Steve Dale's Pet World

Radio and podcast host. TV personality. Columnist. Author. Certified animal behavioral consultant. Animal advocate. Those are just a few titles on Steve Dale’s resume, which makes him a perfect guest for the Career Vision Podcast with Michael Piff.

Steve has so many stories that we will have to do a Part II episode to cover more. But in this episode, Steve talks about where his love for both radio and animals came from, how far back he goes with WGN-TV political analyst Paul Lisnek, how he first got on the radio, the multiple writing jobs he had at Chicago newspapers, how he incorporated his love for pets and animals in his work, advice he got from Lucille Ball (YES, THAT LUCILLE BALL!), his new book (Ask The Dog!), how the Booth 46 Podcast at Petterino’s came to be, his own advice for those wanting to do what he does, and so much more!

Our sponsor, Career Vision and the Ball Foundation help students and professionals discover their strengths and navigate their career opportunities. Learn more at CareerVision.org.

And you can subscribe to the Career Vision Podcast with Michael Piff on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

John O’Hurley, National Dog Show Host and actor joined Steve Dale on the show to preview the upcoming “The National Dog Show,” airing on Thanksgiving following the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Dr. Renee Schmid, Director of Veterinary Medicine and Senior Veterinary Toxicologist at Pet Poison Helpline debunks some internet myths, including that somehow Tums (the antacid) will treat dogs that have ingested grapes or raisins. She also talks about how to keep pets safe over Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Actor Joey Luthman is traveling across America on a one-wheel to raise money to support the non-profit EveryCat Health Foundation, specifically kidney disease and cancers. He wants what so many of us want, for cats to live longer. He talks about his unique journey.

Scaling increasing interest in fish and reptile pets.

David Frei – known as “Mr. Dog Show” discusses the increasingly popular National Dog Show presented by Purina, on NBC on Thanksgiving Day. 

Frei is also the author of two books about Animal Assisted Therapy and co-founder of the National Dog Show Therapy Dog Symposium, which you can attend at Rowan University or virtually. Frei and Steve (who is the keynote speaker this year) discuss animal assisted therapy and the difference the animals involved make for countless thousands around the globe. 

Are cats social or not?

It’s an exciting celebration with Dr. Patrick Flynn, president of the Human Animal Bond Association – International Human Animal Bond Day on November 8.  Dr. Flynn discusses the bond with our pets, and how it continues to intensify. And the bond isn’t relegated to pets, it’s with the natural world – and arguably today we crave it more than ever.

Dr. Flynn also discusses osteoarthritis pain in dogs and cats, and that while it’s known that cats mask any signs of pain, generally dogs do the same more than most people think.

California became the fifth state to ban declaw.

Steve spoke with Diane Keaton about adopting older dogs and her failed effort to open an animal shelter, also a sweet video of her singing to her dog. 

Vera Junge, Volunteer Coordinator of Unity Hospice and Palliative Care, explains their novel program which cares for pets of clients who happen to be in hospice called Pet Peace of Mind.  Volunteers walk dogs, feed pets, change cat litter, play with pets, change the paper for guinea pigs, whatever it takes. The organization also will drive pets to boarding, grooming or veterinary visits. And will even help to help to re-home pets if that is needed. She explains how you can volunteer or donate.

From the Association of Pet Obesity Prevention Dr. Ernie Ward comments on how pet obesity is occurring more often worldwide, and a new way to think about how to deal with this issue. And how GLP-1 receptor agonists drugs (like Ozempic) for pets are in the pipeline. And there’s a survey which Dr. Ward hopes you fill out, here. Dr. Ward explains why your voice is important.

Steve offers his personal memories of his several interviews with Dr. Jane Goodall, which you can see and hear here.

Dr. Michael Bailey, President of the American Veterinary Medical Association talks with Steve from a meeting in Brazil. Some tough topics are discussed, including affordability of veterinary care, vaccine hesitancy of pets, and the trend of virtual pet care. Also, can pets have autistic spectrum disorder?

Diane Keaton, an Oscar-winning actress whose career spanned more than five decades, has died at age 79. In 2004, Keaton, an animal lover, spoke with WGN Radio’s Steve Dale about “Home 4 the Holidays,” a campaign to adopt pets from shelters during the holiday season.

If it wasn’t for the human animal bond, why would we have pets? It’s a powerful conversation with Dr. Rustin Moore, Rita Jean Wolfe Endowed Dean of the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine about his book Unleashing the Bond: Harnessing the Power of Human-Animal Interactions.  Steve and Dr. Moore attempt to unpack the complex evolving relationships we have with our fur babies (are they even called pets anymore?)

Is feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome in cats like Alzheimer’s Disease in people?

The story of a once mysterious and until-recently fatal feline disease called feline infectious peritonitis has enough twists and tuns to be a Netflix movie. A treatment for the now-treatable disease even saved humans with COVID-19. Dr. Sam Evans, assistant professor of veterinary medicine Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and Peter Cohen, founder of the non-profit Zen by Cat, explain and discuss updates on treatment and the most current turn of events.

Vaccine hesitancy is happening in pets – some of that makes no sense and is concerning for public health.