Animal Radio® Network Newsletter January 2009 - Happy New Year!

In this issue:
- 2008 Was a Great Year for Animal Protection Laws!
- The Realities of Pets in Show Biz - Is your furry-friend cut-out for this?
- Who's Your Daddy? Animal Radio® airstaff surprised by DNA results.
- Top Strange and Unusual Pet Names of 2008
- New Years Resolutions Your Dog Wishes You'd Make!
- NAPPS Annual Pet Sitters Conference - A new job with animals for 2009!
- What is it with Guys & Neutering? Vinnie says cut the standup-comedy!
- Crying with Cockroaches - Horseback-riding from Argentina to NY...alone
- Judy's Quick & Nutritious Dog Food - Play-by-play video shows you how

Animal Protection Advances in 2008 While 2008 was a tough year for many, it seems the opposite for the animals. Even the darkest clouds had silver-linings - usually leading to legislation for change. There were significant strides made in animals laws in 2008. California's farm animal legislation showed that the majority believe in the humane treatment of animals. 2009 brings more room for farm animals and more retailers refusing to sell fur. Here's just a few of the laws to protect our pets: • California voters passed Proposition 2 that requires farms, by the year 2015, to give veal calves, egg-laying hens, and pregnant pigs enough room to lie down, stand up, fully extend their limbs and turn around freely. • Massachusetts banned greyhound racing. The ban, which takes effect in 2010, passed by a vote of about 56 percent to 44 percent, with more than two-thirds of the precincts reporting. • Colorado banned confining veal calves and breeding pigs in small crates. • Delaware now requires accurate labeling of garments containing animal fur. • Alaska and Utah became the 44th and 45th states with felony-level animal cruelty penalties • Georgia, Idaho, Virginia and Wyoming now have stronger dog fighting laws • Polar bears were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, ending imports of polar bear trophies from animals hunted in Canada. • Los Angeles passed an ordinance requiring cats and dogs to be spayed or neutered. • Target stopped selling foie gras - which is made by cruelly force-feeding ducks and geese • Many companies joined the list of retailers that are now refusing to sell fur. Some of these include Sears, Juice Couture and Nike. Of course, this is just the beginning! Many of these laws will open doors for nationwide legislation. Year in Review on Animal Radio®

On Animal Radio® this month MARLEY & ME trainer MATHILDE DECAGNEY reveals the secrets behind the making of the movie, including juicy-stuff about the 22 dogs that played Marley. Could that Wii or iPod you got for Christmas be dangerous for your pet? According to the top ten list of 'most dangerous gadgets,' even your Karaoke machine could send your pet to the vet. MARIANNE DUTOIT travels solo on horseback from Argentina to New York City in 21 months. She shares the 'edge-of-your-seat' details of her journey. BETTY WHITE says she is not "speciest" and likes anything with a leg on four corners. She also mentions that her cat was a member of the household before she was born, and if they didn't get along - she was the one who was going! MICHELLE ZAHN of Le PAWS receives hundreds of emails from all over the US with people who think their dog should be in films. If you have one of these dogs, she can tell you how to make your dog a star! Animal Precinct's ANNEMARIE LUCAS starts the heated dialog about pet-store animals and puppy-mills. Animal Radio® phones ring red hot with controversy. Are adoption agencies driving potential pet guardians to breeders? Grey's Anatomy's ERIC DANE plays John's friend in Marley & Me. He tells Animal Radio® that it's tough working with dogs...they always steal your thunder. Oprah's go-to-gal and bestselling author TAMAR GELLER has a new DVD. She answers the age-old question, "How do I get my dog to stop whining?" 15 minutes of fame has come twice for BERNANN MCKINNEY. She cloned her deceased dog into 5 dogs. She sold her house because it cost her upwards of $150,000. Also NAPPS' Candance Lebane-Godfrey, Dr. Nancy Kay and Fido Friendly Travel Talk with Susan Sims. You're invited to the party! HOW TO LISTEN: -XM SATELLITE RADIO ch. 158 Saturdays at Noon eastern - and again on Sundays at 9am eastern. STARTING SUNDAY JANUARY 17th, - Animal Radio's Sunday XM broadcast moves from 9am EST to 5pm EST. Now left-coasters don't have to set their alarm clock!! -On any of the 90+ AM-FM RADIO STATIONS including KOST 103.5 Los Angeles. A list of stations and air-times are at http://AnimalRadio.com. -Download the weekly two-hour PODCAST from iTunes or AnimalRadio.com Listen to Animal Radio®

What Is It With Guys And Neutering? Vinnie Penn, Animal Radio's Resident Party Animal This subject was sent to me by Hal Abrams from Animal Radio®. He seems to have a problem with guys who go on and on about neutering their dogs. I know what he’s talking about! It’s really no different from those guys who have a son and they’re talking about circumcision or just anything in general. Men are very territorial when it comes to their offspring’s or their pet’s privates. They feel it gives them pause to become standup comedians. They say things like “My dog won’t be the same anymore,” or “His bark’s going to go up an octave or two.” They think the dog won’t be the same – yeah, he’s not going to be the same for the first couple of days, and yeah, he may have a look in his eyes that says. “Hey dude, thanks a lot!” But basically, everything your vet says about the neutering situation is true. Number one, we do need a bit of population control when it comes to pets. There is an overabundance of dogs and cats, and the outcome is something that any pet lover doesn’t want to see. So yes, it is the wise thing to do. There is nothing worse than that overheated animal who’s calling your Barco Lounger his girlfriend. So, all of the benefits of neutering are in tact, but the guys tell their wives “You’ve got to bring him,” “You must drop him off, I can’t do it!” Why, is there a horserace that day? Is there a Soprano’s marathon? Give the real answer! Don’t say it has anything to do with your heart breaking or how can a man do this to his dog! Another similar routine is when its over. It’s like your father coming over to your house after you’ve had a vasectomy, and he’s like “What did you do?” You’re just lying there looking at him the same way your dog would be looking at you, and saying “Can’t you just get out of here! I’m stitched up, a little bit tender and your little comedy routine here is really kind of annoying me. You’re really a pain in the ass right now and that’s not an area I need a pain in, because I’ve got one not far from there.” I had one of my dogs neutered and it was the best thing I did because he was really uncomfortable and he was unsightly, to say the least! And I’ve got to be honest with you and as candid as I can be when it comes to these party animal segments, I did the little routine when I dropped him off. He was scheduled for a few hours later, and I said, “Let my man have some fun in the other room with some of the girl dogs before he goes in there!” And of course they’re like, “You want him to knock up three or four of our females before he has the incision? That’s really not protocol.” And, you’re just standing there thinking; I’m just doing some standup. I don’t know why, it was just a gravitational pull of some sort for me to do a bad routine out here in the lobby. But nevertheless, there is something like that that goes on. Spaying, neutering, we all know how important it is, but even more important, ex nay the standup comedy, boys! (check out Vinnie's new book - Guido's Credo. Send your complaints to: vinnie@animalradio.com) Listen to Vinnie Penn on Animal Radio®

Current Headlines from the Animal Radio® Newsroom - PETA wants PetSmart to stop selling pets - Police Quarantine Pets From Apartments Near Alleged Meth Lab - Vegas shelter's policy leads to pet owner rage - Vets pressured to prescribe more pills for pets - The ASPCA® announced investigation involving embattled rapper DMX. - Hide a hamster, go to the slammer? - Law allows quick rescues of pets abandoned at foreclosed homes - Spending is strong on premium pet stuff - New California Pet Store Standards - Utah store has bone to pick with shoplifting dog Get these headlines in your email - sign up at http://AnimalRadio.com See the Latest News Stories Now

Traveling Solo Through the Americas Marianne Du Toit was born in South Africa but traveled to Ireland 17 years ago in pursuit of a famous dolphin named Fungi. Of course she didn’t think she would still be there 17 years later! But even after meeting Fungi, she was not finished traveling. Marianne was determined to follow her dream - adamant that with only two horses for company, she should do something out of the ordinary and explore the Americas, traveling from Argentina to New York City over 21 months, even though she had no horse experience. Of course her friends and family thought she was a little crazy but that didn’t stop Marianne. She titled her trip TATA: Travels Across The America. Marianne's expedition took place from May 2002 through March 2004, and chronicled the event in her book "Crying With Cockroaches." When asked if she were a little frightened traveling to strange countries alone, especially to places where a woman traveling alone was frowned upon, Marianne stated that while she had to learn to trust people they also had to learn to trust her. Marianne had many scary moments, but the one moment that stuck out in her mind was when one of her horses contracted an illness and had to be euthanized. Marianne is currently a director of Pegasus, (http://www.pegasuscentre.org) a therapeutic riding centre in Sligo. Marianne campaigns for animal rights by supporting the DSPCA and other welfare organizations. Listen to Marianne DuToit Animal Radio®

Your Dog Should Be in the Movies! Ever wonder if you could quit your job and put your pet to work for you? Oh, that's just me? Well, you probably won't make millions, but you might have fun bonding with your pet. Everyday Michelle Zahn of LePAWS fields hundreds of calls and emails from all over the US and the world all of the calls go like this, "I have the cutest, smartest dog and everyone tells me that he should work on TV." From that call, they have to actually evaluate which dogs can actually work in film. They have 2 full time Union 399 studio trainers on staff and 2 on call Union 399 studio Union trainers. In the last month alone they have booked the following jobs for their clients: Blackberry Commercial - National Commercial Desperate Housewives - TV Show Bones - TV Show Target - National Commercial Verizon Wireless - National Print Ad Ugly Betty - TV Show They also book dogs on shows like Access Hollywood, Ellen, Jay Leno and those types of shows when they need a dog or dogs or segments. Sometimes, if they are currently casting for a job and they don't have that breed in their database, they can announce an open call on the air! If your dog has what it takes, you can make thousands if you get a film contract. But most dogs only earn around $350 - $500 – not too bad! http://www.lepawsagency.com Listen to Michelle Zahn on Animal Radio®

Who’s Your Daddy? Not a Chihuahua! Robin Ray and Sue De Nice Canine Heritage Breed Test If you are a regular listener to Animal Radio®, then you know about our studio “Chihuahua” Ladybug. We weren’t sure she was a full-blooded Chihuahua, as she has some physical traits that are not Chihuahua-like, but what is she? We got in touch with Robin Ray at Canine Heritage Breed Test back in November. Robin told us there are over 1,100 breeds of dogs, and they test the most popular 112 breeds of the United States, and are adding more breeds all of the time. She said a lot of the times what we think our mixed breed dogs are (usually from their physical appearance) isn’t necessarily what they are. So we received the Canine Heritage™ testing kit, got a cheek swab from Ladybug, sent it in and waited for the results. We even had a pool going on in the studio (with Monopoly money – not real money!) with everyone guessing what Ladybug’s genetic makeup is. While everyone agreed that there was Chihuahua in the mix, other guesses were everything from Miniature Pinscher to Rat Terrier. And then the results came back – Ladybug is not a Chihuahua! In fact, they couldn’t find any Chihuahua at all! So what is she? Well, we are still guessing. It turns out that the Fox Terrier and Rat Terrier are not tests currently available through the Canine Heritage Breed Test, which after seeing pictures and reading about their disposition, is pointing more and more to what Ladybug actually is. They will be adding those tests in the near future and we will have Ladybug retested. But, it turns out that somewhere back in her lineage; she has Dachshund and Papillion – who would have guessed! Stay tuned to see what Ladybug truly is, and if you have any doubts about what the make-up of your dog is, give this a try! 1-800 DNA DOGG http://www.canineheritage.com Listen to Robin Ray and Sue De Nice on Animal Radio®

The Most Popular (And Most Unusual) Pet Names Of 2008! By Kim, Shelter Outreach For the second year in a row, Buddy is the No. 1 name among Petfinder's 145,242 adoptable dogs, with Max coming in again as No. 2. As for unusual pet names, they certainly grab the attention of folks looking to adopt. In fact, they sometimes help get our furry friends into homes even faster. One Petfinder member, Forever Home Rescue New England in Walpole, MA, had trouble finding a home for a dog named Buck. After they changed his name to Joe the Plumber during election season, more people began viewing his picture and he was quickly adopted. A "very sad-looking dog" named Woe Izmee and a family of cats dubbed Domino, Ditto, Etcetera, And-so-on and And-so-forth ranked highest in originality in our survey of more than 12,000 shelters and rescue groups in the Petfinder network. Top 10 Most Popular Dog Names 1. Buddy 2. Max 3. Daisy 4. Jack 5. Lucy 6. Molly 7. Charlie 8. Sadie 9. Jake 10. Lucky Top 10 Most Popular Cat Names 1. Lucy 2. Molly 3. Oreo 4. Kittens 5. Smokey 6. Princess 7. Shadow 8. Tigger 9. Angel 10. Missy Top 10 Most Unusual Names 1. Woe Izmee 2. Gwyneth Poultry (a duck) 3. SoSueMe 4. 54cent Swee'T 5. Iamaredneckwoman 6. Angry Chef Soup 7. Ms. Cornflake Especially 8. Bon Jo Flea 9. McLovin 10. Joe the Plumber Top 10 Most Unusual Group Names 1. Domino, Ditto, Etcetera, And-so-on and An-so-forth 2. Ebay, Google, Yahoo and Spam 3. Felony, Warrant and Trespass (in honor of the police department, which supervises the shelter) 4. The Xerox puppies 5. Chiclit, TicTac, Extra, Wrigley and BigRed 6. Elbow-Toe and Neck Face 7. Sara, Andi and Patti ("Serendipity") 8. Footloose and Fancy Free 9. Noodle, Macaroni and Spaghetti 10. Barney Miller, Nicole Miller and Sienna Miller (all rescued from puppy mills) Listeners with strange names call Animal Radio® - LISTEN NOW!

National Association of Professional Pet Sitters Annual Conference The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS) has been around for a dozen years and is the largest non-profit pet sitting organization in the United States. NAPPS offers certification, educational programs and business advice to pet sitters. They provide all the tools necessary to start up a business, including everything from contracts to marketing and advertising. For someone considering pet sitting as a career, NAPPS has an annual conference both in the business field as well as people in the pet care and behavior industries. This year’s 2009 Annual Conference is scheduled for January 16-18, 2009 at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. From pet sitting business basics for the novice pet sitter to programs for the more seasoned pet sitter, you won’t want to miss this conference! Animal Radio will be broadcasting live at this conference – come out and say Hi! www.petsitters.org Listen to Candance Labane-Godfrey of NAPPS on Animal Radio®

Judy's Quick and Nutritious Dog Chow You'd never believe that Animal Radio® co-host Judy Francis couldn't boil water. She appears to be the consummate expert when she cooks her award-winning dog chow. You can too! All you need is a food processor, a few ingredients you might already have, and Judy's new cooking video (link below). This is a nutritious mix. Since it doesn't have the preservatives, it only retains its yumminess for a couple of days. While it's much cheaper to make than buying a can of food from the pet-store, you still might want to supplement your dog's diet with some of the expensive stuff....just to make sure your dog is getting all he/she needs. Judy alternates days with 'Ladybug.' Judy’s Quick and Nutritious Dog Chow 1 handful fresh Spinach 5 baby Carrots (peeled) 3 tablespoons Plain Yogurt 1 hard-boiled Egg 1/3 Banana 1/2 lb. ground Turkey You can also use: Sweet Potatoes, Celery, Apples, Cranberries, Beets THINGS NOT TO USE!! Grapes are poisonous...even in the raisin form. You'll also want to stay away from large doses of garlic and onion. See how Judy cooks this and how Ladybug the Animal Radio® Stunt Chihuahua reacts. See the video! Judy's Quick & Nutricious Dog Chow Video - Click to VIEW NOW

New Years Resolutions Your Dog Wishes You’d Make & Your Dog's New Years Resolutions By DogTime.com In 2005, Veterinary Economics reported that 40% of U.S. dogs are overweight. And according to a report from the National Academies' National Research Council, 25% of pets in Western societies are obese. Our advice? Keep your dog moving. Forget going to the gym or learning Italian. Two thousand nine is the year to let your dog make your resolutions for you. After all, your pup's life-long endeavor is to be your loving pet and loyal companion - the least you can do this year is bring an extra wag or two to his world. Besides, his resolutions will have you both feeling great, and the best part is, none involve spandex, spinning classes, or low-fat butter. New Years Resolutions Your Dog Wishes You’d Make: 1. I resolve to take quality walks. Chances are, your pup never says no to a walk, even if it's the same old stroll up the block and back. But know that your dog craves new scents and sounds as much as you enjoy new scenery. So mix up your weekday walks with new routes, unfamiliar trails, and uncharted side streets and explore new neighborhoods and parks on the weekends. Better yet, research dog-friendly hiking spots in your area and venture somewhere new once a month. 2. I resolve to give less hugs, play more tug. Maybe you've noticed that squirmy, help-let-me-out wriggle your dog does during what you consider to be a loving embrace. Unlike us primates, dogs don't feel all reassured and gooey inside after a nice long hug. In fact, most likely they feel trapped - it's just a canine thing. A hearty round of tug however, played appropriately, can be a huge stress reliever and a nice bit of exercise as well. Note: If you intend to make tug a permanent activity in your repertoire, drop it and off are important commands to know. 3. I resolve to regularly introduce "new" toys into the mix. Remember, they don't have to be store-bought new, just new to your pup - that is, something he hasn't seen before (or at least in a very long time). So, swap toys with your dog-owning friends and neighbors so that every few weeks there's something new for Fido to chase, charge, or chew on. 4. I resolve to throw a party. We're not (necessarily) talking about a fancy birthday fete or a bark mitzvah - though those are fun too. A rendez-vous with a couple of his favorite people - or at least people who adore him - will do. Play a few of his preferred games or simply ask invitees to practice a couple basic commands with him. It's a chance for your dog to get praised, treated, and rewarded by someone else - great for socialization and a real boon to his confidence. 5. I resolve to bond outside the home. Agility classes may just be the perfect combination of mental stimulation, physical activity, and most important, team building between you and your best friend. Dogs and humans both have a ball. But if weave poles and tire hoops seem too daunting, consider a Canine Good Citizen class, a program designed by the AKC (and offered in cities across the country) to promote responsible ownership and well-mannered dogs. You'll brush up on your training techniques and your dog gets a refresher course in good behavior. 6. I resolve to keep my dog physically fit. And truly, this is the only one that requires any willpower - we know that pleading puppy eyes are harder to resist than any French pastry or sloppy cheeseburger, especially when there's a stash of treats at hand. But even though it seems like your dog is harnessing the world's entire supply of Cute Power to get you to surrender that big hunk of cheese, know that he really means this: Please do everything you can to ensure that I'm healthy, mobile, and comfortable for a long, long time. Grated carrots and a game of fetch, here we come! Your Dog's New Years Resolutions: Think your pup's immune from the pressure to make and keep New Years resolutions? Guess again. We talked to canines of all breeds, backgrounds, and ages about this year's plans for self-improvement - and got some surprising answers. Here are the top five resolutions dogs everywhere are making for 2009. 1. Enjoy life more. I will spend less time alerting family and neighbors to approaching eleven-year-old skateboarders and more time sniffing the butts of other dogs. Preferably Rottweilers. 2. Lose that spare Kong I've developed around the middle. Don't think I haven't noticed the hushed voices when I walk in the room or the fact that you've loosened up the harness a notch. I know I need to shed a few pounds, but don't assume this has anything to do with you - I'm doing it for me. I simply want to be able to chase tennis balls like a pup one-seventh my age. 3. I will not bark at the mailman. I realize that by now my family knows how menacing the guy in the blue uniform can be, what with the shoving of his unwanted papers and parcels into our precious mailbox. From now on though, I'll trust the humans of the house to respond to postal threats accordingly. 4. If I do bark at the mailman, I most certainly will not bite him (hard). 5. Quit drinking. I'm not talking about the clear, flavorless liquid you set right next to my kibble each day. I mean the hard stuff - the water from the toilet bowl and the muddy puddles in the yard after a rain. Maybe a sip once in a while when my friends are over, but never more than I can handle. 6. Learn Italian. ROAD TO RESCUE: Did you know that Dogtime has its own Animal Radio® show hosted by Leslie Smith? Click the link below to listen. Dogtime at Animal Radio® with Road to Rescue - Listen Now!!

Animal Radio® adds new Sunday airtime on XM Satellite Radio As we kick-off 2009, we're happy to announce a new airtime for SUNDAYS ONLY (starting January 17th). We're still at noon eastern on Saturdays on XM channel 158. Our Sunday 9am EST broadcast MOVES TO 5pm eastern, allowing more of our west-coast animal lovers to stop setting their alarm clock. Don't forget to call in with your questions for Vladae, Dr. Debbie, Hal, Vinnie, Britt, Bobbie, Joy, Judy or any one of our weekly experts or celebrities! Toll free: 1-866-405-8405. Get listening details - Listen to Animal Radio® NOW!

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