Talking Animals

Lariana Forsythe—interim CEO of Community Action Stops Abuse (CASA), the domestic violence center based in Southern Pinellas County, which, in early March, opened an on-site kennel—explains that “interim” in this instance is a two-year designation required by the state of Florida for CEOs of domestic violence shelters who take the job without experience in that realm. Forsythe outlines the CASA history (founded in 1977), and describes the organization’s newest shelter, open three years, which is outfitted with 100 beds, but Forsythe says it can accommodate 133 people, while averaging 115-120 per night. Forsythe points out that people often forget that half that number tends to be children, and that CASA’s goal for a stay at the shelter is about three months, but that tenure can extend longer given the particulars of that client, including prospects for non-shelter housing and employment, children, etc. In addressing their new kennel, Forsythe addressed the profound importance of offering this option, citing a statistic whereby 71% of women entering domestic violence shelter reported that their batterer had injured, maimed, killed, or threatened family pets. Yet, Casa’s kennel, which can accommodate four dogs and four cats, stands as a national rarity, to a surprising degree: Currently, only about 3% of domestic violence shelters across the country are equipped to take in pets. In response to my question—given that tiny number—whether CASA’s kennel might serve as an example to other shelters, Forsythe observes this might well be the case, and that they can provide guidance and tools to help overcome the significant obstacles that prevent more shelters from establishing such kennels. (https://www.casa-stpete.org)

The interview with Lariana Forsythe streamed on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/duncan.strauss/videos/10156705148624218/

 

ALSO: I spoke with Jenna Bardroff, event coordinator of the first-ever Sarasota Veg Fest that was to take place on Saturday, May 5, at the Sarasota Fairgrounds. She outlined the array of speakers, cooking demonstrations, films screening, 100 vendors, music, activities for kids, etc. that were to be offered at the event. (http://www.sarasotavegfest.org)

 

COMEDY CORNER: Dave Attell’s “Pets” (http://daveattell.com)

MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: The Tokens’ “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”

AUDIO ARCHIVE:

Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/TAMay2-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Nicole Forsyth—president and CEO of RedRover, a Sacramento-based national nonprofit devoted to rescuing and sheltering animals in crisis—addresses the situation by which there are pockets of people across the country that are as yet unfamiliar with the organization, founded in 1987 (though under a different name). Forsyth explains that the original name was United Animal Nations –and the outfit had a much broader portfolio, partly predicated —and suggests that one of her proudest accomplishments since being hired as president and CEO in 2006 was shepherding the organization to a name change in 2011, becoming RedRover. She describes how her educational and professional paths ultimately delivered her to the doorstep of what would become RedRover. Noting much of RedRover’s work involves stepping in when a major natural disaster—like a hurricane—hits an area and has major implications for animals, Forsyth outlines how the organization decides to deploy to the site of that disaster. She notes that this process typically involves waiting to see how a particular scenario plays out—and for a particular organization to ask for RedRover’s help, citing as an example when Hurricane Harvey hit, the Texas SPCA asked for their assistance. In these rescuing and sheltering efforts, RedRover can draw on some 4000 volunteers scattered across the U.S., some of whom are veterinarians. Later, Forsyth talks about the RedRover Readers education program, which helps children develop empathy for animals and generally, as well as develop critical thinking skills, adding that there’s no an app whereby kids can access part of the program, regardless of their location. (https://redrover.org)

 

ALSO: I spoke with Chris Rusnak, of Nature’s Classroom, an environmental education center, established in 1969, and these days chiefly caters to sixth graders in Hillsborough County. We discussed the then-forthcoming “Woods, Water and Wildlife” annual open house. (http://naturesclassroom.mysdhc.org)

COMEDY CORNER: Martha Kelly’s “Animal Road Trip” (https://marthakelly.net)

MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Genesis’ “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway”

AUDIO ARCHIVE:

Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/TAApril25.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Arin Greenwood—a journalist who specializes in writing about animal welfare, and whose sterling new novel, “Your Robot Dog Will Die,” was published Tuesday (April 17)—offers her synopsis of the book, and recalls key elements of the setting, story, and fundamental themes that she arrived at while in the formative stages of writing “Your Robot Dog Will Die.” Greenwood notes that her new work occupies the Young Adult (YA) shelf—the protagonist is a 17-year-old girl, Nano Miller, other teenage characters are central, and it’s a coming-of-age story—but that she aspired to have the book operate beyond that genre, too. It does. In response to my question about previous on-air conversations we’ve had about PETA—particularly its animal shelter, which has a staggeringly high euthanasia rates, she recounts her journalistic frustrations over the years in having the organization explain its rationale for the shelter’s operating principle, and how writing this book, a fictional story, provided an opportunity to explore those policies (and her feelings about them) in a different way, chiefly through the Ingrid Newkirk-esque character, Dorothy. Greenwood also outlines what responses and actions she hopes “Your Robot Dog Will Die” will spur in readers, and touches on her journalism work: she’s the former animal welfare editor at The Huffington Post, and in recent years has contributed critter coverage to such outlets as The Washington Post, The Today Show website, and The Dodo, among others. (https://www.facebook.com/aringreenwood)

The interview with Arin streamed on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/duncan.strauss/videos/10156668502689218/

ALSO: I spoke with Amber Simpson about the 8th Annual Tampa Vegan Bake Sale, slated for Saturday, April 21, at Mojo Books & Records, 2540 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa. Proceeds help homeless and community cats, with an emphasis on spay/neuter and TNR. (https://www.facebook.com/events/757634601113207/)

 

COMEDY CORNER: Zoltan Kaszas’s “Cats Pt. 1” (http://www.zoltancomedy.com)

MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: We didn’t play Name That Animal Tune today.

AUDIO ARCHIVE

Erika Abrams—co-founder and president of Animal Aid Unlimited, a rescue operation, hospital, and sanctuary in Udaipur, India—recalls the circumstances under which she, her husband, Jim, and daughter, Claire, began traveling to India in the late 1980s. While noting she wasn’t (and still isn’t) well-traveled, and that her initial interest in the country was rooted in superficial facets, she fell instantly, and hard, for India. Living at the time in Seattle, Abrams recounts how the family continued to make trips to India, then spurred, in part, by her daughter’s growing antipathy to the traveling, decided to move to Udaipur. They were bothered by the large number of injured and ill animals on the street, and that there was no veterinary hospital or other care available for them, Abrams explains. Despite no background in animal rescue or other sorts of animal organizations—but, she says, she and Jim did have considerable experience in fundraising, strategic planning, and various kinds of other work for nonprofits—they launched Animal Aid Unlimited in 2002. Undeterred by the lack of experience in the animal realm, they forged ahead, figuring things out along the way, hiring veterinarians when they could, seeking guidance from whatever experts they could speak with, and so on. In the initial years, Abrams observed, one notable obstacle was that the area lacked cell phones and landlines—so Animal Aid Unlimited might be contacted three times per week for animal rescue help; in 2005, cell phones were introduced, and changed everything: Abrams says they might receive 60 calls a day for assistance, explaining that the chief recurring issues prompting phone calls to the hospital are car accidents, the impact of a poor diet &/or consuming plastic products, and lack of medical treatment. There was also some discussion of Animal Aid Unlimited’s healing, often-transformative impact on staff and volunteers, including travelers who visit Udaipur and are invited to volunteer at the organization’s facilities. Animal Aid Unlimited is funded largely through donations. (https://animalaidunlimited.org, https://www.facebook.com/AnimalAidUnlimited)

ALSO: I spoke with our “greyhound correspondent,” Don Goldstein, who updated us on where things stand with Prop 67, the constitutional amendment that could spell the end of greyhound racing in Florida. He noted that until about April 16, there’s still an important, open window to express support to the Commissioners, via email or phone call (http://www.flcrc.gov/Commissioners) for this amendment.

 

COMEDY CORNER: Maria Bamford’s “Raccoon, Horseback Riding” (http://www.mariabamford.com)

MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: We didn’t play Name That Animal Tune today.

AUDIO ARCHIVE:

Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/TAApril4-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Rachel McCrystal—executive director of Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, which rescues farmed animals and provides refuge for them, now housing around 400 animals—recalls a childhood marked by a houseful of animals, featuring a preponderance of rattlesnakes and other reptiles (her biologist dad was a herpetologist). McCrystal points to two pivotal moments in those formative years that presaged her work on animals’ behalf: 1) adopting a little mutt bearing a “Do Not Adopt” sign. This dog became “the love of her life,” McCrystal says; 2) In Cape Cod, as an 11-year-old, she was horrified to learn how lobsters are cooked, declared she’d eat shrimp instead, her dad explained more animals would die for that meal, and she decided to become vegetarian. (She later became vegan.) She explains how some of the jobs she held in college lent her the expertise and experience, at 24, to land a development job at the Pennsylvania SPCA. McCrystal rose quickly there and elsewhere—two motifs of her saga appear to be a flair for fundraising and rapid career ascension (she mocked herself for tending to be promoted too soon) –landing at Best Friends Animal Society, as Major Gifts Manager. Noting Best Friends is a prominent national organization with a stellar reputation, and that a good, well-compensated career was assured, she addresses how, seven-eight years into being began, and with a growing commitment to helping mitigate the plight of farmed animals—she took a development job (and a pay cut) at Woodstock Farm Sanctuary. McCrystal subsequently became executive director of the Sanctuary, in the wake of the departure of founders Jenny Brown and Doug Abel—a highly unusual development in the sanctuary world…McCrystal spends a few minutes touching on the reasons for their departure, and the singularity of the situation. She also discusses some the animals living at the Sanctuary, and how they got there, including Mike Jr, a steer that escaped a truck en route to the slaughterhouse, but now happily resides at Woodstock. (http://woodstocksanctuary.org)

ALSO: I spoke with Dina Athanassie, Outreach & Events Manager for the Animal Coalition of Tampa about free TNVR (trap-neuter-vaccinate-return) training sessions they’re conducting in the coming weeks. (http://actampa.org)

 

COMEDY CORNER: Matt Braunger’s “Owls” (http://www.mattbraunger.com)

MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: We didn’t play Name That Animal Tune today.

AUDIO ARCHIVE:

Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/TAMarch28.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Dr. Jaret C. Daniels—an entomologist and professor at the University of Florida, as well as accomplished nature photographer, whose new book is ‘Vibrant Butterflies: Our Favorite Visitors To Flowers And Gardens”—recalls how growing up in a rural section of Wisconsin, amidst plenty of room to roam, exploring nature and assorted critters, likely spawned the interest that evolved into a career in entomology and academia. Indeed, the more Daniels recounts his formative years, the more a portrait emerges of an entomologist as a young man, including, as a high school student, launching a business that involved breeding and providing butterflies for various operations. He explains that he also became intrigued by photography during his high school years, and his interest in photographing various aspects of nature—particularly insects—grew over time, and now serves as an ideal complement to his academic/professional pursuits. For example, “Vibrant Butterflies” presents an array of Daniels’ stunning, close-up pictures of butterflies (and he answered a technical photography question, from a listener, during this interview). In discussing the genesis of the book project, Daniels discusses his commitment to providing information about butterflies and other insects in a way that would interest and help educate a more generalist readership, beyond the research he conducts (his emphasis is insect ecology and conservation), and the attendant scholarly papers he writes. He also addresses a few of the many details in “Vibrant Butterflies” that I found most revelatory, including how extraordinary butterflies’ vision is (the book notes that they see more of the visual spectrum than almost any animal, and can see ultraviolet light), how mimicry works in the butterfly world, some of their courtship and mating behavior, and more. (http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/people-directory/jaret-daniels/)

 

ALSO: I spoke with Ornella Varchi, Special Events Manager for The Humane Society of Tampa Bay, about the organization’s then-forthcoming event, Bark In The Park, set for March 24 at Curtis Hixon Park. As I observed to Varchi on-air, Bark In The Park would seem to be the granddaddy of outdoor animal events in the Tampa Bay Area—this is the 31st annual Bark! (https://humanesocietytampa.org)

 

COMEDY CORNER: Beth Stelling’s “Beth’s Pests” (https://www.sweetbeth.com)

MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: EELS’ “I Like Birds”

AUDIO ARCHIVE:

Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/TAMar14.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Al Cecere—founder and president of the American Eagle Foundation (AEF), a Tennessee-based nonprofit dedicated to bald eagle rehabilitation, recovery, and breeding programs—recalls seeing an Associated Press photo showing more than 20 dead bald eagles that had been shot by poachers, and how that propelled him into taking action which led to launching AEF. Cecere explains that he was in showbiz in Nashville at the time, with a degree in film production—no degree or training in animal fields or even biology, so he taught himself whatever he could about eagles and birds of prey, attended conferences, and learned from a key mentor named Bob Hatcher, who worked for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency for nearly 40 years. Cecere cites public education as AEF’s largest achievement over the years, while noting the challenges eagles face—in the wild, fewer than 50% survive their first year, not counting birds that are killed by hunters or poachers. He discusses the AEF Nest Cams, which provide live feeds from an eagles nest in Washington D.C., and another in Northeast Florida, describing the habits and yearly patterns of the latter’s occupants, Romeo & Juliet. Cecere also enthuses about Dolly Parton: Dollywood houses the AEF headquarters, and has been a corporate sponsor of the organization since 1991. Cecere recounts the origin of Challenger, a rescued bald eagle, unable to be released back into the wild, that Cecere trained to soar around stadiums during World Series games, NFL Pro bowls and other major events—during the singing of “The Spar Spangled Banner.” (https://www.eagles.org)

 

ALSO: I spoke with Talking Animals “Greyhound Correspondent” Don Goldstein, about the next step in the process of Proposed Amendment 67– which, if passed would phase out greyhound racing in Florida—namely, multiple hearings in Florida the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC), the last of which is slated for March 13 at The University of South Florida, in Saint Petersburg, from 1-7pm. He explained the importance of speaking in support of Prop 67 (that is, to end Florida greyhound racing) at this meeting, noting that those planning to attend can obtain a speaker card at http://www.flcrc.gov, turn in the card upon arriving at the March 13 meeting, and will be invited to speak for no more than two minutes. Those who are unable to attend can still express their opinion on this issue, Goldstein suggested, by also visiting http://www.flcrc.gov, where email addresses can be found for all 37 Commissioners—send them an email

COMEDY CORNER: Andy Ritchie’s “Balthazar”

MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: We didn’t play Name That Animal Tune today.

AUDIO ARCHIVE:

Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/TAMarch7.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

For this edition of “Talking Animals,” I altered the show’s usual format to convene an in-studio panel discussion about Canine Companions For Independence (CCI), pegged to CCI’s then-upcoming third annual DogFest Walk ‘n’ Roll event, on March 3 at Al Lopez Park in Tampa, and featuring three CCI-affiliated humans, and their canine companions:

Mary Taylor Jacobs, who wears various CCI hats, including serving on the organization’s board of directors, and volunteering as a puppy raiser—she raised her first CCI puppy in 1993, and is currently raising Frankie, who joined me in studio. (that’s not Frankie in the photo)

Bill Gregg, who has spina bifada, remains independent with the assistance of his dog, Abner, who helps Gregg by picking things up off the floor, opening doors, and turning light switches on and off. Abner was in studio, too.

Bob Hoak occupies the other end of the path from Mary Jacobs, at least as pertains to the CCI prison puppy-raising program—in that he has “finished” four dogs from that prison program, and was accompanied by his current charge, Dobby.

 

We covered a sizable hunk of ground in the discussion, including how each of the three first heard of CCI or get involved with the organization…the biggest changes that Jacobs had seen in the course of her 25-year relationship with CCI…how Gregg and his family attended an informational fair, and upon hearing about CCI, his sister suggested it might be a good fit for him, launching the process that eventually paired him with Abner, his first service dog…the conversation touched on the proper protocol for asking permission before petting a service dog wearing a vest, the differences between services dogs and emotional support dogs…this veered into an exchange about the issue of fake service/emotional dogs, and a caller’s question about how to question someone about the status of their dog without running afoul of the Americans with Disabilities Act…Hoak explained what’s involved in “finishing” a dog that was previously in the CCI Prison Puppy Raising Program…We noted that Gregg and all other CCI clients are not charged a cent for their dogs, and that CCI is funded by donations, grants and events, like their annual Gala, and the DogFest Walk ‘n’ Roll. (http://www.cci.org,  https://www.facebook.com/events/140843940010682/

The conversation streamed on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/talkinganimals/videos/10156096414909194/

 

ALSO: I spoke with Nicole Green, a past guest on “Talking Animals,” in her capacity as Director of Animalearn, but today, as a board member of the Association of Professional Humane Educators, she discussed the forthcoming National Humane Education Conference, slated for March 7-9, in Orlando. She notes that, given the scope of the issues and the curricula to be discussed at the conference, people from all sorts of fields—including shelters, animal welfare, education, among others—are invited to attend. (https://www.apheconference.com)

COMEDY CORNER: Eddie Izzard’s “Guide Dogs” (http://www.eddieizzard.com)

MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: The Rolling Stones’ “Beast of Burden”

AUDIO ARCHIVE:

Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/TAFeb28-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Jane O’Hara—the animal advocate and artist whose paintings explore animal issues, depict their plight, and explore our relationships with them–recalls growing up in a family where animals didn’t have much of a presence, but she liked them. O’Hara notes that art became a passion early on, and she attended art school at Boston University’s College of Fine Arts. She describes a pivotal moment in her career, when she viewed the Byzantium exhibit at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, struck that the saints had sacrificed their lives to God in every facet of it, and created a counterpart, “Sacrifice,” a five foot tall screen, presenting an array of images of animals and the sacrifices they make. This represented a turning point in her art, she allows, and addresses some of the main themes in her work. O’Hara mentions that, a few years ago, she received the Peace Abbey Foundation’s Courage of Conscience Award—and that past recipients include the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, Muhammad Ali…not bad company to keep! She also touches on art as animal advocacy. O’Hara explains the genesis of “Beasts of Burden,” an exhibition by 15 artists (including O’Hara and past “Talking Animals” guests Jo-Anne McArthur and Moby), who use animals as their subjects for an array of reasons–and working in diverse media–examining the often-complicated connections we have with animals and how intertwined they are with our lives. “Beasts of Burden” has shown in Boston and New York, and other shows are on the horizon, O’Hara says. (https://www.janeohara.com)

 

ALSO: I spoke with Rowan Deacon, director of “Nature: The Last Rhino,” a new PBS documentary (that aired for the first time that night, Feb. 21) about Sudan, the last male Northern White Rhinoceros remaining on the planet. Deacon addresses the scope of the film, from profiling Sudan’s enormously devoted, full-time caretaker to exploring the realm of rhino IVF, as a means to try to save the species. (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/last-rhino-caring-worlds-famous-rhino/16049/)

COMEDY CORNER: Jim Gaffigan’s “Animal Lover” (http://www.jimgaffigan.com)

MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: We didn’t play Name That Animal Tune today.

AUDIO ARCHIVE:

Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/TAFeb21-1-2.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Elaine West—the founder of Rooterville Animal Sanctuary, a haven housing about 300 rescued farm animals, predominantly pigs, located in Melrose, FL—recalls the first pig she met, as a kid at her aunt’s farm in Illinois, describing a love-at-first-sight sensation that’s continued for decades. West also recounts the circumstances surrounding the first pig she rescued, when she was at a Humane Society to adopt a dog, and learned the organization also had a pig on hand—that they intended to give away to some folks who planned to eat the animal. Incredulous and outraged, West says she “shamed” those folks into giving her the pig, thus starting a long string of rescued pigs that ultimately prompted her to launch Rooterville, first a three-acre facility in Jacksonville, then relocating to a 10-acre spread in Archer, and now occupying 30 acres in Melrose. (She mentions a desire to relocate once again, ideally to a 100-acre parcel in Orlando–the thinking being that tourists heading to DisneyWorld or Universal one day would visit Rooterville the next day.) West outlines what happens when visitors arrive at the sanctuary for a visit, and how Rooterville accommodates overnight guests. She shares the story of Stella, a farm pig—“a spent sow,” in West’s words, whose job was to have babies, while confined to a gestation crate—the first one she brought in to Rooterville, and one that clearly became a pivotal porcine figure at the sanctuary; she died about three years ago, but all visitors hear Stella’s story. West describes the circumstances of taking in more than 100 pigs that were seized in August of 2016 from Darlynn’s Darlins, in Polk City, some in such bad shape they had to be euthanized, many adopted out, and a number still living at Rooterville. (https://rooterville.org, https://www.facebook.com/rooterville/)

ALSO: I spoke with Kathleen Wood, Criminal Justice Program Fellow at the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), where she helped prepare ALDF’s recently-released report that ranks the best and worst states for animal protection. We discussed, among other elements of the report—including the criteria used in compiling it– Florida’s ranking at Number 16, what accounted for Kentucky placing last (for many years running), and how Illinois achieved its Number 1 ranking. (http://aldf.org)

COMEDY CORNER: Jim Gaffigan’s “Whales” (portion) (http://www.jimgaffigan.com)

MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Pink Floyd’s “Pigs (Three Different Ones)”

AUDIO ARCHIVE:

Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/TAFeb7.mp3 | Open Player in New Window