KSCO Pet Radio

Meg Harrison, Black Wing FarmsUse KSCO20 as a code at checkout to get a 20-percent discount on your purchase.

This is probably what will become the first of several appearances (over months) by Meg Harrison, founder of Black Wing Farms and an expert on using flower essences to solve behavioral problems in animals. If you have ever used Bach Rescue Remedy for yourself or a pet, you've used a flower essence.

When Brittany first appeared at our home, she suffered from severe separation anxiety and ended up having to be near me all the time and go everywhere I went over a period of months. At that time, I tried one of Meg's flower essences and could never tell how much it helped. Didn't hurt, but was Brittany actually less anxious? Hard to tell. (Today I'd start an anxious dog on CBD oil and go from there).

I have two thoughts about what Meg sells: 1) It works and 2) It doesn't work. I don't think she makes up her many success stories, but where I saw Brittany's rear legs improve within hours of her first CBD dose, I am not sure what flower essences did for her. But I have an open -- even hopeful -- mind about their efficacy. Something I don't really have for homeopathy.

If flower essences can live up to the claims, I'd use them in all my transport situations. And rescues. I haven't done extensive testing and I'd like to find a tester with no preconceived expectations about flower essences if I can do a trial.

Brittany, by the way, lost her separation anxiety over a period of months and is now comfortable being alone for hours at the time.

From her website:

44 years ago, Meg Harrison, founder and owner, was using flower essences for the treatment of alcoholic teens. Then she had a revelation in the aftermath of a horrible horseback riding accident when the horse's owner used flower essences on Meg and her horse to great effect. Since that time 25 years ago, Meg has created a wide range of products to help with the mental, physical, and emotional needs of animals.

Uses of these products were well proven in the wake of the Southern California wildfires of 2003 where her products helped to calm and stabilize traumatized pets and farm animals who were lost, injured, or abandoned during the fast-moving blazes. At this time Meg decided to market her products and became BlackWing Farms.

In 2005, Meg then went to Louisiana and volunteered (eventually to be hired by the Humane Society of the United States) to help care for the animal victims of Hurricane Katrina (and while there also weathered Hurricane Rita). Again the value of her flower essences was proven as time and again they effectively helped to calm and treat the animals in the care of the Humane Society of the United States and the Louisiana SPCA.

Since then the products of BlackWing Farms have been requested by various distributors including Jeffers Pet Catalog, as well as the animal rescue organizations, Best Friends Animal Society, ASPCA in NYC, Animal Farm Foundation, the Humane Society of the US, The Gentle Barn in their rescues and longterm care of slaughterhouse animals.

Within the last 10 years, we also began to market a line of sprays for use by people to affect mood. This product is a direct descendant of the flower essence concept used by Meg 40+ years ago and are formulated using flower essences and essential oils.

Here is the bio Meg provided:

Meg Harrison,

Dr Merrianne Burtch, Pacific Veterinary Specialists & BirchBark Foundation

This is a report to correct the audio not being properly attached!

Addison's Disease is a fairly common condition in dogs and horses that results from a lack of steroids being produced by the body. It is the same disease in people and is the opposite of the more common (in dogs) Cushing's Disease, where too many steroids are produced by the animal. This is an almost 14-minute discussion of Addison's with Dr. Merrianne Burtch of Pacific Veterinary Specialists in Capitola and is part of our regular series of discussions of animal health issues.

This is a report to correct the audio not being properly attached!

Addison's Disease is a fairly common condition in dogs and horses that results from a lack of steroids being produced by the body. It is the same disease in people and is the opposite of the more common (in dogs) Cushing's Disease, where too many steroids are produced by the animal. This is an almost 14-minute discussion of Addison's with Dr. Merrianne Burtch of Pacific Veterinary Specialists in Capitola and is part of our regular series of discussions of animal health issues.

Bob Frost is a longtime German Shepherd breeder and trainer based in Ohio. It's fair to call him one of the custodians of the breed and he is expert on all things German Shepherd Dog. I've invited him to talk about the breed, both purebred and shelter dogs. I am hoping to help people better understand these wonderful animals and somehow reduce the numbers that end up unwanted and in shelters and, sometimes, killed for lack of a home.

Bob Frost is a longtime German Shepherd breeder and trainer based in Ohio. It's fair to call him one of the custodians of the breed and he is expert on all things German Shepherd Dog. I've invited him to talk about the breed, both purebred and shelter dogs. I am hoping to help people better understand these wonderful animals and somehow reduce the numbers that end up unwanted and in shelters and, sometimes, killed for lack of a home.

Because of a technical issue on our last program, this interview will run (I hope) this week.

Kristen Lynch from the North American Pet Health Insurance Association spends a half-hour answering questions about a subject that can perplex pet owners but is something most of us should be taking more seriously.

After doing this interview -- and thinking about having raised thousands of dollars to help pay for emergency care for uninsured pets -- I think one of the hallmarks of responsible pet ownership is becoming/has become having insurance to cover your pets. (I will admit that I do not, yet...)

Insurance can be expensive, especially for low-income families and those with multiple pets and/or fixed incomes. Not every family who would benefit from pet insurance will be able to afford it.

Still, every owner should at least be exposed to the existence of the range of policies available, so this segment/podcast is a quick way to accomplish that.

BTW -- Largest claims paid out during 2017 include a $53,000 feline and an almost $48,000 dog!

Links:

American Veterinary Medical Association "Guidelines on Pet Insurance for Pet Owners"

NAPHIA link to all North American pet insurance providers. Be aware of sites that claim to offer reviews and comparisons of pet insurance policies and providers that get paid for referring new customers. They may provide useful information, but I would the actual purchase from the links provided by the NAPHIA site above.

ALDF Attorney Lindsay Larris

The Animal Legal Defense Fund has joined in a coalition of organizations to support the grassroots campaign to end the cruelty of greyhound racing in Florida. Voters will have a historic opportunity to help thousands of greyhounds this November 2018 by voting “ Yes on 13” for this humane amendment. Here is their page on the topic.

For this program, I interviewed ALDF attorney Lindsay Larris. Here is her bio:

Lindsay Larris oversees the Legislative Affairs Program in the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Los Angeles office, working at the state and local levels to advance legislation and policy initiatives that would promote or protect the lives and interests of animals and opposing legislation that would be detrimental to animals’ well-being.  Lindsay frequently collaborates with other non-profit organizations in order to accomplish these goals as well as relies upon the legal expertise of other staff attorneys to advise on important civil and criminal legislative issues.  Prior to this role, Lindsay spent 2.5 years as the Regional Director for the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Los Angeles office, building its presence in the region, planning and implementing three symposia, liaising with pro bono attorneys, students and local members, and creating the first annual Animal Legal Defense Fund Cruise for a Cause event in November 2016.

Lindsay has been passionate about animal rescue and animal protection issues since she helped her father build a home for feral kittens as a child. Prior to joining the Animal Legal Defense Fund, Lindsay spent seven years practicing civil litigation in the Los Angeles area, working on environmental litigation, trust and estate litigation and international arbitration.

As part of the Animal Legal Defense Fund she is proud to have played a part in persuading the California Coastal Commission to ban future breeding of orcas at SeaWorld San Diego, leading to SeaWorld’s voluntary declaration that it would end all orca breeding. Lindsay has also coordinated a new series of Animal Law Symposiums in Los Angeles.

Lindsay graduated from University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2007 after graduating cum laude from New York University in 2003 with a degree in political science. While a law student, Lindsay co-founded the Journal of Animal Law and Ethics, helped bring an animal law clinic to Penn Law and served as president of her student ALDF chapter (SALDF).

As a lawyer, Lindsay learned how much power the law has in creating widespread, lasting change. So when she left private practice in search of a way to help more animals, she came to the Animal Legal Defense Fund knowing we are the only organization using the law with an exclusive focus on improving life for animals.

Outside of the office you’re most likely to find Lindsay testing out a new vegan recipe or playing pub trivia tournaments. She lives in Los Angeles with her mixed flame-point Siamese cat Leo (aliases include “Mr. Lee,” “Precious Honeyface” and “Dr. Leo Lee”) and her true mutt of a dog Willow.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund has joined in a coalition of organizations to support the grassroots campaign to end the cruelty of greyhound racing in Florida. Voters will have a historic opportunity to help thousands of greyhounds this November 2018 by voting “ Yes on 13” for this humane amendment. Here is their page on the topic.

For this program, I interviewed ALDF attorney Lindsay Larris. Here is her bio:

Lindsay Larris oversees the Legislative Affairs Program in the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Los Angeles office, working at the state and local levels to advance legislation and policy initiatives that would promote or protect the lives and interests of animals and opposing legislation that would be detrimental to animals’ well-being.  Lindsay frequently collaborates with other non-profit organizations in order to accomplish these goals as well as relies upon the legal expertise of other staff attorneys to advise on important civil and criminal legislative issues.  Prior to this role, Lindsay spent 2.5 years as the Regional Director for the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Los Angeles office, building its presence in the region, planning and implementing three symposia, liaising with pro bono attorneys, students and local members, and creating the first annual Animal Legal Defense Fund Cruise for a Cause event in November 2016.

Lindsay has been passionate about animal rescue and animal protection issues since she helped her father build a home for feral kittens as a child. Prior to joining the Animal Legal Defense Fund, Lindsay spent seven years practicing civil litigation in the Los Angeles area, working on environmental litigation, trust and estate litigation and international arbitration.

As part of the Animal Legal Defense Fund she is proud to have played a part in persuading the California Coastal Commission to ban future breeding of orcas at SeaWorld San Diego, leading to SeaWorld’s voluntary declaration that it would end all orca breeding. Lindsay has also coordinated a new series of Animal Law Symposiums in Los Angeles.

Lindsay graduated from University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2007 after graduating cum laude from New York University in 2003 with a degree in political science. While a law student, Lindsay co-founded the Journal of Animal Law and Ethics, helped bring an animal law clinic to Penn Law and served as president of her student ALDF chapter (SALDF).

As a lawyer, Lindsay learned how much power the law has in creating widespread, lasting change. So when she left private practice in search of a way to help more animals, she came to the Animal Legal Defense Fund knowing we are the only organization using the law with an exclusive focus on improving life for animals.

Outside of the office you’re most likely to find Lindsay testing out a new vegan recipe or playing pub trivia tournaments. She lives in Los Angeles with her mixed flame-point Siamese cat Leo (aliases include “Mr. Lee,” “Precious Honeyface” and “Dr. Leo Lee”) and her true mutt of a dog Willow.

Because of a technical issue on our last program, this interview will run (I hope) this week.

Kristen Lynch from the North American Pet Health Insurance Association spends a half-hour answering questions about a subject that can perplex pet owners but is something most of us should be taking more seriously.

After doing this interview -- and thinking about having raised thousands of dollars to help pay for emergency care for uninsured pets -- I think one of the hallmarks of responsible pet ownership is becoming/has become having insurance to cover your pets. (I will admit that I do not, yet...)

Insurance can be expensive, especially for low-income families and those with multiple pets and/or fixed incomes. Not every family who would benefit from pet insurance will be able to afford it.

Still, every owner should at least be exposed to the existence of the range of policies available, so this segment/podcast is a quick way to accomplish that.

BTW -- Largest claims paid out during 2017 include a $53,000 feline and an almost $48,000 dog!

Links:

American Veterinary Medical Association "Guidelines on Pet Insurance for Pet Owners"

NAPHIA link to all North American pet insurance providers. Be aware of sites that claim to offer reviews and comparisons of pet insurance policies and providers that get paid for referring new customers. They may provide useful information, but I would the actual purchase from the links provided by the NAPHIA site above.

Addison's Disease is a fairly common condition in dogs and horses that results from a lack of steroids being produced by the body. It is the same disease in people and is the opposite of the more common (in dogs) Cushing's Disease, where too many steroids are produced by the animal. This is an almost 14-minute discussion of Addison's with Dr. Merrianne Burtch of Pacific Veterinary Specialists in Capitola and is part of our regular series of discussions of animal health issues.