KSCO Pet Radio

Dr Merrianne Burtch, Pacific Veterinary Specialists & BirchBark Foundation

A half-hour interview with our favorite veterinary internist on a condition most owners -- dog or cat -- hope they never become too experienced with.

This has been a perplexing disease for me, but after recording this interview, I feel much more equipped to deal with it, or better yet, avoid it in the first place.

Dog harnesses were a favored topic during this "Ask Us Anything" segment

Nathan J. Winograd and friend

This is a fascinating and wide-ranging history of the no-kill shelter movement in America, told by a man who helped create much of that history. The number of animal lives that Nathan's work and influence have saved over the past two decades is certainly in the millions.

I would not be doing this program -- or rescuing animals -- if I had never met Nathan Winograd, who will be on this week to talk about the progress that has been made during the 14 years since he founded the No Kill Advocacy Center. Here is where we will start and work backward:

Sheltering in the United States at a Glance:*

* About 6 million animals enter shelters every year.

* Approximately two million animals are killed.

* Roughly 30 million acquire a new companion animal every year.

* Only 1% of shelter animals are irremediably suffering.

* Over one million people live in communities saving between 98% and 99% of dogs and cats in their shelters (over two million saving at least 98% of dogs).

* Over 10 million people live in communities saving between 90% and 99% of dogs and cats in their shelters. 

* Over 50 million people live in communities saving at least 80% of dogs and cats in their shelters.​​

* courtesy of the No Kill Advocacy Center.

Nathan J. Winograd is a graduate of Stanford Law School, a former criminal prosecutor and corporate attorney, has spoken nationally and internationally on animal sheltering issues, has written animal protection legislation at the state and national level, has created successful No Kill programs in both urban and rural communities, and has consulted with a wide range of animal protection groups including some of the largest and best known in the nation.

His work has been featured widely in such publications as Newsweek, Reader’s Digest, USA Today, and newspapers from all over the country. He has appeared on Fox News, CNN, ABC, and other radio and television affiliates around the country. His creation of the country’s first No Kill community was named one of the Top 100 achievements in the nation by Metropolitan Home in its “Best of the Best” issue. And The Bark magazine calls him “the voice of America’s displaced pets and the conscience of the animal sheltering industry.” His book, Redemption, is the most critically acclaimed book on the topic in the United States and the winner of five national book awards.

As a nationally recognized speaker, Nathan has spoken at national animal welfare conferences from coast to coast. He has spoken internationally as well, in Canada, in Australia, and New Zealand, and has been invited to speak all over the world, including Ireland and the Czech Republic. He has also lectured on animal sheltering ethics to students at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, the nation’s number one ranked veterinary school, and has lectured at the U.C.L.A. School of Law on animal law issues.

In various leadership positions, including Director of Operations, for the San Francisco SPCA, Nathan was instrumental in advancing some of the most progressive shelter programs in the nation, and helped push the lifesaving rate to over three times the national average for an urban community and at the time, the best in the nation. As Executive Director for the Tompkins County (NY) SPCA, he managed the full range of animal control and adoption services in a rural community, including construction of a new Pet Adoption Center achieving unprecedented results.

This is a fascinating and wide-ranging history of the no-kill shelter movement in America, told by a man who helped create much of that history. The number of animal lives that Nathan's work and influence have saved over the past two decades is certainly in the millions.

I would not be doing this program -- or rescuing animals -- if I had never met Nathan Winograd, who will be on this week to talk about the progress that has been made during the 14 years since he founded the No Kill Advocacy Center. Here is where we will start and work backward:

Sheltering in the United States at a Glance:*

About 6 million animals enter shelters every year.

Approximately two million animals are killed.

Roughly 30 million acquire a new companion animal every year.

Only 1% of shelter animals are irremediably suffering.

Over one million people live in communities saving between 98% and 99% of dogs and cats in their shelters (over two million saving at least 98% of dogs).

Over 10 million people live in communities saving between 90% and 99% of dogs and cats in their shelters. 

Over 50 million people live in communities saving at least 80% of dogs and cats in their shelters.​​

* courtesy of the No Kill Advocacy Center.

Nathan J. Winograd is a graduate of Stanford Law School, a former criminal prosecutor and corporate attorney, has spoken nationally and internationally on animal sheltering issues, has written animal protection legislation at the state and national level, has created successful No Kill programs in both urban and rural communities, and has consulted with a wide range of animal protection groups including some of the largest and best known in the nation.

His work has been featured widely in such publications as Newsweek, Reader’s Digest, USA Today, and newspapers from all over the country. He has appeared on Fox News, CNN, ABC, and other radio and television affiliates around the country. His creation of the country’s first No Kill community was named one of the Top 100 achievements in the nation by Metropolitan Home in its “Best of the Best” issue. And The Bark magazine calls him “the voice of America’s displaced pets and the conscience of the animal sheltering industry.” His book, Redemption, is the most critically acclaimed book on the topic in the United States and the winner of five national book awards.

As a nationally recognized speaker, Nathan has spoken at national animal welfare conferences from coast to coast. He has spoken internationally as well, in Canada, in Australia, and New Zealand, and has been invited to speak all over the world, including Ireland and the Czech Republic. He has also lectured on animal sheltering ethics to students at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, the nation’s number one ranked veterinary school, and has lectured at the U.C.L.A. School of Law on animal law issues.

In various leadership positions, including Director of Operations, for the San Francisco SPCA, Nathan was instrumental in advancing some of the most progressive shelter programs in the nation, and helped push the lifesaving rate to over three times the national average for an urban community and at the time, the best in the nation. As Executive Director for the Tompkins County (NY) SPCA, he managed the full range of animal control and adoption services in a rural community, including construction of a new Pet Adoption Center achieving unprecedented results. Nathan is currently the Executive Director of the national No Kill Advocacy Center and the author of five books.

Redemption won five book awards and redefined the animal shelter industry nationwide. Irreconcilable Differences, his second book, is an Indie gold medal winner for Best Book (Animals/Pets). His third book, All American Vegan,

Dog harnesses were a favored topic during this "Ask Us Anything" segment

Dr Merrianne Burtch, Pacific Veterinary Specialists & BirchBark Foundation

When must you take your pet to the emergency vet? Dr. Merrianne Burtch of the BirchBark Foundation and Pacific Veterinary Specialists in Capitola was here for a 5/20 recorded segment. She answers that question, offers a warning about the artificial sweetener xylitol that can kill dogs, as well as snakebite and other emergencies. Here is her blog post on life-threatening substances.

Here is the substance of her ER visits post:

Here are some pretty clear guidelines for when you should take your pet to emergency

* Fever:  Dog and cats have a normal body temperature ranging from 99 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.  If your pet is feeling poorly and has a fever over 103 then a visit to the vet or emergency is indicated. Pets with a temperature of 106 or greater will start to suffer brain damage and need to be cooled with fluids or other therapy

* Vomiting repeatedly and unable to hold down water is another time when you should take action. An animal with severe gastroenteritis or an obstruction in the intestines will become dehydrated and start to have organ dysfunction within about 12 hours of not being able to hydrate.  Weakness and a fast heart rate further indicate a visit to emergency is needed.

* Seizures particularly when a series or cluster of seizures occurs, unless your pet is a known epileptic and you have been guided otherwise.  A seizure can be the result of a single event from changes in the brain chemistry, the first sign of a seizure disorder or an indication of metabolic abnormalities such as low blood sugar, low blood calcium or other electrolyte disorders.  It can also be from ingestion of certain toxins. Because the brain can suffer permanent damage from repeated seizures making sure an underlying cause is not present is essential and checking for a treatable cause can save a life.

* Toxin exposure.  If your pet has consumed prescription medication then the best start is poison control.  You can call yourself and talk to someone at the ASPCA poison control (888) 426-4435 . There is a charge in the $60 range and they can help you decide whether to go the emergency or monitor at home. They can also tell you what to look for.  Some of the other toxins of concern include chocolate which you can check to see whether your dog got a toxic amount here. Other toxins that might demand a visit are xylitol (causes severe low sugar and is life-threatening), poisonous mushrooms (some emergency rooms can help you determine if your pet consumed a poison mushroom especially if you bring it with you or have a picture to identify it), and antifreeze which may cause your pet to seem drunk and causes   life-threatening kidney failure.  Snail bait in the Spring is a common toxin that causes tremors and seizures and requires a visit to the veterinarian.

* Collapse and inability to move can be from heart disease, orthopedic disease or neurologic damage to the brain or spinal cord.  Ideally, your pet should be seen if this occurs because correction of neurologic disease is time sensitive and can make the difference between saving their ability to walk or not. Heart rhythm abnormalities can be life-threatening if not addressed.

* Trauma to the body (hit by car), dogfights with resulting puncture wounds to the chest or abdomen and trauma to the eye can have underlying hidden damage that might be life compromising or vision compromising so the safest option is to hav...

ALDF seeks justice for an abused horse

On this week's program, we'll talk about the  #NotProperty movement in animal welfare, focusing on a lawsuit filed on behalf of an abused horse.

In most (all?) states animals are treated as property, not as sentient creatures with feelings, emotions, and the ability to communicate. That limits humans' ability to protect animals and seek redress for the horrible things that are sometimes done to them.

But what if animals could sue their abusers in court?

ALDF Attorney Sarah Hanneken

That's what the Animal Legal Defense Fund is doing.

My guest this Sunday at 1:08 PM PT will be Sarah Hanneken ALDF litigation fellow. She has an impressive record working to defend animals and it will be interesting to hear about this case and others, including efforts to improve the legal standing of all animals.

Here's the background:

Hillsboro, Oregon – Justice, an eight-year-old horse, is a party to a lawsuit filed today against his former abuser to recover the costs of his ongoing medical care and his pain and suffering. Justice is represented by the Animal Legal Defense Fund, the nation’s preeminent legal advocacy organization for animals. If successful, this groundbreaking lawsuit would be the first to establish that animals have a legal right to sue their abusers in court.

“Horses, like Justice, are intelligent animals with the capacity for rich emotional lives,” says Animal Legal Defense Fund Executive Director Stephen Wells. “Oregon law already recognizes Justice’s right to be free from cruelty – this lawsuit simply expands the remedies available when abusers violate animals’ legal rights.”

Click the image to donate and support ALDF's #NotProperty campaign.

Justice was cruelly neglected for months and endured tremendous pain and suffering. At the time of his rescue, he was emaciated and suffered from frostbite, lice, and rain rot. As a result of his neglect, Justice endured permanent physical and psychological injuries that will require specialized medical care for the rest of his life.

Justice’s abuser pled guilty to criminal animal neglect in 2017. In the criminal plea agreement, she agreed to pay restitution only for the cost of Justice’s care prior to July 6, 2017. The lawsuit seeks damages for Justice’s care since this date and going forward. Any funds awarded to Justice through the lawsuit would be placed in a legal trust established to pay for his care.

Justice was relinquished to Sound Equine Options, an Oregon nonprofit horse rescue and rehabilitation organization. His complicated medical needs are a barrier to finding a permanent home for him, a problem exacerbated by the significant costs of his care.

The Oregon legislature and courts have been a leader in recognizing that animals are sentient beings that occupy a unique position in the law. The Oregon Supreme Court, for example, has already recognized that animals should be considered individual “victims” in criminal animal cruelty cases. However, existing laws still lag far behind our current understanding of animal sentience by classifying animals as property.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund thanks the law firm Lane Powell and the Law Office of Matt Hamity for their assistance on this case.

The complaint is available upon request.

On this week's program, we'll talk about the  #NotProperty movement in animal welfare, focusing on a lawsuit filed on behalf of an abused horse.

In most (all?) states animals are treated as property, not as sentient creatures with feelings, emotions, and the ability to communicate. That limits humans' ability to protect animals and seek redress for the horrible things that are sometimes done to them.

But what if animals could sue their abusers in court?

That's what the Animal Legal Defense Fund is doing.

My guest this Sunday at 1:08 PM PT will be Sarah Hanneken ALDF litigation fellow. She has an impressive record working to defend animals and it will be interesting to hear about this case and others, including efforts to improve the legal standing of all animals.

Here's the background:

Hillsboro, Oregon – Justice, an eight-year-old horse, is a party to a lawsuit filed today against his former abuser to recover the costs of his ongoing medical care and his pain and suffering. Justice is represented by the Animal Legal Defense Fund, the nation’s preeminent legal advocacy organization for animals. If successful, this groundbreaking lawsuit would be the first to establish that animals have a legal right to sue their abusers in court.

“Horses, like Justice, are intelligent animals with the capacity for rich emotional lives,” says Animal Legal Defense Fund Executive Director Stephen Wells. “Oregon law already recognizes Justice’s right to be free from cruelty – this lawsuit simply expands the remedies available when abusers violate animals’ legal rights.”

Justice was cruelly neglected for months and endured tremendous pain and suffering. At the time of his rescue, he was emaciated and suffered from frostbite, lice, and rain rot. As a result of his neglect, Justice endured permanent physical and psychological injuries that will require specialized medical care for the rest of his life.

Justice’s abuser pled guilty to criminal animal neglect in 2017. In the criminal plea agreement, she agreed to pay restitution only for the cost of Justice’s care prior to July 6, 2017. The lawsuit seeks damages for Justice’s care since this date and going forward. Any funds awarded to Justice through the lawsuit would be placed in a legal trust established to pay for his care.

Justice was relinquished to Sound Equine Options, an Oregon nonprofit horse rescue and rehabilitation organization. His complicated medical needs are a barrier to finding a permanent home for him, a problem exacerbated by the significant costs of his care.

The Oregon legislature and courts have been a leader in recognizing that animals are sentient beings that occupy a unique position in the law. The Oregon Supreme Court, for example, has already recognized that animals should be considered individual “victims” in criminal animal cruelty cases. However, existing laws still lag far behind our current understanding of animal sentience by classifying animals as property.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund thanks the law firm Lane Powell and the Law Office of Matt Hamity for their assistance on this case.

The complaint is available upon request.

When must you take your pet to the emergency vet? Dr. Merrianne Burtch of the BirchBark Foundation and Pacific Veterinary Specialists in Capitola was here for a 5/20 recorded segment. She answers that question, offers a warning about the artificial sweetener xylitol that can kill dogs, as well as snakebite and other emergencies. Here is her blog post on life-threatening substances.

Here is the substance of her ER visits post:

Here are some pretty clear guidelines for when you should take your pet to emergency

Fever:  Dog and cats have a normal body temperature ranging from 99 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.  If your pet is feeling poorly and has a fever over 103 then a visit to the vet or emergency is indicated. Pets with a temperature of 106 or greater will start to suffer brain damage and need to be cooled with fluids or other therapy

Vomiting repeatedly and unable to hold down water is another time when you should take action. An animal with severe gastroenteritis or an obstruction in the intestines will become dehydrated and start to have organ dysfunction within about 12 hours of not being able to hydrate.  Weakness and a fast heart rate further indicate a visit to emergency is needed.

Seizures particularly when a series or cluster of seizures occurs, unless your pet is a known epileptic and you have been guided otherwise.  A seizure can be the result of a single event from changes in the brain chemistry, the first sign of a seizure disorder or an indication of metabolic abnormalities such as low blood sugar, low blood calcium or other electrolyte disorders.  It can also be from ingestion of certain toxins. Because the brain can suffer permanent damage from repeated seizures making sure an underlying cause is not present is essential and checking for a treatable cause can save a life.

Toxin exposure.  If your pet has consumed prescription medication then the best start is poison control.  You can call yourself and talk to someone at the ASPCA poison control (888) 426-4435 . There is a charge in the $60 range and they can help you decide whether to go the emergency or monitor at home. They can also tell you what to look for.  Some of the other toxins of concern include chocolate which you can check to see whether your dog got a toxic amount here. Other toxins that might demand a visit are xylitol (causes severe low sugar and is life-threatening), poisonous mushrooms (some emergency rooms can help you determine if your pet consumed a poison mushroom especially if you bring it with you or have a picture to identify it), and antifreeze which may cause your pet to seem drunk and causes   life-threatening kidney failure.  Snail bait in the Spring is a common toxin that causes tremors and seizures and requires a visit to the veterinarian.

Collapse and inability to move can be from heart disease, orthopedic disease or neurologic damage to the brain or spinal cord.  Ideally, your pet should be seen if this occurs because correction of neurologic disease is time sensitive and can make the difference between saving their ability to walk or not. Heart rhythm abnormalities can be life-threatening if not addressed.

Trauma to the body (hit by car), dogfights with resulting puncture wounds to the chest or abdomen and trauma to the eye can have underlying hidden damage that might be life compromising or vision compromising so the safest option is to have your pet evaluated if they experience such trauma.

Here is a link to the ASPCA's chocolate hazards post. Here is a paw'd cast interview with ASPCA poison control chief Dr. Tina Wismer. Here is the ASPCA poison control app and chocolate toxicity calculator.

When must you take your pet to the emergency vet? Dr. Merrianne Burtch of the BirchBark Foundation and Pacific Veterinary Specialists in Capitola was here for a 5/20 recorded segment. She answers that question, offers a warning about the artificial sweetener xylitol that can kill dogs, as well as snakebite and other emergencies. Here is her blog post on life-threatening substances. Here is the substance of her ER visits post: Here are some pretty clear guidelines for when you should take your pet to emergency Fever:  Dog and cats have a normal body temperature ranging from 99 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.  If your