KSCO Pet Radio

Becky Robinson and Friend

On this podcast, Becky Robinson, founder and president of Alley Cat Allies, talks about improving the status of feral or "community cats." 

She founded the organization 30 years ago and, during that time, is has become the leading cat advocacy organization.

During the 27-minute interview, we discuss a variety of subjects including:

* Trap-Neuter-Return programs for felines

* Shelters becoming more "pro-cat"

* Issues surrounding "orphan" kittens

* How to guestimate the ages of kittens

* How to properly bottle-feed kittens

* Why not to grab every kitten you find without its mom

* How to help cats in your community -- it only takes one or two advocates to make a difference

* Where to turn for help

This was an interesting interview and we are already working to schedule Ms. Robinson in the near future.

Becky Robinson and Friend

On this podcast, Becky Robinson, founder and president of Alley Cat Allies, talks about improving the status of feral or "community cats." 

She founded the organization 30 years ago and, during that time, is has become the leading cat advocacy organization.

During the 27-minute interview, we discuss a variety of subjects including:

* Trap-Neuter-Return programs for felines

* Shelters becoming more "pro-cat"

* Issues surrounding "orphan" kittens

* How to guestimate the ages of kittens

* How to properly bottle-feed kittens

* Why not to grab every kitten you find without its mom

* How to help cats in your community -- it only takes one or two advocates to make a difference

* Where to turn for help

This was an interesting interview and we are already working to schedule Ms. Robinson in the near future.

PODCAST -- The best thing you can do for your canine today -- after the obvious "feed" and "protect" and "let out to potty" -- is walk your dog. I bet that most owners, including myself, who should be walking their canines are not.

I'm fortunate because my lovely wife, Elionora, enjoys taking the dogs for a 1-to-3-mile stroll around the neighborhood most evenings. She especially enjoys how soundly the dogs sleep after their walks.

Dogs need exercise and it is absolutely true that "a tired dog is a happy dog." And walking is as good for people as it is for canines.

But not everyone who would like to walk their dog has enough time or the inclination to do so. Into that void -- and representing the "dogs are family" type of owners -- come professional dogwalkers.

For $25-a-hour (plus/minus) they will make your pup happy while building their own aerobic endurance. You can even hire a runner for your dog, as well as dogsitting, and other services.

KSCO's Josh Stephens is one such pro dogwalker. He works for Wag (an online dogwalking reservation service) and is also the technical director for our weekly program.

Because of his canine experience, Josh is the newest regular cast member of KSCO Pet Radio. Laura and I invited him on this week to talk about what a dogwalking pro knows that many owners do not.

When the interview ended, we all realized how much we hadn't covered but promise to discuss during one or two future dogwalking segments.

If you'd like to contact/hire Josh, and get a free discount coupon, please email him: [email protected].

PODCAST -- The best thing you can do for your canine today -- after the obvious "feed" and "protect" and "let out to potty" -- is walk your dog. I bet that most owners, including myself, who should be walking their canines are not.

I'm fortunate because my lovely wife, Elionora, enjoys taking the dogs for a 1-to-3-mile stroll around the neighborhood most evenings. She especially enjoys how soundly the dogs sleep after their walks.

Dogs need exercise and it is absolutely true that "a tired dog is a happy dog." And walking is as good for people as it is for canines.

But not everyone who would like to walk their dog has enough time or the inclination to do so. Into that void -- and representing the "dogs are family" type of owners -- come professional dogwalkers.

For $25-a-hour (plus/minus) they will make your pup happy while building their own aerobic endurance. You can even hire a runner for your dog, as well as dogsitting, and other services.

KSCO's Josh Stephens is one such pro dogwalker. He works for Wag (an online dogwalking reservation service) and is also the technical director for our weekly program.

Because of his canine experience, Josh is the newest regular cast member of KSCO Pet Radio. Laura and I invited him on this week to talk about what a dogwalking pro knows that many owners do not.

When the interview ended, we all realized how much we hadn't covered but promise to discuss during one or two future dogwalking segments.

If you'd like to contact/hire Josh, and get a free discount coupon, please email him: [email protected].

Dr. Kelly Diehl, Morris Animal Foundation

After a hot and sometimes fatal start 20 years ago, Canine Influenza (aka "Dog Flu") has been getting renewed attention lately. While a vaccine is now available, it can be confusing for owners to decide if their dog(s) need or would benefit from vaccination.

The good news is canine influenza doesn't tend to be as serious/fatal as it was in the past. The bad news is owners find the "flu-like" symptoms their dogs suffer hard to specifically diagnose.

Veterinary internest Dr. Kelly Diehl, senior director of science and communications at Morris Animal Foundation, and I recorded this podcast to explain pretty much everything owners need to know about canine influenza/dog flu -- in less than 20-minutes.

Dr. Kelly Diehl, Morris Animal Foundation

After a hot and sometimes fatal start 20 years ago, Canine Influenza (aka "Dog Flu") has been getting renewed attention lately. While a vaccine is now available, it can be confusing for owners to decide if their dog(s) need or would benefit from vaccination.

The good news is canine influenza doesn't tend to be as serious/fatal as it was in the past. The bad news is owners find the "flu-like" symptoms their dogs suffer hard to specifically diagnose.

Veterinary internest Dr. Kelly Diehl, senior director of science and communications at Morris Animal Foundation, and I recorded this podcast to explain pretty much everything owners need to know about canine influenza/dog flu -- in less than 20-minutes.

Rescue Express is a non-profit rescue tranport service that every two weeks hauls up to 400 homeless pets from Southern California and the Central Valley to rescues and shelters in the Pacific Northwest that have more adopters available than animals available for adoption.

Donate to Rescue Express

They also transport from Texas to Minnesota and plan to expand to the East Coast.

Continued emphasis on spaying/neutering pets and new emphasis on transport programs, such as Rescue Express, have the potential to turn the U.S. into a no-kill nation.

Since 2015, Rescue Express has saved more than 20,000 homeless pets. In 2018, the volunteer group transported 8,600 animals, mostly canines. Here's how the group describes itself:

"Rescue Express, a DBA of MGM Animal foundation, is a free- of-charge shelter animal transporter for over 300 shelters, rescue organization, and individuals.

We operate every weekend, travelling from San Diego, CA to Burnlington, WA. We operate buses with 100 carriers aboard and a tractor trailer with a 300 carrier capacity. The animals are picked up from shelters between San Diego and Redding, CA. and are received by non-kill shelters and rescue groups between Eugene, OR and Burlington, WA."

If you drive Interstate 5 on the weekend, you are almost certain to eventually see the Rescue Express tractor-trailer rig. They start in San Diego early Saturday and finish in Washington state early Sunday.

Since its founding in 2015 by software entrepreneur Mike McCarthy, Rescue Express has faced challenges. Mostly money challenges.

In this podcast, McCarthy says each transport run costs about $4,000. At one time, the group charged for transporting animals with the sending organizations paying. I would think the receivers -- who eventually charge adoption fees -- would be better able to pay.

Donate to Rescue Express

Sure spot in heaven: Rescue Express Founder Mike McCarthy

I must be wrong, though, and Rescue Express now operates as a free service, counting on donations to cover their bills.

That's tough sledding because infrastructure non-profits are generally invisible to the large donor community and miss out on badly-needed money.

Continued emphasis on spay/neuter and new emphasis on transport programs, such as Rescue Express, have the potential to turn the U.S. into a no-kill nation.

Transport is critical and Mike McCarthy's desire to do right by animals has saved thousands of lives and promises to save many thousands more.

Please listen to the podcast and support Mike and Rescue Express. It is a very important project.

Rescue Express is a non-profit rescue tranport service that every two weeks hauls up to 400 homeless pets from Southern California and the Central Valley to rescues and shelters in the Pacific Northwest that have more adopters available than animals available for adoption.

Donate to Rescue Express

They also transport from Texas to Minnesota and plan to expand to the East Coast.

Continued emphasis on spaying/neutering pets and new emphasis on transport programs, such as Rescue Express, have the potential to turn the U.S. into a no-kill nation.

Since 2015, Rescue Express has saved more than 20,000 homeless pets. In 2018, the volunteer group transported 8,600 animals, mostly canines. Here's how the group describes itself:

"Rescue Express, a DBA of MGM Animal foundation, is a free- of-charge shelter animal transporter for over 300 shelters, rescue organization, and individuals.

We operate every weekend, travelling from San Diego, CA to Burnlington, WA. We operate buses with 100 carriers aboard and a tractor trailer with a 300 carrier capacity. The animals are picked up from shelters between San Diego and Redding, CA. and are received by non-kill shelters and rescue groups between Eugene, OR and Burlington, WA."

If you drive Interstate 5 on the weekend, you are almost certain to eventually see the Rescue Express tractor-trailer rig. They start in San Diego early Saturday and finish in Washington state early Sunday.

Since its founding in 2015 by software entrepreneur Mike McCarthy, Rescue Express has faced challenges. Mostly money challenges.

In this podcast, McCarthy says each transport run costs about $4,000. At one time, the group charged for transporting animals with the sending organizations paying. I would think the receivers -- who eventually charge adoption fees -- would be better able to pay.

Donate to Rescue Express

Sure spot in heaven: Rescue Express Founder Mike McCarthy

I must be wrong, though, and Rescue Express now operates as a free service, counting on donations to cover their bills.

That's tough sledding because infrastructure non-profits are generally invisible to the large donor community and miss out on badly-needed money.

Continued emphasis on spay/neuter and new emphasis on transport programs, such as Rescue Express, have the potential to turn the U.S. into a no-kill nation.

Transport is critical and Mike McCarthy's desire to do right by animals has saved thousands of lives and promises to save many thousands more.

Please listen to the podcast and support Mike and Rescue Express. It is a very important project.

This is a classic example of several things done wrong, the end result of which may very likely be euthanasia for two senior dogs. They were not properly socialized and received no training. And then a new adopter got them.

This is a podcast from the December 15, 2019 edition of KSCO Pet Radio. It covers a lot of ground and much of what we discuss is tragic. And avoidable.

Backstory

KSCO's Jack Stine has been given the task of finding a new home for two dogs another KSCO person adopted but has since given up on. Multiple issues at work here, including the myth that no-kill shelters exist to solve the senior canine homeless problem.

Co-host Laura Pakis calls upon her decades of training experience to offer a number of suggestions to make the dogs more friendly and better behaved. She is hopeful that, if some of these ideas are implemented, that the dogs will have a happy future.

It would be easy to cast hard judgment on much of this story. Please don't. We are trying to save these dog's lives, not trying to score cheap points against well-intended mistakes.

It is not clear what the outcome will be. But if you are involved in rescue, adoptions, training, or just care about senior dogs in trouble, please listen. (About 24-minutes long)

This is a classic example of several things done wrong, the end result of which may very likely be euthanasia for two senior dogs. They were not properly socialized and received no training. And then a new adopter got them.

This is a podcast from the December 15, 2019 edition of KSCO Pet Radio. It covers a lot of ground and much of what we discuss is tragic. And avoidable.

Backstory

KSCO's Jack Stine has been given the task of finding a new home for two dogs another KSCO person adopted but has since given up on. Multiple issues at work here, including the myth that no-kill shelters exist to solve the senior canine homeless problem.

Co-host Laura Pakis calls upon her decades of training experience to offer a number of suggestions to make the dogs more friendly and better behaved. She is hopeful that, if some of these ideas are implemented, that the dogs will have a happy future.

It would be easy to cast hard judgment on much of this story. Please don't. We are trying to save these dog's lives, not trying to score cheap points against well-intended mistakes.

It is not clear what the outcome will be. But if you are involved in rescue, adoptions, training, or just care about senior dogs in trouble, please listen. (About 24-minutes long)