Animal Radio® Network Newsletter October 2008

In this issue:

- Where Do Your Donated Dollars Go? Where Did Katrina Dollars Disappear?
- Jenna Fischer Shares Her Dirty Little Secret With Animal Radio®
- Is Pet Insurance Worth It? What You Need To Know Before You Buy.
- 'The Dog Chews My Slippers' – Fixing Bad Behavior.
- Top 10 Reasons People Visit Their Vet
- Pet Obituaries - Vinnie Penn Wants Answers!
- Prognosticating Camel Makes NFL Predictions
- Welcoming Animal Radio's New Official Stunt Chihuahua

Who Gets The Money? Merritt Clifton, Animal People – Watchdog Report Once a year Merritt Clifton, Animal People, does a watchdog report on major non-profit organizations in animal protection and animal habitat protection, which includes some of the big conservation groups, to see “Who Gets The Money,” which is a financial report on about 140 organizations. They also look at some of the leading opposition groups. Then in the spring, they update this with the Watchdog Report, which also adds program and policy information and comes out as a handbook. Who gets the money is a section of the Animal People Newspaper. The last couple of years have seen an increase in donations due to Hurricane Katrina. In fact, Noah’s Wish raised over 6.5 million dollars in connection with the hurricane, but the California Attorney General ruled that the money was not properly used in most cases. Typically the animal welfare business was not thought to be a very lucrative business if you are a CEO, but the latest report states that they are taking home over $250,000 a year. But, you have to look at the size of the organization and the credentials of the person and the length of tenure there. Unfortunately a few years ago, the animal welfare people had gotten into the same mentality as the corporate world where they were seeking superstar executive directors and throwing tons of money at them. That phase fortunately was short-lived, but during that phase we saw some people hired at salaries of $400,000 and up. What we are seeing is that those superstar directors are for the most part not lasting and not delivering the results that were expected when they came over from the for-profit world and are being replaced by people who come up through the ranks at substantially less. A couple of other things to look at are that cost of living differs greatly in various regions. You almost need to make half as much more in San Francisco and New York than you do in the Midwest. You also have to look at the perks. The use of a vehicle and housing can increase the standard of living above someone’s declared income. Animal People also receives inquiries from people who are receiving solicitations for money from organizations that they have never heard of and they want to know the background and if they are verifiably doing anything? Before you give $1 or $100, you should do your research. Think about giving to your local organization. They don’t have the fundraising capacity and they won’t be in your mailbox as often, but they are doing the lion’s share of the hands-on-care work in your community. They should really be your first consideration. Give locally first, and then if there is something left over, you should find a couple of nationals that you feel a particular affinity for, and support them too. To get a copy of the Watchdog Report and see just exactly where your donation dollars are going, send $25 to Animal People, PO Box 860, Clinton, WA 98236 or order through www.AnimalPeopleNews.org. Listen to Merritt Clifton on Animal Radio®

Is Pet Insurance Worth It? Lee Van Kirk, CEO Tartan Media Group Is pet insurance worth it? We ask Lee Van Kirk, CEO of Tartan Media Group, Inc. He has been in the insurance industry as a General Agent and consultant for over 17 years. Since 2001, he has focused in the Pet Insurance industry, consulting to some of the largest pet insurance companies in the US and Canada. Lee states that if you decide on a savings account instead of pet insurance, be aware that your savings account is not going to reimburse you for some of the rather high costing veterinary programs that they have available today. Veterinarians today can do just about everything that medical doctors can do for humans, such as MRI’s and cancer treatment and the costs are proportionate. In some cases, they even cost more for an animal than they would for a human. How do I choose a pet insurance company? Make sure you decide on an insurer who has a long and solid track record of being in business and paying out claims (at least 7 years or more). Avoid start up companies even if they claim to have experienced managers in the pet insurance industry because Insurance companies claim that frequently but it isn't always so. Look for stability and length of time the companies been around. Avoid newer companies because 60 companies have come and gone in the last 20 years. What should I look for in comprehensive coverage? Some pet health insurance companies offer medical plan add-ons that reimburse for preventative care and additionally increase the monetary allowances for cancer treatments and other health issues. Find a company that is transparent in their reimbursements. If the insurance company promises to reimburse 80% of eligible veterinary fees is there a reasonable and customary limit. Look for a published schedule of benefits for your major medical expenses ...Don't be surprised. What you see on a published benefit list is what you get. Do Pet insurance companies cover pets other than dogs and cats? Some pet health insurers cover birds and exotics such as lizards and snakes. Be careful that you apply the same diligence to those published benefits as others do for their dogs and cats. Who is available to ask about pet health insurance? Above all ask your veterinarian about pet insurance. Although he cannot endorse a company (usually) he will know the answers. Also visit www.petinsurance.com for other answers about pet insurance. Listen to Lee Van Kirk on Animal Radio®

Banish Destructive Chewing and Digging By DogTime.com You come home to find your slippers chewed to bits or your rose bushes dug up and strewn all over the yard. Though your first thought may be that your dog is punishing you for leaving her home alone all day, these acts are never done out of spite or revenge--that's just not the way dogs operate. Dogs do, however, find ways to occupy themselves in the absence of toys and social interaction, so it's important to provide plenty of appropriate forms of amusement before your pup comes up with her own. Causes Like many undesirable canine behaviors, destructive habits usually develop because a dog is bored, lonely, or both. It's not fair or realistic to expect your dog--especially a working breed --to spend long hours quietly sitting and waiting for your return. By nature dogs are curious and sentient beings; see that she has enough mental and physical stimulation to minimize the impulse to dig and chew. How to treat the problem Digging Give her plenty of attention. If you're away for more than a few hours at a time, hire a dog walker or consider doggie day care. Tire her out. Make sure she receives daily walks, play fetch with her, teach her to catch a Frisbee. Most dogs require a substantial amount of exercise, and they become antsy or anxious when they don't get enough. Consider channeling her drive to dig. Provide her with a "legal" digging area--a small portion of the yard (away from the rose bushes) where she can dig to her heart's content. Cover the area with sand or dirt and bury treats and toys there to entice her to begin digging. When you find her mining in an "illegal" area, immediately interrupt her, show her to the appropriate spot, and praise her for digging in the right place. Chewing If you catch her chewing something she shouldn't, interrupt her with a firm "uh-uh!" and take the object away. Immediately replace it with an appropriate toy and praise her as soon as she begins chewing on it. Teach her "leave it"--a training tool you can use not only when you want her to leave your slippers alone, but to make sure she backs away from the chocolate bar on the coffee table or that freshly painted park bench. Consider applying Bitter Apple, or any nontoxic spray with a scent dogs find repellant, to the object of her desire. How to prevent the problem Digging Make sure to keep her busy--provide plenty of interesting toys, and rotate in new ones regularly. Create a puzzle: Stuff a Kong with peanut butter and then freeze it for several hours before letting her go at it. Provide adequate shelter, since often dogs will dig holes simply to shield themselves from sun or wind. Keep her indoors. (Assuming you don't have a sandbox inside your home, this is your most effective tactic.) Chewing Set her up for success. If you've got a sock chewer, don't leave any around the house. She doesn't know the difference between those expensive ski socks you bought last night and the faded pair with holes that your kids have outgrown. Make sure there are plenty of appropriate chew toys around, and vary the types so that she has several to choose from at any given time. Keep her mentally and physically engaged. Frozen Kongs, treat treasure hunts ("hiding" treats around the house), lots of opportunities to play, and plenty of daily exercise all help stave off unwanted behavior. Bottom line: Most destructive behavior is born out of boredom. Abundant attention from you--plus ample mental and physical stimulation--will keep her content, fulfilled, and less inclined to dig or chew. Visit http://dogtime.com/chewing-digging-behavior.html for information on How to Treat the Problem. Visit Animal Radio® partner Dogtime.com

On Animal Radio® this month JENNA FISCHER (Receptionist Pam Beasley on "The Office") tells Animal Radio® that she acts surprised when her cat gets on the table in front of guests, even though he does it all of the time! DEAN KOONTZ, best selling suspense-thriller author, talks about the loss of his beloved dog Trixie and how he sometimes feels she is still with him. Also Erinlee Adamson, Frances Hayward, Wendy Diamond, Gabriel Williams, Tricia Helfer, Brielle Morgan, Lucinda Delaney Schroeder, Vicki Lawrence, John Bergman, Joy Behar and Dr. Marty Becker. You're invited! Listen to Animal Radio®

Bats! By Rae Ann Kumelos, Ph.D. “They fly through the gloaming giving just a touch of weirdness to it by their leathern wings and uncanny squeaks.” So the bat was described at the turn of the twentieth century. Bats are a very misunderstood creature. It’s all those tales about vampires and Dracula. Actually, stories of vampires have been around since Babylonian times, but it was Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, Count Dracula, that first partnered vampires with the bat. Stoker did base his Count on a bloodthirsty Romanian prince from the 1430’s, but there are no vampire bats in Europe. However, out of the 900 types of bat, three are called vampire bats because they partake of blood meals, but they are so small they could fit in the palm of your hand. They are also incredibly devoted moms to their bat pups, and will sacrifice themselves if necessary to save other members of their colony. If you were an important person in the Incan civilization of Peru, you wore a headdress made of vampire bat hair. Maybe that is where the whole bats flying into hair fable came from, because bats are actually far too acoustically sophisticated to fly into your hair. Bats navigate through echolocation, a high frequency sound the bats emit which bounces back to help them distinguish insects in the air. Some bats can even detect the footsteps of grasshoppers and lizards. Bats were sending out high-frequency clicks in a form of pulsed sonar long before the secrets of radar were discovered in the 1930’s. People of medieval times thought bats were miniature dragons, and because they are found in deep caves and dark places, they are often associated with the underworld and death. “The House of the Bat” was one of the regions in Mayan culture that had to be crossed to reach the Land of the Dead, and in the Odyssey, Homer likens the voice of bat to the cry of ghosts. The bat is a symbol of good luck and happiness in China. The god of happiness is often represented as a bat, and when he is depicted in human form, his robes are adorned with bats. They are also considered sacred in Samoa, as long ago, a Samoan princess presented a pair of flying foxes, a type of bat, as a gift of love to the King of Tonga. To this day in Tonga, flying foxes are considered sacred and no one is allowed to harm them, as they are the official property of the King. Forget the citronella candles and expensive mosquito zappers. One little brown bat can eat between 600 -1000 insects an hour. These shy hardworking creatures also render great service by devouring the number one crop pest in the US, the corn ear-worm moth. In fact, both ends of the bat provide an important service to humankind. The Incan people of Peru valued bat guano so highly as an agricultural fertilizer, that anyone who harmed a bat was punished by death. In the late nineteenth century, the US government even offered free land to anyone who discovered guano deposits, so important was this fertilizer to the American farmer. It was the bats who discovered the spectacular cave system that is Carlsbad Caverns National Park. How? What appeared to be a huge column of smoke rising from the desert plain every evening was actually, upon investigation, millions of bats spiraling out into the twilight sky. In the movie Batman Begins, a young Bruce Wayne finds himself in a cave, covered with bats. He is henceforth terrified of them, yet confronts his fears- transmuting himself into Batman, complete with all the gifts of bat. Thus, you are neither batty nor have bats in your belfry if you appreciate the bat. Thanks to bats, we have a comic-book hero, a gorgeous National Park, and an adorable foe to the mosquito. Great Bats of Fire Batman! Happy Halloween from Voice of the Animal! Thank you for visiting us at www.voiceoftheanimal.com Listen to Voice of the Animal on Animal Radio®

Top 10 Medical Conditions for Vet Visits Dr. Jim Humphries, Veterinary News Network The nation’s largest pet insurer releases the Top 10 Reasons Pets Are Taken to the Veterinarian. For the second year in a row, you guessed it, urinary tract infections was the top medical condition that cat owners filed claims for to veterinary pet insurance companies, according to a recent review of all policy holder claims. Veterinary visits for skin allergies resulted in the most claims for dogs. Several of the Top 10 conditions for both dogs and cats remained the same over the last several years, but there were a few new additions. Osteoarthritis, enteritis (which is diarrhea) and thyroidism were more common in dogs than they were the previous year, and diabetes in cats made the list. Kidney disease was the 10th most common feline complaint and it jumped to number three. The spike in certain conditions for both dogs and cats can be explained by a host of reasons. From a pet’s age or genetics to nutrition or environment. For many of these conditions the main risk factor is age. For example, Osteoarthritis and hypothyroidism have definite genetic and age related risk factors. Large breed dogs, for example, tend to develop arthritis at a younger age. Additionally, hypothyroidism, which is the failure of the thyroid gland to produce adequate amounts of thyroid hormone, is a relatively common age related disease in dogs. The increase in kidney disease in cats is also co-related with our aging companion cat population. Cats are simply living longer than their kidneys were designed to support them. In order to help prevent such serious diseases from afflicting our pets, all pets should receive a comprehensive physical exam every year. If a disease is detected during the annual wellness examination, it may be early enough to treat and possibly prevent, and for sure, less expensive to take care of. In particular, geriatric cats need to see the veterinarian regularly, at least twice a year. Kidney disease can silently progress in an older cat, but the cat may not show any outward signs. So see your veterinarian twice a year! http://www.myvnn.com Listen to Dr. Humphries on Animal Radio®

Your Vet Questions Answered with Dr. Debbie Is There a Dog For Someone Who Is Allergic? This woman's husband is allergic to dogs. She wants a dog and doesn't want to give up her husband! She is looking for a dog that he might be able to live with. There might be some dogs her husband can tolerate if he has a light allergy and only gets hay fever but if it is a life-threatening situation, she may have to give up on the dog idea. If it is just hay fever, she should look for dogs that don't shed like Schnauzers, Shih Tzus, Poodles, Bichons and even the Mexican Hairless dogs. There are also special hypoallergenic shampoos available to help keep the dander to a minimum. Female Dog Gets Excited And Then Collapses This dog gets excited for about 10-15 seconds and jumps up and down and then she falls down and stays down for about 10-15 seconds. She doesn't pass out completely but seems to be very confused and dazed during these episodes. She has been diagnosed with a heart murmur. Some puppies have heart murmurs that go away at about 4-5 months of age. Unfortunately, this dog is already one year old and it doesn't look like it will go away. The first thing Dr. Debbie suggests is an ultrasound on her heart to see exactly what is going on and how to treat it. Cat Has Shaking Disorder And Now Kittens Do Too There are possibly infections that can cause this, but it can even be a genetic disease. These cats need to be seen by a veterinarian to find out the cause before it can be treated. They also need to be spayed or neutered so that it can't be passed on to further generations. Ask Dr. Debbie your questions at 1-866-405-8405 Listen to Dr. Debbie on Animal Radio®

Headlines from the Animal Radio® Newsroom *California lapdogs can stay just that in moving cars *Take the kids — but leave me my pets! *Municipal council goes to court to evict Highlands man's pet tiger *Using a pet sitter? How to prepare your home and pet *Myakka City woman in animal neglect lawsuit keeps four pets, surrenders 10 *Churches welcome pets on St. Francis of Assisi feast day *Pets Can Help Seniors Maintain an Active Lifestyle Get the latest headline updated hourly. See the Latest News Stories Now

Bliss To You by Trixie Koontz Everybody knows Dean Koontz. He is an enormously popular novelist with eleven #1 New York Times bestsellers to his credit. But do you know Trixie? She was the Koontz family's beloved golden retriever, and she had quite a following of her own. The author of two previous books, Trixie had a megawatt personality that attracted her own loyal contingent as a guest blogger on Dean's website, signing off each post with the phrase "Life is good, bliss to you." Sadly, Trixie passed away in 2007. After her death, her blog received 50,000 condolence emails. Clearly, she had touched a chord. And now, inspired by Trixie's wise and sunny outlook, comes BLISS TO YOU: written by Trixie, as told to Dean Koontz. Though Trixie is no longer with us, she still has plenty of sage advice to share, and many adoring fans to share it with. Here, in loveable, humorous, and touching language, Trixie talks to Dean from the other side, taking readers through her eight steps to bliss: Calm, Beauty, Fun, Meaning, Others, Humility, Loss, and Gratitude. As Trixie herself says, "You know is true.I am dog, and dog can't lie." A sample of some of the wisdom awaiting readers in BLISS TO YOU: The Practical: "When you stop to smell roses, be careful not to inhale bee." The Meaningful: "Is your world. You belong here. No less or more than anyone, you belong." The Requisite Cat Joke: "When throwing party, remember cats can't hold their liquor." The Uplifting: "Love fun and laughter because you were made for joy." The Koontz family adopted Trixie after an injury released her from Canine Companions for Independence (CCI), a non-profit organization that trains dogs to assist people with disabilities. The Koontz family is a major supporter of CCI. In fact, the southwest campus in Oceanside, CA, is named the Gerda, Dean, and Trixie Koontz Campus. The author proceeds from sales of BLISS TO YOU will be donated to CCI. Trixie Koontz (1995-2007), a good dog, was trained by Canine Companions for Independence to assist people with disabilities. Released from service because of elbow surgery, she went to live with Dean and Gerda Koontz in southern California. The successful author of three books, Trixie would be proud to know that her royalties are donated to CCI to pay medical bills for other assistance dogs. Listen to Dean Koontz on Animal Radio®

Pet Obituaries Vinnie Penn, Animal Radio's Resident Party Animal Pet Obituaries – Where are they? Why aren’t they? I know some of you are out there thinking, Vinn there is, you can go online here, or you can Google this, or they’ve always been here. But I’m talking about in the mainstream newspaper of your town, the local newspaper. We buried an uncle of mine a few years ago, that the entire family hated. This guy ruined Thanksgiving upon Thanksgiving. He was a miserable old man who fell asleep in the middle of all of the revelry and would wake up, launching curses in everyone’s direction and terrify the grandkids. The obit said he was so loving and he warmed the cockles of our hearts, he was a bright spot on many a snowy, icy… He was not a bright spot! Even if he brought the sunshine - he couldn’t be a bright spot. I look at some of these obituaries and they are for people where their driver’s licenses we used for the pictures, as they clearly have no one in their lives who care that they are gone. Not to be cold, but why not the pets? Why wouldn’t we have obituaries for our pets? When our dog, the beloved family dog Cruiser, our Miniature Schnauzer passed, let me tell you something, I could have dedicated two columns to my main man, raving about how he brought the family together at a time when my parents were divorcing. He brought love into a house that was devoid of love at this time. And the little in memoriams a year later, they break your heart. Instead you see in memoriams for guys with faces, which make you say, “No one could have loved this man, this man doesn’t even seem capable of love.” And yet out of obligation, someone is saying, “It was a year ago today we lost….” No you’re not! You’re thinking of the fact that you still can’t get the smell out of the sofa that he fell asleep in every time he came over to your house for the last thirty years. I want pet obituaries. I want them treated with the respect and reverence that we give to family members, human family members, who you had neither for. I mean, “R.I.P.?” An R.I.P. for your dogs and cats – that’s what they do – they rip the sofa, it’s perfect! Let me know what you think! Listen to Vinnie Penn on Animal Radio®

Ladybug- Named Animal Radio's Official Tester We're delighted to welcome 'Ladybug the Stunt Chihuahua' to the furry-family of studio animals at Animal Radio®. She'll be testing all-kinds of dog toys, treats, clothing, and other pet products. Her rigerous evaluations are available to you on her very own webpage at AnimalRadio.com. Every month she will be testing dozens of products so you don't have to. She'll spare you from 'duds' and tell you exactly what discriminating dogs love. See Ladybug The Stunt Chihuahua's Reviews

Princess, The Prognosticating Camel Princess, the Associated Humane Societies/Popcorn Park Zoo camel who made national headlines last year with her uncanny ability to predict the winners of Sunday National Football League season and post-season games is at it again this year. This is Princess’s third season of picking the winners. And anyone who’s followed this camel’s choices knows she’s got it all over the bookmakers. During the regular NFL season last year, Princess’s standings were 11 correct predictions and six wrong ones. Her playoff standings were phenomenal, selecting eight out of 10 winning teams. And, of course, she defied the odds makers and correctly picked the Giants over the Patriots to win Super Bowl XLII. “Who knows how or why she does it, but the fact of the matter is, I’d take Princess’s picks over any human expert, any day,” said Princess’s caregiver and Popcorn Park Zoo General Manager, John Bergmann. “She caused quite a stir last year when she picked the Giants for the Super Bowl. News media from all over the country were stopping by, calling in and reporting on our girl and her gift.” Princess’s weekly selection methods have always been the same. Bergmann writes on his hands the names of two teams playing that weekend. Princess, whose favorite snack at game time or anytime is graham crackers, makes her game choice by eating the sweet treat from the hand that has the name of her favorite team written on it. Bergmann then announces Princess’s pick on the Associated Humane Societies/Popcorn Park Zoo website, www.ahscares.org, a few days before the game and also keeps a running tally of her wins and losses. To know Princess and her elegant history, one would never think she would delight in football pools. Princess was once a beloved pet of Doris Duke, who raised Princess and her sister Babe from youngsters. The pair had their own barn, which was like a mansion, and they were taken on summer vacation with Mrs. Duke to her estate in Rhode Island. If the weather became inclement, Princess and Babe were put up in the solarium. After this devoted animal lover passed away, her camels were still kept on her estate. Babe passed away several years ago, leaving just Princess. Princess's caretaker was about to retire to Connecticut. When it looked like she had nowhere to go, AHS took her in to the Popcorn Park Zoo, where the gentle, friendly camel has happily made her home. When Princess is not working her football magic, she is enjoying zoo visitors, along with the hundreds of other animals who call Popcorn Park Zoo “home.” Popcorn Park Zoo was established in 1977 for the sole purpose of providing a refuge for wildlife, exotic and domestic animals that are sick, elderly, abandoned, abused, or injured. The federally licensed zoo houses more than 200 of these animals and birds in spacious surroundings on seven acres in the heart of the scenic Pine Barrens. Popcorn Park Zoo is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located on West Lacey Road, just seven miles from Exit 74 on the Garden State Parkway. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and children under 12. Listen to John Bergmann on Animal Radio®

Get Your Free Animal Radio® Pet ID Tags! Animal Radio® has partnered with ReturnMoi to make sure that if your pet ever gets lost, he will be reunited with you immediately, and is giving away 1,000 free Pet Id Tags. Each pet tag contains a: - Unique ID number that is linked to your contact information - 1-800 toll free number open 24/7 - Reward for return message to motivate finders to call ReturnMoi How Does it Work? 1. Activate unique ID number at ReturnMoiPets.com 2. Attach tag to cat or dog 3. If pet goes missing finder calls ReturnMoi 4. ReturnMoi calls pet owner to facilitate return 5. ReturnMoi rewards finder ($50 gift pack) for their help Don't wait until your pet becomes lost before you take care of securing them with proper identification. All pets should have two forms of identification. One is the microchip and the other should be a visible tag on his collar. For your free Animal Radio® Pet Tag all you have to do is send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Animal Radio c/o Pet Tags PO Box 197 Shandon, CA 93461-0197 Listen to Animal Radio® Now

The Office's Jenna Fischer Shares Her Secret About 'Andy' Jenna Fischer talks about her cat Andy, who is now 16 years old. Last year he was diagnosed with the beginnings of kidney disease but is doing well. Jenna worked for many years doing animal rescue and received a crash course on animal care. As a result, she was not overwhelmed with the new responsibility of taking care of Andy's special needs. Andy has been with Jenna since she was in college. When she first moved to Los Angeles from St. Louis, she took Andy with her across country. It took 3 days and Andy rode in a cat carrier in the backseat of her Mazda Hatchback. She talks about how she would sneak him into motels along the way. Jenna spoils her cat and admits that she lets him bully her around with food. She also lets Andy walk on the table during dinner. When she has guests over, she pretends that Andy isn't allowed on the table and tells everyone that she is surprised when he does it! Jenna also had a dog Wesley who went with her husband after their divorce. But, she has visitation rights and cares for Wesley when her ex is out of town. Jenna is currently filming the new season of The Office where she plays secretary Pam Beasley. Listen to Jenna Fischer on Animal Radio®

*COPYRIGHTS, CONTRIBUTIONS, EDITORIALS & SUBMISSIONS: Animal Radio® and Animal Radio® Network are Registered Trademarks of Animal Radio Network LLC, and may not be used in affiliation without express written consent of Animal Radio Network LLC. Material in this newsletter may not be published or broadcast without permission. All rights reserved. Submissions for newsletter, programming, editorial comments and opinions may be sent to: P.O. Box 197, 898 Mesa Grande Drive, Shandon, CA. 93461-0197 or YourVoice@AnimalRadio.com. Unsolicited manuscripts may not be returned. See our website for additional information.