KSCO Pet Radio

Sabrina Ashjian, HSUS

PODCAST (16:19) -- Sabrina Ashjian, California State Director for the Humane Society of the United States, shares CA state legislative priorities for 2020.

We discuss HSUS’ advocacy efforts on behalf of all animals. Listen and learn about ways you can get involved in amplifying the message to your legislators and find out how to participate in Humane Lobby Day and other upcoming events.”

Proposed legislation and other topics we discussed:

* AB2059-ending toxicity testing on dogs (which would be the first in the nation!)

* AB2152-strengthening the ban on puppy mills

* A couple of other bills we’re supporting from other organizations

* Consumer protection week this (3/2) week and how this relates to puppy mills and other scams

* Efforts to make sure previous legislation is enforced

This podcast is the second half of an interview from 3/1/20.

About Sabrina Ashjian

I share this long bio because we a fortunate to have so much experience and compassion on our side.

Sabrina Ashjian is the California State Director for the Humane Society of the United States. Recently she served as Chairperson of the Cannabis Control Appeals Panel after being appointed by Governor Brown in 2018. Previously she was an environmental crimes and consumer fraud prosecutor pursuing against companies for predatory practices and environmental harms. For her work handling illegal hunting and poaching cases she was chosen as the 2016 recipient of the “Prosecutor of the Year” award from California Department of Fish & Wildlife.

She began her career as a public defender, serving in juvenile and adult courts as well as restorative programs including juvenile drug court, homeless court, welfare fraud diversion, and Veterans Stand Down.

Sabrina has broad public policy & legislative experience, serving as Legislative Chair for California Women Lawyers, Public Policy Vice Chair for National Women’s Political Caucus of California, on California Lawyers Association Environmental Section’s Legislative Committee, and previously on California District Attorneys Association’s Environmental Legislative Subcommittee. In addition to working on legislative issues, she conducts presentations statewide about the fundamentals of legislation and advocacy.

Sabrina received a Presidential Academic Scholarship to attend George Washington University, graduating cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a secondary field in English. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Journalism and a JD/MBA from Pepperdine University. She received certificates from the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution and the Palmer Center for Entrepreneurship & the Law. She is admitted to practice law in California, New York, and in the United States Supreme Court.

She serves on the statewide non-profit boards of National Women’s Political Caucus of California, California Women Lawyers, Emerge California, and California Lawyers Association Environmental Section Executive Committee. In addition to this statewide work, she serves on the regional non-profit boards of Central California Legal Services, Inc. as Vice President, and is President-Elect for both Philanthropy Inspired by the Needs of our Community (PINC) and the Fresno County Bar Association. Sabrina is co-chair of California Women Lawyers Gender Equity Task Force, a member of California Lawyers Association Environmental Section’s Diversity Committee, and a member of Emerge California’s Central Valley Advisory Team. In the Central Valley she participates on an environmental justice task force and an access to justice coalition. She is also a member of the Environmental Law Institute and the Armenian Bar Association.

 

PODCAST (25:28) -- Fear about what happens to family pets can be an important reason abused spouses don't leave their abusers. In some cases, violence against pets evolves into violence against people.

As pet lovers we have a responsibility to demand better for both pets and abused families. That puts us on the side of my guest Nancy Blaney, who is responsible for governmental affairs at the Animal Welfare Institute in Washington, D.C.

We cover a lot of ground during this intervew. Nancy will be back on May 31.

Here's what we talked about on 2/23/20:

* How are animal cruelty and interpersonal violence connected?

* What should someone do if he or she suspects animal cruelty?

* Animal cruelty, forget what you've read, generally doesn't violate federal law?

* How will the recent passage of the federal Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act offer more resources to domestic violence survivors and their pets?

* What is the Safe Havens Mapping Project?

Here is Nancy's bio and information about AWI, which has a very informative website:

Nancy Blaney is director of government affairs for the Animal Welfare Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization that is dedicated to reducing animal suffering caused by people.

Her portfolio encompasses many issues, inclusing enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, legislation affecting companion animals and animals used in research, and the relationship between animal cruelty and other forms of violence and the need to improve the prosecution of animal-related crimes.

PODCAST (19:51) -- Steven Feldman was a great guest on the 2/23/20 program. The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) has done great work promoting the value pets bring to our lives. Click on the above link to see what they do.

Last week, HABRI released a report detailing to role pets can play in addressing the epidemic loneliness that haunts so many Americans.

I prepared a long post that includes the press release announcing the landmark study as well as the study itself. I encourage you to read the study and think about how pet owners and our companion animals might better help the lonely in our communities.

About Steven Feldman

HABRI Exec Dir Steven Feldman

Steven Feldman is the Executive Director of the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI). His mission is to advance the science that demonstrates the positive roles that pets and other animals play in the integrated health of individuals, families and communities.

Steven is an experienced public affairs advocate who has worked in the areas of wildlife conservation, animal welfare, healthcare and education. Prior to joining HABRI, Steve served as senior vice president for external affairs for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. He also worked at Powell Tate, a leading public affairs firm, and as a staff member in the United States Senate.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Affairs and a Master’s Degree in Political Management from the George Washington University.

About HABRI

Founded by the American Pet Products Association, Zoetis, and Petco, and supported by a growing number of organizations and individuals, the HABRI Foundation is fast becoming the go-to resource for research and information on the human-animal bond. Since its formation in 2010, HABRI has created the world’s largest online library of human-animal interaction science, HABRI Central, and has funded more than $3 million in innovative research projects. HABRI Central has become a powerful tool utilized by academics and research scientists to scientifically document the health benefits of companion animals.

HABRI also informs the public about groundbreaking human-animal bond research and the beneficial role of companion animals in society. The growing body of scientific evidence that demonstrates the specific health benefits of the human-animal bond can be used by everyone – from doctors to policymakers – to make informed decisions that improve the health and wellbeing of people, pets and the communities where they live.

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PODCAST (3:50) -- The good news is that pets and their owners have little to fear so far from the novel coronavirus COVID-19, says Dr. Kelly Diehl of Morris Animal Foundation.

This is a very short (and hopefully reassuring) podcast recorded on 2/23/20 during that Sunday's program.

PODCAST (23:37) -- I hope we made a new friend today, because Patti Strand, president of the National Animal Interest Alliance, was certainly educational and well-spoken on a wide range of companion animal and shelter issues.

We had never met previously and I'd also never heard of NAIA before. They are a group with a much different perspective from the big animal welfare organizations.

Here is her bio:

"Patti is a recognized expert and consultant on contemporary animal issues, most notably responsible dog ownership and the animal rights movement.

"She often appears on radio and television and her articles on canine issues, animal welfare, public policy, and animal rights have appeared in major US news publications and in trade, professional and scientific journals.

"Patti and her husband Rod co-authored The Hijacking of the Humane Movement: Animal Extremism in 1993, the first US book exposing the extremism of the animal rights movement.

"Patti has been a Dalmatian breeder and enthusiast since 1969, is an approved AKC judge and was a member of the AKC Board of Directors from 1995 through 2011. She holds a degree in political science from Portland State University."  

I am still processing some of the issues we talked about. Just having a conversation with a longtime American Kennel Club board member was very enlightening. Listen to the podcast and tell me what you think. It was just a little mind-bending.

The box containing the Fi Smart Dog Collar.

PODCAST (14:44) -- Blogger Christy Caplan is a regular guest on the radio program and is the one who introduced me to the Fi Smart Dog Collar. She has an almost new Whistle GO Smart Collar but later found out about the Fi, which she convinced me to purchase.

On this program, we do a comparison between the two smart dog collars and Christy decides she needs a Fi, since her primary purchase motivation -- like mine -- is search-and-rescue of her dog if he becomes lost.

Amazon does not sell the Fi. Visit tryfi.com to read about it. I will be posting a long Fi review -- probaby with a special discount coupon -- later this week. 

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Dr. Alice Villalobos

Veterinary oncologist Dr. Alice Villalobos has prepared two pet Quality of Life Scales (below) to give pet parents and professionals an objective way to assess the effects of cancer, aging, and other diseases upon an animal's life. This information can be used in making euthanasia decisions in the animal's best interest.

During this podcast, she talks through the canine scale and mentions particular feline issues from that scale. This podcast is from February 9, 2020.

Here previous podcast about cancer warning signs is posted here.

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Dr. Alice Villalobos

Veterinary oncologist Dr. Alice Villalobos has prepared two pet Quality of Life Scales (below) to give pet parents and professionals an objective way to assess the effects of cancer, aging, and other diseases upon an animal's life. This information can be used in making euthanasia decisions in the animal's best interest.

During this podcast, she talks through the canine scale and mentions particular feline issues from that scale. This podcast is from February 9, 2020.

Here previous podcast about cancer warning signs is posted here.

Sharon Lohman, founder and president of New Beginnings for Merced County Animals has been in prison this week and couldn't be happier.

Sharon recorded this podcast with us before her three-day visit this week to the Lancaster State Prison in support of the Paws for Life Prison Program, in which prisoners help train service dogs for PTSD veterans, firehouses, and some Canine Good Citizen public adoptions. (Please follow the link to a really interesting page).

She has been involved in the widely acclaimed life-changing program -- for both people and dogs -- and New Beginnings supplies some of the dogs that become part of the program.

This podcast will brighten your day!

Sharon Lohman, founder and president of New Beginnings for Merced County Animals has been in prison this week and couldn't be happier.

Sharon recorded this podcast with us before her three-day visit this week to the Lancaster State Prison in support of the Paws for Life Prison Program, in which prisoners help train service dogs for PTSD veterans, firehouses, and some Canine Good Citizen public adoptions. (Please follow the link to a really interesting page).

She has been involved in the widely acclaimed life-changing program -- for both people and dogs -- and New Beginnings supplies some of the dogs that become part of the program.

This podcast will brighten your day!