Professionals & Animal Lovers Show

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has." ~ Margaret Meade

This week, we welcome a difference maker and world changer E Garcia of Ridgewood Rescue. E recognized a problem in their hometown and did not turn a blind eye to it. Instead, they took the reins and gathered a few of their animal loving friends to become part of the solution. Ridgewood Rescue was born just a few months ago in the fall of 2021. This team has serious goals to raise awareness about the community cats problem, to TNR (trap, neuter, return) the feral/non-adoptable cats and to get the friendly stray cats/kittens adopted. 

E is a true thought leader and also came out as non-binary years ago, well before society truly recognized what it meant to do so. We are honored and excited to have them on our show as both the first feline rescue 501c3 and the first non-binary guest.

Tune in for this heart-felt conversation at TalkRadio.nyc or watch the Facebook Livestream by Clicking Here.

Tommy D opens up today’s show. He talks about learning about animal advocacy and how even someone like him is always learning more about this topic and being compassionate for animals. Today’s guest is E Garcia. E works with Ridgewood Rescue. This non profit organization is dedicated to raising awareness about the community cats problem; to reduce the population of cats by fixing ferals and finding homes for sociable stray cats and kittens in the Ridgewood neighborhood of Queens, NY through community education as well as adoption. They also have a program called TNR (trap, neuter, return). Val talks a little about different types of traps like the different sizes to be able to catch stray kittens and cats or even drop traps as Val and E explain more about. The way E started the idea of Ridewood Rescue was when E and their wife found kittens in their backyard. Their local vet helped them find the kittens a safe place where they are out of the cold and bad conditions. Since then, she started learning about TNR and met more amazing people along the way. They then decided that there should be more resources like dealing with the experience that they had helping these kittens.

Coming back from the break, E talks more about helping the kittens they found. The vet they went to talked to them about how to take them in safely. The real issue was when they called different rescues that weren’t able to help the feral who was the mother of those kittens. Unfortunately most rescues that E called were overwhelmed. E says that they got their TNR certification through a group called Neighborhood Cats. They are very informative on safely trapping cats and you can learn more at neighborhoodcats.org. E and Val also talk about using affordable sources around you like styrofoam coolers to keep cats warm. Val also mentions that for all rescues in New York, there is grant money available by filling out an application through the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

Tommy shows us Ridgewood Rescue’s website through the Facebook Livestream. Val speaks about the idea of trappers networking and working with each other. E shares some similar information like Neighborhood Cats lending out traps. They also said that Ridgewood Rescue is also trying to do a local TNR get together where they can connect with other certified individuals and share advice and talk about any issues as well as share some of their ongoing projects. E also shares that there are local vets and other organizations offering spay neuters at a low cost which Ridgewood Rescue have also been working with. Costs range between $86-$130. The majority of donations, E says, goes to these kinds of costs. Val says that she feels what we need most is awareness because if more people knew about these resources helping stray cats and kittens , there would probably be more donations and more people wanting to be trappers. E says that the least one can do with a cat they rescued is to spay and neuter their cat. They also discuss how the winter season is important for TNR’s to help as many cats and kittens as a cat can have as much litter and kittens can get pregnant as early as 4-6 months.

Coming back from the final break, Val points out that E is the first non binary guest to come on the show. Val says that it shows how connected we all are, coming from all walks of life to advocate for animals and to show love for all animals. E shares their story about discovering who they are and how when they were in kindergarten, their parents wouldn’t let them get a mohawk and so they decided to shave their hair off and have a buzz cut. Unfortunately, E was bullied a lot so they thought being feminine would make things easier. It wan until around 2013 that they heard the term gender-queer. E says that they didn’t really know there were other options than being male or female and so they started to learn more and gender. It was like a lightbulb hit and they understood it so well. They still don’t always feel safe bringing it up and talking to people about it. Val and E share that the first person that you should remember to care for is yourself and that it’s okay to explore and allow yourself to have the freedom to understand and know what makes you happy. If you are local in the Ridgewood area or elsewhere nearby, E says that you may be able to foster. You can follow Ridgewood Rescue on social media as well. If you visit their website at ridgewoodrescue.com, you can also sign up to volunteer and of course donate searching them up through Venmo. Tommy and Val thank E very much for joining them! Next week, their guest is Sandy Weaver, an AKC judge, who has also been involved in dog sports and Siberian huskies.

Most of us dog owners take many precautions to ensure the safety of our beloved fur babies. We have seatbelts for their car rides, we keep them on a leash, we never leave them alone in the car, some of us carry pepper spray or mini air horns God forbid we encounter an aggressive animal on our walks. 

But how many of us are prepared for an attack from above?

This week, we have the privilege of having Michael Caruso, owner and inventor of Raptor Shield as our guest. His treasured yorkie was picked up and carried away by a red tailed hawk and she was one of the fortunate ones because she escaped and survived the attack. 

Learn about how these scenarios are not as uncommon as you would think and how to protect your most precious family members from falling victim to these exquisite predators

Tune in for this heart-felt conversation at TalkRadio.nyc or watch the Facebook Livestream by Clicking Here.

Tommy D and Val open up today’s episode talking about how grateful they are for the success so far with this show which is because of you, everyone tuning in! They also talk about dog shows, and about the movie Best in Show. Val jokes about how there’s a character in the movie that reminded her of Tommy. Tommy and Val introduce their guest, Michael Caruso, from Raptor Shield, which provides protection jackets for small dogs protecting them from predators. Michael’s yorkie, Daisy, was victim to being carried away by a red tailed hawk and fortunately survived the attack. Val tells us that these scenarios happen more often than people think. Michael and his brother designed and came up with the idea to find protection for small dogs after this incident. They found that the material used in these jackets, which is also used for making bullet proof glass, can sustain even bites from coyotes.

Tommy shows us on the Facebook Livestream Raptor Shield through their Amazon page. Michael says that Raptor Shield is designed based on the common weights of dogs as well because birds like hawks are able to pick up dogs as much as 20 lbs. Michael says that other kinds of birds of prey are owls, eagles and falcons. Raptor Shield is very lightweight, comfortable, adjustable, made of 20 gauge polycarbonate and saves lives. Val talks about people she knows who’s dogs have been in similar situations to Michael’s yorkie. Michael makes a point that birds of prey are more aggressive than ever today.

Coming back from the break, Tommy asks a curious question about customizing a raptor shield and whether he can put a team’s logo on it. Unfortunately, right now that’s not possible but an interesting idea! Michael talks about going through different phases in the design process for the shield. They came up with putting a lining on the inside, fully cushioned, making other improvements, and got a great amount of support from many pet owners. Raptor Shield can be found on Amazon in the U.S as well as Canada. When speaking about protecting dogs other than using the jacket, Raptor Shield has also created a Raptor collar to protect the neck area. Michael, Tommy, and Val get more into the topic of eagles and how brutal they can be. Michael mentions terrible moments of eagles picking up animals like goats. We are proud to say that Michael’s Raptor Shield has saved dogs from moments like these. Although dog owners may worry about the shield not covering their dog's head for example, based on statistics, birds of prey are more likely to attack the back of their prey.

Tommy asks Val and Michael how many animals live with them. Val has 4 pets with her and Michael has had some dogs but now due to traveling a lot, he decided to not have any pets right now. Michael, noticing that Val has cats, mentions that the shield can also help cats. It will be effective…that's if they want to wear it. Val switches gears and talks more about what's happening today in terms of animal advocacy. She also is encouraging pet lovers and animal lovers who live in the state of New York to reach out to their assembly person and ask them for their support on the Anti Puppy Mill Bill. Michael briefly talks about the success of Raptor Shield and gives some advice on protecting your dog. Tommy and Val thank Michael very much for joining today’s show. There are many people who might not be aware of this protective shield, even Tommy didn’t know before this episode. You can find Michael Caruso on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Linkedin by searching for Raptor Shield. To learn more about the product you can also visit raptorshield.com.

Information for you about real estate as related to dogs

Supply and demand will always drive any market and right now the demand is incredibly strong for pet-friendly homes. It's not just about schools and taxes, it's now about where Jovi (or Fido) will be happiest!

Whether you're a landlord, a tenant, a 1st time home buyer or a real estate investor, this episode is for you. And if you're a pet owner, well… all of our episodes are for you! Join us with our special guest, Jacqueline Dworkin.

Tune in for this heart-felt conversation at TalkRadio.nyc or watch the Facebook Livestream by Clicking Here.

Tommy D introduces himself and Valerie and wishes everyone a Happy New Year. Tommy reiterates the goal of their show which is to advocate and educate others about animals, pets, and the bond between pets and owners and vice versa. Val asks listeners to look up their local assembly leader if you are someone who is against the poor treatment of animals and wants to support a bill that would prohibit the retail sale of animals from mills such as puppy mills. Puppy mills are dog breeding facilities that continue to make more puppies for profit, disregarding the cruel conditions. You can look up your assembly leader at nyassembly.gov and the bill number is A4283; this is the Anti Puppy Mill Bill. Tommy D also introduces their special guest, Jackie. Jackie is Val’s close friend, who she met through networking. Jackie is a realtor who works with the company Homes by Mara Realty and is of course, an animal lover! Pre-pandemic, Home by Mara used to host adoption events where many puppies and dogs would get adopted.

Val introduces the topic of today's show. Val talks about how realtors may deal with pets when doing their jobs with their partners or clients. Jackie talks about how one of her sellers had five dogs and she had to move them all to the back of the house and to the front depending on where the visitors were going to look. Val, Tommy and Jackie speak about what makes a dog an emotional support dog, or whether all dogs should be seen as emotional support dogs. Jackie makes a point that ever since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been an uptick of pet adoptions. There are also many locations that are becoming more pet friendly, like hotels. When it comes to real estate, Val asks Jackie about whether the younger generation, who tend to gravitate towards supporting many social causes, look for homes that are close to dog parks. Jackie says that it all depends on where they are in their life. She says that if a couple is having children, sometimes it’s more likely that they’ll have cats.

Coming back from the break, Tommy D moves more into the topic of real estate and asks Jackie about the real estate market and furthering the movement on advocacy for animals through Home by Mara. She says that they would host events such as pet adoptions and they would get a lot of news coverage and meet a lot of great people. Jackie talks about how strong the competition is with home buyers and sellers as the costs of homes continue to grow. She also says that the rental market has also been big as there are people who may look to rent as they're unsure or unable to own a house, especially due to issues caused by the pandemic. The cost for rent has gone up to even $4,500. Val says that when interviewing real estate agents, to make sure that they are pet friendly or even passionate about animals. They also mention about making sure that those who work in moving companies are mindful about this too. Val gave an example of how her dog was stepped on by a mover .

Coming back from the final break, Tommy asks Jackie about people that she knows in different industries who are also passionate about animal advocacy. She mentions an inspector who in general is very kind, especially when going into homes where there are pets. Tommy also mentions the late Betty White, who Jackie says was a big animal lover. Fans around the world have joined to donate to shelters and rescues in honor of Betty White. Tommy and Val thank Jackie for coming on the show today. Next week, P.A.L.S will have a special guest from Raptor Shield which provides protective vests for dogs to help limit their exposure to animal threats such as hawks, coyotes and other predators.

Johnna Devereaux has been a small business owner for over a decade. Devereaux is the founder of Fetch RI, a holistic pet boutique and supply retail store.

As a Clinical Pet Nutritionist, Devereaux has been invited to speak at veterinary hospitals to speak about the benefits of proper nutrition for dogs and cats. Devereaux has also been a repeat presenter at Potters League University, teaching children and adults the benefits of feeding pets in a species-appropriate way. Devereaux’s writings can be found in Animal Print magazine, Rhode Island’s Family Guide and the 2019 Health and Wellness Guide for Southern New England.

Devereaux has been featured as a Trailblazer in the pet industry by Pets+ Magazine and her store, Fetch RI, has been awarded “Best of Rhode Island” by Editor’s Pick and Reader’s Choice. Fetch RI has also been awarded “Top Dog” by Animal Print magazine. Devereaux has completed a BFA from New York University and the Clinical Pet Nutritionist program from the Academy of Natural Health Sciences.

Tune in for this heart-felt conversation at TalkRadio.nyc or watch the Facebook Livestream by Clicking Here.

Starting off today’s show, we have special guest Johnna Devereaux on P.A.L.S joining Tommy and Val for the last show of the year! Tommy talks about how this show is about connecting with people, especially in business, who look out for animals and have a deep love and connections with animals. Jonna is a clinical pet nutritionist and founder of Fetch RI, a holistic pet boutique and supply retail store. As a Clinical Pet Nutritionist, Devereaux is invited to speak at events about the importance of proper nutrition for dogs and cats. Johnna unfortunately lost one of her closest friends, her pet dog, Diego. Johnna emotionally speaks about Diego, whom she adopted when he was 8 weeks old. Diego was a K9 dog constantly going to the vet having problems with his nutrition and things like ear infections. As someone who knows a lot about herbs and is a herbalist, Johnna wanted to learn more about nutrition for K9 dogs. She found that by making Diego homemade food, his problems got much better. Val talks about her dog who she did not know was allergic to certain foods that she was giving them. It's a great thing that pet nutritionists are more common today.

Johnna says that one of the things she finds great and important about her relationship with her customers is that she would not sell foods and bring anything into her store that she wouldn’t feed her own dog. She wants to make sure that she does her research as Tommy shows us on the Facebook Livestream, showing viewers her website. When it comes to the health and well being of cats and dogs, Johnna as a herbalist is also familiar with Eastern medicine and she researches different herbs that one can blend. Tommy asks Johnna how one can know what their pet has in terms of allergies. Johnna says that there are certain blood tests that they go through. She says that it’s more about the quality about the ingredients rather than the ingredients themselves that might be affecting an animal. It’s about analyzing the symptoms and signs and then eliminating whatever is causing problems. Johnna also says that seeing better results in your pet or even ourselves takes time.

Coming back from the break, Val reminds us that anyone is invited to come on the show, as long as you love animals of course! Val asks Johnna about becoming a pet nutritionist. Johnna recommends doing research about taking a class. She explains that some schools may not be teaching things about dogs for example that is completely factual. Val and Johnna talk about how dogs consume different foods and how it affects them. Johnna says that it’s important to try to maintain the nutritional value of foods, hence why she says that depending on the vegetable, she feeds it raw to her dog. But she confirms that dogs are carnivores, they will always gravitate towards proteins. Johnna talks about how K9 dogs are dogs that have bodies that will naturally digest raw foods, something that she fully supports when choosing what to feed them. If someone is unsure about preparing their pets meals, she says that there are brands that have raw or lightly prepared meals that they can look into.

Coming back from the final break, Val and Johnna talk more about nutrition for dogs. It’s better to invest in your dog's food and well being than to invest in their sickness. Johnna says that one should never ever give dogs a cooked bone. Their bodies won’t break it down the same way. The bones that dogs should consume are ones like raw chicken or beef. Val brings up that during times like the holidays, some families may decide to bring in a furry friend to the family. Johnna mentions that after adopting a dog, one should give it about 2 weeks for them to settle in, so don’t change their diet drastically. After they've settled down, then they should take them to a pet nutritionist or vet. Val and Johnna talk about the options dog owners have when taking care of their pet’s nutrition depending on what they can afford and do. You can find more about Johnna Devereaux at Fetchri.com. You can also find out about her work with Bow Wow Labs, who strive to keep dogs safer, healthier, and happier. On behalf of P.A.L.S, Val wished everyone a happy holiday and thanked Johnna for coming on the last show of the year!

“Who rescued who?” This old adage is perfect in describing the life-changing events of this week’s guest Mr. John R. Dingley.

When COVID struck, John along with millions of others in the hospitality field had to face unparalleled struggles. He started to paint just for a welcomed distraction and a creative outlet. Little did he know that destiny was hard at work bringing the gift of unconditional love via his rescue dog “Bronson” as well as the gift of meaning & inspiration!

Now John has created a legitimate business painting pet portraits and he has combined all of his loves into a venture that feeds his soul while giving back to rescues. Aren’t animals amazing?!!

Tune in for this heart-felt conversation at TalkRadio.nyc or watch the Facebook Livestream by Clicking Here.

As always, Val and Tommy start off the show with a goofy introduction of PALS mission--to create a network of compassionate individuals who care about animals and animal welfare. Tommy mentions how Val has had a major impact on him, specifically when he noticed when he was asking dog-owners where they had gotten their canines. Val adds that their number one choice is always to adopt. She adds, if there is a specific breed you're looking for and have not had any luck finding them, there are many other breed-specific dog rescues that exist. Petfinder is a great resource to consult first. And the ultimate last choice is to consult reputable breeders.

Today's guest is John R. Dingley, an artist who focuses on pet portraits. He came to Manhattan from Dublin, Ireland, and started off his career working as a bartender. Fortunately, John's fiancee motivated him to get back into art once the pandemic started and everyone needed to stay home and physically isolate. It was through John's renewed hobby that his pet portrait small business took off.

The way that John is able to work with clients is that at the moment he is only offering four sizes people can choose from; 8x6 ($70), 8½x11 (≈$200), etc. 

John says that along with his services he donates %15 of his profits to a charity of the client's choice. Look out, because he is working on building his own website but for the moment he can be reached through Facebook.

John said he is willing to tackle big projects such as murals. You can find John's Facebook page by typing in Pet Portraits By Johnner or his Instagram at @johnnerdraws.

It’s the inaugural holiday round up for PALS!!! Join us as we offer great holiday pet safety tips as well as phenomenal gift ideas for animal lovers!!!

We are so excited to help Santa Paws out with truly unique holiday gifts that everyone will love! Pickle pizza anyone?

Tune in for this heart-felt conversation at TalkRadio.nyc or watch the Facebook Livestream by Clicking Here.

Tommy D, the nonprofit sector connector, starts off the show as always! Today we have a great crowd, with familiar faces such as Val Heffron, Linda Brower, and Daniella Scala Nathan! Joining us for the first time is John R. Dingley. 

Jumping straight to it, we are talking about holiday tips for animal lovers. Val says, candles are especially popular around the holidays, so make sure you watch out for your furry friends. As we are amid Hanukkah and lighting menorahs is part of the tradition, we need to watch out that any pets or animals we have around are not left unattended with candles. Animals can either knock down candles or burn themselves, so make sure you keep an eye on your candles!

Another critical thing to remember is to know where your fire extinguishers are located. "Every second counts in a fire," wise words from ours truly, Val. 

Bringing us back to the focus of today's episode, tips, and advice for the holidays, Val points out that investing in shatter-proof ornaments is worth it! Cats will not resist their urge to play with ornaments. Val adds that tinsel is toxic to pets. 

Another important safety tip that Val teaches us about pertains to our Christmas trees. The water used for the Christmas tree to soak up becomes turpentine, a toxic mixture that comes from coniferous trees (such as our Christmas pine trees). On the botanical subject, a couple of favorite decorations to stray away from are: poinsettias, hollies, and mistletoes. 

Moving to the holiday drink subject, make sure to keep your pet sober, as advised by Val. She says that animals are drawn to scents and smells, and alcoholic drinks can lure your pets in. Remember that another potentially lethal substance to have around your pets is alcohol. Also, don't smoke any sort of substance in your pet's face-- it's not funny.

Moving onto our guests, Daniella mentions that Paw It Forward Pantry has a couple of shirts and jackets to sell; this would make a good holiday gift. Linda mentions that she recently got recertified through the American Red Cross; the American Red Cross offers a class on Pet First Aid. The American Red Cross also offers tips to assemble a pet safety kit, which is fantastic to have, especially during the holidays.

Talking about foods that are not good for your pet, Tommy mentions how he didn't know that avocados are not suitable for dogs. John R. Dingley adds that onions, as well, are not good. Remember, chocolate is also not good. 

Another essential tip Linda gives us is to watch out for wires. She says that you never know when a dog will want to play with a wire, and they can electrocute themselves. 

Val chimes in by reminding the audience that we should adopt, not shop. According to Val, there is proposed legislation to make financing a dog illegal because pet shops will allow you to finance a dog. Pet shops, Val adds, will sell you a dog regardless of what type of home you have for the animal. Pet stores will not vet the people trying to buy a dog or run background checks. 

A fantastic thing that John mentions is that he does not fathom how people who are after the "designer dogs" can eventually get rid of the dog. For John, a dog is part of the family. He also points out that when people have the mentality of getting designer dogs, you must question what type of lifestyle the dog will have--since it will be serving the human as an accessory.

We finally get to hear more from John--he will be on next week's episode--and his dog story. The dog he currently has was adopted from Ruff House Rescue NYC; he mentions that he was trying to adopt Bronson, the doggo, before the pandemic. John shares that before Bronson, they had gone through a disheartening wait for a dog. Luckily, Ruff House Rescue kept his info on file, and they called John and his fiancee with news that they had just received a litter of puppies that needed a home. Since in John's application with the Rescue, they saw he wanted a dog two years, and up, Ruff House wondered if he was willing to take in a puppy. John and his fiancee were absolutely thrilled, and they, of course, took the puppy in.

John shares that back home in Ireland, when he was growing up, all the dogs his family always had were strays. The youngest dog John ever had, by the name of Sheeba, must have been around one year old. Tommy chimed in, saying that John never dealt with a puppy. John admits that he was apprehensive about taking in the puppy Ruff House Rescue was offering because of his lack of puppy exposure. 

When John and his fiancee visited the foster mom who had taken in the puppies' mother from a kill shelter in Texas, they were surprised to find out that the foster mother knew that the canine mom was pregnant during the rescue process. What was more respectable was that the foster mother reached out to Ruff House Rescue to find a home for the pups because the canine mama had seven puppies. 

Val interrupts John by saying that she would like him to save his wonderful story for when they have more time with him next week on the show. She instead would like John to focus on his artwork which is about dogs. 

John says that he would not take a commission for the portraits for the longest time because he would make them as a product of art therapy. He is currently in the process of building a website. People can send him emails with a picture of their canine, which is how they can reach out to him. John has also been posting flyers and posters around his neighborhood of Sunnyside. Fortunately, Sunnyside has a massive dog community, and they have been very supportive. John and his partner take Bronson down to the dog park where SUDS, Sunnyside United Dog Society have helped through word of mouth to get John's work out.

More on John's artwork, Val asks what the turnaround time is for a commissioned work right now. John says that it takes about 4-5 weeks because it is all hand-drawn. 

After having received a text message from Tanya Diable, Tommy mentions--on Tanya's behalf--that a good tip when traveling with your dog is to buckle them up with a doggy safety belt.

Highlighting this year's line-up guests, we will give you a list of feature businesses to support. Animal advocates run these businesses and if you're going to be putting your money somewhere, help support these businesses who all do good in the animal advocacy community.

-Joanne's Gourmet Pizza run by Rino DiMaria (he's a colossal animal lover; met Val at an anti-puppy mill protest). They offer gourmet pizza in Roslyn, NY. Joanne's caters and delivers!

-Camp Happy Tails Dog Rescue NYC is run out of Regina Mendoza's home. They have swag and merch--perfect for the holidays! 

-Catnip Nation is a documentary film by Tina Truster that shows how local politics affect animals and animal welfare. She was also a guest on PALS. 

-E.P.P.G Law of St. John is Heather Maltby's law firm in St. Augustine, Florida. Her firm focuses on estate planning, probate, and guardianship; her services include pet trusts. She was a guest on PALS who informed us about pet trusts and the tools people can use to ensure their pets are left in good hands. A portion of the firm's profits goes towards local cat nonprofits in her area. 

-Gallop NYC is an organization in NYC that offers "both horseback riding and therapeutic horsemanship programs to New Yorkers"-Gallop NYC website They also offer swag on their website.

-Alley Cat Allies is an "advocacy organization for all cats"-Alley Cat Allies website

-S.A.F.E (Save Animals From Euthanasia) is an organization that the owner of Kamp K-9 supports.

SAFE "is a foster-based animal rescue"-SAFE website, and Kamp K-9 is a small business that seeks to teach dog owners how to best communicate with their canine friends. 

-LION (Long Island Orchestrating for Nature) is run by president John Di Leonardo. LION helps all sorts of animals, and more information can be found on their website, Just Google LION with John Di Leonardo, and you'll be set.

-Joey's PAW is run by Tanya Diable and her husband. They try to help disabled animals get the prosthetics and wheelchairs they may need to get adopted. Tanya is also an award-winning author of Bow Tie Boone, a story about Boone, a disabled dog.

-The Shabby Tabby Cat Cafe is a cafe where potential adopters can meet and interact with possible cat adoptees.

Pet Rescue Coffee is a drop-shop family-run business whose mission is to help provide and distribute funds to organizations involved in animal welfare through customers' purchase of coffee.

-Tito's Vodka also donates some of its profits to help animal organizations.

We end today's great episode with plenty of shoutouts and with a quick goodbye tip from Linda; always have a current photo of your pets in case they go missing, and you need a point of reference. Also, make sure to have your entryways and gateways closed and blocked off. Daniella quickly mentions that her pet pantry needs cat food, so any donations are welcomed! John finally adds, "if anyone is interested in getting portraits of their fur babies," contact him. A portion of his profits goes towards Ruff House Rescue. Daniella says that she's offering defensive driving classes in December and that a portion of her profits will go towards the organization Bobbi & the Strays.

There are so many incredible, selfless and inspiring people in the world of animal welfare. These people are heroes in our eyes as they find ways to help the innocent animals no matter what.

No one fits this description better than this week’s guest, Daniella Scala Nathan. She and her husband started “Paw it Forward Pet Pantry” a few years ago and in spite of her own personal tragedies including the loss of her husband to COVID and the loss of her mother, Daniella has dedicated herself to the needs of the animals and the pantry continues to help countless people who need assistance in caring for and feeding their furbabies.

Looking forward to hearing more from this local legend. What an amazing human!

Tune in for this heart-felt conversation at TalkRadio.nyc or watch the Facebook Livestream by Clicking Here.

On today's show, we welcome Daniella Scala Nathan and Linda Brower. Val jumps in, saying that she recently spoke to the PALS accountant, the inspiration for the show. As always before jumping into today's topic, Val and Tommy reiterate the purpose of the PALS; to amplify the network of professionals who love animals and raise awareness around animal advocacy. 

Now jumping into today's topic, Val introduces the two guests as being prime examples of what two people can do and how their efforts go a long way in the animal advocacy world. Side note, Val mentions that PALS will have a guest round-up in a couple of weeks, where, hopefully, all of 2021's guest speakers will come together! 

Turning to our guests and finally their introduction, we learn that Daniella is the co-founder of Paw it Forward, and Linda is one of the organization's volunteers. Linda says that the organization is absolutely amazing!

We begin this segment with Tommy asking Daniella how Paw it Forward came to be. In 2016 when the hurricanes in the South hit, she partnered up with rescues in Long Island, and they gathered food to send to the South. After someone donated their garage, she says that they decided that the food was also highly needed in Long Island. Paw it Forward decided to then disperse the food amongst those who needed it on the island. 

Daniella says that they have been running everything from her house since 2016, and everything stays in Long Island. Sadly, after her husband passed away due to COVID-19, Paw it Forward received a check from Long Island Cares for $2,600. The money was helpful to provide more storage for the animal food. Instead of it just being stored at Daniella's house, they were able to get a shed. 

Daniella says that Paw it Forward helps pet owners who cannot afford their pets' food so that they do not surrender their pets to the shelter. Paw it Forward helps with all supplies, not just food. They have cages, medications, and whatever they can give out. 

Val and Tommy send Daniella their condolences and applaud her continuous effort to go on with the mission of Paw it Forward. Daniella admits that Paw it Forward would not be successful if it weren't for the volunteers that help Daniella out. Tommy chimes in, saying that Daniella, through Paw it Forward, is solving an ongoing problem. 

Long Island Cares also has a pet pantry called Baxter's Pet Pantry; that is how Paw it Forward received funding. 

Tommy asks Daniella to share how people approach her with their pet needs. Daniella is a bookkeeper and her husband Rob was the one who suggested they start their service of a phone call away. Through word of mouth and social media, people get in contact with Daniella. 

Val asks if there are "regulars" because she points out that when people fall into a financial crisis their issues are not fixed immediately and that it takes time to get back up. Daniella says that yes, they have had people receiving dog food for almost two years now. They deliver supplies twice a month, and when they send owners off with their pets, they provide them with food that will last for a couple of months.

Jumping back in, Val mentions how she noticed that Paw it Forward's Facebook page announced their needed donations for more pet supplies; more so cat food and cat litter. Tommy asks, how does this all work? Do people donate money or supplies? Daniella says that people mainly donate supplies, like food. Tommy makes the joke by saying that Daniella serves as a distribution center for the pet supplies. 

Val asks Linda, one of the volunteers, what she does for Paw it Forward. Linda says that she does a little bit of everything, from transportation to any other need. Linda says that she was one of the people that had a financial struggle and relied on Daniella's work to help her out. Linda says that it meant so much to her, and to do that for someone else brings her so much joy. 

Linda mentions that she has noticed more dog food and dog supplies donations, not so much for cat stuff. Linda says that they need canned cat food, treats, litter, toys, etc. 

Val then adds that they see a lot more cats because the town of Hempstead shut down their TNR (Trap Neuter Return program) during COVID-19; this is what is adding to the massive growth in feral cats.

Tommy asks what Daniella and Linda need people to do to help out? Daniella says that Paw it Forward's hours are from Monday-Saturday, 10 AM-6 PM. People are welcome to drop off the supplies at Daniella's house, where the pantry is being run out of, but there are also various drop-off locations. Daniella says that Nassau county, Paw it Forward is the only Pet Pantry. In Suffolk, there are four pet pantries. 

Tommy also chimes in, asking why transportation is a problem? People are already in need, and they might not afford to pick up the supplies somewhere far away. Linda interjects, saying that volunteers are willing to go far, as far as may be needed. 

Val points out that she wants to focus on Daniella and Linda's services so viewers may choose to direct their money towards animal advocates: Daniella has the defensive driving classes, and bookkeeping & Linda offers dog training on a sliding scale. Daniella has the profits from her defensive driving classes go back towards the pet rescues such as Camp Happy Tails and then Bobbi and the Strays.

Have you ever wanted to set systemized donations to the rescue or animal charity of your choice?

Have you ever considered selling a product online but never taking on the responsibility of a brick & mortar location?

I know I have!

This Wednesday, we are excited to have Sonny Nardone as our guest who owns “Pet Rescue Coffee”.

He is going to teach us about his business which supports animals with every purchase and get into the business details that allow him to this on auto-pilot. Zane is also a unique artist as well as a comedic hypnotist! Wow!

I can’t wait to dive into this one! Join us live this Wednesday at 2pm on the Professional & Animal Lovers Show!

‍Tune in for this heart-felt conversation at TalkRadio.nyc or watch the Facebook Livestream by Clicking Here.

Tommy begins today's show by getting Val to remind us what the PALS is all about; creating a compassionate network of animal-loving individuals. Sonny Nardone is today's guest. He is a comedy stage hypnotist, skull-carving artist, author, and his family business focuses on helping homeless dogs. The family's coffee business is called Pet Rescue Coffee.

Sonny Nardone says he started the pet rescue portion of his life when he was a kid. They lived on about 5 acres, and Sonny says he was able to take in homeless animals. He says that anything that would wander in and be friendly would end up staying in the family's home garage; it's how they got cats and dogs. When they moved to their house in Virginia, their current home, they started seeing a lot of feral cats. 

One cat, in particular, they took in because he was a black cat, and Halloween was nearing by. Val asks Sonny to elaborate on why he was worried for a black cat closer to Halloween. There is a high number of abuse and harm that is done towards black cats around Halloween time. The cat they were trying to rescue was amiable, but he was scared the closer Sonny and his wife would try to make any moves. Luckily they were able to adopt the cat.

Sonny mentions that along with the feral cats, they would help rehabilitate raccoons and opossums.

As we come back from break, Tommy mentions how he saw something horrible the day before; he says that before, he wouldn't have thought it was horrible, but now he does--a mouse in a mousetrap. Val then chimes in, saying that she had to travel to another school to play a game when she was playing volleyball in high school. At the edge of the gymnasium, she saw a live mouse stuck in a glue mouse trap. She was in tears as she tried to help the mouse out of the mousetrap. Val says that the poor thing had chewed up a good portion of its leg and that she tried getting it out by unsticking its leg out of the trap with a pen. Val said that she couldn't believe she had done that because, at that moment, she didn't care if she would've gotten in trouble. Val later found out that a coach had put the traps there because she was afraid of mice. She also says she went at the coach and did not care because it was cruel to put the mouse through that. Val reminds us that there are humane ways to not have mice around; feral cats will help. 

Jumping to another topic, Val mentions Sonny's cat breeding. Sonny says that just like people have preferences for dog breeds, there are cat owners who, too, have preferences for cat breeds. His breeding was focused on the Sphinx cats. Sadly, Sonny saw how one of their breeding cats got sick and knew he didn't want to be involved with potentially sick kittens. He said it was challenging to witness the sick cat slowly die, and he didn't want to go through that again. 

It just so happened that they started having more feral cats come around at that time. 

Working with an organization called SAD-SAC, Sonny and his wife were able to trap seven or nine cats and get them fixed. 

Then Val pauses Sonny for a bit, telling him how it's great that he and his wife were able to trap and fix those cats. According to Val and some information she came across, a cat can have about two to three litters each year. If each litter has about four cats, that then accumulates a lot of cats. And cats can start having kittens between the ages of four to six months. 

Val also tells Sonny and Tommy that she has always been confused with the word feral because, in one sense, the word feral can imply that a cat will never get close to a human. Still, she doesn't understand how peoples' online success stories of converting feral cats into home cats can come to be. 

Sonny then says that there are a couple of problems with the mentality surrounding feral cats. He says that when people talk to rescue agencies or vets, they only focus on quick turn around; how quickly can they find that cat a home; he says they really only want kittens. Then he also says there is the "Instagram-effect" where there are only stories that highlight rare instances, not stories that highlight real scenarios where people have tried to get closer to a cat but just can't get them to live indoors. He also says that it is probable to get cats domesticated, but it takes time, and it should be done on a one-on-one basis. 

Tommy asks if Val and Sonny know of any organizations with plenty of space to house feral cats that want to roam around and have an indoor-outdoor space. Val says that spaces like these do exist, but they are better known as sanctuaries.

Val jumps back into the feral cat sanctuary conversation; to house a feral cat is a highly stressful situation for the cat. This is why the Trap Neuter Release program is usually the best option. She says that sanctuaries vary, and usually, drop-off costs start at $3,000 because it's a lifetime commitment. She also says that there are sanctuaries that do not ask for that much money. Still, she questions them because she doesn't see how a couple of hundred dollars can cover veterinary costs.

Val jumps back to Sonny, saying that she loves what he is doing because he has mixed his creativity to come up with a way to help animals. Sonny has created a coffee business that deals with roasters on the West Coast and in Illinois. Sonny's business is a drop-ship business, and a percentage of proceeds go to several organizations. The best thing about his business is that he does not have to do shopping fulfillments. The website is Pet Rescue Coffee, and 10% of their funds go to help funding organizations like SAD-SAC.

We jump to Sonny's career as an author as well! He was head of internal investigations at Macy's down in Virginia, finding employees stealing. Then he became a stage hypnotist; he's a great reader of body language. Then he started working for the government as an analyst. In the beginning, he was embedded as a human observer in high target areas for people indicative of doing violence, basically counter-terrorism unit. Then he wrote a book on reading body language, the Sway Maker series.

In a world riddled with political apathy, Diane Madden has never wavered on her convictions and beliefs. A warrior on behalf of the voiceless as well as the most vulnerable, Diane has gone to every single board meeting for the last 10 years (every single one!)

She has held both sides accountable and does not succumb to party loyalty or pressure. Diane has done everything and anything in her power to help the animals. She has rescued hundreds of dogs, fostered countless dogs & cats, she has helped create and write legislation, she has brought major issues to light, exposed mismanagement, run for political office and she has invested countless hours of her time into other people.

Diane has personally taught me the importance of FOIL, what to expect at legislative meetings, how to be an impactful speaker and she has inspired me to learn more, do more and empower others too. If you want to learn how to advocate, if you want to help change laws such as passing the anti-puppy mill bill and/or toughening penalties against animal abuse, then this is a can’t miss episode!

We want nothing more for the need of animal advocates to disappear forever, but until then us pet avengers aren’t going anywhere.

‍Tune in for this heart-felt conversation at TalkRadio.nyc or watch the Facebook Livestream by Clicking Here.

Tommy D begins today’s show reminding us about PALS’ commitment to establishing a compassionate network within the animal lovers community! Val and Tommy also pitch in their own projects, WorkBdone and Philanthropy in Focus. Vsky Solutions is also one of the sponsors for the PALS podcast! 

Diane Madden is this week’s guest! An active member of her Hempstead community (America’s largest township) in Long Island, NY, as well as an “advocate for the voiceless,” as Val described her. The reason there is a volunteer program at the Hempstead animal shelter is because of Diane. Hempstead introduced temperature laws regarding how long pets could be held in particular environments due to Diane! And Val added that there are a lot more examples of ways Diane has changed Val’s life and many others around her. 

Diane jumps into today’s topic by stating that the management of Hempstead’s animal shelter is horrible! The shelter director has engaged in nepotism by giving his Republican supporters jobs that they are unqualified for. 

Before moving on, Val wants to make sure they are covering necessary information “bases.” Every municipality has its own shelter, which the residents’ tax dollars pay for. Val emphasizes that she gets infuriated with how the Hempstead shelter is run because they receive a very sizeable budget; most of which goes towards wages. The higher-earning individuals are currently being chosen based on their political connections, not their qualifications or merits. 

Tommy jumps in, asking whether the more important “piece” [to getting the correct candidates] is to have political diversity within the organization or if there should be job qualifications for those leading the organizations? Answers will come after the break.

Since 2000 Diane has been an advocate for animals! 

Jumping to another question, Tommy asks what drew Diane to animals, what got her started? She begins by saying that she walked into the Hempstead animal shelter not knowing it had existed, and she went in to adopt a pet. Diane saw that by walking around and witnessing the animals’ treatment from some people still there, the animals were unhappy and getting nothing. At first, when she began becoming more involved in animal welfare, she would reach out to outside organizations and fosters to put the shelter animals in better homes instead of living years at the shelter or being euthanized. 

Returning to the question we had jumped to before the break, Diane agrees with Tommy, saying that he is right about requiring qualifications for the leadership positions. Diane adds that, unfortunately, the elected officials overlooking qualifications are doing so because they are just looking for someone to do their dirty work; she says that the shelter is currently like a Republican club with some animals inside. The director of the Hempstead Animal shelter is only there to take orders. Diane says that he is not there to help the animals. Val points out to Tommy that the destructive nepotism continues through campaign donations and continuous party support. The people in charge continue to secure the jobs of unqualified personnel through dirty donations and checks. 

Diane and Val agree that the Republican party is currently riding a wave because they are not content with the national policy. Diane says that animal welfare is all political, so people must know the politics of their local governments.

We start off the third episode with a picture of Kate Murray and a custom made mobile TNR (trap-neuter-return) unit. Val says that the reason the unit was purchased was so that it could go out to low-income communities and offer low-cost spay and neuter services. She adds that unfortunately that program was up and running six years ago but the unit currently finds itself sitting in the back [of the shelter, presumably]. Diane mentions that the van came as a settlement agreement to go into the lower-income communities where there was a cat population problem. DIane says that the van has done none of that and she adds that she doesn’t understand how the elected officials cannot do their job. Both ladies point out that the van has less than 2,000 miles on it, indicating that it was hardly used. 

Given the state of their township’s leadership, Val takes the time to once again mention that people should get involved in their towns’ government; go to a board meeting, it doesn’t require you to wear a suit and tie. She also mentions that in the town of Hempstead there are 770,000 people that could have voted in the recent election, but they did not, only 20% of the population voted. Val reminds us that being able to vote, especially when it comes to issues about animal welfare, is a privilege, many people would want the opportunity to be active in their local government. 

Jumping to the last topic of this third segment, Val asks Diane to give the audience a bit more detail about the FOIL she has been waiting on since August. FOIL stands for Freedom Of Information Law; it is also referred to as the Freedom Of Information Act and it can be used to access all sorts of information. To begin the access process Val says that a town’s resident needs to begin with a request for which they are given a receipt. Then the government has twenty business days to send you the information you requested or communicate whether or not that information exists and if they need an extension. Which brings us back to Diane’s case in which she has been waiting since August 15th to receive any sort of information.

We begin our last segment with a picture of Brock, a beautiful pitbull who lived too long in the Hempstead shelter. Brock ended up biting a volunteer at the shelter because he was being trained inappropriately. And soon after Brock bit the volunteer they killed him. Val adds that two days before Brock was killed, there was a rescue who was doing everything possible to take in Brock. Val also says that it does not seem coincidental that after the township meeting Brock was killed. She says that the government’s actions were a retaliation against the animal advocates. Which is why when Val says animal welfare is 100% political she means it; Brock’s story is one to prove that. 

Val moves on to address the Hempstead election on Tuesday; she thanks all those who ran and all those who dedicated their time. Diane chimes in by saying that the silver lining of having the sweep of republican officials come into office is that they now have a duty to serve the public. A very important message that Diane delivers to the elected officials is that if they want nothing to do with animal welfare, then they should at least turn it over to people who care and know about animal welfare. 

Tommy then asks if a non-profit, like the Humane Society, can come in and take over the Hempstead Animal Shelter. To which Diane replies by saying that the shelter can be privatized. The problem is that certain roles, including the director’s, would remain, and with that hierarchy nothing can truly change. 

Tommy also asks how people can get involved, if they’re local. Connect with Diane through Facebook and through Valerie’s group Voters for Voiceless. Val’s group is easily accessible. 

And as always, Tommy ends with a quote from Ghandi. 

There are so many inspiring stories in the world of animal rescue! None more than the incredible one about a dog named "Joey" who was found on the side of a road with both of his hind legs missing due to abuse but who luckily found his way into a loving rescue and eventually a perfect home. Joey's plight then took on a whole new meaning when his owners decided to start "Joey's Prosthetics And Wheels" which is a not for profit that donates these items to animals in need all over the country!

One of the recipients is a miracle dog named "Boone" who also lost two legs because of an abuser and who is now a celebrity therapy dog (our first celebrity on the show!) Boone was just named "American Humane Therapy Dog" at the 11th annual "Hero Dog Awards" and continues to win over the hearts of countless animal lovers.

Join us as we speak with Tanya Diable. If you love dogs, you don't want to miss this show!!!

‍Tune in for this heart-felt conversation at TalkRadio.nyc or watch the Facebook Livestream by Clicking Here.

Segment 1

Ensure your pets are secured for Halloween and make sure chocolate is not within reach of the canines. Tanya and Charlie Diable are today's guests! Tanya describes how she and Charlie came to own Joey. Joey had his rear legs intentionally cut off, and he was left on the side of the road at six weeks old. Joey's P.A.W is the organization that the Diable's started. Joey's P.A.W. stands for prosthetics and wheels for dogs, and now they have given cats, guinea pigs, pigs, a turkey, a cow, a donkey, an iguana, etc., the help as well. Although they have branched out to other animals, their focus is on dogs in rescues and shelters so that they may get adopted. They have found that by providing these adoptable dogs with prosthetics and wheelchairs, they get adopted. It lifts the financial burden off of the person wanting to adopt the dog. 

They raise the money for each animal; they have general fundraisers, but it is all individualized. They try to raise the exact amount of money they may need, and if they raise more, those funds go to the next dog. 

Today marks the day that they have helped 1,000 dogs! They received their first donation on August 26th, 2017, from a guy named David, who gave them $50. 

The average cost for a wheelchair is $300-400 depending and the prosthetic can be $900 for one device. 

They can do the castings themselves, but Tanya recommends that people go to the vet; sometimes, the dog may need drugs to relax them. For a prosthetic, what happens is they begin with a request, then Tanya sends pictures to their prosthetic maker (Petstetics in Florida), then the maker will say yes or no if he can make a prosthetic. If the maker says yes, then the following process is to fundraise for the product. Then the client and the maker work together to get the molding, and finally, the prosthetic.   

Segment 2

Val starts the segment by highlighting the ripple effect that animal lovers have amongst each other and strangers. Specifically, Val refers to the Diable's getting Joey from Regina (PALS first guest) and then starting the initiative to create Joey's P.A.W. Boone; their other dog has won best therapy dog by the American Hero Award! 

The Boone dog book is available via Amazon, and 100% of the proceeds go to Joey's P.A.W. Boone works at the airport, the only place that he can work right now because of CoVid-19, and he lights up all peoples' faces. 

Charlie says that the only difference between "disabled dogs" and regular dogs is time management. He believes that all people have to do is shift how they do things and give the disabled dog a lot of love. 

Segment 3

The Diable's will be hosting a fundraiser, their first one since CoVid started. They are going to have about 100 people, and all the money will go towards dogs. With every fundraiser, they can usually help 16 dogs.  

A couple of dogs are waiting for their prosthetics, they have about 13 people on a list right now, and they also have a loaner program. Generally, they just need people to share and donate. Val mentions that she has heard that other charities have had success in fundraising by reaching out to local businesses. Joey's P.A.W. has a brewery tour in which they go to a lot of dog-friendly microbreweries around the Pittsburgh region. Funny enough, they also have a kissing booth to help fundraise. 

Many places they try to work with are tricky because they are not a shelter, or a rescue, so they don't quite fit into the "box" that many grants are geared tow, or 

Segment 4

A typical grant can be a challenge because they don't fit the typical organization description. 

Tommy has a roundtable that helps non-profit organizations with many complexities; strategic planning and growth planning. 

Tanya is an author, and she has self-published her work. Opening up her publishing company stemmed from the need to make sure that the proceeds she collected would go towards Joey's P.A.W. Publishing would get them pennies to the dollar, but with self-publishing, they would get about $5 a book--which for their cause is what they need. She said it was challenging to get into Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and local bookstores because they don't really want self-published authors. Val compliments Tanya because she said that Tanya really does see her ideas through, for example, the Bow Tie Boone and Bow Tie Boone Coloring Book. Both books are available on Amazon.