Animals Today Radio

Animals Today – April 28, 2013 – Dr. Sophia Yin and Dr. Michael Greger

Peter Spiegel — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 01:46:52 +0000

On this show, Lori first welcomed Dr. Sophia Yin, animal behavior expert, lecturer and author, who spoke about prevention of dog bites. In this wide-ranging discussion, Dr. Yin emphasized the imprtance of training and also explained how to read the body language of dogs. Learn more about her here.

Then, Dr. Michael Greger came on to discuss newly published research concerning the mechanisms by which meat and diary leads to cardiovascular disease. The story is getting more and more interesting, because its not just the saturated fat that matters! Learn more about the research and Dr. Greger here.

And the news, with Peter. Listen to the show here.

Thank you for listening and please share!

Please support the show by shooting us a donation here. Thanks!!

Animals Today – April 21, 2013 Los Angeles Canine Custody Program; Rhino horn poaching

Peter Spiegel — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 20:46:51 +0000

Lori welcomed three guests on this show. The topic for the first two segments was a great new program being conducted at the Los Angeles County Jail called the Custody Canine program. Sergeant Ray Harley, from the LA County sheriff’s department, and Rick Belmonte, of Belmonte’s Dog Training and Equipment described how dogs from shelters are trained by the inmates and prepared for adoption. The benefits to the men and the dogs are substantial.

The third segment featured Craig Sholley from African Wildlife Foundation. An epidemic of poaching of rhinos for horns and elephants for ivory is occurring in Africa. Sholley explained the scope and causes of the problem, and described a new public awareness campaign underway in China (the main consumer of the illegal rhino horn and ivory). Former NBA star Yao Ming is the very involved spokesperson of the campaign. Visit African Wildlife Foundation here. And read more about Yao here.

The show concluded with animal news items presented by Peter. Listen to the show here.

Please support Animals Today with a donation.

Animals Today April 14, 2013. Dr. Leslie Irvine and Steve Hindi

Peter Spiegel — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:12:37 +0000

This show featured two wonderful guests. First, Peter welcomed Dr. Leslie Irvine, who teaches Sociology at University of Colorado, Boulder. She authored a fascinating book titled, My Dog Always Eats First – Homeless People and their Dogs. She gave of numerous first-hand accounts form her research into the lives of homeless and their animals. Highly recommended, buy it here. And here’s a link to one of her recent papers.

Then, the Steve Hindi joined Lori to discuss the use of aerial drone in animal protection. Steve has uses small helicopters to document illegal pigeon shooting events in Pennsylvania, and even had one of them shot down. Recently, one of the larger animal welfare organizations publicly stated they were looking into using drones to interfere with or to monitor hunters. Steve expressed skepiticm that this would ever come to pass. But there does seem to be a growing role for drones, including in deterring wild animal poachers in Africa. Here is the SHARK You Tube page.

And the news with Peter. Listen here.

Please support us here! The show is 100% supported by your donations.

Image take from internet, not one of Dr. Irvine’s subjects

Hindi’s drone that was shot down

Steve Hindi

Dr. Leslie Irvine

Animals Today April 7, 2013 – Derek Burkholder and Tracy Coppola

Peter Spiegel — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:36:33 +0000

The first guest on this show was Dr. Derek Burkholder, research scientist at Save Our Seas Shark Center at Nova Southeastern University. Lori and Derek discussed shark threats and conservation and the recent news from CITES, which added protected status to more shark and ray species. Then, Tracy Coppola appeared to discuss the issues concerning tigers and big cats in private collections. Tracy is Campaign Officer with International Fund for Animal Welfare, IFAW. Detroit Tigers players were posing with a captive tiger cub as a promotion, and the discussion began with the concerns that raised.

Listen to the show here.

Visit Advancing the Interests of Animals to support this show!

Animals Today, March 3, 2013. Bob Vetere and Suzi Eszterhas

Peter Spiegel — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:44:02 +0000

Sunday’s show featured two great guests!

First, Bob Vetere, President and CEO of American Pet Products Association provided a market and industry update. The 2013 Global Pet Expo has just concluded, and Bob shared his observations and insights on products and services related to our companion animals. Growth of the industry is strong.

Visit the American Pet Products Association here.

Then, wildlife photographer, author and environmentalist Suzi Eszterhas joined Lori. Suzi has published a series of fabulous books for kids depicting animals in the wild, as they mature from infancy to adulthood. Her photos are captivating and full of life! She described the incredible and lengthy process to obtain her great shots, as well as how she hopes to inspire children to become excited about animals.

Look at Suzi’s books and all of her work here.

Also, lots of hot news items with Peter. Listen to the show here.

Bob Vetere

Suzi Eszterhas

Animals Today March 3, 2013 – Brenda Peterson and Bobbi Brink

Peter Spiegel — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 02:58:18 +0000

This show featured two remarkable guests. First, novelist, investigative reporter and advocate for sea mammals, Brenda Peterson joined Lori. The use of extremely loud sonar by the US Navy not only disrupts the communication (and thus the behavior) of whales and dolphins, but can kill them. Clear evidence is accumulating that the exercises and tests using high intensity sonar are, indeed very bad for cetaceans. Brenda set forth the facts and a call for action. Read her recent post on the subject here. Explore her books here. And, here is yet another of her passions, protecting the wildlife of the Puget Sound area, with the non-profit, Seal Sitters.

Then, Lori welcomed Bobbi Brink, Director and Founder of Lions, Tigers and Bears, an exotic animals sanctuary in Alpine California. They just rescued the bear, Meatball, who was behaving mischievously in the Glendale, California foothills. They discussed important issues in modern sanctuaries, the value in accreditation of sanctuaries, and the problems associated with big cat breeding and trade. Bobbi also discussed the Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act. In the days after the show, a tragedy occurred at a different California facility, Project Survival Cat Haven, and a volunteer, was killed by a lion. The lion was subsequently shot and killed. Brink’s statement regarding those events are here. Visit Lions, Tigers, and Bears here. They are accredited by the Global Federation of Animals Sanctuaries, GFAS, previously featured on Animals Today.

And the news, with Peter.

Animals Today February 24, 2013 – Dr. Randy Frost

Peter Spiegel — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 16:37:12 +0000

This week, Peter welcomed Smith College Professor of Psychology, Randy Frost, to explore the minds and behaviors of animal hoarders. Frost is an internationally recognized leader in the field of hoarding and his latest book, Stuff – Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things (co-authored with Gail Steketee), has received great reviews. Check it out here on Amazon. Animal hoarding shares some similarities to and many differences from the hoarding of objects. Dr. Frost explained current thoughts on how animals hoarding develops and possible new avenues for treatment, which is notoriously ineffective. You can read more about Professor Frost here, but he suggested interested listeners visit the website of the International OCD Foundation, ocfoundation.org. Listen to the show here, and thanks to Peter for conducting this interview!

Animals Today February 10, 2013: Michelle Thew, Cruelty Free International

Peter Spiegel — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 02:40:51 +0000

Lori welcomed a wonderful guest for the hour, Michelle Thew, Chief Executive of Cruelty Free International and British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection. The EU has finally banned all testing on animals for cosmetic development, the fruit of a decades long effort. Lori and Michelle discussed how that occurred, and the far-ranging implications for the rest of the world. China is a particularly tough challenge, but vendors in North America probably will have to stop animal testing of they want to survive. Also discussed was botulinum toxin, The Body Shop (no animal testing there), Paul Mitchell hair products (they are cruelty free, too) and the upcoming Sustainable Cosmetics Summit. Michelle is a fabulous speaker, a level-headed advocate for animals and a genuine leader in the field. Visit Cruelty Free International and British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection.

Peter also had some HOT news items. Listen to the show here. The show archives are here. Please visit on on facebook and like us there.

Animals Today – February 3, 2013 – Dr. Michael Greger discusses plant-based diets

Peter Spiegel — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 16:37:06 +0000

World renowned nutrition authority, Dr. Michael Greger, joined Lori on this show with the latest facts and research supporting the health benefits of plant based diets. And, the evidence continues to get progressively stronger. What happens to your body when you consume meat or dairy? How does a plant based diet reduce inflammation and why is that desirable? Will adopting a plant based diet help me to live a longer healthier life? All this and more were coverd in this fast-paced and information-packed hour with one of the best in the field. Dr Greger serves as the Director of Public Health and Animals Agriculture at the HSUS. Listen to the show here.

Visit his websites here: drgreger.org and nutritionfacts.org

Animals Today – January 20, 2013 Steven M. Wise & the Nonhuman Rights Project

Peter Spiegel — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:43:07 +0000

On this show, Lori was joined by Attorney Steven M. Wise. Steven is President of the Nonhuman Rights Project, and has served as an animal protection attorney for thirty years. The Nonhuman Rights Project aims to achieve greater rights for animals through legal means, state by state, case by case, species by species. Soon it will file lawsuits in a number of states to begin the process. Steven feels the time is right fot the law to catch up with the values of our society.

Steven is author of four books including Rattling the Cage – Toward Legal Rights for Animals. Please make sure to listen to this fascinating interview here and visit the Nonhuman Rights website here.

Peter also had some great animal news items after the interview concluded.

Thanks for listening and supporting Animals Today!

Steven M.Wise