NYK Experts Uncut

In this episode founder and director of Zoocheck, Rob Laidlaw, outlines which animals comprise exotic versus domesticated species. Rob shocks us with the numbers involved in the massive exotic pet trade: globally, if you include fish, this effects hundreds of millions of animals. The consequences of this industry not only to the animals themselves from a welfare point of view, but also to human health and safety, and additionally, to our natural environment is devastating, but Rob guides us through changes we can make in our everyday lives to help the situation.

In this podcast, listen as founder and director of Zoocheck, Rob Laidlaw, takes us through the complexities that are the patchwork of laws and regulations that comprise Canada’s insufficient and quite frankly, broken animal welfare protection system. This episode will have you charged to get involved and help strengthen Canada’s legislation so that all animals are protected, even those currently exempted due to practices such as factory farming and testing.

In this episode, Rob Laidlaw of Zoocheck highlights how this magnificent species, fascinating to people the world over, is one of the most prized and, therefore, most in demand at zoos around the globe, as they are a star mega-fauna attraction. However, polar bears are in fact one of most ill-suited species to captivity according to scientific research, given their wide-ranging nature and very specific and complex physical and psychological needs. Rob lays out the problems associated with keeping them in captivity and provides us with the tools we need to identify welfare problems when seeing them in zoos.

Did you know that Canada has several populations of wild free-roaming horses? Listen as Julie Woodyer, Campaigns Director, Zoocheck, and one of the most competent animal advocates working in Canada today, tells us all about Canada’s wild populations, their history and their cultural significance. Learn in detail about the current plight of Alberta’s wild horses, the ones that most need our protection, and what you can do to help keep them free.

Ever wonder if there are ways you can spruce up your doggie’s life experience? Ever think that that one walk a day may be boring your pooch as much as it feels like a chore to you? In this expert interview, listen as founder and director of Zoocheck, Rob Laidlaw, points out everything from how to improve your best friend’s walk experience, to how to choose the best diet, and whether or not your little buddy would prefer to spend her or his days alone or with a companion. Learn how to make little tweaks to your daily routine that can result in a huge boost to your dog’s existence!

In this practical and informative expert interview, listen as Liz White, founder of the Animal Alliance of Canada and leader of the Animal Protection Party of Canada, gives us insightful and useful information on where we should be acquiring our pets. Learn the reasons why choosing the right place can have a big impact on animal welfare more generally. One example tip: make sure you are allowed to see the place your pet is coming from – this will allow you to ensure it is a reputable facility!

In this episode, listen as Dr. Lori Marino, neuroscientist, expert in animal behaviour and intelligence brings to light the ubiquitous and unnecessary waste of life in routine school dissections. In this expert interview Lori underscores not only the efficacy of animal-friendly alternatives to dissection, but also how research has actually found these alternatives to be superior teaching tools. This interview reveals that many schools will not only provide alternatives to dissection if asked, but in fact in certain countries, including Canada, they are required to by law.

In this episode, Kathryn interviews Dr. Andrew Fenton and Dr. Letitia Meynell, philosophy professors at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia with specialties in bioethics, epistemology and animal ethics. Listen in as they remind us that even the top zoo industry leaders and personnel understand the importance of starting from the premise that captivity is inherently wrong. Taking care of captive animals then becomes a challenge of how can we best do this and meet each individual beings’ needs most effectively. Listen as these thoughtful and knowledgeable experts remind us that animals are not ‘things’ and should not be considered property under the law, as is sadly the reality in many countries around the globe.

In this episode, Kathryn speaks with Rob Laidlaw, founder and director of the Canadian animal protection charity Zoocheck. Listen as Rob describes the little known zoo approach of framing, which functions as a type of deception for the visitor, making animals appear like they are in more natural surroundings than they actually are. This practice caters to the human, rather than the animal, and is found frequently at zoos and aquariums around the globe. Learn what we as animal lovers can do to ensure a high standard of animal welfare if we do visit one of these facilities.