fun, Brew Sticks help to clean dog's teeth too, both from Omega Paw.

Join Animal Radio® on Facebook for Wacky Wednesday! Win great prizes every week for your wacky pet pictures. Last month we gave out goodies from The Green Pet Shop, PL360, Bark Box, Solid Gold Pet, Energizer and more. Visit us on Facebook now.

Animal Radio® News - Lori Brooks

Baiting Big Game Is Illegal
What American dentist Walter Palmer did, using bait to lure Cecil the lion out of the African conservation park, is as illegal in most states as it is in Zimbabwe. It's alleged that the hunting party tied a dead animal to their vehicle to lure Cecil out of the conservation park and scented an area about quarter of a mile from the park. Let's take a state; Nebraska for example, has banned the baiting of big game animals for around a decade. It's law is pretty standard in that hunters cannot hunt within 200 yards of any location where there is bait, meaning ANY kind of food material that might attract a large animal. But in Texas, where most of the deer live in brush, where they are hard to see, baiting for deer in Texas is a common practice. And in Nebraska where it's illegal, it's only a class 3 misdemeanor with a $125 dollar fine.

Man Paints 5,500 Shelter Pets Euthanized in One-Day
If you missed this story in People magazine or on social media, be sure to check it out. Artist Mark Barone is painting the beautiful portraits of 5,500 shelter pets that were euthanized; with each portrait representing one of the 5,500 dogs lost to America's kill shelter system daily. If those portraits were stacked ten high, they would span the length of two football fields. Eventually it's hoped all the portraits will end up in their planned Museum of Compassion. Most people don't even realize that 1.2 million dogs are put down each year in America because shelters are simply out of space and the animals are out of time. There's a video of Mark's latest painting on the project's website, AnActOfDog.org, where you can find out more on how to help and see some of the portraits.

Police Rescue Stuck Skunk
A hungry skunk whose head was stuck in a yogurt container found its hero in a Rochester, Michigan police officer. Luckily this happy incident was caught on video. Can you imagine knowing you're going head to head with a crank skunk that is running in circles? But it worked, and the officer didn't even get sprayed. Apparently he's pretty good with animals, as there's a picture on the department's Facebook page of the same officer rescuing baby ducks from a storm drain.

Increased Sighting of Forest Animals In Urban Places
It can seem like wild animals are everywhere these days, like deer, foxes and bears. Wildlife Management experts say increased sighting of forest animals in urban places continues. It's said that building a house on an empty 1/4 lot doesn't just disturb the animals living on that space; it starts a chain reaction, causing the loss of another 2 and 1/2 acres due to road construction, schools and things like that. Protecting animal habitat, which includes more swaths of nature in our environment isn't just be good for wildlife; studies have shown that it improves the quality of life for humans, too!

Company Gets Employees Involved - 15 Animals Get Adopted
Here's a super inspiring story of a company in St. Petersburg, Florida, where a local electrical contracting company called Power Design was looking for a fun way to get its employees involved with the community. They made a $500 donation to their local animal shelter, which brought out 18 puppies and kittens to the company. Fifteen of those furry visitors found a new home!

Scammer Claims To Help Find Lost Pets For A Fee
Pets FBI Ohio and its 50 volunteers, which reunite lost pets with their owners, are having trouble solving a case where a scammer is taking advantage of worried pet parents. Be warned that this individual calls people who have lost a pet and says he will help find them, claiming to with Pet FBI Ohio. He also asks for a fee to find the missing pet. Like any phone call where someone asks for money, further investigation on your part is needed. Pet FBI never charges for its services. Authorities say if you get a phone call from an out of state area code and someone on the line claims to be Pet FBI Ohio, hang up the phone, it's a scam and happening all over the country.

NEWS UPDATE brought to you by Drs. Foster & Smith, affordable pet supplies. Low prices every day, so you save on every order.

Listen to the entire Podcast of this show (#819)