In January, the city of North Las Vegas, Nev., passed a new law aimed at addressing the enormous homeless pet population in Southern Nevada. Each year, the municipal animal shelter serving the region takes in about 50,000 unwanted animals and euthanize about half of them. That’s why the North Las Vegas City Council passed a law requiring that starting this month all domesticated dogs and cats must be spayed or neutered before reaching four months of age. (There are some exceptions.) NLV Councilwoman Stephanie Smith, who championed the ordinance, joins the Petcasters to explain it.

Plus, Steve rants against silent auctions that sell off live puppies.

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Fifteen years ago this summer, Steve found an emaciated orange tabby outside the home he was renting in Topeka, Kan., while living there for a summer newspaper internship. The cat, Amishew, was adopted by Steve’s friend’s mother, Nilsa Leal of Indiana, after Steve graduated from college and could no longer keep him. Mrs. Leal joins the Petcasters to fill us in on what became of that cat, which continues to thrive and provide a great deal of pleasure for the family that cared for him for all these years.

Plus, Emily raises the issue of a California bill that would ban driving pets without having them buckled up. That leads Steve to recount his recent moment locking himself out of his running car with the dogs inside. Also, here’s the link to the company that makes those animal carseats that Emily referenced.

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One of the fastest growing areas of animal care is petsitting, which allows Fluffy and Fido to enjoy the comforts of home while their owners are away. But before you hand over the house key and leash, the Petcasters chat with Candance Labane-Godfrey, president of the National Association of Professional Petsitters, and launched her own critter care business in 1997 in Sacramento, California. Candance has suggestions as to the does and don’ts of hiring a petsitter.

Plus, Steve shares his tale about finding a feral cat and her five incredibly adorable kittens in his neighborhood and how the situation was handled.

Call 206-203-1010, e-mail [email protected], visit our site at thepetcast.com.

Dr. Jane Brunt, a feline vet based in the Baltimore area, joins the Petcasters to explain why she convened the CATalyst Summit earlier this year to focus the vet world on important issues related to cat care. The event followed a study by the American Veterinary Medical Association found 36.3 percent of cat-owning households receive no vet care versus 17.3 percent of canine-owning households.

Also, Emily’s dog Archie had to have a couple of teeth pulled following his periodical teeth-cleaning. And Steve wants to listeners to share if their pets have had bad reactions to sprayings from the exterminator.

Call 206-203-1010, e-mail [email protected], visit our site at thepetcast.com.

Whether you're looking for your Dalmatian's horoscope or a new motion-sensor water bowl for you finicky Persian, you may want to stop by a new Web site on the companion animal scene. Petside.Com is offering visitors everything from expert veterinary advice to breaking news. Guest Kim Jack Riley, executive editor of Petside.Com.

Also, the Petcasters discuss CareCredit, an extended payment program you can use at the vet and debate the truth behind that story of a dog that got "lost" and made its way home in northern Nevada. Oh, and we visit the story of Snickers, which we believe.

Steve's mom returns to explain what's gone right and wrong with her new puppy, Poppy. That prompted chatter between the Petcasters about how to use treats to encourage a dog to do something. Emily also demonstrated her surprising understanding of spray-cheese products. Steve, meanwhile, wants to know how to stop Jack from constantly doing his little trick.

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There's nothing scarier for a pet owner than coming home to find a front gate left open and a beloved pet missing. Dan Fost, a freelance writer basd in San Francisco, discusses his recent New York Times article on new technology to keep track of your dogs. Sorry, it doesn't really work for cats yet.

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For college students leaving home for the first time, the transition can be even tougher when it means leaving behind a beloved pet. For more than 10 years, the State University of New York at Canton has offered an unusual solution: the pet wing in the Mohawk Residence Hall. Courtney Battista, director of residence life at the school, explains how it works and why dogs and snakes are species non grata.

Plus, the Petcasters mull some things pet owners should ask when they board their animals following a fire that killed several pets at a Las Vegas veterinary office and Steve ponders his dogs' fears of him running on the treadmill. 

Call us at 206-203-1010, e-mail [email protected], visit thepetcast.com.

Since 1984, animal wrangler Pat Derby and her partner Ed Stewart have offered a haven for abandoned, abused and retured performing animals. The Performing Animal Welfare Society (pawsweb.org) maintains three sanctuaries in California, including 2,300 acres on San Andreas. That's the new home of Maggie, until recently Alaska's only elephant, after the state's zoo agreed to let her go in September 2007.

Plus, Emily catches us up on Archie's agility triumphs and tribulations and Steve affirms his adoration for his dogs after admitting he's been feeding them big-dog food.

Call us at 206-203-1010, e-mail [email protected], visit thepetcast.com. 

Tomi Tomek of SOS Chats in Noriaigue, Switzerland, explains her 260-cat refuge and her movement to outlaw the Swiss cat fur trade.

To read Steve's piece from the April 1, 2008 New York Times, visit ThePetcast.Com.

Call us at 206-203-1010, e-mail [email protected] or visit the site at thepetcast.com