The Pet Connection

On this "From the Vault" episode of Big Blend Radio, New Orleans based children's book author Michelle Dumont chats about her "Phoebe Cakes and Friends" book, "An Alphabet Tail" that features illustrations by Jennifer Taylor.

Come along with Phoebe and all of her tail-wagging four-legged friends and learn your ABCs one giggle at a time. This board book is especially designed and crafted to stimulate and entertain little learners as they begin their A-Z learning journey. The previous book in the series, "Phoebe Cakes: A Mardi Gras Tail" features search-and-find flaps for curious young readers, the story focuses on New Orleans during Mardi Gras. More: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/michelle-dumont-an-alphabet-tail/ 

This "From the Vault" episode of Big Blend Radio features author Alice Kaltman, who discusses her latest novel, "Dawg Towne."  The book explores universal themes of love and loss through the deceptively simple lens of suburban life. But is life in the suburbs ever really simple? 

Over the course of one year in Towne, spouses die, children grow up, affairs begin and end, lies are repeatedly spoken, bad sex happens (good sex, less often), gender is questioned, and dogs go missing. Many dogs. Humorous and canine-centric, "Dawg Towne" is like Peyton Place re-written by Dorothy Parker and your friendly neighborhood veterinarian. And yes, this is a work of fiction. More: https://alicekaltman.com/ 

Dogs have always been there for us through catastrophes, wars, and sickness, and have displayed a loyalty which remains unparalleled during the course of the human experience. From herding to hunting, many dogs were originally bred to assist their human companions in daily life. A working dog might be a military dog, a K-9 police dog, or a search and rescue dog.  Many of these dogs are our unsung heroes. They can save lives, detect a bomb, or, in the case of a military dog, boost the morale of those soldiers fighting a war. 

Featured music, with permission, is "Colors of the USA" by Doreen Taylor - more at https://www.doreentaylormusic.com/ 

This "From the Vault" episode of Big Blend Radio features Dr. Gary Weitzman, a pet expert and author, advocate and veterinarian, and also President & CEO of the San Diego Humane Society. He shares some great pet training advice on training dogs and cats, as covered in his two books with National Geographic Kids:“Fetch! A How to Speak Dog Training Guide” and “Pounce! A How To Speak Cat Training Guide”.  More: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/dr-gary-weitzman-fetch-pounce/ 

Featured music, played with permission, is "Uncle Remus Tales" by the Tall Men Group.

During World War II, thousands of Americans sent their pets to Fort Robinson in western Nebraska where the U.S. Military established the Fort Robinson War Dogs Training Center, training over 17,000 “dogs for defense” and deploying them to battlefields and installations all over the world. On this episode of Big Blend Radio, author Trevor Jones discusses his book "Major: A Soldier Dog" tells the little-known story of these brave four-footed soldiers. 

This "From the Vault" interview was part of Big Blend Radio's "History, Heritage & Culture" Festival (2020). More: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/major-a-soldier-dog/ 

This Big Blend Radio "From the Vault" episode features journalist Peter Zheutlin, the New York Times bestselling author of RESCUE ROAD, who talks about his 2017 book, “RESCUED: What Second-Chance Dogs Teach Us About Living with Purpose, Loving with Abandon, and Finding Joy in the Little Things.” Zheutlin interweaves heartwarming and humorous stories, lessons, and advice from countless families who have welcomed second-chance dogs into their homes and the transformative effect of these adoptions.