Barking At The Moon
Jo Good & Anna Webb, Barking Blondes
Anna Webb and Jo Good are perhaps the two funniest ladies you've ever heard. They have an affinity for our "fur-kids," and they'll tell you how two bitches taught two bitches to survive without men.
Jo Good is a British radio presenter, television presenter and actress. As an actress, she is best known for her role as Carol Sands in the ITV soap Crossroads from 1982 to 1984 and was an extra in the Sex and the City film.
Anna Webb has loved dogs more than people for as long as she can remember and believes that it is the love of dogs that makes us human. Her late father was secretary of RSPCA Shropshire, so she learned from an early age the extent of man's cruelty to animals.
Anna's career finally went to the dogs when she met Jo Good in Regent's Park over an Honest Sausage. Jo was asked by the BBC to film a documentary interviewing other owners of "fur kids." Anna was Jo's first interviewee. Jo travelled to Anna's flat, which was decorated in Bull Terriers, including everything from the door-knocker to plates and pillows and even many paintings of her dog Molly. When Jo saw Anna feeding Molly meatballs from her bra, she knew that here was a woman after her own heart. What she couldn't know was that this was the start of a friendship that would take them both on an incredible and bizarre journey. There was an instant affinity between Anna, Jo and their dogs, which led to them all working together on a show called "The Barking Hour" on BBC London.
Over time, Jo got used to Anna feeding Molly meatballs from her bra, except when it came to doing television. As everyone knows, while meatballs are tasty, they can be a little greasy. There would be times when a greasy spot would show up on Anna's amazing designer t-shirt and only Anna would know exactly what was going on.
Besides meatballs, Jo tells us that Anna only fed Molly the best. This included Royal Jelly, which she couldn't even afford to feed herself, as well as raw processed colostrum, which is hard to come by. Anna mentioned that she can spend a Saturday evening searching for this product, as neither of them have a boyfriend. They both figure they can have much more fun with their dogs!
The Barking Hour show was mainly about dogs. Jo & Anna would have very famous dog owners in the studio with their dogs, and would even bring their own dogs into the studio. But when they moved to prime time radio, switching from a night show to a daytime show, the BBC banned all dogs from their studio. This is because someone complained of being allergic to dog hair that was in the studio. Both girls feel this took a lot of the fun out of doing their show, because Molly would open the shows by "speaking," and Matilda, who had a concentration span of a gnat, would snore loudly throughout the show.
Check out their book, Barking Bitches. It will have you howling!
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Rent-The-Chicken
Phil & Jenn Thompkins
Phil Thompkins and his wife Jenn are quite the entrepreneurs. They've successfully launched a chicken rental business during a renewed interest in the feathered fowl. "Chickens are the new dogs" and many simply like having the egg supply.
The chickens are rented out for the summer. Prices vary depending upon where you are located, but the renter gets two hens, a wheeled coop, feed and a water dish. The items are dropped off directly at your house, and you are given an introduction of the chickens so you know what to do and what to expect. After six months, you can then decide if you want to keep the chickens or return them, and can even reserve them for next summer.
Just having the chickens for the summer can give a person an idea if chickens are for them, without going through all of the trouble and costs. If a renter wants to "Chicken Out," they can send the chickens back.
There are many types of chickens, but the Thompkins try to choose the more egg producing chickens like the White Rocks, the Rhode Island Whites or Rhode Island Reds.
Chickens bought at a farm supply store don't start laying eggs until they are between four to five months old. However, within two days of their arrival, Rent-The-Chickens will lay eggs ready to use! These eggs have 1/3 less cholesterol, 1/4 less saturated fat and 2 times more omega 3 fatty acids than store bought eggs. Chickens produce the most eggs from May until November and your Rent-The-Chickens should lay 8-14 eggs per week.
The couple decided to start the business after seeing friends struggle with raising chickens. Phil also says he's noticed raising chickens is "Something a lot of people are into," but most "don't know where to start."
The couple rent their chickens in many states. Please check their website for locations.
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When Pet Food Is Medicine - Dr. Debbie
Proper pet nutrition is more than just diet choices for the healthy pet. It's even more important to properly feed the sick pet or those with chronic diseases. What you put in your pet's food bowl can help, or harm, his ability to cope with illness.
Peek into your average veterinary office and you'll likely find one or more brands of therapeutic diet foods created to manage pet specific pet health conditions. Veterinarians prescribe therapeutic diets to help pets with kidney disease, diabetes, pancreatitis, weight loss or heart disease. Special digestive diets may focus on hypoallergenic ingredients, fiber content or fat levels. Some diets prevent or dissolve mineralized stones in the urinary bladder. There are even diets to keep the spring in your arthritic dog's step and diets to aid in treating pets with cancer.
The grandfather of veterinary nutrition was Dr. Morris, who in 1940 designed a diet to improve longevity of his dog, Buddy, who was a seeing-eye dog battling kidney disease. His efforts led to the introduction to Hill's K/D diet, a favorite diet used today for dogs and cats with kidney dysfunction. Today, many more diets and conditions are addressed by companies such as Science Diet, Royal Canin, Purina and Iams.
As a veterinarian I recognize the value that therapeutic diets lend to managing my patients' health. But my strongest testament to their value is as a doggie momma who feeds a therapeutic diet to my own dog, Magnum.
My Labrador Magnum suffers from food allergies with frequent facial skin infections, bad skin odor, scratching and unpleasant gastrointestinal signs with diarrhea and flatulence. After several diet trials with various hypoallergenic diet approaches, he now thrives on a rabbit based therapeutic diet by Royal Canin. His doggie kisses are sweeter smelling now, he's content and he isn't a walking gaseous explosion anymore.
But be prepared to dig deeper in your wallet for therapeutic diets. The research behind these foods will cost the consumer more than average pet foods. But the investment can pay off in lower medical costs and fewer veterinary visits, justifying the additional cost. In Magnum's case, we are able to avoid continued treatment of skin infections, thereby avoiding medication use and he is spared incessant itching.
Some pet owners turn to home cooked diets in order to avoid the costs of therapeutic diets. Without guidance and veterinary nutrition analysis, pet owners may risk shortchanging their pet's nutrition. One research study identified that over 90-percent of home prepared diets for sick pets failed to be nutritionally adequate. Quality ingredients aren't cheap and a well-produced home cooked diet often ends up costing far more to prepare than commercially produced therapeutic diets.
If your veterinarian recommends nutritional management with a therapeutic diet, discuss all the options with your doctor. Inquire about different brands and sizes of food packages available, as many choices are available. Get your money's worth on these diets by following your veterinarian's recommendations. Avoid mixing therapeutic diets with regular foods. This only hinders your pet's results and give you a false sense of saving money by making the food last longer.
As for Magnum, I choose to feed him his therapeutic diet and avoid popping pills into him. That's my gauge of a therapeutic diet success - food that serves like medicine in the doggie bowl, but without the hassles.
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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Animal Radio News with Stacey Cohen
Mr. Ed Would Have Had A Lot To Say On This Matter!
After a horse called Scuppy bit a boy in the face, a Connecticut court concluded that horses are a naturally vicious species and therefore Scuppy's owners should have restrained the horse (who had never bitten anyone before) to prevent the injury. Classifying horses as vicious would make owning the animals uninsurable and jeopardize the state's profitable horse industry. Horses are far from vicious and are even scared of flies!
Zero-Tolerance For People Wearing Animal Prints
A wildlife park in the U.K. banned animal print clothing after zookeepers noticed the fashion choice was confusing the animals. The Chessington World of Adventures Resort introduced the zero-tolerance policy and even brought in "Animal Print Bouncers" to make sure visitors didn't get in wearing anything patterned after zebras, giraffes, leopards, tigers, or other wild animals. Officials said they discovered that some of the animals were either trying to communicate with people sporting animal prints or running away from them in fear. They added that the rule was especially important after they introduced a ride that brought guests on an off-road safari adventure.
Purr Therapy
A cafe in Paris offers patrons a dose of stress relief with their coffee and croissants. The Cat Cafe has a dozen resident cats to provide what could be called "purr therapy." The manager said a cat's purring has been shown to help relieve arthritis and rheumatism and to lower blood pressure and heart rate. The cafe was meant to appeal to Paris residents who couldn't have pets in their small apartments. It seems the whole concept was a hit because so many people showed up for the cafe's opening, that about 300 had to be turned away.
Spend Eternity With Your Pet
Regulations allow New York animal lovers to spend eternity with their pets. Officials finalized rules allowing pet cemeteries to accept the cremated remains of humans. The cemeteries can bury pet owners' ashes as long as they don't charge a fee for it and don't advertise human burial services. New York's Division of Cemeteries put a halt to human burials at pet cemeteries in 2011 after an Associated Press story about the practice. It later relaxed the ban on a limited basis and began working on permanent rules.
Gorilla Received Therapy
Patrick the Gorilla was never on a psychologist's couch, but the Dallas Zoo still got him therapy. The male gorilla was shipped off to Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens in South Carolina, which specializes in working with gorillas who have behavioral problems. Patrick never got along with female gorillas and bit or tried to fight every one of them he'd met.
Man Fined For Feeding Strays
A New Jersey man was out a couple hundred dollars after pleading guilty to feeding a few cats. The man was accused of leaving cat food on private properties belonging to local city officials to attract some of the feral cats he and other Burlington residents called a public nuisance. He said he was trying to show the officials what the neighborhood was going through and urged them to do something about the cats. But a Florence Municipal Court judge called his actions disgraceful and despicable. He then plead guilty to littering and was slapped with a $250 fine and court fees.
Jesus Salmon Provides Blessed Dinner
Despite his three decades in the salmon industry, one Swedish man said he'd never seen anything quite like what he called the "Jesus Salmon." The man stated he was filleting the tons of fish that came across the assembly line at a factory in Gothenburg, when a co-worker started shouting about something he'd found. It turned out the discovery was a fish with black scales on its white stomach that formed a perfect cross. The man then dubbed it the "Jesus Salmon" for fun and the name stuck. Some of his fellow assembly line workers were convinced the fish was a sign from God, but he didn't hold it in quite the same regard. He said he kept the "Jesus Salmon" to himself and enjoyed a "blessed dinner" the next day.
Listen to the entire Podcast of this show (#1297)
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