Recovering Dolphin Trainer
Ric O'Barry, The Dolphin Project

Remember America's favorite dolphin Flipper? Ric O'Barry was her trainer. When one of the 5 Flippers died in his arms, he decided that what he was doing was wrong. Now he heads a crusade to release and rehabilitate dolphins in captivity. He'll explain why he's changed his stance 180 degrees and turned down millions to do what's right for the animals.

Ric O'Barry is a man dedicated to fixing his mistakes. He has worked on both sides of the captive dolphin issue, making him an invaluable asset in the efforts to end exploitation. He worked for 10 years within the dolphin captivity industry and has spent the past 45 working against it.

In the 1960s, Ric was employed by the Miami Seaquarium, where he captured and trained dolphins, including the five dolphins that played the role of Flipper in the popular American TV series of the same name. He also trained Hugo, the first orca kept in captivity east of the Mississippi. But when Kathy, the dolphin who played Flipper 90-percent of the time, died in his arms, Ric realized that capturing dolphins and training them to perform silly tricks is simply wrong. From that moment on, Ric knew what he must do with his life. Ric states that dolphins don't need to be trained at all. They've been around, complete and perfect, for 65 million years and they don't need him to train them to be dolphins.

The first dolphin Ric tried to free was at a Lerner Marine Laboratory. You might remember the name Lerner, it was a line of dress shops, and this laboratory was a tax write off for them in the Bahamas. Surprisingly at one time there were several dolphins there that Ric had originally helped capture, but there was only one still alive named Charlie Brown. Ric tried to free him, but was not successful and ended up in jail. Coincidentally it was on the First Earth Day in 1970. Ric has been trying to free dolphins ever sine and has come up with a better way to rehabilitate and release the back in the wild instead of just cutting the fence.

Over the past 45 years, Ric O'Barry has rescued and rehabilitated dolphins in many countries around the world, including Haiti, Colombia, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Brazil, South Korea, the Bahamas Islands and the United States. He is a leading voice in the fight to end brutal dolphin hunts in Japan, Solomon Islands, Faroe Islands, Indonesia and wherever else they occur.

Ric states that it's real obvious if you're paying attention that these animals should be free. He says he was paying attention, unlike the other dolphin trainers, and he didn't go home at 5:00 when the place closed, he actually lived there. He was there for seven years and got to know them very well, and when you know them you know they don't belong in captivity.

He says training dolphins was a failed experiment and it all came down to money, under the guise of education, research, science and al that nonsense, but it's really about money and only money.

Ric says it wasn't that way when he started, but he did become aware of it later and he could have stayed in the industry. At that time, Sea World hadn't been formed yet, but Ric felt he could have gone one and probably even been the head trainer or maybe even the Vice President of Sea World. May he could have even started his own dolphin show in the Bahamas, where he could be making $10 million dollars a year, but he wouldn't be able to sleep at night.

Ric explains that he got into the business at a young age. He was only 20 years old and had just gotten out of the military where you are brainwashed into not questioning authority and are trained to take orders. In just a few years he was making very good money working with the dolphins and was driving a new Porsche every year. Good thing he is not the same guy today!

When people state that most children would not even be able to see these animals up close if it weren't for these facilities, Ric debates that. He states that these same children will never see a snow leopard - so does that mean we have to go to the Himalayas and capture one for them to see? He states you can't always get what you want and children don't have to see dolphins performing in a building, which is actually a form of bad education.

You can get involved: JAPAN DOLPHINS DAY

The Dolphin Project is calling on individuals, activists and organizations across the world to participate with them on this International Day of Action. Join activists around the world on September 1st and make a difference for the dolphins.

This day marks the beginning of another season of the dolphin drive hunts in Taiji, Japan, as made known by the Academy Award-winning documentary The Cove. By organizing a positive, celebratory event in your city, unite to show Japan, as well as the rest of the world, that the massacre of dolphins in Taiji is a crime against nature and must end immediately. Together, we can make our voices heard and inform others about this tragedy.

O'Barry lives with his wife, Helene, and their daughter, Mai Li, in Florida.

http://www.dolphinproject.net

Cooking For Your Pet
Marc Ching, The PetStaurant

Marc Ching of ThePetStaurant.com believes the only real healthy way to feed your pets is to cook human-grade foods for them. He'll tell us some of the ingredients that we should and shouldn't use. Listen up if your pet needs to lose a few pounds.

To help your dog or cat live a healthy and long life, cooking or preparing your own food may be your best and most preferred option. Why? Because in preparing our own meals we have control over the ingredients we use and the quality of the food. And as we get better at preparing our pets meals, we can fine tune elements catering to the pickiest of animals and those that have health problems.

What complicates things and puts animals at risk is when we do not correctly know how to prepare fully complete and healthy meals. People think that chicken and rice is healthy, but dogs and cats do not have the enzymes to break down and process certain things.

Because of this, we may actually be hurting our pets instead of helping, even if we have the best of intentions.

That is why it is very important to know how to correctly prepare meals and feed, so that all nutritional requirements are met. Some breeds do better with certain ingredients and some dogs that lick their feet should not eat Sweet Potatoes or Pumpkin. With cats, it's even more difficult to make sure they get the correct amount of Taurine.

That's where The Pet Restaurant comes in. They teach people how to cook and say it easier than you think. Do you have a dog with constant diarrhea? A cat that has crystals or stones? Did your vet tell you your pet has to be on a prescription diet in order to get better? If so, they can both advise and help you feed and care for your animals.

They want you to start with a protein source, the leaner the better. Then select from one to three green vegetables. Try to stay away from things like carrots that have sugars and high starch. And if you use a blend of vegetables, you are more likely to hit many different vitamin categories that you wouldn't get if you used, for example, just spinach and chicken.

Some meats they recommend are:

Turkey Breast (lean ground is okay too)
Chicken Breast (if you are concerned about a chicken allergy then do not use)
Beef chuck roast or other similar cuts of meat (if using ground beef we suggest using 85/15 or better)
Whitefish - this is the best and most nonreactive meat source you can use. However, some dogs hate fish.
Bison / Pheasant / Venison - hard to find, but excellent choices as well

Some vegetables they recommend are:

Kale, Zucchini, Broccoli Flowerets, Green Beans, Lettuces, Bok Choy, Alfalfa Sprouts, Dandelion Greens, Spinach, Celery, BUT NO PEAS - this is a protein and high in calories

How to Cook:

Cut meat and cook in a stockpot. They recommend an anodized stockpot. Do not add any water, oil or salt when cooking.

Your Veggie mix can either be cooked with the meat or blended / emulsified and added raw.

If you cook your veggies, they suggest adding a multi vitamin that is filler free.

If you blend / emulsify them and add them raw, then the prepared meal will be that much more vitamin rich.

Meat should be minimum 60% of the diet. The veggies mix the other 40.

This meat to veggie ratio is more ideal for adequate health. 60/40 means - 6 pounds meat / 4 pounds green veggies. Use a combination of at least 3 veggies.

You can cook and package food in portions, freezing them so you do not have to cook every day.

If you still have concerns about your pet getting the proper nutrients when home cooking, you can add multi-vitamins to the pet food. There are so many on the market and Marc actually recommend human supplements. This is because there is more regulation on human supplements than there are on pet supplements. One he recommends is Symmetry by Whole Leaf Organics. For omegas, he recommends coconut oil, which is inexpensive. If your dog has an itching problem, he recommends probiotics and enzymes.

Dr. Debbie warns us about some studies that recently showed home cooked recipes that were recommended and published by a majority of veterinarians, where 62-percent of them were vitamin deficient; 86-percent were deficient in minerals; 55-percent were low in protein; and Taurine, which is incredibly important for cats, was low in 77-percent of them. She believes home cooking has its place and can definitely be a benefit, but she doesn't advise someone to just pick four ingredients, throw them together with a multi-vitamin and think it's good.

Always check with your veterinarian before home cooking to make sure your pet is receiving a healthy and balanced diet.

http://www.thepetstaurant.com

Consumer Reactions to Cloning
Melain Rodriguez, ViaGen Pets

ViaGen Pets has been operating for about a year and half now. Over that time, Melain has spoken face-to-face with hundreds of pet owners. The responses that she gets from these people are amazing!

Melain explains that she was recently at a pet expo and had the opportunity to speak with many pet parents about ViaGen Pets and their genetic preservation and cloning services.

She explains the look on people's faces was pure amazement when they heard what they do and that their reactions are that this is too good to be true!

Melain loves to inform pet parents about their services, because it is something that they are all interested in. The majority of the pet parents that she speaks with have no idea that this technology is available for their pets.

Genetic preservation and cloning are two different things states Melain. The first step to cloning is called genetic preservation. This is just preserving cells now from your pet, which can be stored indefinitely and can be used for cloning at any time down the road. You may not clone your dog or cat today, but you can preserve the cells now and save them for sometime in the future when you're ready to clone.

The most common thing that Melain hears when she is telling people about their services who have never heard about them before, is that people say they wish they had heard about this sooner, because they had the best pet ever that recently passed away.

Unfortunately you can't do cloning from ashes or from the fur of an animal. To clone you need living cells that are cultured from living tissue samples. This is done by a tissue biopsy completed by your veterinarian.

Some pet lovers have concerns about the animals that carry the clones. Are these surrogates treated humanely? Melain explains that they are a company of animal lovers, and that every animal that is involved with process every step of the way, is very special and treated with the utmost care.

Melain is happy to talk to anyone who has questions about cloning and she knows there are lots of questions out there. She says there are no stupid questions and you learn more at ViaGenPets.com or you can can call her personally at 888-876-6104.

Pet Flipping - SevenTips to Safeguard Your Pet - Dr. Debbie

Pet lovers beware of the disturbing criminal trend called "pet flipping." This is when a person steals a pet or takes ownership of a lost pet, and then sells the animal. Pets are typically sold on the Internet to make a quick profit. The American Kennel Club (AKC) reports a rise in pet thefts.

Pet flippers most commonly target purebred dogs because they can fetch a high price, but even mixed breed dogs are at risk. Dogs are swiped from porches, fenced in back yards, dog parks, and cars. Some pet scams involve a person advertising as a pet sitter or trainer, who then disappears with your pet. Other scams involve someone who steals a pet and then responds to the lost pet ad, making money on rewards.

Top 7 Tips to Prevent Pet Flipping:

1. Don't Leave Your Pet Unattended
Avoid leaving your pet unattended, even in your own backyard. Don't leave your pet outside of stores or coffee shops. Tying your dog's leash up while you run that quick errand can give a thief the few minutes he needs to snatch your pet while you step away. Keep a watchful eye on your dog when visiting dog parks.

2. Get Your Pet Microchipped
A microchip is one of the best tools to reunite lost pets and serves as legal proof of ownership. Be sure to keep your contact information up to date with the microchip company.

3. Use GPS Collars
A GPS collar allows you to track your dog's movement minute by minute. These units can help you find your pet quickly if lost, but are of little use if a pet flipper removes the collar. I use the Tagg Pet Tracker for my dog and like that I can locate him to a precise location with my smart phone.

4. Get Your Pet Spayed or Neutered
Dogs that aren't spayed or neutered are especially prized targets to thieves since they are perceived as a money-making opportunity. Spaying and neutering also decreases the desire to stray and is good for your pet's health.

5. Research Pet Services Carefully
Before signing on for pet sitting or dog trainer services, research the business person's reputation with the Better Business Bureau. Ask your veterinarian for a referral to a reputable pet professional. Request references before using a new pet service.

6. Buyer Beware
Be cautious when buying a pet online and only use reputable breeders. Check out a breeders standing with the AKC and breed clubs. Be wary of individuals that lack documentation of breeding or veterinary health care records.

7. Sign Up For Doggie Facial Recognition Apps
High-tech facial recognition technology is now available to identify and track down lost pets with services like Finding Rover. Use your IPhone to download the app at http://findingrover.com. Upload your pet's photo in their database, and promptly notify Finding Rover if your pet is ever lost.

Pet flipping is so heinous because it exploits the cherished relationship between family and a beloved pet. Share this information with fellow pet lovers to spread awareness and halt this criminal trend.

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





Back to School Pet Blues Checklist
Robert Semrow, Animal Radio Listomania

I, like so many parents of two legged children are at that point of the year where we've enjoyed spending time with the kids, taking some trips, doing fun activities and now I am ready, even if they aren't, for the kids to go back to school. I do enjoy my time with them and wish summer could go on forever. OK - maybe not. But while I'm relishing this glorious transition, I know that my pets are not. So, on this week's list I thought I'd share some ways to prepare for the Back To School Pet Blues.

First, keep in mind that your pets, dog, cat, bird or even desert tortoises, have all enjoyed the extra time and attention that they have received because there is no after school homework, strict bedtimes and that general feeling of being free. Remember that our pets don't understand the subtlety of school being in session or out of session. They only know that they are getting the attention that they deserve. So, as you transition in to less time and more responsibilities, remember that your responsibility to your pets is to be aware of their needs and to accommodate them as much as possible during transitional times.

Next, the time urgency means different routines in the morning. It can also mean more stress. Our pets feed off our energy levels and can manifest our stress in their bad behaviors. Remember those shoes or that beautiful chair that served as their stress relief. If you want to avoid that, change or modify some of the habits you have that you see raising their stress level. It could be not getting ready with them in the room or it might be having them in a separate area of the house when getting ready to leave. That familiarity of this is where I'm supposed to be when my human parents are leaving can be calming.

Also, communicate with your pets. No, don't turn every goodbye into a two-hour French movie drama, but acknowledge them and let them you know you'll be back. I tell my pets I love them and I'll be back soon whenever I'm leaving. For them it is calming and reassuring. I also make sure they are not following me to the door. That avoids two issues - one, the possibility of quick escape or attempt to go with me and also the anxiety of the door closing them in.

Another thing that works for many is to leave a TV or Radio on so that they hear chatter and voices and don't have that scary movie left home alone feeling all day. Many TV's have timers so that's easy to set and give them on and off time.

Additionally, consider leaving a T-shirt with your scent in their bed or near their resting area. Many times the smell of their loved ones provides the comfort they need to relax.

In the end, it all comes down to the most important thing any pet parent must do - know your pet. Know what calms them and what stresses them out. Know what steps you can do to help them. If you're not having the success you need, look to a professional for some advice.

Share your Back To School Pet Blues solutions on our Animal Radio Facebook Page.

http://petworldinsider.com

Lucy Pet Foundation

The Mission of The Lucy Pet Foundation is to reduce pet overpopulation and the euthanasia of over 80,000 cats and dogs per week in the United States 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.

Upcoming Clinics

Free Spay & Neuter for Los Angeles City Residents! Here is a list of upcoming free or reduced fee mobile spay and neuter clinics in California:

Call for more information, questions and to reserve space to get on the list: (855) 499-5829

August 27, September 24: Superior Store, 10211 Avalon Blvd., Los Angeles, CA Spay/Neuter APPOINTMENT ONLY; Vaccine Clinic 10:00am-2:00pm

August 28: ANGEL HANZ FOR THE HOMELESS, North Hollywood Park, 11455 Magnolia Blvd., Spay/Neuter APPOINTMENT ONLY

August 31, September 16, 28: Food 4 Less, 1748 West Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA Spay/Neuter APPOINTMENT ONLY; Vaccine Clinic 10:00am-2:00pm

September 2, 7: West Valley Shelter, 20655 Plummer Street, Chatsworth, CA Spay/Neuter APPOINTMENT ONLY; Vaccine Clinic 10:00am-2:00pm

September 3: Vallarta Supermarket, 10175 N. San Fernando Rd., Pacoima, CA Spay/Neuter APPOINTMENT ONLY; Vaccine Clinic 10:00am-2:00pm

September 6, 20: East Valley Shelter, 14409 Vanowen St., Van Nuys, CA Spay/Neuter APPOINTMENT ONLY; Vaccine Clinic 10:00am-2:00pm

September 9: Vallarta Supermarket, 13820 Foothill Blvd., Sylmar, CA Spay/Neuter APPOINTMENT ONLY; Vaccine Clinic 10:00am-2:00pm

September 10: Superior Store, 133 West Avenue 45, Los Angeles, CA Spay/Neuter APPOINTMENT ONLY; Vaccine Clinic 10:00am-2:00pm

September 13, 27: North Central Shelter, 3201 Lacy St., Los Angeles, CA Spay/Neuter APPOINTMENT ONLY; Vaccine Clinic 10:00am-2:00pm

September 14: Superior Store, 3480 S. La Brea, Los Angeles, CA Spay/Neuter APPOINTMENT ONLY; Vaccine Clinic 10:00am-2:00pm

September 17: Superior Store, 9801 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Pacoima, CA Spay/Neuter APPOINTMENT ONLY; Vaccine Clinic 10:00am-2:00pm

September 21: Food 4 Less, 5100 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA Spay/Neuter APPOINTMENT ONLY; Vaccine Clinic 10:00am-2:00pm

September 23: Superior Store, 6140 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA Spay/Neuter APPOINTMENT ONLY; Vaccine Clinic 10:00am-2:00pm

September 30: Vallarta Supermarket, 19725 Vanowen St., Winnetka, CA Spay/Neuter APPOINTMENT ONLY; Vaccine Clinic 10:00am-2:00pm

County and City Vouchers accepted. But 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.

Lucy Pet Products, Inc. is a family owned and operated company based in Thousand Oaks, California. Lucy Pet Products are "Products With a Cause." Part of the proceeds from the sales of Lucy Pet Products are used to help fund The Lucy Pet Foundation. Their products can be found in pet specialty stores across the USA and are exported worldwide, or you can visit them at http://www.lucypetproducts.com.

http://www.LucyPetFoundation.org





Tails Inc. Pet National Events for September 2016
Janice Gork, Tails Pet Media Group, Inc.

Passionate about rescue and adoption, Tails Pet Media Group, Inc. was founded in 2000 by Janice Brown. What started as a magazine, is now a mission! Tailsinc.com is an interactive website and online community committed to connecting the animal welfare community with the general pet-loving population. Tails Inc. features expert knowledge, advice, pet product reviews, local resource guides, community event news and monthly contests, in order to promote and encourage people to live responsibly with their pets.

Here is a list of upcoming September Events around the Country:

WHAT: 3rd Annual Brews, Blues, & Biscuits: great craft beer, blues music, food & cupcake trucks, off leash play area, raffles, even a cake tasting station for the dogs!
WHO: Our Companions Animal Rescue of Manchester
WHEN: Saturday, September 3, Noon-5pm
WHERE: Behind Brownstone Bakery for Dogs, 16 Ensign Drive, Avon, CT
COST: $10
INFO: 860.677.2111or brownstonebakery@att.net

WHAT: Responsible Dog Parent Day: Activities include a Wall Climb, Treadmill race, breed parade, face painting, Lure Couse, and tons of action packed demonstrations
WHO: Pets of the Rogue Valley
WHEN: Saturday, September 10, 10am-3pm
WHERE: Riverside Park, Park Street, Grants Pass, OR
COST: Free!
INFO: 541.479.0917 or hshps@earthlink.net

WHAT: Tails on the Trails: Family and pet-friendly vendors, food, games & fun!
WHO: Speedway Trails - a non-profit, all volunteer organization working to promote the development of accessible trails in the Town of Speedway for everyone from strollers to dogs to wheel chairs.
WHEN: September 10, 10am-2pm
WHERE: Speedway Trails, Between Main Street & Winton Drive, Speedway, IN
COST: Donations encouraged
INFO: tmeyerindy63@aol.com

WHAT: Dog Day Afternoon at the Waterpark: Take a dip at Splash Island Waterpark and be a part of history, as your dog be among the first set of paws to step into Splash Island Waterpark!
WHO: Charleston County Parks
WHEN: Saturday, September 10, Noon-5pm
WHERE: Palmetto Islands County Park, 444 Needlerush Parkway, Mount Pleasant, SC,
COST: $15/dog, humans free (expected to sell out, advanced ticket purchase is recommended)
INFO: CharlestonCountyParks.com or 843.795.4386

WHAT: Pittsburgh Pup Crawl: nighttime walk including family-friendly activities including games, prizes, pet adoptions opportunities, and more!
WHO: Benefits Animal Friends, the Animal Rescue League Shelter and Wildlife Center, and the Western PA Humane Society.
WHEN: Saturday, September 17, 6:30 - Vendor Village and Food Trucks Open, Walk begins at 9pm
WHERE: Roberto Clemente Bridge at PNC Park, Sixth Street, Pittsburgh, PA
COST: Humans/free. $25/dog. Day of/$35/dog.
INFO: 412.321.4625 or cohalloran@wpahumane.org

Want to list your event for free? Click here. Please note that non-profit events (fundraisers, adoption events, etc.) will be listed for free and for-profit events will incur a fee. Please email the advertising team if you wish to advertise your for-profit event in their directory.

Tails has local focus, but national reach - with magazines in 10 different cities across the United States, and 150,000 issues printed per month, 12 times a year, and an ever-increasing audience of over 1 million people. Pet lovers can pick up their free magazine at pet-related businesses and vet offices, grocery stores, health clubs, bookstores, coffee shops, restaurants, libraries, park districts, and other "mainstream" locations. Currently they are in over 10,000 individual locations.

To find out where you can get a copy of your own, email locations@TailsInc.com.

http://www.tailsinc.com

Animal Radio News - Lori Brooks

Fun Fact
Last year Americans spent over $60 billion on their pets, a number expected to increase by another $2 billion this year. That is a lot of money. Abodo.com says if you spent $20 per second, it would take 95 years to spend that $60 billion we collectively spent on pets last year.

Pets Make Healthier Work Places
According to the Society of Human Resource Management, 7-percent of employers now allow pets to come to work with their owners. That is up 2-percent in the last five years. Okay, it's not an overnight change, BUT it is a change in the right direction for pet parents and for healthier workplaces where pets are known to drastically change things for the better for their humans. At North Carolina based Replacements, the company makes and sells fine dining ware. That could be your typical bull in a china shop scenario, but not there. Of the 400 employees who work at Replacements, about 30 of them bring pets to work every day and they have never, ever had a case of a pet breaking anything. Humans yes. Pets no. A study at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2012 measured levels of cortisol in workers' systems and found that people whose pets came to work saw a decrease in stress throughout the workday, whereas those who didn't have a pet saw their hormones increase. It's a win/win. That's not to say problems don't sometimes arise. In the case of Buchanan Public Relations outside Philadelphia, a toy poodle named Romeo who had a Napoleon complex terrorized Lacey, a Rottweiler mix. But Instead of reneging on the pets-at-work policy, the owner of the company hired a dog trainer to sort things out. Romeo gave up some of his treasured territory and workplace harmony was restored.

Sperm Quality Decline in Dogs Might Explain Same Problem in Humans
Sperm quality in dogs has fallen rapidly over the past three decades, a trend which could help explain the decline in human fertility. The finding was highlighted in a study by the University of Nottingham that found a potential link between environmental contaminants and fertility, after they discovered chemicals in commercial dog food that seem to have a bad effect on sperm function. The research team collected semen from as many as 97 stud dogs every year over 26 years. Sperm motility declined by 2 and 1/2 percent per year between 1988 and 1998, which then decreased to a rate of 1.2 percent each year from 2002 to 2014.The researchers also found that male pups fathered by the stud dogs with declining semen quality were more prone to cryptorchidism, where only one of the testes descends into the scrotum. Some experts say the study "begs the question" whether a similar effect could be observed in human male fertility. Researchers at the University of Nottingham believe that the study could help explain the reported significant decline in human semen quality.

People Flock to Museum - For the Cats!
For decades, the Forest of Stone Museum in central China has been a popular tourist destination for people who wanted to see its collection of ancient stone monuments. But recently the courtyard at the museum has become the main attraction as visitors began posting pictures of themselves with a family of stray cats that had taken up residence. The museum was planning on catching and giving the cats away after complaints that one of the cats had scratched a small child who was trying to play with her kitten. Once Internet users got wind of the plan, the museum's page was flooded with thousands of angry comments. Some people threatened to boycott the museum if the cats were not allowed to stay, while others pointed out that the cats were one of the reasons that they were looking forward to a future visit. As one poster noted, "Cats don't attack people unless provoked, it's humans that need to keep themselves in check." Luckily for the cats and their legions of fans, the museum had a change of heart. After seeing the outrage sparked online, they have announced that the cats will be allowed to stay, saying they will now be neutered, given vaccinations and flea and tick control. We like what the founder of the Beijing-based Good Dog Good Cat Companion Center says, "I always believed that how people treat animals reflects how civilized a society is."

2016's Most Pet-Friendly Cities and Not-So-Pet-Friendly Cities
There's a new list out of the most AND least pet friendly cities in the US thanks to Wallet Hub. In order to identify the cities where our furry and scaled friends can enjoy the best quality of life without breaking our wallets, the Wallet Hub compared the creature-friendliness of the 100 largest cities based on 19 key things. These include things from the minimum pet-care provider rate per visit to the number of pet businesses per capita. Here's what they found: The top ten most pet friendly cities are: No. 10-St. Louis; 9-Las Vegas; 8-Cincinnati; 7-Colorado Springs; 6-Reno; 5 -Scottsdale, Arizona; 4- Lexington, Kentucky; 3-Tampa; 2-Birmingham Alabama; and taking the title at No. 1 is Orlando, which is good to know because so many people vacation there. Orlando also has the highest number of veterinarians and pet businesses per every 100,000 people. Now on the flip side, the cities that are on the bottom of the list (they would be the least pet friendly cities) Jersey City comes in at No. 91. Getting worse just below Jersey City is No. 92 Chicago; 93-Los Angeles; 94-Anaheim (home of Disneyland); and 95-Newark NJ. Philadelphia is worse yet at 96; then 97-Detroit; 98-Boston; 99-Santa Ana, CA and at Number 100 on the NOT pet friend city list is New York City.

A couple of other things this study of the numbers found: Stockton, California, has the lowest veterinary care costs, at less than $33 per visit while New York, the city with the highest, is more $86 per office visit. St. Paul, Minnesota, has the lowest dog insurance premium, $21.63 per month, which is 2.5 times lower than in New York, the city with the highest, $53.34 per month. And, New Orleans has the highest number of pet-friendly restaurants. When it comes to animal shelters, Scottsdale, Arizona, has the highest number of animal shelters per 100,000 residents, 6.26, which is 21 times higher than in Detroit, Michigan, the city with the lowest.

$10,000 Reward For Missing Dog
The owner of a French Bulldog that went missing in Northern California is now offering a huge reward for information leading to the safe return of her 6-year-old named Sassy Pants. The dog disappeared in Novato, that's in Marin County, back in June when she broke away from her dog sitter to go chase after a squirrel. Sassy Pants' owner even hired a pet detective and two animal communicators, both of whom told her they believe Sassy Pants is still alive. Now this frustrated and heartbroken pet parent is offering a $10,000 reward for the safe return of the dog. Unfortunately she can't rule out foul play because three times the owner returned to the area where Sassy Pants disappeared and put up dozens of lost-dog fliers, only to have all of them torn down, which raised suspicions. Why would someone do that? Sassy's mom says, "It almost seems like someone is keeping her and doesn't want the attention." But, she also says she is not giving up. And, like many of us, she adds, "I don't have a kid. Sassy Pants is my kid." Anyone with information can email findsassypants@yahoo.com.

Just How Far Would You Go For Your Pet?
The battle between the pets rages on, but both sides can agree that having a dog or cat means more than just having something to cuddle, since more and more Americans view their furry children as part of the family. So, just how far would pet owners go to protect their dogs and cats? Abodo.com surveyed 2,000 people to find out who took their role as pet parents seriously and who just wanted an animal around for companionship. Would they leave their significant other over a pet? Would they rescue them first in a house fire? Would they go hungry so their furry friend could eat? They found that nearly 9 out of 10 people said that they would save their pet from a fire before saving a family heirloom. Other results of the survey showed:
- 58-percent said they would pick having their pet over their dream home
- 63-percent would choose their pet over their significant other
- more than half would rather resort to cannibalism before eating their own pet
- 25-percent would lose a limb for their dog or cat
- 54-percent would lose a finger so a pet could keep a leg
- 69-percent would keep their pet even if they were offered a blank check for it
Dog owners are most likely to keep their fur baby and live in a shack, rather than give up the pet for their dream hoe. They would also give up the Internet forever to keep their pet or jump into boiling water to save their dog. More cat owners were most likely to: choose their cat over their significant other and were most likely to have their fur child designated World's Most Ugly Cat in exchange for a million dollars.

Listen to the entire Podcast of this show (#873)