Funny Cat Names Contest Kicks Off
ScoopFree and Animal Radio® are looking for the funniest cat names and the story behind them. Just submit your funny cat name and story and you will be eligible to win one of 3 prizes. Each prize consists of your choice of one Scoopfree automatic litter box or (if you already own a ScoopFree) a case of 6 ScoopFree Throwaway Trays filled with Fresh Step® Crystal litter. Listen to Animal Radio® for chances to win additional ScoopFree boxes, ScoopFree Throwaway Trays and other prizes for you and your cat. Contest Details

RECENT PODCASTS:
Podcast of VICTORIA JACKSON & HGTV's Rebecca Kolls(1 hour abridged version)
Podcast of the AMAZING KRESKIN on Chinese Massacre (1 hour abridged version)
Podcast of JOAN VAN ARK and Starter Pets (1 hour abridged version)
Podcast of DICK VAN PATTEN (1 hour abridged version)

HOLLYWOOD PARTY FOR THE ANIMALS. Special Correspondent, Jan Sluizer, comes to us live from the Farm Sanctuary's "Hollywood Party for the Animals." This star-studded celebrity event includes interviews with Debra Wilson Skelton, Loretta Swit, Gretchen Wyler, Darryl Hannah, Jorja Fox, Emily Deschanels, Kelly Bishop, and Joan Van Ark. The Farm Sanctuary's goal is to help raise awareness and build support for a more humane future for farm animals.

SUMMER-END NEW PET PRODUCTS SPECIAL LIVE FROM WWPIA SUPERZOO, LAS VEGAS - to air September 23rd nationwide. We're saluting those introducing new pet products, services and ideas. Specials for WWPIA and AAPMA members.

CLIVE PEARSE - HGTV's DESIGN STAR. While Clive won't divulge the winner of Design Star on Animal Radio®, he will discuss "Rags to Riches: A Dog's Life" documentary being produced by Schnuffle Productions, which is about 10 volunteers from California who traveled to Romania to help with the stray dog problem that plaques the country.


A quick welcome to our 92nd and 93rd Animal Radio® affiliate, WKVA 920am Lewistown PA. and KXAZ 101.9 & 93.3 FM Kanab.

The Infamous Annual Animal Radio® SUMMER GIVEAWAY is HERE!! The list of prizes is growing - bigger and better than last year!
Watch the Grand Prize Package GROW. Anyone can ENTER and WIN.

Be sure to qualify before Sept. 27th! Details at http://AnimalRadio.com. Giveaway is September 30th live on Animal Radio®

What you can win so far:
Scoop Free Automatic Cat Litter  NEW QUALIFICATION DATES!!
Aqua Garden Drinkwell Fountain
Petmate's Ultra Vari Kennel
Kongtime from Dogopolis
Treats from Blue Dog Bakery
Get Serious Stain Lifter
Nintendo's Nintendog
....and more prizes added periodically.

Anyone can qualify to win by sending us your used ink cartridges. Call us toll-free at 1-866-405-8405 and ask for your FREE postage-paid envelope to send us your spent cartridges - and get qualified to WIN!

Animal Radio® is made possible by: bio Spot
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Voice of the Animal - Rae Ann Kumelos Ph.D.

Mascots - A Friday Night Tradition

It is Friday night and an exuberant Texas teenager stands in the bleachers, right arm held high, his hand extended into a claw, growling at the top of his lungs. He is a Cougar and darn proud of it.

At Bryan Adams High School in Dallas, the Cougar is the official school mascot, and his likeness adorns everything from football jerseys to the side of buildings. Pick a Friday night or Saturday afternoon anywhere in the country, and animal mascots are inspiring their team to victory. What is a mascot and why are most of them animals?

The word "mascot" is from the French slang "Mascotte" which draws its root from the formal French word, "Masco", meaning, "witch." Whatever darker connotations the word may have had in antiquity, that spell was broken by the 1880 French Operetta "La Mascotte" by composer Edmond Audran. The operetta captivated French audiences with the story of a young farm girl who brought luck and good fortune to every household she visited. The operetta was so popular, that it was translated into English with the title, "The Mascot." From that point on, the word "Mascot" applied to a person, animal, or thing whose presence brought good luck to the community that adopted it.

In many cultures, adopting an animal's known qualities as a tribal symbol and totem, supported the ancient belief that these qualities would be magically transferred to either the individual or the community, thus both the physical and spiritual presence of the animal was thought to bring protection and good fortune.

School sports, especially high school football, maintain a similarity of spiritual experience for many of the fans and players. The mascot, dressed in appropriate costume, works the crowd from the sideline, inspiring the fans to support the team. A mascot is a symbol of the spirit to meet the challenge of competition, always moving toward the ultimate goal of victory. A school traditionally selects a mascot because that particular animal carries qualities important to the challenge of competition: courage, ferocity, cleverness, speed, or agility. The community of fans and players act out their particular animal's notable characteristics on the field and in the stands. For the Texas teenager with the extended Cougar claw, the spirit of Cougar was alive and in physical form every Friday night.

Not all mascots are animals. Some are chosen due to an historical link to the community, such as the Yuma Criminals, whose school used to be a jail, the Bakersfield Drillers from the land of oil, and the West Las Vegas Dons, whose home turf was explored by Spanish Conquistadors. Hutto, Texas chose the hippo as its mascot in the early 1920's in homage to a hippo that had escaped from a traveling circus and was found bathing in a creek near Hutto. Although the hippo was returned to the circus, his presence is still felt by Hutto sports fans. But most mascots are chosen due to the desire to identify with the strengths an animal is known to possess; the Permian Panthers, Abilene Eagles, Balmorhea Bears, or Leander Lions. While others are chosen for their delight in word play; the Belfry Bats, the Frost Polar Bears, and the Hillsboro Burros. And still others are just fun: the Dunn, California Earwigs, Washington's Screamin' Penguins, UCSB's Banana Slugs, and the Harpeth Hall Honey Bears.

Whether on the playing field or in the stands, fans participating in the communal spirit of the animal mascot are enjoying a legacy of symbolic animal admiration and respect that has existed for centuries. This Friday night, go stand in the bleachers of your local team and roar, howl, scream, or growl, and become, quite literally, the Voice of the Animal. Copyright 2006 - Voice of the Animal

Visit us at http://www.VoiceOfTheAnimal.org to order a Volume One- Voice of the Animal CD for yourself or a friend.
Hear Voice of the Animal every week on Animal Radio®, or anytime at Animal Radio's Full-time channel.

Animal Radio® made possible by:  SCOOP FREE AUTOMATIC LITTER BOX
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Veterinary Minute with Dr. Jim Humphries

Industry Helps Pets in Disaster
Recovering from the horrendous 2005 hurricane season and with another potentially devastating season in sight, pet owners have a right to be concerned with the safety of their pets. New legislation, along with a national campaign to proactively prepare for disasters, may provide needed relief and comfort.

It will be hard to ever forget the images of a devastated Gulf Coast. Not only were we inundated with pictures of human misery, but we also were witness to the suffering and plight of the area's animals. Abandoned pets, forcible separations, and video of dogs and cats desperate to survive have now been etched deeply into our memories.

Although new legislation mandating the accounting for people's pets in disaster plans has been proposed and enacted, the possibility of loss and injury is still great with the upcoming storm season. To help finance and support relief efforts, individuals within the veterinary industry have started the "Paws to Save the Pets" campaign. Sponsored and supported by veterinary pharmaceutical leaders, the new program plans to help raise $1 million in proactive donations. The anticipated monies will be divided equally between the PetFinder.com Foundation and the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) in support of their relief efforts for future disasters.

Sources at PetFinder.com, an Internet-based resource to help shelters and rescue groups with adoptions, say that efforts after the 2005 hurricane season were "much needed". Counting medical supplies and donations, PetFinder.com estimates that more than $2 million were given to the AMVF and the PetFinder.com Foundation. These donations helped reunite pets with their families as well as treating the medical needs of those pets. Last year's campaign was known as the Race to Save Pets and involved the participation of more than 3,000 veterinary clinics nationwide. Leaders within the veterinary community estimate that more than 17,000 animals were helped by last year's efforts.

Wanting to build upon that success, the Paws to Save Pets program was launched in an attempt to prepare for another devastating storm season. Veterinary clinics in 41 states have been asked to participate in a coupon redemption program. Due to state laws, customers in the remaining nine states cannot donate through their veterinary clinic, but can still help by donating directly to either foundation. A listing of states eligible to participate in the coupon redemption can be found at http://www.PawsToSavePets.com.

But beyond new laws and the generosity of veterinary pharmaceutical firms, disaster planning can start with the pet owner. Being prepared for the types of emergencies common in your area can be a lifesaver to your pet. National veterinary organizations have created public websites to inform pet owners of the best ways to keep their pets safe during natural disasters. First and foremost, if you are ordered to evacuate your home, you should plan to take your pets with you. Even anticipated short evacuations can turn into weeklong absences. Other recommendations include maintaining proper identification on your pets, preparing evacuation kits, and obtaining pertinent medical records from your veterinarian.

Returning home after a natural disaster has its own important issues to prepare for as well. If you have taken your pet with you, realize that many usual landmarks and familiar items may be changed or missing from their environment. Surveying your home for broken glass, metal shards, or even contaminated water will help to protect your loved one. Keeping current photographs of your pets are essential if you cannot take your pet, or if your pet runs off after returning home. These pictures can be used to create "lost" posters for distribution. Checking the local shelters and animal control facilities daily is a vital means to being reunited with your pet. Finally, inform your neighbors and your family veterinarian about your missing friend.

We may never know the true number of pets lost or killed during the severe storm season of 2005. But hurricanes are not the only natural disaster to affect our pets. According to the AVMF, almost every section of the country has its own peculiar weather and geography that leads to special disaster events. These natural calamities can be flooding, tornados, or earthquakes. Even wild brush fires can impact many people and a great number of livestock. Man-made disasters such as chemical spills, gas leaks, and building fires may also lead to potential evacuation orders. Being prepared for any eventuality can help to keep your family together.

Following a few common-sense steps as well as planning to take your pet with you in the event of an evacuation may help to prevent physical trauma to your pet as well as emotional upheaval to you. Visit http://www.MyVNN.com to view a disaster preparedness video and see your veterinarian to discuss emergency plans for your pets. To learn more about donating to help pets during disasters, visit http://www.PawsToSavePets.com.

Dr. Jim Humphries is President and News Director of Veterinary News Network. Hear the Veterinary Minute on Animal Radio®.

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Cat Falls Asleep in China, Wakes Up in Britain

A cat stowed away in a crate of crockery on a container ship and traveled 6,000 miles from China to Britain, living on cardboard and condensation. Nicknamed Chairman Miaow, the white tabby cat crawled into the crate before it was loaded onto the container ship bound for Britain.

It survived for 26 days on a diet of cardboard and condensation to arrive as an "illegal immigrant" in the county of Nottinghamshire, central England.

Staff at crockery suppliers Tabletop, in the town of Kirby-on-Ashfield, discovered the cat, which was then vaccinated and sent to a quarantine centre in the nearby town of Cottam.

Hear Britt and the Animal Minute at AnimalRadio.com

Animal Radio® made possible by: Pet Solution Rx
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How Do I Stop My Cat from Catching Birds?

Dear Cat Coach,

I have an indoor cat named Sugar who loves to lie in the sun on my upstairs deck, located outside my living room. Since I love birds, I also have a hanging bird feeder hanging above the deck. That way I can watch Sugar and the birds from my living room. The birds are messy, causing the seeds to fall down on to the deck. Yesterday Sugar caught a beautiful wren as it was eating the seeds that fell on the deck and then to my horror, she brought it into the living room and played with it. I don't want Sugar killing these lovely birds. What can I do to stop her from catching birds? Will punishing her stop her from going after the birds?
Horrified in Hayward

Dear Horrified,

Sugar is doing what comes naturally. Cats are predators, and birds are one of the main courses on their dinner menu. Instead of trying to change Sugar or punish her, consider relocating the bird feeder to another window where the seeds won't fall on the deck, inspiring Sugar to help herself to a birdie smorgasbord. If you really need to have the feeder in the current location on the deck, you might want to consider buying a different kind of bird feeder where the seeds are more contained. Having a different type of bird feeder doesn't guarantee the birds won't hang out on the deck though. The other option is to keep Sugar in the house, not allowing her to go outside on the deck.

Don't punish Sugar for killing birds. Punishing a cat is not a good idea for a few reasons. It usually results with the cat being afraid of the person who punishes her and/or it can result in other unwanted behaviors. Additionally, Sugar will not understand why you are punishing her.

Even though it is the nature of cats to catch birds and other small animals, there are cats that seem to enjoy the company of birds and don't relate to them as potential meals. Usually this phenomenon occurs when cats have been raised with birds since birth or from when they were a few days old. When these cats see a bird they don't automatically think of dinner. I have included a picture of a cat named Tuffy who is dear to my heart. He loved the company of birds, and would never harm a feather on their little heads. Tuffy used to help care for orphan birds, licking the food from between their toes and letting them nestle in his fur. Sadly, Tuffy went over the rainbow bridge a few weeks ago. Cats like Tuffy are not the norm and are very special cats.

Marilyn Krieger, CCBC
CWA, Professional Member

You can find out more about The Cat Coach at http://thecatcoach.com
Marilyn can be reached for consultation to solve feline behavior issues either by e-mail marilyn@thecatcoach.com or by phone: 650 780 9485. Additionally, she is teaching classes in San Francisco on Cat Behavior Problems at Pet Food Express http://petfoodexpress.com/community/thecatcoach_calendar.html
Marilyn is certified through The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants © August 2006 by Marilyn Krieger.

Animal Radio® made possible by: XFLEAS.com
Xfleas.com is your Internet solution for flea control and heartworm prevention. We carry Advantage and Frontline flea control, Advantage for cats, Advantage for dogs, K9 Advantix, Revolution flea control, Interceptor for dogs, Program flea control, and much more. Here at www.xfleas.com, we strive to provide the very best in personalized, efficient customer service. Our goal is to fill and ship most orders within two business days of being placed and, as always, there are no charges for shipping. http://www.XFLEAS.com

PRODUCT REVIEW for September

(rated 4 paws) White Bite Treats Admit it, everyone likes things that are easy and can "kill two birds with one stone." (Please forgive me for that comment ­ it was not meant literally!) Jakks Pacific has created something that will do just that. Their triple action treats, "White Bites," are a healthy and digestible treat, that will also clean your dog's teeth and freshen his breath at the same time. They come in three sizes, small, medium and large, so you can be sure you are getting the right one for your dog. It's a fact, most dogs will need dental care by the time they are 3-years-old. And, as everyone knows, it is not always easy to brush your dog's teeth. Also, many illnesses and diseases begin with dirty teeth. Stop this before it happens with White Bites. These treats are also tasty, so your dog won't know he is getting something good for him. http://www.JakksPacific.com Send products for review on-air and in this newsletter to: Animal Radio Network™ Product Reviews, 233 East 330 North, Kanab, Utah 84741. Products may not be returned.

ANIMAL RADIO BOOK REVIEW for September

Entrance into the Animal Radio® Book Club (rated 5 paws) Small Dogs, Big Hearts - Darlene Arden Paperback: 240 pages Publisher: Howell Book House; Revised edition (June 26, 2006) ISBN: 0471779636 If you think all dogs are the same, think again. There is definitely a difference between big and small dogs. Small Dogs, Big Hearts contains everything you want to know (and those things you don't!) about small dogs. Covering everything from attitude to vaccinations, it leaves no paw unturned. And, you will just fall in love with the pictures of these small pooches. Small dogs make up almost half of all dogs in the United States. There are also some advantages to owning a small dog. Unfortunately, while some landlords won't allow dogs, some will allow small dogs up to 25lbs. And, if they are small enough, you can purchase a carrier and take them around with you. So if you have one of these small dogs, or are thinking about getting one, this book is possibly the only book you will ever need. http://www.DarleneArden.com See other reviews at AnimalRadio.com. Send books and literature for review on-air and in this newsletter to: Animal Radio Network™ Book Reviews, 233 East 330 North, Kanab, Utah 84741. Product may not be returned. Allow 5 weeks for review.

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Pet Talk Radio! with Brian and Kaye Pickering Check Schedule for Airtimes

{Editors Note: We are absolutely thrilled to have Australia's top animal show on Animal Radio Network™ We've brought together the world's best pet programs under one roof. If you haven't heard our full-time animal channel - check it out now }

G'day to all Animal Radio listeners from downunder...

Ahhhhh - spring has sprung! - well in our neck of the woods anyway! And that means all the critters are starting to come out of hibernation seeking warmth, food and usually a mate!

Now we don't want to put you off visiting our little piece of paradise here in the balmy South Pacific, but one of the sad consequences of spring in Australia is that it's also called 'snake season' - that's right, September / October are officially the months we report more snake bites than at any other time of the year.

And already we've had one dog killed in inner city Melbourne, our southern most capital city. Apparently it was a Tiger Snake - and as you can imagine, it all happened so fast.

One of our listeners has a dog called Ruby, a little Mini Schnauzer and she was out on her usual morning walk in a local leash free area. Ruby spotted some movement near a hedge and went - as all dogs do - to investigate.

Wham! - poor Ruby would not have known what hit her and died within a very short time - Of course Ruby's owner is devastated having only had her for about 18 months.

We tend to forget here in Australia that we have snakes living among us... we usually don't see them although more than 6,000 dogs are reported as being bitten each year.

We also have more than our share of paralysis ticks, poisonous spiders, poisonous stingers, poisonous plants and heat so hot it kills hundreds of pets every summer.
And just this week we had a Pet Talk Radio listener complaining that there were no 'UNSAFE FOR PETS' labels on a brand of 'weed and feed'.

We told her that warnings on cigarette packets don't stop people smoking - like most labels they just stop companies getting sued!

But 'living dangerously' does not have to mean living scared. All pet owners - no matter where they live - have environmental obstacles to overcome, and as long as we all know what our local problems are, most pets - and people - will survive quite nicely. Of course the same goes for any holiday trips to a new area - do your research first.

But our thoughts go out to Ruby and her devastated mom - and even if our story helps save just one dog this year, it's been worth telling.

Ok - something a little different - is your dog (or cat) fat? ... you know, overweight...or O B E S E ? Maybe it's time for some LIPOSUCTION!

A groundbreaking new procedure has just been done here in Australia using liposuction - and while it may not be the cheapest way for our pets to lose weight in a hurry, it certainly is the best way to remove what are called 'fatty tumors - a form of cancer.

We interviewed Dr Geraldine Hunt from the NSW University's Veterinary Science Faculty who has just performed this groundbreaking surgery on Patch, a 12-year-old kelpie cross.

Dr Hunt took out about two kilograms of fat or 10 per cent of his body weight during the hour long operation. The fatty tumors were slowly crippling Patch to the point where he would soon need radical surgery. And with most conventional surgery recovery can be anything from a few days to a few weeks. Not this time.... the result? - Patch was up and jumping around the very next day.

What a great result thanks to a procedure developed for humans, and of course we shouldn't forget the highly trained veterinary surgeons willing to 'have a go'.

Oh - and the best way to lose weight fast? - Forget liposuction... have you ever heard of 'E X C E R C I S E'?

Until next time, take care and hugs for your pets

Hear Pet Talk Radio! on Animal Radio Network® - Check schedule for showtimes.

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Dog Talk The Radio Show with Tracie Hotchner & Judy Charmichael Check Schedule for Airtimes

ASK "THE DOG BIBLE" ­ Based on THE DOG BIBLE: Everything Your Dog Wants You To Know by Tracie Hotchner

That Bites! Fleas and What To Do About Them
These horrible little insects can live in your house while feeding periodically on your dog's blood. It isn't really the fleabite that causes the problem; it's the flea's saliva that causes skin irritations on dogs. For a dog that is particularly allergic to the fleabites, it can become a major problem. The dog will lick and bite at his irritated skin, causing what is called a "hot spot," which in turn can become infected - and this can mean multiple vet visits with a variety of medications.

Fleas spend only a small part of their time feeding on your dog (or even on the human members of the household). The rest of the time, they are laying eggs in your house and yard that will hatch into more fleas, just waiting to procreate. Fleas reproduce year-round in many parts of the United States, and can thrive indoors even when the weather is cold outside. Therefore, in order to control fleas, you have to attack them not just on your dog but also in your yard and your house. You have to kill the adult fleas (which are the ones that bite) and you have to kill developing fleas before they reach adulthood.

You cannot safely "bomb" your house or yard, because the sprays and foggers are highly toxic to the environment and to us. They contain ingredients with a "quick kill" component to destroy adult fleas, along with an IGR (insect growth regulator) that keeps the immature eggs from developing. However, it is much more responsible and environmentally friendly to focus your attention directly on your dog and to clean your house as rigorously as possible until the life cycle of the fleas has been ended by the on-dog products. The sure way to eliminate fleas is to keep to a set regimen: vacuum the house daily (put a flea collar in the vacuum bag to kill any fleas or their larvae), wash the pet's bedding frequently, and keep using the flea products on the dog every month (see below).

You can use a topical product that you apply monthly. Revolution is available only through your vet and has numerous benefits: it controls fleas by causing a sort of neuromuscular paralysis in the insects, and it also prevents heartworm, ear mites, scabies and ticks. It kills adult fleas and also prevents eggs from hatching. BioSPOT is a topical anti-flea product that is available in pet stores. It also prevents flea eggs from developing and protects against ticks and mosquitoes. Anti-flea pills work by releasing a chemical that keeps the flea eggs that are on the dog from developing to maturity - although they have no effect on adult fleas. Sentinel is a flavored pill that protects against fleas, heartworm and intestinal parasites (worms) by preventing flea eggs from hatching. Because Sentinel does not kill adult fleas, its effectiveness won't be seen for several weeks if you have a flea infestation. If that is the case, you'll need a spray to kill the fleas that are already populating your dog. Interceptor also takes care of heartworm and intestinal parasites, and Program kills flea eggs. Capstar is a daily pill that can be used as part of a total flea prevention program to kill off even severe flea infestations in a few hours. It can even be given to puppies from four weeks of age. However, note that it is a pill that must be given every day to retain effectiveness, unlike the much easier once-a-month products.

Never use multiple flea products at one time. Read the manufacturer's warnings very carefully - for example, giving your dog a flea bath and putting a new flea collar on him is a dangerous combination. Avoid high-traffic dog zones in hot months. Dog "play parks," dog runs, hiking paths, beaches or any venues where dogs convene are likely locations for a big flea infestation, especially in the hot months when fleas do their multiplying.

Some Thoughts about Chemicals on Our Dogs

The conundrum about pesticides is that they are a health risk to humans and animals. We use chemicals to deny parasites the "free lunch" they take off our pets while transferring diseases, yet we pay a price in exposure to the toxic chemicals that we put on our dogs to protect them. Keep in mind that chemicals move through the intestinal tract, go through the internal organs of filtration - the liver and kidneys - and are eliminated in urine and feces.

Eventually, most pesticides we use in America on plants and animals cause enough damage that they are banned - and then another chemical replaces them until the ill effects of that product are documented. Those in charge of testing and regulating consider some level of damage to be "acceptable," but what amount of risk are you willing to take? These products that are designed to protect our dogs against parasites will make some of them sick, so give some thought to weighing the risks and benefits of pesticides on your pet, depending on her state of health and lifestyle.

Proponents of alternative health care make a passionate case against pesticides, but I don't see how most of us can avoid them until there is another way to eliminate fleas, ticks and the misery they bring. Certainly we'd all prefer not to expose our pets or ourselves to chemicals, but realistically many of us have parasites in our surroundings and have to objectively weigh the risks and benefits.

What is in these products? The active ingredients in spot-on preparations - imidacloprid, fipronil, permethrin, methoprene, and pyriproxyfen - have all been linked to serious side effects in laboratory animals. Several of these products warn on the label that cats that have close physical contact with treated dogs are at special risk of toxic exposure themselves. How potent can a product be if a cat can get sick just from rubbing up against her dog?

"Inert ingredients" cause further damage. These can be as toxic and damaging as the active ones, sometimes even more so. The difference is that the current regulations do not require the inert ingredients to be rigorously tested, or even listed on the products. This means that there are undisclosed toxic ingredients in these products, in addition to the ones we know have caused adverse effects on mice, rats and dogs in laboratory tests.

Fipronil (Frontline). This controls ticks for slightly less than thirty days. Some people use Frontline once a month and a permethrin-based product two weeks later, giving a rotating schedule of medications that gives good coverage throughout the month. Some owners and vets have noticed subtle neurological reactions from Frontline, including emotional clinginess, under- or over activity, convulsions, lethargy, tremors, stiff limbs and lameness. However, you have to weigh this small possibility against the devastating effects of the tick-borne disease that the product guards against.

Preventic collars. These contain amitraz, which is an effective tick killer and repellent. They work better than collars used to, but any household with children or other pets must avoid them. Even though they are toxic, the collars apparently have an appealing taste. After you put the collar on and whenever you touch it, you must wash your hands thoroughly. Children cannot touch these collars at any time, so keep that in mind if your dog does not live with children but might come into contact with them.

Other products that target fleas but get a poor response for tick control are Revolution-Rx (selamectin) and Program Rx (which is very good at flea egg control). If you live around ticks, you could apply a topical product for tick control. Advantage Rx (imidocloprid with permethrin added) and Advantix also kill ticks.

What Does NOT Work Against Fleas

Flea baths used to be a common treatment for dogs but are now considered fairly useless, since the fleas often still infest the dog's bedding and household carpeting. The fleas get washed out of your dog's hair, but their cousins will jump right back on as soon as the dog shakes dry. Make sure you treat all animals in the home, because dog and cat fleas are interchangeable - and if there is one flea, all animals are affected (even though some may not scratch). Chemical flea collars have gone out of favor, both because there were health questions about putting the anti-flea toxin right against your pet's skin and because more effective, less toxic and longer-lasting products were developed. Electronic flea collars have never been proven to do anything. Vitamins and supplements such as garlic, brewer's yeast and vitamin B are Old Wife's Tales and provide no protection against fleas.

{"Ask THE DOG BIBLE..." is a regular column by Tracie Hotchner - Featuring excerpts from her new 700 page encyclopedic book that has been called "a Dr. Spock for dogs." Further information may also be on her website, http://www.thedogbible.com, where you can email questions.} Copyright 2006 by Tracie Hotchner, All Rights Reserved

Hear Tracie Hotchner as she hosts Dog Talk The Radio Show on Animal Radio Network® Consult schedule for showtimes.

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FIRST CASES OF AVIAN FLU FOUND IN US
Keeping Felines Indoors if Critical to Feline and Human Safety

The first cases of Avian Flu in the United States have been detected in Michigan, just outside of Detroit. According to the USDA, two Mute Swans have tested positive for a milder form of Avian Flu than the strain spreading in other parts of the World.

Because Avian Flu is a rapidly mutating virus, there are already more than 144 different strains. It is likely that additional strains will arrive in the United States as migratory birds begin heading south before winter. It is also certain that existing strains will continue to evolve and mutate.

So even though the strain found in Michigan is not dangerous to humans, it is another warning sign we need to be vigilant.

During a recent appearance on Animal Wise Radio, syndicated columnist, Dr. Michael Fox said that one of the best ways for humans to protect themselves from the potential treat of Bird Flu is to keep their feline pets indoors. Many other experts agree.

Because of the intimate nature of the relationships people have with their cats, they are a likely carrier of the disease to humans. There is fear that felines, that have already been found to carry Avian Flu, can transfer this disease to people by licking them, sneezing on them, or through other close contact. The most likely way for a cat to contract the disease is through contact with wild birds. It is essential that felines be housed indoors; thereby significantly reducing the likelihood they will contract Avian Flu.

Felines who have lived much of their lives outdoors can be trained to be indoor-only cats. Doing so is relatively easy. Following these steps will help make the transition easier for the humans and the felines in the home.

Step 1 - Confine the Kitty
Find a single room in the house where the cat can be comfortable but where its movement around the house can be easily restricted. A bathroom works very well. Move the cat's litter box, food and water to this room. (Note: make sure the litter box is as far away as possible from the food and water). The cat should be confined to this area for a period of at least 2 weeks. This firmly establishes this space as the cat's territory. This confinement period will break the kitty's habit of trying to bolt out the door when it is opened.

Step 2 - Keep the Litter Box Very Clean
Indoor kitties will need to use their litter box more often. To keep them using it well, you will need to clean it more frequently. If that is an issue for you, consider getting a self-cleaning litter box, like Littermaid.

Step 3 - Supervised Excursions
Following the two-week confinement period, begin allowing the cat to have supervised excursions to the rest of the house. At nighttime and when not being directly supervised, the cat should still be kept in the confinement area. This will prevent the cat from developing marking behaviors in the house. If litter box issues develop, follow the complete instructions relating to inappropriate urination.

Step 4 - Keep the Litter Box In Place
Once the cat has full, unsupervised access to the entire house, keep the new litter box in place. If it is your goal to move the litter box, do so very gradually. It is best to add a new litter box and ensure the cat is comfortable using it before removing or moving the old one. Cat Attract is a good product to use to draw your feline to a new litter box.

Step 5 - Provide a Stimulating Indoor Life
Provide extra toys and activities to enrich the life of an indoor cat -- so they do not miss the time they used to spend outside.

Do not ever let your feline outside. Following these steps should make transitioning your feline to being an indoor-only cat much easier for you and your feline.

Mike Fry, Executive Director, Animal Ark No-Kill Shelter
http://www.animalarkshelter.org

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Talk With Your Animals hosted by Joy Turner Check Schedule for Airtimes

Why? Is the Question

Our animal companions always want to know why we are doing something? It helps them understand what's going on in your life and theirs. It gives them the reasons we do things instead of having them come up with their own reasons. (And this is a very good thing since most of the time when they come up with the reason why, it involves loving or not loving them. Which is usually not the case from our perspective. And since perspective is everything in communication, it is imperative that we help them have a frame of reference for our behavior. This is important because our behavior is very often a mystery to our animal companions - but, then, that's a topic for another time.) Have you ever noticed their behavior changes when you leave? Stop and think. Did you explain to them why you were leaving? Where you were going? What you are doing? When you'll be back? These are the type of things you would like to know if someone you love goes someplace and leaves you home. Since your animals are more like you than they are different, it stands to reason they would like to know the same information.

Here's a great example of this. A client of mine has a dog who is always perfect in every way except when they go on vacation. Then he becomes a terror. She could not figure out why this was very consistently the case. When I talked with the dog, he said that he could not figure out why she very consistently stopped loving him because she would go and leave him home with essentially a stranger. I asked her where she went for vacations. She explained that the family goes overseas for all their vacations. Which, of course meant he would have to be quarantined if he went with them. She thought it was better for him if he stayed home or in a kennel then being quarantined.

I asked the dog, "If he knew what quarantined meant." He did not. I explained it to him and asked him if he would want to be in a jail the whole time they were away. He said he would hate it. Then I told him that his family loved him so much that they would deprive themselves of his wonderful company just because it would be best for him to stay in his comfortable place with someone to care for him. He was ecstatic to know the reason! His person called me back when they returned and told me he was his perfect self while they were away - the first time in 5 years. When animals do not understand why something is happening, the first thing they think is that they are not loved.

Another example of animal companions not understanding why we do things is a client with her cat peeing in the house. Again, her cat had been the perfect cat and was now peeing in the house. He also would not sleep on the bed with her. As a matter of fact, he slept on the floor in the hallway outside her bedroom door. This cat was so angry at his person he would not even talk to me until I put the phone down and walked across the room so he was sure that nothing he said to me could go in my head and back out the ear with the phone receiver so his person could hear. He told me his perspective - the woman, who he lived with for 13 years and was always perfect and thought she loved him as much as he loved her, was systematically removing his smell from the house. His logical conclusion was that he would be the next thing to go. And he couldn't understand what he had done to make her stop loving him. I asked the client what had changed in the house. At first, she said, "Nothing." Then she remembered that she was remodeling her house. In fact, she replaced the paint, carpet, furniture, drapes; essentially everything so there was no smell of her cat left in the house. She had even gotten him new things. He was peeing to put his smell back into the house. She thought she was making the house better, newer. He thought it "stunk to the high heaven". After explaining the different perspectives to each of them, we reached a compromise. She agreed to keep the old comforter on her bed for a while even though it did not match the new décor. He promised he would rub his chin and feet on the new things to put his smell back into the house. So far, it is working for both of them.

Animals love being a part of our lives in every aspect. Please try to include them whenever possible. Before you go on a trip, let them know where, why, how long you will be, when you will be coming back and who will be taking care of them. When you are remodeling a house, let them know why. Also, in your design plan make sure their needs will be met. Will they be able to access the backyard the same way that they are use too? Where is their food going to be located? One of my clients allowed her dog help her pick her new car. The dog liked the fact the interior of the car matched her fur. If you are in a relationship with someone, and your animal companion does not like this person, take a closer look at what your animal companion is trying to say. Including them in your life will greatly diminish behavior issues and will definitely enhance your relationship with them. In many ways they are your children! The greatest gift they give you is unconditional love. The greatest gift you can give back to them is unconditional love. Remember them!

Until next time, I'm Joy reminding you, you can never love your animal companions too much. You can only love them, hopefully, enough.

Talk With Your Animals airs every weekday on Animal Radio Network's Full-time animal channel. If you would like to talk with your pet via Joy Turner, please call 1-866-405-8405 to make arrangements. http://www.TalkWithYourAnimals.com

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PAWS UP FOR PETS with ARDEN MOORE

By Animal Radio® correspondent Arden Moore

Meet Cleo: My $500 Free Dog

To tweak the adage, "There is no such thing as a free lunch," I'm living proof that there is no such thing as a free dog.

Even if this dog weighs only 10 pounds ­ after gobbling down a full meal.

Two months ago, my fur-dominated household lived in cozy harmony. Chipper, my 60-pound Husky-Golden Retriever mix, delivers nothing but respect for my three cats, Dude, Callie, and Murphy. No spats. Everyone has a favorite napping spot. They enjoy a bounty of healthy treats. Trips to the veterinary clinic have always spaced out at a rate acceptable to my car-hating cats and my monthly budget.

(Cleo, a toy poodle-terrier mix, quickly fit into Arden Moore's pet household that includes Callie, the calico cat; Chipper, the Husky-Golden Retriever mix; and two other cats not pictured: Dude and Murphy.)

Then came the phone call at night from Flo, my 82-year-old neighbor.

"Arden, you've got to come quick! Someone dumped a scared little dog in my back yard," declared Flo. "Who would do such a cruel thing?"

Flo's dog, Buddy, a two-year-old, no-so-Miniature Schnauzer, was rattling off high-pitched yelps and pacing in front of her back porch screen door. On the other side, I could see the source of his agitation: a quivering, itty-bitty dog with oversized brown eyes and a dry, dirty blonde coat. Despite all of Buddy's vocalization, this dog wasn't about to budge or flee.

Flo is a lifelong dog devotee, but unfortunately, Buddy is not keen on sharing his pampered life with another canine. So, I agreed to take care of this little lost dog until we could find her owner.

Mistakenly, I thought it would be a quick reunion. After all, the dog sported a collar with the name, Cleo, and a phone number. But the tag was fastened to a faded collar much too tight for her tiny neck. That should have been my first clue.

I called the number ­ located two counties away. Disconnected. For three days, I tried to speak to a real live person at the animal shelter in that county. Each time, my only choice was to deliver a detailed phone message ­ barely getting my name and number recorded before the message would end. I put up signs. Scanned the local newspaper's "lost dog" section in the classifieds each day. I alerted my local animal shelter.

No happy reunion. No returned calls. Nothing.

I took Cleo to my veterinarian for a once-over and to check for the possible presence of a microchip. The wand waved over her little body, but no identification chip. At best guess, she is about three years old and most likely, a toy poodle-terrier mix.

During the first week, I didn't detect the subtle clues that Cleo might be working her canine charm on me ­ and my pets. She didn't fuss when I gave her a bath. Or, when my vet gave her a physical exam. Or, when I kept her in a comfortable crate in my bedroom at night ­ or for short durations during the day when I could not supervise her. Why, she even seemed to pick up the house training quicker than any dog I've had.

My dog, Chipper, took an instant liking to this "pocket pal" and toned down her playfulness to prevent harming her. My tabby trio seemed to like being bigger and taller than a d-o-g and soon started strutting past her or allowing her to deliver quick kisses to their foreheads.

After two weeks, I declared the search was over. As many of you know, whether you buy a purebred puppy from a responsible breeder or adopt a dog in need of a permanent home from a shelter, expect to watch the dollars evaporate from your bank account quicker than a bowlful of water lapped up by a thirsty Labrador.

Being a responsible owner comes at a definite price. Since Cleo's past remains a mystery, we needed to give her a full-line of vaccinations, a blood panel, protection against fleas and ticks and heartworms. That visit: $220. And, of course, her teeny teeth were in desperate need of a professional cleaning. Tack on another $138. To make sure she can be reunited with me if she should ever get lost, she received a microchip ID ­ for only $55. Naturally, she needed a professional haircut and a comfy doggie bed of her own -- $72.

As you can see - without adding in the treats, food, leash, collar, and other items filling my cart at the local pet supply store - Cleo is anything but free. She surpassed $500 weeks ago. Oh, almost forgot ­ I also signed her up for pet insurance.

Being a responsible pet parent, however, means spending less money on pizzas or movies or must-have shoes. But you won't find me complaining. Our household now includes a very happy, grateful dog who brings her own sense of worth to all of us.

Cleo is, in fact, priceless.

Pet expert Arden Moore is the author of 15 books on dogs and cats. She is the editor of Catnip, a special correspondent for Animal Radio®, and an associate member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Look for her upcoming book, The Dog Behavior Answer Book (Storey Books) to be released in November. She shares her Oceanside, California home with dogs, Chipper and Cleo, and can be reached through her Web site: http://www.ArdenMoore.com

FINAL THOUGHTS

Thanks for your emails at yourvoice@AnimalRadio.com

Dear Hal and Judy,

Last night i was writing e-mails and trying to see who I could contact to try to make people aware of this big problem and today as i downloaded your show the first thing I heard is that you were addressing this problem.

I am not a Chinese citizen but i live in China and am guardian of a lovely 4 months old Bouvier des flanders so this issue really affected me. The problem and what people need to understand is that in China, decisions, as mentioned on your show, are made in a government office by people that have no respect for dogs and much less for the people that they are supposed to serve.

After this got out and the news was heard outside of China the central government went in to stop, not for the concern over dogs but because of the bad image and bad publicity that this gives to the government. Also, as you mentioned on your show Chinese people are so nice to dogs; you should see kids and adults playing with the dog and how they love their dogs.

We have to continue to let people in the US and around thhe world know what happened so that the Chinese government understand that the solution to this problem is a vaccination campaign and keeping rabies vaccinations for people in their hospitals. This is such as easy problem to solve but needs lots of education.

thanks for bringing this topic out in your show. I am not sure if it would be possible to keep a link to the news on your website so is not forgotten and people are reminded of what happened.

Thanks again and keep the good work, I wish there was a show like yours in China.

Jorge Salmeron
Xiamen, China