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We begin with Peter reporting on a new article which provides more details on the amazing color changing abilities of octopuses. Their tiny color altering organs are highly specialized and under the exquisite, fine control of the animals’ nervous system. The abilities of octopuses to control their displays improve as they mature. Peter continues discussing […]
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Animals Today Radio May 8, 2022. Chickens are very smart and have individual personalities: Celebrating a special day for chickens. Animal knowledge challenge. The question about the chicken and the egg has puzzled people since antiquity and has served as a metaphor for many circumstances in our world. Lori begins the show offering up some […]
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In recognition of World Rat Day, Lori kicks off the show by going deep on these ubiquitous mammals. Rats are very social, affectionate, and intelligent. They get lonely and anxious when isolated. But when in their family group (referred to as a mischief) they will care for the injured and sick. Rats can be trained […]
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Lori begins speaking about the disaster for animals in Ukraine with Chris DeRose and Cindy Beal DeRose from Last Chance for Animals (LCA). The situation on the ground for animals continues to be bleak and deadly. Terrified abandoned dogs are starving and do not know where to go. Dogs, cats and other animals are enduring […]
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Lori begins with an update on the situation in Ukraine and the war region with Robert Misseri, founder and President of Paws of War. The situation Robert describes is very fraught, with starving and terrified animals roaming and hiding, worsened by severe hindrances to relief efforts due to the ever-present danger. Sometimes, dumping bags of […]
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What toxins and poisons would you guess are most commonly ingested by our dogs and cats? Well, the data on this question actually exists, thanks to the ASPCA, which recently published a list of the most common exposure and ingestion incidents from the ASPCA Poison Control Center (APCC). Lori explores this list, adding our personal […]
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Lori begins with big news from Florida where the captive Orca named Lolita (also known as Tokitae) has finally been permitted to “retire.” Lori recounts the life of this poor, lonely creature, ripped from her mother at age four for a life in captivity at the Miami Seaquarium. Lolita has been performing for 52 years! […]
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We begin speaking with Wayne Pacelle about pending legislation in both the House and Senate, the FDA Modernization Act, which would eliminate the animal testing mandate for development and approval of new pharmaceutical drugs for human use. Mr. Pacelle, as President of Center for a Humane Economy, Founder of Animal Wellness Action, and CEO of […]
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Lori begins this show honoring the iconic Lion, Cecil, who was killed in 2015. Some of our younger listeners may not remember this tragic event, but its reporting broke through to the popular press and social media, raising awareness about the horrors of sport hunting and trophy hunting. Cecil was a large, black-maned male Lion […]
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We begin with the very big story of the first transplant of a heart from a pig to a human. Xenotransplantation, organ transplant between species, has been a medical goal for decades. The main hinderances to “progress” in this field have been related to organ rejection owing to the brisk immune response to foreign tissues. […]
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Lori begins the show with a discussion of the myriad problems with testing of consumer products like cosmetics on animals. Despite rapid advances in technology that is capable of replacing animal testing, antiquated and cruel methods still are often employed in the US and Canada. Notably, the FDA does not require animal testing and 40 […]
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The show begins with Lori sharing fascinating animal news items. First, a 21-year-old man broke into a Georgia home and was mauled to death by the homeowner’s 2 dogs. The dogs were confiscated but later returned to the owner. Lori analyzes the many important legal and social elements here such as, who is responsible for […]
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Lori begins the show with news about some aggressive urban squirrels in Queens, NYC, who are reportedly jumping onto people and attacking them. Authorities advise against hand feeding, which probably contributed to the bold behaviors these animals are displaying. Fortunately squirrels rarely harbor rabies, and no documented case of transmission of rabies to humans has […]
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Toward the end of 2020, without public notification, the East Bay Parks District in Oakland, California began killing (specifically, shooting) free roaming cats. After a local news report exposed the actions, the story exploded, as cat lovers, rescuers and the community at large became shocked and enraged by the sanctioned cruelty. The city claimed that […]
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It was recently disclosed that the Namibian Government auctioned off 57 elephants caught from the wild, with the intention to export 42 of them to foreign zoos. With the widespread awareness about the cruelty of keeping wild elephants in captivity, this news is both shocking and tragic. Elephant expert and President of Humane Society International, […]
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Lori begins the show speaking about those pesky and sometimes dangerous mosquitoes, because August 20th was World Mosquito Day! Mosquitoes carry malaria, yellow fever, West Nile Virus, Zika virus, and others. World Mosquito Day is intended to raise awareness about mosquitoes transmitting malaria and other diseases. In 1897, the link between mosquitoes and Malaria was discovered […]
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The show begins with a very strange story about a lost and frightened cat observed at a packed football stadium heroically rescued by American patriots as she slipped off the upper deck railing. We continue with an update on the horse abuse during the modern pentathlon event at the Tokyo Olympics and there’s incredible new video […]
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The show kicks off with a talk about coyotes with Robert Reed, DVM, Medical Director at VCA Rancho Mirage Animal Hospital in Rancho Mirage, California. Coyotes are one of the most maligned animals in the US. Yet, despite systematic abuse and eradication efforts, their range is bigger than ever. Coyotes have a long history living […]
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What worrisome toxins and poisons would you guess are most commonly ingested by our dogs and cats? Well, the data on this question actually exists, thanks to the ASPCA. In 2020, the ASPCA Poison Control Center (APCC) helped more than 370,500 animals by providing lifesaving information and supplying safety guides. They compiled the top ten […]
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As the summer temperatures rise, you may come across a situation where an animal, typically a dog, has been left alone in a car that is too warm for comfort or safety. Even though it’s no secret that leaving dogs in hot cars is dangerous and often illegal, it continues to happen too frequently. So, […]
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This season, there have been reports of dogs becoming sick and dying after exposure to ponds harboring the so-called blue-green algae. Especially frightening is that even clear ponds can sometimes have the blue-green algae growing in them and that exposure can cause rapidly progressive illness and sometimes death. Blue-green algae contain deadly bacteria called cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria […]
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This show features Attorney Bob Ferber, former Los Angeles animal cruelty prosecutor, who joins Lori to explore some of the rarely discussed practices in shelters claiming to be “no-kill.” The Term “no-kill”, as in no kill shelter, imparts a feel-good aura to shelters, but in reality, it is poorly defined and not used in a […]
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Celebrating the American eagle In honor of Independence Day we begin with a discussion about how the bald eagle became part of the Great Seal of the United States, and how its extinction was averted. Bald eagle populations are now strong. Then, Lori continues with more fascinating facts about both bald and golden eagles. The […]
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We begin with news from around the world including the discovery of a giant tortoise on Fernindina Island on the Galapagos (which was thought to be extinct), great white sharks are thriving off the pacific coast, two Texas sheriffs shot and killed while making a house call about a dog bite incident, President Biden urged […]
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Lori begins with something any animal advocate ought to know about: the history of the animal rights and welfare movements. From the practices of ancient spiritual teachers of India, to the ideas of modern philosophers, Lori hopes this condensed history will inspire you to continue learning on your own. We continue with stories about hummingbirds, […]
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If you believe your pet was harmed by the actions of your veterinarian, what are your legal options for recourse? In this episode, Lori explores many aspects of veterinary malpractice with attorney Bob Ferber, former Los Angeles animal cruelty prosecutor. Although there are some parallels between the law as it relates to medical malpractice issues […]
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We begin with hot animal news including, Utah bans cruel battery cages for egg laying hens, another close call at the San Diego Zoo after a father dropped his child into the elephant enclosure, Russia announces COVID vaccine for animals, encephalitis outbreak in bears causing their excessively friendly behavior, a young boy starts a bunny […]
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What toxins and poisons would you guess are most commonly ingested by our dogs and cats? Well, the data on this question actually exists, thanks to the ASPCA. In 2020, the ASPCA Poison Control Center (APCC) helped more than 370,500 animals by providing lifesaving information and supplying safety guides. They compiled the top ten pet […]
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As a consequence of the lifting of ESA protections for grey wolves, and a judgement win for a Kansas based trophy hunting group, a horrific but legal massacre has just occurred in Wisconsin. The National Resources board opened up the hunt in the state, allowing a quota of 119 wolves to be killed, but inexplicably […]
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Lori kicks it off with Los Angeles based attorney Ken Phillips to speak about the risks related to dog parks. Dog parks can be wonderful places, but the risks and hazards to people and dogs in and around the parks are real. Risks such as aggressive dogs, irresponsible owners, and unclean conditions need to be […]
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We begin with news from around the world including the laudable work of Sea Turtle, inc, which rescued thousands of cold stunned animals from the frigid waters during February’s extreme weather event, new DNA analytical methods permit noninvasive study of animals in the wild, University of Michigan freaks out due to 3 tiny spiders in […]
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Lori begins with a detailed exploration into the ethics of dog breeding. The purebred dog industry not only creates innumerable animals with genetic defects, causing dogs to have a lifetime of medical problems and diseases, but also interferes with the adoption of healthy dogs confined in shelters by enticing people to buy from breeders instead […]
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Lori begins with a story about a pigeon who caused a great stir in Australia when he was found by a couple there. That’s because he was wearing an identification band on his leg indicating he was from Alabama, so people presumed he had flown all the way across the pacific. This was not good […]
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Lori begins the show with news about some aggressive urban squirrels in Queens, NYC, who are reportedly jumping onto people and attacking them. Authorities advise against hand feeding, which probably contributed to the bold behaviors these animals are displaying. Fortunately squirrels rarely harbor rabies, and no documented case of transmission of rabies to humans has […]
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We begin with hot animal news including gorillas have tested positive for coronavirus at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, aflatoxin tainted pet food outbreak sickens and kills many pets, a nearly intact extinct woolly rhino carcass has been unearthed, and more. Lori goes on to update us on the problem of seriously overweight and […]
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Emotional support animals in flight This show begins with news about the Department of Transportation’s decision to ban emotional support animals from airliners. Also new is that for registered service animals, only dogs will be permitted to fly. Service animals are specifically trained to assist people with disabilities such as visual impairment, mobility limitations or […]
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Lori begins the show with a discussion of the myriad problems with testing of consumer products like cosmetics on animals. Despite rapid advances in technology that is capable of replacing animal testing, antiquated and cruel methods still are often employed in the US and Canada. Notably, the FDA does not require animal testing and 40 […]
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We kick off this show with some end of the year animal news stories from around the world including dogs being trained to detect COVID, the continued decline of the fur industry in Europe, hunting of black bears (including cubs) to resume in Missouri, UK moves toward banning the export of live animals to the […]
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This show begins with news about the Department of Transportation’s decision to ban emotional support animals from airliners. Also new is that for registered service animals, only dogs will be permitted to fly. Service animals are specifically trained to assist people with disabilities such as visual impairment, mobility limitations or a propensity to have seizures. […]
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This show begins with Lori and Peter discussing some nifty things you can do around your home to help animals such as hummingbirds and other birds. Then Darlene Kobobel, President of the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center returns to discuss the many problems related to wolf-dog hybrids, properly called wolfdogs. You will want to think twice before […]
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Lori begins by reflecting on the most important animal news story of 2019, the passage of the PACT Act (Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act) into law. Its passage reflects the growing understanding that for some types of animal related crimes, federal laws are needed to effectively address them. The roots of the PACT Act […]
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Factory farming To begin, Peter welcomes Josh Balk, VP of Farm Animal Protection at the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Josh reports the HSUS is waging a strong campaign against factory farming on a number of fronts. One effort involves legislative campaigns to ban the confinement of egg laying hens, mother pigs and […]
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To begin this show, Lori shares news out of Mississippi, where important anti-animal cruelty legislation was recently signed into law by Governor Tate Reeves. The new law fixes deficiencies statewide, where the old law did not allow for multiple charges when multiple animals were harmed, and where it did not take into account repeat offenders. […]
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Mosquitoes are disease vectors Lori begins the show speaking about those pesky and sometimes dangerous mosquitoes, because August 20th was World Mosquito Day! Mosquitoes carry malaria, yellow fever, West Nile Virus, Zika virus, and others. World Mosquito Day is intended to raise awareness about mosquitoes transmitting malaria and other diseases. The breakthrough in understanding malaria […]
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Lori begins the show discussing the many problems with private ownership of big cats, with guests Tracie Letterman, Vice President of Federal Affairs at Humane Society Legislative fund and Lisa Wathne Senior Strategist, Captive Wildlife, Humane Society of the United States. The Rise of Joe Exotic Netflix hosted a popular show called Tiger King, which […]
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To begin, Lori Welcomes back to the show, Richard Schwartz, President emeritus of Jewish Veg, formerly Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA). A coalition of Jewish organizations is urging that the ancient, largely forgotten Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah L’Maaser Biheima (New Year’s Day for Tithing Animals) be renewed into a modern New Year for […]
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In recognition of International Orangutan Day, August 19, 2020, Lori and Peter kick off discussing some of the fascinating facts about these great apes. These gentle creatures are the largest tree-dwelling animals on earth. Indeed they even sleep in the trees, fashioning leafy nests each evening for that purpose. Orangutans are native to only 2 […]
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Lori and peter kick off the show talking about summertime heat topics like avoiding and recognizing heatstroke in dogs, ways to encourage pets to drink water, tips for those whose dogs like to swim, and more. Conservationist and educator Matt Ellerbeck then discusses frog conservation and the main threats to populations of these diverse and […]
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Why should I switch to a plant-based diet? Have you thought about trying a plant-based diet? Well, if you have not yet adopted this healthful and compassionate practice, please listen to Lori’s persuasive argument for trying it now. Eating a diet higher in plant foods and lower in animal products can have many health benefits, […]
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Celebrating the American eagle In honor of American Eagle Day we begin with a discussion about how the bald eagle became part of the Great Seal of the United States, and how its extinction was averted. Bald eagle populations are now strong. Then, Lori continues with more fascinating facts about both bald and golden eagles. […]
