They Don't Brake For Cats!
Mark Vette, Driving Dogs

The SPCA (Society For the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) rescues animals that are in trouble, provide shelter and medical care and prosecute people who harm animals. So it's not surprising that their biggest hurdle is finding good homes for all of the animals they take in.

As a result, they have become experts at marketing themselves and the animals in their care, and one their campaigns received a lot of attention. They had dogs that could drive! No, these are not special dogs, but shelter dogs trained by Master Animal Trainer Mark Vette.

When Mark was first approached and asked if he thought he could train dogs to drive, he responded that he was "Stupid enough to say yes!"

Mark rescued three dogs from the shelter, with the purpose to demonstrate that dogs at shelters are as intelligent, or more intelligent, than other animals.

Mark normally trains animals for film and television, and used some of the sort criteria as he would use in films when selecting these dogs. There were originally seven dogs to chose from, and Mark says anyone of them could have learned to drive but they then narrowed it down to the three most stable who could handle the pressure from all of the cameras. The dogs also had to be food motivated and have a good temperament. Mini Copper cars were then modified so dogs could drive them.

Mark said most of the breeds he normally selects for trainability are Border Collies and German Shepherds. However, hybrids, or mutts, which are normally found at shelters, have a "hybrid vigor." This is the benefit of two breeds coming together.

When Mark trains dogs for the movies, they "cheat" a little bit. What this means is that they train the dogs in little bits and pieces and then edit the film together. However, in this case, the dogs were in the car driving by themselves. While there weren't any trainers in the car with them, the trainers were communicating to the dogs by radio.

Mark told us funny stories, such as when a dog would hit the accelerator at full throttle and the trainer had to chase him down the runway and not get run over. However, Mark assured us that, "No People Were Harmed" during filming. As a backup, they did have a remote safety brake if anything went seriously wrong.

Divine The Canine Mind!
Heidi Schulman, Dog Tarot Cards

Want to know why your dog shreds your slippers but ignores his designer toys? Why he insists on rolling around in the grass 10 minutes after his bath? Or if he likes having the TV on while you're not home?

You can find these answers, and more, in the Dog Tarot Cards. These cards consist of 30 very colorful cards and a sixty-four-page booklet that explains how to use the cards. Now you can understand your pet and have fun doing it.

Are these for real or just magic? Heidi told us that she received letters from tarot card readers who were actually using this deck to read for their client's pets. She also received a letter from someone who said the cards were so much fun, they were gong to have a Dog Tarot Card Reading Party.

E-Cigarette Toxicity in Pets - Dr. Debbie

Think that vapor cigarettes (a.k.a. electric cigarettes or e-cigarettes) are a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes? The vapor habit might be better for you and decrease your pet's exposure to second hand smoke, but can increase the chance of a pet's toxic ingestion of nicotine. A story from England told of the tragic death of a puppy that died after chewing on an e-liquid container.

Ivy was a 14 week on Staffordshire Bull Terrier that chewed on her owner's bottle of e-liquid used to refill the electric cigarettes. Within 30 seconds of nibbling on the container, she fell sick with vomiting and disorientation and was rushed to a veterinary office. Sadly Ivy died within 24 hours due to heart and respiratory failure.

What's in E-liquid?
The ingredients in e-liquid vary but include carriers such as propylene glycol, polyethylene Glycol 400 and vegetable glycerin, as well as flavoring agents and nicotine. The amount of nicotine in e-liquid varies with some products not containing any nicotine, to others ranging from 18 mg/ml to 100mg/ml.

How toxic is nicotine?
The toxic dose of nicotine for pets is 0.5 to 1mg per pound of body weight. The fatal dose is 4mg per pound. So if you consider a 20 pound dog, toxicity would occur if 10mg were ingested, and the pet would die if 80mg were ingested. Therefore with the high nicotine levels in e-liquid, it wont take much to reach those fatal levels. That hypothetical 20 pound dog could die from less than 1ml of the highest potency liquid nicotine.

Pets likewise can develop toxicity if other sources of nicotine are ingested such as cigarettes, chewing tobacco, nicotine gum, or nicotine nasal sprays. The typical amounts of nicotine in these products are: Cigarette 9-30 mg; Nicotine gum 2 - 4 mg per pieces; and Nicotine patches 8.3 - 114 mg.

Even cigarette butts can be toxic if enough are ingested - cigarette butts retain 25-percent of the nicotine in the original cigarette.

What are symptoms of nicotine poisoning?
Symptoms usually develop within one hour of ingestion. Pets may display excitability, rapid heart rate, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, seizures, and coma.

How are pets treated for nicotine toxicity?
The first step is to decontaminate by inducing vomiting. Nicotine typically causes vomiting when ingested, but further decontamination is advised at the veterinary office. Other emergency care includes intravenous fluids, medications to manage elevated blood pressure and heart rate, and anti-seizure medications. Nicotine is metabolized by the liver and excreted within 16 hours after ingestion. Pets that survive the initial four hours after ingestion have a favorable chance of survival.

The vapor cigarette trend is becoming more popular world wide. It's important to recognize that nicotine is a toxin and poisonous to animals and children. Consider the e-liquid a hazardous material and store it safely in a locking cabinet, away from children and pets.

To read more about Ivy's toxicity after ingesting e-fluid go to "Dog dies after chewing e-fluid container."

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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The Dogfather's Grooming Tip with Joey Villani

Bathing Your Bird
There are benefits to bathing your bird. Not just parrots, but also canaries and cockatoos, and everything in between. Bathing your bird is an important process in owning a bird.

Bathing your bird will keep their plumage in good condition. When you see an unhealthy bird, the ends of their feathers look frayed and the bird just doesn't look well. While part of this problem is their diet, it can also mean that they aren't clean.

Bathing will soften the dirt on the feathers and the skin, so it will help them when they clean themselves. Birds prune themselves all of the time. In doing this, they are peeling off the casing on their feather and encouraging growth of new feathers. When you bathe them, it helps get the dirt off, keeps the dander down and cleans their skin, making it easier for them to groom themselves. You want to help keep the dander down, because birds themselves can develop respiratory problems from their own dander, which can stay in their cage. This can also help people who are around the bird and might have respiratory problems of their own. The cleaner you keep your bird; it is better for you and your bird.

Routine bathing also moisturizes your bird's skin. But how do you bathe your bird? Get some distilled water and a spray bottle and spray your bird. Never use tap water, as it contains chlorine and fluoride, which is harmful to your bird.

The important thing is to start at the top and work your way down. Never spray from the bottom up. When you start at the top, you are almost imitating the way rain would fall over your bird. This is a more natural way for your bird to get wet. Some birds will accept being sprayed, but other may prefer the water put in a saucer where they can bathe themselves.

You should never use any antibacterial soap on your bird. The antibacterial properties are harmful to your bird. While it is not necessary to use any soap, if your bird does get greasy, use a dish detergent like Dawn. You may also find a proper shampoo for your birds at the pet store.

Joey has an Umbrella Cockatoo that likes to get in the shower with him. If your bird likes to shower with you, make sure you get a shower filter. These filters are inexpensive and both you and your bird will get the benefits.

Vets and Experts Agree - Your Dog Needs to Walk!
So what constitutes a good dog walk? First, it must be every day, preferably more than once. In younger and also senior dogs, shorter more frequent walks are often best. Keep your veterinarian up-to-date on your dog's exercise habits and modify them as needed. It is imperative to walk your dog on a leash. There are valid reasons for our area's leash laws, so no matter how much you trust your pup, keep him on a lead. Things can go awry in a flash (squirrel, errant car, another loose dog), so it's best to maintain physical control. Sometimes, when we're in a hurry when we're walking our dogs, we become impatient with all of the pausing and sniffing. Dogs essentially see with their noses, which are much more powerful sensory organs than their eyes. Their walks are most satisfying and enjoyable when they are allowed to interact with their environment and its informative scents. It should be noted that walks are the perfect time to practice obedience. Carry treats with you and work together on sit, down, heel, etc. Walking is fabulous exercise for both you and your dog. The snarky phrase, "If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise" is often not far from the truth! And of course, walking enhances the bond between you and your beloved pet, too.

Katherine Heigl Tucks Her Pets In At Night
Bedtime at Katherine Heigl's house can take a while. As a mom of human kids and many other kids of the four-legged variety, she likes to give each one special attention. The Emmy Award winner says first she tucks in her girls. Then she takes her dogs through their own nighttime ritual. The actress has channeled her love of animals to ending animal abuse. She launched a line of pet products called Just One where portions of the proceeds go to help programs that foster, train, neuter and rescue animals. Merchandise ranging from pet collars to apparel and accessories for people is available on the product's website.

Parrots Are Choosy About Their Music
It turns out that parrots are choosy about their music. Scientists discovered that parrots have personal tastes in music. Scientists played music to a pair of African grey parrots, and found that the birds' preferences differed greatly. Dr. Franck Peron of the University of Lincoln, who headed the study, said that both birds enjoyed rock and folk music from such artists as U2, UB40 and Joan Baez. They even got into the music, bobbing their heads and squawking as if they were singing along. When they were played Bach they became relaxed. Meanwhile, they seemed to become distressed when researchers played electronic dance music. Peron said when EDM was played; the birds screamed, "In a distressed, scared way." But in a second study, the birds were placed in a cage equipped with a touch screen, and could play either Scissor Sisters' "I Don't Feel Like Dancing" or Vangelis' "La Petite Fille de la Mer." During the month-long experiment the pair chose to play the songs a combined 1,400 times. But one bird liked Scissor Sisters better, while the other preferred Vangelis.

Robotic Seals Are Calming
One Swedish retirement home got a new guest, a robotic seal, to help improve the morale of residents. Berit Lundstrom, the chair of the care trust, said the seal had "Appealing eyes and soft fur which is pleasant to touch." He added that he hoped it would bring comfort to elderly people who felt anxious. Linkoping University backed up Lundstrom. They said that robot seals were more effective in calming people than robot dogs. This was because most people were accustomed to dogs' behavior and when they discovered that robot dogs weren't real they became disappointed. Because people aren't used to the movement of a seal, it made the robot seal more believable. The university's study also found that after children and the elderly interacted with a robot seal, they became calmer and more in tune with their surroundings. Lundstrom prefers the robot to their real-life counterparts. He said there's no risk of allergies and the robot is easier to handle. He added that when you put the robot in someone's lap, it stayed there.

Want To Get Your Pet a Modeling or Showbiz gig?
Here are some tips for the aspiring Pet Momager. Strike a pose: Don't spend a fortune on professional photos. Simply snap a few well-lit and clear shots of your dog or cat that capture his or her personality and have them printed in a 10x8 inch format. Draft a resume for your dog or cat and put together a montage of photos of your pet with different looks or doing tricks. Then submit your pet's package to several agencies. Get an agent: You can contact advertising agencies in your area directly that work with pet products, however, an agent will increase your pet's shot at stardom. Pet agencies, like Animal Actors International, can connect you and your pet with TV, film and publishing clients. But beware of scams and make sure to ask each agency for its terms and conditions up front.

Listen to the entire Podcast of this show (#1345)