Talking Animals

Dr. Carl Safina — a prize-winning author, scientist and MacArthur Fellow—discusses his new book, “Beyond Words: What Animals Think And Feel,” which in the broadest of strokes, involves three big sections, in which Safina is observing the behavior of elephants at Amboseli National Park, wolves in Yellowstone National Park and killer whales in the Pacific Northwest, alongside top experts who’ve worked in each of those areas for decades. We start the conversation focusing on wolves, with my reading him a passage from the book (“Wolves may not have words. What they have is: recognition, motivation, emotion, mental images, a mind map of their landscape, a roster of their community, a bank of memories and learned skills, and a catalog of scents with meanings attached as definitions”) and asking him to expand on that. Safina also addresses the singular figures with whom he did that key observing, in Yellowstone (Rick McIntyre), in Amboseli (Cynthia Moss), and the Pacific Northwest (Ken Balcomb) and the extraordinary body of research and other information they’ve generated during the decades they’ve devoted to studying their respective animals. He touches on the furor triggered by the killing of Cecil The Lion, and issues swirling around that furor, including information that’s been raised about trophy hunting and the true economics of conservation in those areas of the world. He explains why he repudiates the aversion to anthropomorphism that has long characterized animal behaviorists and other scientists. And, in acknowledging the interview fell on World Elephant Day, Safina closes out the conversation with a succinct, poignant observation about elephants. (http://carlsafina.org)

 

COMEDY CORNER: Kyle Kinane’s “Cat Sneeze” (http://kylekinane.com)

MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” Syd Barrett’s “Effervescing Elephants,” Maceo Parker’s “Elephant’s Foot,” instrumentals

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Henry Mancini’s “Baby Elephant Walk”

AUDIO ARCHIVE:

Listen Online Now: http://www.talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/TAAug12.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Indra Lahiri — founder of Indraloka Animal Sanctuary in Mehoopany, Pennsylvania, one of the few sanctuaries that houses both farm animals and other species—recalls having a close connection with animals as a child, including being that prototypical neighborhood kid who tends to sick or injured animals. Into adulthood and beyond, rescuing animals became athrough line of Lahiri’s story, but nonetheless she acknowledges, it was “a big leap” to start Indraloka, echoing the story of many sanctuary founders who saw a dire situation &/or an urgent need to care for animals, and acted on it. In discussing the radiating power of healing that exists at Indraloka, she recounts the tale of Penny, a factory farm dairy cow that had been forcibly impregnated regularly until she was rescued and relocated to Indraloka: Penny had lived there seven years, and not given birth again during that time, yet when Lahiri brought a starving calf to the sanctuary—one they weren’t sure would make it—Penny began lactating, nursing the calf, who recovered. Indraloka also places a premium on offering educational programs at the sanctuary for students of all ages, from kindergartners to grad students. Lahiri addresses the rationale for offering the programs, and cites examples of some, and the impact they can have on individual students. (www.indraloka.org)

COMEDY CORNER: Pete Holmes’ “Dropped A Dog” (portion) (www.peteholmes.com)

MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” Les Paul’s “Chicken Reel,” Corb Lund’s “Cows Around,” instrumentals

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Steely Dan’s “Black Cow”

AUDIO ARCHIVE:

Listen Online Now: http://www.talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/TAAug5.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Mariesa and Chris Hughes — co-founders of the Mr. Mo Project, which places senior shelter dogs, who are sometimes also ill (and therefore often strong candidates to be euthanized) into ongoing foster homes, underwriting the dogs’ medical and food costs for the foster families—each discuss their long history with rescue dogs, extending back to early childhood. The married couple also recount the formative stages of their romance, where dogs—specifically her two getting along with his six—proved pivotal to determining whether the relationship could advance to a more serious level. Mariesa and Chris recall when Moses, the elderly (and surrendered) pitbull who became the organization’s namesake, entered their world—and rocked it with his “larger than life” personality. That world was rocked in a much darker way when Moses was diagnosed with a tumor on his spinal cord which claimed him six weeks later, and his specific story—senior dog, enormous medical expenses—figured prominently into what became the launching of the Mr. Mo Project in June of 2014. Noting they receive 10-20 daily requests for help with the dogs fitting one or both descriptions, the duo explain how they select the animals to help directly, contacting comparable organizations to help with the others, outlining the criteria they use for arriving at those selections. Mariesa and Chris emphasize that there are no geographical constraints to the location of the older dogs who are helped by the Mr. Mo Project, or the foster homes where they may wind up placed. (www.mrmoproject.com)

COMEDY CORNER: Erin Foley’s “Dogs” (www.erinkfoley.com)

MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” Cat Steven’s “I Love My Dog,” EELS’ “Dog Faced Boy (alternate version),” instrumentals

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: B-52’s “Rock Lobster”

AUDIO ARCHIVE:

Listen Online Now: http://www.talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/TAJuly29-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

JD Whitaker and Rhonda Reynolds —motorcyclists with sidecars who ride with their dogs in their sidecars, and two of the 18 such folks featured in “Sit Stay Ride: The Story of America’s Sidecar Dogs,” an extraordinary documentary WMNF was slated to screen July 28 (info here)—recall what first prompted them to get a sidecar. Turns out, they report sharply contrasting experiences, including Whitaker’s spanning decades and his canine companion, Hercules, is his third sidecar dog, while Reynolds is a recent convert who decided to get a sidecar at the moment she was bringing her newest dog, Mooloo, into her life. They discuss how different dogs react differently to becoming sidecar dogs, and the process for acclimating they ones who don’t jump right into the sidecar, ready to ride. (Whitaker noted that his second sidecar dog wasn’t crazy about riding initially but came around to it, whereas his first sidecar dog and Hercules loved it immediately.) The pair describe what it feels like riding on the open road with their dogs alongside them in the sidecars, the sense of freedom and joy—and the joy they bring to those who spot them on the highway, at gas stations and elsewhere. Whitaker explains the Tour Of Honor, which for him involves turning his motorcycle’s trunk lid into a painted tribute to Lance Corporal Colton Rusk, an explosive detection dog handler who was so effective at his job that he was assassinated by in Afghanistan. Whitaker and Hercules travel the country, telling Rusk’s story and urging people to photograph the trunk lid, and share those pictures and Rusk’s story on social media. Reynolds expands on a point she makes in the film—that dogs are with us such a short time, relatively, so it’s all the more important to give them a wonderful life, replete with assorted adventures—observing that it’s crucial to her, and she thinks, crucial to Mooloo for them to spend as much time as possible together, and enjoy an array of experiences, in what I called “an unspoken bucket list.” (www.sidecardogs.com)

ALSO: I spoke briefly with Scott Trebatoski, Director of The Hillsborough County Pet Resources Center, about the Center’s forthcoming (Aug. 1) extravaganza marking the one-year anniversary of its First Saturday Celebration. The Celebration is held the first Saturday of each month, a multifaceted afternoon with, as Trebatoski describes it, “a carnival-like atmosphere,” chiefly designed to cultivate as many pet adoptions as possible. (http://hillsboroughcounty.org/Pets)

COMEDY CORNER: Greg Fitzsimmons’ “A Humane Society” (www.gregfitzsimmons.com/fitzdog-radio/)

MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” John Hiatt’s “My Dog And Me,” David Dondero’s “Not Everybody Loves Your Doggie Like You Do,” instrumentals

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Iggy & The Stooges’ “I Wanna Be Your Dog”

AUDIO ARCHIVE:

Listen Online Now: http://www.talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/TAJuly22-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Harry Hmura —musician-composer whose album “I Am, I Am” integrates original songs and instrumental pieces with the vocalizations of great apes—discusses his formative years as a musician, including a pivotal backstage meeting with B. B. King as a 15-year-old and becoming the guitarist in James Cotton’s touring band at 21. He recounts how a televised documentary spurred his interest in great apes and after attending a conference near his Chicago home, he visited Fauna Foundation, a chimp sanctuary in Montreal—playing guitar for some of the chimps–a visit that constituted a profound experience for him. Hmura explains how he conceived and began executing “I Am, I Am,” including using digital recorders at various great ape sanctuaries to capture their vocalizations and other sounds, as well as having friends record other apes’ sounds in the wild. He describes creating the music for the project, in some cases writing songs in the same key as the animals’ natural vocal pitches, and fashioning a narrative arc over the course of the 13 tracks on “I Am, I Am.” Hmura addresses why it was important to him for the “I Am, I Am” CD to feature gorgeous artwork and packaging. The project benefits great ape sanctuaries around the world, sharing half of the CD and download proceeds. (www.iam-iamproject.com)

ALSO: I spoke briefly with writer-comedian Jim Tews, who created Felines of New York, a blog that serves as a wonderful cat-oriented parody of the noted website Humans of New York. Tews explains that in addition to writing all of the entries on the blog, he photographs all the cats, and that he will publish a Felines of New York book in November. (http://felinesofnewyork.com)

 

COMEDY CORNER: Mitch Hedberg’s “Smackie The Frog” (http://mitchhedberg.net)

MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” Harry Hmura’s “Morning Mist And Lil Miracles,” Harry Hmura’s “I Am, I Am,” instrumentals

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: X’s “Hungry Wolf” (Get well soon, Billy Zoom. To help with the cost of his medical care and other expenses, donate to this GoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/yx66a4)

AUDIO ARCHIVE:

Listen Online Now: http://www.talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/TAJuly15-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

I convened a panel of professional pet sitters—Shelley Hamilton of Perfect Pets, Glen Hatchell of Home Buddies (also a former WMNF Morning Show Host), and Nina Perino of Love All Beings Pet Sitting—to discuss various aspects of pet sitting. We had a peppy, illuminating conversation that included hearing a bit of each panelist’s background (it appears that the corporate world’s loss is the pet sitting world’s gain), and what spurred them to enter this profession. Perino, Hatchell and Hamilton outlined the criteria crucial to selecting a pet sitter, what to look for, the questions to ask, etc. Among the significant points that emerged: first-rate professional pet sitters are bonded and insured, which can have important implications if, say, water damage or some other problem develops at a client’s home—particularly in contrast to having the neighborhood kid look after the animals. We also explored the parameters—what sorts of tasks and services are reasonable to ask a pet sitter to perform, and what sorts are unreasonable. There seemed to unanimity among the three, while noting certain services only offered by one of the panelists, like Perino’s transportation (“taxi”) to a client’s veterinarian or groomer, or Hatchell’s dog training. The trio addressed a panoply of other topics, from the singular challenges of dog walking amidst the heat, humidity and rainstorms of Florida summers, to how to handle looking after client pets in the midst of fireworks, to the animals they personally live with at home, and more. (www.loveallbeingspetsitting.com, www.myhomebuddies.com/tampane, http://callperfectpets.com, www.tampabaypetsitters.com, www.petsit.com)

 

 

COMEDY CORNER: Inside Amy Shumer’s “Doggy Daycare” (www.cc.com/shows/inside-amy-schumer)

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

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Steve Miller Band’s “Fly Like An Eagle”

AUDIO ARCHIVE:

Listen Online Now: http://www.talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/TAJuly8-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Andrea Turkalo, of the Wildlife Conservation Society—and considered the world’s leading expert on forest elephants, having studied them for more than two decades in the Central African Republic (CAR)—recounts what initially drew her to the CAR nearly 30 years ago, and how she became interested in elephants. She addresses some of the reasons that even people who consider themselves elephant aficionados tend to know very little about forest elephants, and where things stand regarding the animals being officially identified as a separate species from savanna elephants. Turkalo spends some time addressing the escalating poaching activity in the area: In part because their tusks are denser (so-called “hot ivory” or “pink ivory”), they’re more sought after—and one report indicated that, within a decade, the number of forest elephants had declined by more than 60 percent. She recalls the details of the country’s civil war that, in 2013, forced her to flee her camp and her work. She describes some her research, such as recording and analyzing the elephants’ vocalizations, including sounds that operate at a frequency not able to be detected by human ears. Turkalo looks ahead and assesses the longer-term situation for the forest elephants, making it clear she’s striving to be optimistic about their fate. (http://blog.wcs.org/photo/author/aturkalo/, www.wcs.org/saving-wildlife/elephants/african-forest-elephant.aspx)

ALSO: I spoke briefly with Laura Bevan, Southern Regional Director of The Humane Society of the U.S. about last week’s decision by The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to allow what amounts to a trophy hunt on the Florida black bear. This included exploring the puzzling timing of the decision (a complete bear population study isn’t due to be completed by FWC until 2016), what may have been driving the decision—including financial and other implications; for example the hunting license fees–the general composition of the Commission (numerous fishing and hunting enthusiasts) and how to express disappointment and outrage to the Commissioners. (http://myfwc.com/…/fwc-…/senior-staff/contact-commissioners/, www.humanesociety.org/issues/bear_hunting/)

COMEDY CORNER: Tim Harmston’s “Seagull” (http://www.timharmston.com)

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

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Yes’ “The Fish” R.I.P., Chris Squire

AUDIO ARCHIVE:

Listen Online Now: http://www.talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/TAJuly1-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Alex Blount, PETA Tour Administrator—in this case, the tour in question is PETA’s “I, Orca” empathy project, which involves using Google virtual reality goggles to immerse participants in a world where they can swim freely in the ocean with their orca family—recounts what drew him to working for PETA. He notes that touring with “I, Orca” represents his first job at PETA, having started working for the organization only weeks before. Blount explains how “I, Orca” was conceived, how its intent was formulated, and to what extent the project was meant to consolidate and underscore the impact generated by “Blackfish” and “Beneath The Surface,” the recent book by former SeaWorld orca trainer John Hargrove. We air portions of the audio from “I, Orca” and discuss them, including my observation that—given that it’s been decades since SeaWorld took orcas from the wild—the portion featuring The Sopranos/Nurse Jackie star Edie Falco voicing the mother of an orca calf seized from her and taken to SeaWorld felt a bit artificial, bordering on disingenuous. To which Blount points out that at least two current SeaWorld killer whales—Corky and the infamous Tilikum—were captured from the wild. About halfway through the tour, designed to travel to cities near the three SeaWorld parks and other locales, Blount describes the reactions from the “I, Orca” participants thus far, almost uniformly positive regardless of their familiarity with captive orca issues.(www.seaworldofhurt.com, www.peta.org/blog/go-underwater-with-petas-new-virtual-reality-experience-i-orca/)

ALSO: I spoke briefly with Kimber Sobeck, a dog trainer who created “The Black Dog Program,” by which black dogs—traditionally, the animals most overlooked for adoption from shelters and other facilities—are outfitted with brightly-colored so-called “Comfys” (robes made from beach towels) and other accouterments that make them more appealing, easier to photograph, etc, enhancing their prospects of adoption. Other key elements of Sobeck’s program include a certified trainer assessing the black dog’s temperament. (www.allgooddog.com/)

COMEDY CORNER: Brian Regan’s “Whale Noises” (http://brianregan.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: http://www.talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/TAJune24-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Dan Piraro—who, for 30 years, has drawn the highly-acclaimed, widely-syndicated comic “Bizarro”—discusses his recently announced plans, over the next two to three years, for retiring “Bizarro,” and how that announcement was initially misunderstood by some, and triggered an uproar in others. He elaborates on the reasons behind those plans, including devoting much more time to his heretofore minimally known work as a painter of fine art. By way of elaborating on the reasons for needing to change up his life and career after 30-plus years of producing “Bizarro,” Piraro walks us through the element of a typical day—week, really. (As one measure of the ceaseless professional demands he faces each day, he notes that during our interview, he’s drawing.) Piraro addresses why animals have been a staple of his panels throughout the life of the panel—while recounting that his Dad took him hunting as a young boy–and how “Bizarro” began reflecting a more explicit empathy and animal rights sensibility after he became a vegan in 2002. I mention that sometimes a single “Bizarro” panel manages to address multiple animal rights issues, citing one from earlier this  month that involves two parrots sitting on a phone line, across from a chicken sitting on another line. (That comic is presented below this synopsis.) This prompts Piraro to describe both the genesis and evolution of that panel. No stranger to creating controversial comics, Piraro is asked about the Charlie Hebdo attacks, and responds that he isn’t steeped in that situation or the cartoons, but does offer opinions and observations about the attacks at the exhibit of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad in Garland, Texas. (http://bizarro.com)

COMEDY CORNER: Jerry Stiller & Anne Meara’s “The Whale” R.I.P, Anne Meara

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

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Fleetwood Mac’s “Tusk”

AUDIO ARCHIVE:

Listen Online Now: http://www.talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/TAmay27.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Gail Clifton—who has worn multiple hats at the Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy (SMART), including 11 years as its volunteer Executive Director—discusses SMART’s history and mission. She also tells stories about the organization’s early triumphs, when its focus was serving disabled children, and explains how the SMART program widened out to additionally welcome military veterans (and their families) contending with PTSD. Clifton sketches some scenes of the work that happens with the veterans, which doesn’t involve riding, but rather interacting with the horse(s). She also recounts some of her own 18-year history at SMART, including acknowledging that her 11-year stint as the organization’s unpaid Executive Director extended well beyond what she had envisioned. Clifton spends more than a little time addressing Magic, the SMART horse who, it’s safe to say, projects a singular presence, in that he’s a blind horse who uses echo-location to get around. Magic, Clifton points out, is an integral part of of their work with the veterans, with the children—related to the affliction that caused his blindness, the horse‘s eyes were removed…a sort of virtue for the autistic kids, who tend to eschew eye contact—and the Horse Sense Literacy Program. Clifton concludes the conversation with some comments about the array of volunteer opportunities at SMART. (www.smartriders.org)

ALSO: I aired a brief conversation I had recorded with Joe Zimmerman, a wonderfully bright and refreshing comedian, with lots of great animal material—and as such, has become perhaps the most played comedian on “Talking Animals” in recent months. We discussed his start in stand-up, what inspired his first animal bit, what traits about animals amuse him and prompt him to write pieces about them, including extended bits about snakes, crows (“Crow Zimmerman”!), and more. This was was pegged to Zimmerman’s local engagement at Side Splitters in Tampa. (www.zimmermancomedy.com)

COMEDY CORNER: Joe Zimmerman’s “Pet Snakes” (part one) (www.zimmermancomedy.com)

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

 NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Paul Shaffer’s “Late Night” [Bye Dave!]

AUDIO ARCHIVE:

Listen Online Now: http://www.talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/TAmay20-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window