Talking Animals

About once a year, I jettison the chief component of the “Talking Animals” format—a long form interview with a single guest—to offer a debate or some other multi-guest panel discussion. As part of that periodic effort to rejigger the program, and a parallel desire to give voice to a broader array of animal organizations and leaders, as well as provide airtime to listeners who also may have important animal-oriented information to announce or comments to offer on the news, etc.—I invite people to call into “Talking Animals” and, briefly, become the show’s guest. We placed the better part of 10 callers on the air (two called back, with additional information). This segment—in which I took the calls randomly and unscreened–elicited a wonderful array of responses: From Suzanne, of Florida Voices for Animals, describing the organization and its outreach efforts, protests, and some of the events it produces, including the forthcoming Tampa Bay Veg Fest (www.tampabayvegfest.org). She also sung the praises of “Talking Animals” and WMNF. (www.floridavoicesforanimals.org)…to Neil, who weighed in on Inghram’s Sit ‘N Stay Dog Academy—revelations and undercover footage captured by PETA of horrible treatment of dogs at the Tampa training and boarding facility, which I had mentioned in the opening moments of the show—noting his family has three dogs and two cats, and how they selected the boarding facility they use in Valrico (http://sitnstaydogacademy.com, www.peta.org… to Marilyn, Executive Director of the League of Humane Voters in Florida, outlining a bit about that organization and responding to an emailer’s question about where to find information about legislators’ track record voting on animal and animal welfare issues (http://lohv-fl.org, www.hslf.org)…to David, who spoke about the disturbing phenomenon that’s surfaced in the Florida Keys of the screw-worm, the larvae of the screw fly—which, according to the USDA, is the only insect known to eat the living flesh of warm-blooded animals. If not contained, the screw-worm infestation has serious implications for the population of the endangered Key deer, and other species….to Ed, who voiced his concern about penned geese he regularly saw in an area of Pasco County, in the course of his work for a landscaping company, wondering why people would keep geese that way…There were other callers, as well as some emailers and texters (plus we wove in various pieces of animal news—my thanks to all who participated.

MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” EELS’ “I Like Birds,” instrumentals

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Echo & The Bunnymen’s “Crocodiles”

AUDIO ARCHIVE:

Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/TAOct12-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

What happens after lab animals are released? CBS News Correspondents Sam Litzinger and Mark Strassmann have a heartwarming story.

Cadaver dogs are not only being trained to sniff out a crime scene -- they are also training to help during natural disasters. CBS News Correspondent Sam Litzinger has the story.

A zookeeper's job may sound fun -- until that they have to weigh the animals. CBS News Correspondent Sam Litzinger has more on "Talking Animals."

When it comes to sniffing out a potential terrorist -- never call a human to do a dog's job. CBS News Correspondent Sam Litzinger explains more on "Talking Animals."

Raymond J. Lesniak—veteran State Senator of New Jersey, who has a distinguished track record of working on behalf of animals and animal welfare—explains that he didn’t really harbor any political ambition while growing up, sort of wandering into that realm after graduating from Rutgers University and St. John’s Law School. But once he tried his hand at public service, he really took to it: turning in a five-year stint in the New Jersey State Assembly, and he has been serving in the Senate since 1983. Lesniak recounts his longtime love of animals, and the string of rescue dogs he’s lived with, including Brittany, a mixed breed Spaniel that was his companion for 19 years, as well as current canine pals Penny and Sammy, who added some well-placed barks to the conversation. (Talking Animals!) In this recorded conversation, Lesniak addresses animal-related laws he’s pushed for, pending bills he’s sponsored, and ones vetoed by his periodic foe, New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie. Collectively, this includes legislation to fight illegal trading of tiger parts, ban the use of gestation crates, prohibit anyone from bringing hunting trophy animals into the state, ban shark finning, halt bear baiting, and, most recently, Lesniak sponsored “Nosey’s Law,” which prohibits the use of elephants in traveling acts (named after a Florida-based elephant leading the tough, solitary life of a solo performing elephant.) He also offers his views on Governor Christie and Donald J. Trump. Toward the end of this conversation, Senator Lesniak provideda coy hint of his political aspirations, acknowledging he embraces the motto “Go up or go out,” noting he’s not going out, and explaining that he’ll make an official announcement in three weeks. A betting man would wager that this announcement, at least when covered by the media, may include the words “gubernatorial bid.” (http://raymondlesniak.com, www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/bio.asp?Leg=61)

ALSO: I spoke briefly with Beth Khan, of Animal Coalition of Tampa (ACT), about Stride For Strays, their major annual fundraiser slated for Nov. 6 at Perry Harvey Park—and a special registration discount that was set to expire at the end of September. (www.actampa.org, www.strideforstrays.org/)

COMEDY CORNER: “Inside Amy Schumer”’s “Doggy Daycare” (www.amyschumer.com)

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

 NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Bob Dylan’s “Man Gave Names To All The Animals”

AUDIO ARCHIVE:

Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/TASept29.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

A tiger's roar may not just mean he is hungry -- he could be laughing. Here's CBS News Correspondent Sam Litzinger with the story.

Vultures are nature's sanitation workers -- and officials in Peru are taking advantage. CBS News Correspondent Sam Litzinger has more.

Luan Dean—the Director of Mission Advancement at SPCA Tampa Bay—explains the scope of her duties at the organization, which began in 1940, while describing the work undertaken there in the earliest days, some 70 years ago. Dean also briefly traces SPCA Tampa Bay’s evolution and change in those ensuing decades, including relocating from St. Petersburg to Largo, a significant widening out of services and programs offered, and operating on 10-acre parcel of land. As an offshoot of this discussion, she describes in some detail the new veterinary hospital that SPCA Tampa Bay is just on the cusp of opening in St. Petersburg (projected period for it to be functioning is early October) that will be full-service, providing a range of veterinary care, equipped with a full staff, including several veterinarians, vet techs and other. Dean says the new facility will include a high-volume spay-neuter clinic, noting that it’s quite possible for a veterinarian to perform 35 such procedures per day. She addresses the various means through which SPCA Tampa Bay underwrites its programs and services (the 10-acre piece of land was donated by a supporter), including the Annual Pet Walk, the organization’s biggest fundraiser–the 26th edition of which is slated for Oct. 8 at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg. Dean speaks to the way SPCA Tampa Bay and its reputation have rebounded from a place some years ago, when there were questions and controversy surrounding the facility’s status as a “no-kill” shelter—spurred by criticism (and queries about allegedly fudged numbers) when it came to the number of animals taken in by the SPCA relative to how many were adopted out, and how many were euthanized. (http://spcatampabay.org)

ALSO: I spoke briefly with Alana Rogers, of Pig Advocates League (PAL), to receive an important update about the so-called “Polk Pigs”—the 120+ pigs that were sized in early August from Darlynn’s Darlins, a Polk City rescue sanctuary, when the proprietors were charged with 138 counts of animal neglect and three counts of felony animal abuse. The judge ruled that the pigs would not be returned to those proprietors, and have temporarily been relocated to a sanctuary in Gainesville, FL—but PAL needs all kinds of help, to help these pigs: volunteers, the use of livestock trailers (or trucks and vans), new homes for the pigs, donations to help feed and care for them, etc. The email to donate or inquire about helping the pigs is: [email protected] (www.pigadvocates.com, www.facebook.com/PigAdvocates/?fref=ts)

COMEDY CORNER: Nick DiPaolo’s “Animal Activists” (www.nickdip.com)

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

 NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: The Rolling Stone’s “Monkey Man”

AUDIO ARCHIVE:

Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/TASept21-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

CBS News Correspondent Sam Litzinger reports on how rescue organizations are helping animals displaced by natural disasters.