When should you consider breaking into a vehicle to help an animal? And then, how would you do it? Listen to this 2-part series and learn from someone who has been there!
Animals Today Sept 4, 2023. Ensuring Your Pets’ Future. Choosing Safe Dog Toys & Treats. The Official Animals of the 50 States.
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We dive into a topic every pet owner should consider: What happens to your pets if you’re no longer around to care for them? Join Peter as he sits down with Attorney Ilene McCauley to discuss the intricacies of future planning for our cherished pets. A passionate animal enthusiast, McCauley applies her expertise to assist […]
Animals Today July 31, 2023. Negative consequences of dog breed stereotypes. Dogs rescued from the Yulin meat festival flown to their new lives. Names of groups of animals.
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Lori begins the show by taking on the still controversial topic of laws and regulations aimed at specific dog breeds, generally referred to as breed specific legislation. There are hundreds of such laws and regulations on the books across the US, which regulate or ban certain dog breeds. Breed specific legislation (BSL) typically targets pit bull […]
Animals Today July 21, 2023: How to rescue a pet trapped in a hot car. Risks of blue-green algae to dogs. Rhinoceros protection and facts.
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During the summer heat, 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, we […]
Animals Today May 10, 2023. Are registries of animal abusers a good idea? A legal idea?
In this 8 minute discussion, Attorney Bob Ferber and Lori discuss the possible value of registries for convicted animal abusers, similar to sex offender registries. Mr. Ferber spearheaded the development of the Los Angeles Animal Cruelty Task Force, and prosecuted many such cases.
Animals Today – October 15, 2022: Green energy is killing eagles. Is the term “crazy cat lady” fair? The working dogs of WW I. Keeping track of people convicted of animal cruelty.
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Lori begins with a monologue about the state of the contemporary wind turbine industry, and their negative effects on animals. There is a lot of evidence that eagles are killed by wind turbines despite efforts of the companies to avoid being transparent. Lori favors efforts to move toward green energy but argues that animal protection […]
Animals Today June 26, 2022. Update on breed specific legislation. More animal news stories. Wabbits.
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Lori begins the show by taking on the still controversial topic of laws and regulations aimed at specific dog breeds, generally referred to as breed specific legislation. There are hundreds of such laws and regulations on the books across the US, which regulate or ban certain dog breeds. Breed specific legislation (BSL) typically targets pit bull […]
Animals Today Feb 20, 2022. Support the FDA Modernization Act! What can and should shelters disclose about the history of their adoptable dogs?
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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 […]
Animals Today January 8, 2022: Home invader killed by owner’s pet dogs – who is responsible? The miracle of the microchip. Eight big cats in zoo get sick after getting COVID vaccine. Hot animal news to kick off the new year.
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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 […]
Animals Today July 10, 2021. Hazards of so-called blue-green algae to dogs. Medicated lotion for people poses toxic risk to pets. Using simulations to train law enforcement on dog encounters. Know your A, Bee, Cs!
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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 […]
Animals Today March 13, 2021: Wolf massacre in Wisconsin: So many mistakes! Does animal assisted therapy help children?
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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 […]
Animals Today February 6, 2021. Australian pigeon avoids death sentence. The cruelty of pigeon racing. LA’s effective and groundbreaking animal cruelty task force shut down by Chief of Police. Hippo hilarity.
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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 […]
Animals Today December 19, 2020: Hot end of the year news. BLM to try sterilization surgery instead of medicine on wild horses – good idea?
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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 […]
Animals Today September 12, 2020. Movement toward stronger animal cruelty laws. Animal abuse in medical training. Changing times in pet industries. Trivia challenge.
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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. […]
Animals Today June 13, 2020. Is blue-green algae harmful to dogs? Medicated lotion for people is a toxic risk to pets.
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Is blue-green algae harmful to dogs? In 2019, there were a number of reports of dogs becoming sick and dying after exposure to ponds harboring the so-called blue-green algae. In fact, guardians should exercise caution about algae during each warm weather season. This spring, it’s been especially warm in Florida and the algae blooms have […]
Animals Today September 28, 2019: The ban on trophy hunting of endangered wild animals- has it ended? Best Pet Friendly Cities.
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The ban on trophy hunting of endangered wild animals – has it ended? The Trump administration is allowing the ban on trophy hunting of endangered wild animals to be lifted as an American hunter is allowed to bring body parts of a lion that he shot in Tanzania into the United States. Importing African lions […]
Animals Today August 31, 2019: Will cruel cyanide bombs be banished? Liability and safety tips for dog owners.
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Will cruel cyanide bombs be banished? Lori begins the show by welcoming Collette Adkins, Carnivore Conservation Director at the Center for Biological Diversity to talk about the animal killing devices known as “cyanide bombs”. These have been used for decades with the stated purpose of controlling predatory wolves, foxes, coyotes and wild dogs, and the […]
Animals Today August 24, 2019: What did Trump do to the Endangered Species Act? Miniature horses as service animals.
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Lori begins by welcoming Wendy Keefover, Senior Strategist, Carnivore Protection at the Humane Society of the United States to explain the newly announced rule changes to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by the Trump Administration. The ESA became law in 1973 and currently protects 1600 species in the US and its territories. Wendy explains that […]
Animals Today August 10, 2019: In defense of pit bulls. Alternatives to Animal testing.
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In defense of pit bulls Lori begins with an impassioned discussion In defense of pit bulls on behalf of her favorite type of dog, the pit bull. More than other dogs these days, pit bulls are often seen in a negative light. This has led towns and communities to enact ordinances against specific dog breeds, […]
Animals Today August 3, 2019: Why is the amphibian population declining? Choosing toys and treats for dogs.
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Woman receives jail sentence for feeding cats News of an elderly Ohio woman being sentenced to jail for feeding outdoor cats has become the subject of great interest to animal lovers, the legal community and the general public. We begin today’s show asking legal expert Bob Ferber how this could happen, and if a jail […]
Animals Today July 27, 2019: Why should almond milk not be called milk? How can we save orangutans from extinction?
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Almond milk vs: almond beverage. Lori begins speaking about deceptive advertising practices employed by the diary industry, and then moves on to the compelling health reasons for eliminating dairy from our diets. With the large variety of alternatives now available, it has never been easier to drop dairy from our diets. Giving up cheese can […]
Animals Today June 22, 2019. The cruelty of horse racing. Legal animal news. Cats in popular songs.
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The cruelty of horse racing Lori begins the show with an extended discussion about the cruelty of horse racing. This season, California’s Santa Anita Park has attracted significant media attention and activity on social media, as the number of horses who have died there keeps growing. Even Senator Diane Feinstein called for an immediate moratorium […]
Animals Today June 15, 2019. National Pet Preparedness Month. Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act (PACT).
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National Pet Preparedness Month. Does your emergency plan include your pets? If a natural disaster strikes, like a flood or earthquake, or if you had to be evacuated from your home on short notice, do you have all the supplies your pets need, like their food, medicines, crates and carriers? Have you thought about where […]
Animals Today June 8, 2019: What to do if you see a dog in a hot car. Laws about emotional support animals
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What to do if you see a dog in a hot car 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 […]
Animals Today March 30, 2019: Visual identification of dog breeds. New animal provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill.
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Visual identification of dog breeds We begin with Peter’s interview with Arizona State University Psychology Professor, Clive Wynne, who leads the Canine Science Collaboratory. Its main areas of inquiry are dog welfare at the animal shelter, behavioral problems in the home, human-dog interaction, dogs’ wild relatives, and cognitive aging in canines. Peter and Clive cover […]
Animals Today March 16, 2019: What is the purpose of microchipping a dog? Legislation to help horses. A rescue and sanctuary for foxes.
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Hot animal news! We begin with animal news including the use of service animals and emotional support animals on airline flights is being further restricted, falsely claiming an animal as a service animal is being criminalized, an animal-free attraction is being considered in the site of the recently shuttered Dolphinaris Arizona, a woman was severely […]
Animals Today March 9, 2019: The illegal trade of African Grey Parrots. Saving frogs. Best and worst states for animal protection laws.
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The illegal trade of African Grey Parrots We begin with Ben Williamson, Programs Director at World Animal Protection. Huge numbers of live wild animals are traded as pets and much of this trade is illegal and involves endangered and protected species. Undercover investigations have shown Turkish Airlines and its cargo carrier Turkish Cargo as […]
Animals Today January 26, 2019: Dental issues in dogs. What is animal hoarding?
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Animal News. We begin with stories about the fear of spiders, drug detection dogs, a very special dog adoption, extraordinary measures taken by one woman to keep her cats nearby, Wally the emotional support alligator, and more. Dental issues in dogs. Then Lori talks about dental issues in dogs and shares some memories about one […]
Animals Today January 5, 2019: Japan quits International Whaling Commission. Profile of animal advocate, Lori Marino, PhD.
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Japan quits International Whaling Commission The government of Japan has announced it will leave the International Whaling Commission, cease whaling in the Southern Ocean, and begin commercial whaling in the Pacific Ocean. To explain the significance of this action, Peter welcomes Kitty Block, President of Humane Society International and Acting President and CEO of the […]
Animals Today October 27, 2018. Who gets to keep the dog after a breakup? Idaho Fish and Game Commissioner Resigns Amid Criticism
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Who gets to keep the dog after a breakup? We begin with Lori speaking with attorney, Mark Momjian about a groundbreaking law just passed in California, which gives family court judges greater latitude when deciding pet custody disputes in divorce and legal separations. Not only does the law give family courts discretion to award sole […]
Animals Today July 21, 2018. Illegal trade of smaller wild cats. Do you live in a pet friendly city? What does the law say when a dog bites a trespasser? Coral Reef Awareness Week.
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This show begins with Kelly Donithan, US Exotic Pets Manager at World Animal Protection. Recently, four servals, two caracals and one savannah cat were confiscated from an alleged dealer in New York. Staff from World Animal Protection triaged the malnourished and diseased juveniles, stabilized them, and transported them to safety. Donithan is seeing more evidence […]
Animals Today June 16, 2018. The amazing Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary. Remembering Leona Helmsley’s dog, Trouble and other more serious estate planning concerns. Interior department proposes a cruel rule change in Alaska – now is time to act! Our pet peeves about pet owners.
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A recent incident where a macaque escaped his enclosure while being moved through the San Antonio International Airport caught our attention. The animal, who was tranquilized and gently recaptured, is now safely living the good life at Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary. Prashant K. Khetan, Chief Executive Officer & General Counsel at Born Free USA […]
Animals Today June 2, 2018. Monkey selfie settlement nixed by court, presenting new challenges for expanded rights for animals. Driving safely with dogs. Attend the 2018 Animal Rights National Conference in LA. All about bees.
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We begin with an update on the famous monkey selfie legal case, based on the iconic photo which Naruto, a wild crested macaque, snapped of himself. A federal court has invalidated the settlement between PETA lawyers and the camera’s owner, emphasizing that Naruto may not own legal rights to the image. Attorney Bob Ferber, former […]
Animals Today April 28, 2018: Estate planning with pets in mind. Creating an elephant sanctuary in Myanmar. Close encounter with javelinas.
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On this show Lori welcomed Frances Carlisle, a New York based attorney who specializes in estate planning. Frances is a nationally known expert in advising clients how to make sure their dogs, cats and other nonhuman family members are taken care of when the guardians are no longer around. Too many of us do not […]
Animals Today April 21, 2018. Known and hidden risks of dog parks. Nineteen US states now say feral cats are an “invasive species.” How dog people differ from cat people. Cesar Chavez was an animal advocate.
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First, Lori welcomes Los Angeles based attorney Ken Phillips, who specializes in legal issues related to dogs. Ken is a nationally renowned authority who has made many media appearances. Dog parks can be wonderful places, but the risks and hazards to people and dogs in and around the parks are real. Ken shared his decades […]
Animals Today March 31, 2018: Please don’t buy a wolfdog. The groundbreaking Food for Thought program. Texas Beef Council employing questionable promotional practices.
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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 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 buying […]
Animals Today February 24, 2018. Illinois law elevates pets’ legal status in divorce actions. International Polar Bear Day! New airline policies on flying with service animals and emotional support animals. Animals in popular song titles.
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We begin with Attorney Mark Momjian who describes an important new statute in Illinois that affects animals in the context of divorce and separation. It allows trial courts to find that if a companion animal is acquired during the marriage, the court has the power to decide not only the ownership of the animal, but […]
Animals Today January 27, 2018. The strongest ten animal bites. February is pet dental health month. The Nonhuman Rights Project seeks to secure more legal rights for animals. Tracking animal abusers with statewide registries.
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This show begins with Lori counting down the bite power of the ten strongest nonhuman biters, with many facts about the included animals. Featured are lions, grizzly bears, gorillas, and crocodiles. Lori continues with solid advice about one of the more neglected aspects of pet care, oral hygiene. Keeping up with brushing of your dog’s […]
Animals Today December 9, 2017. Legal analysis of the shooting death of an innocent woman by a hunter. Understanding the mind of the cow. Exploring Nat Geo’s Encounter Ocean Odyssey. Pets and stereos: Can we all get along? Marin County’s humane approach to managing wildlife / livestock conflict.
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The show begins with Lori speaking with Animal Legal Defense Fund Senior Staff Attorney, Diane Balkin, about the recent shooting of Rosmarie Billquist, who was killed by a hunter while walking her dogs in a field behind her home. The hunter, Thomas Jadlowski, shot at what he believed to be a deer with a high […]
Animals Today December 3, 2017. Reining in Animal Services. Chris Delforce’s upcoming film, Dominion. Legal status of pets continues to expand. It’s International Cheetah Day! Photographing fascinating reef creatures.
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We begin with Camilla Fox, Founder and President of Project Coyote, who discusses lawsuits against the government agency, Wildlife Services, which alleges the agency is not using the best available science in deciding whether and how to kill millions of animals around the US each year at taxpayers’ expense. Fox claims Wildlife Services is nothing […]
Animals Today October 21, 2017: Who should be permitted to have Emotional Support Animals? Is it time for cannabinoids for pets? Long sentence for police dog killer. Top pet products 2017 part 1.
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The show begins with Dr. Jeffrey Younggren, Clinical and Forensic Psychologist at University of Missouri. Lori and Jeffrey discuss the current legal and regulatory status of service animals (usually dogs) and Emotional Support Animals (ESAs). There is a lot of misinformation and confusion regarding where the animals are allowed to go. Dr. Younggren also provides his […]
Animals Today October 7, 2017: Sea Shepherd reacts to Japan’s aggressive tactics. The origins of Animal Law. Protect the Endangered Species Act. Oh, how we love our dogs. Sloths.
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We begin with Paul Watson, Founder President and Executive Director of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. The Japanese government has adopted aggressive means to thwart the Society’s pacific fleet from interfering with their whaling activities. Watson says he will have to find a new approach, and is hopeful that other governments will act to end Japan’s […]
Animals Today September 16, 2017: All about rabbits. Divorce and companion animals. Settlement reached in the “monkey selfie” lawsuit.
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International Rabbit Day is fast approaching, so Lori begins with a two-part interview with Dr. Anne Martin, executive Director, House Rabbit Society. They discuss rabbits as pets and other welfare issues including cosmetic testing on rabbits and rabbit overpopulation. There’s tons of good info here! Then, Philadelphia based family law attorney Mark Momjian joins Lori […]
Animals Today September 2, 2017: Preparing for Natural Disasters. American Bar Association supports TNVR programs. So ya wanna bring your emotional support animal to Europe? Can music soothe our pets?
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The show begins with Lori’s chat with Jeff Dorson of the Humane Society of Louisiana, first broadcast last fall, about disaster preparedness for pets. Make sure you have a plan! Plus, we recognize National Dog Day with surprising facts about how much we love our canine companions. Peter then welcome Best Friends Animal Society attorney, Richard […]
Animals Today August 5, 2017: Try a plant-based diet! Heartworm update. Animal advocates are now in Connecticut courts, an important milestone. Rescuing animals and kids from hot cars: new laws apply in California
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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. The show continues with Veterinarian Dr. Robert Reed, giving us the latest on prevention and treatment of heartworm disease. Then, legal expert Bob Ferber joins […]
Animals Today July 1, 2017 Blowing the whistle on wildlife abuses. Surviving another summer in the desert. Independence Day tips for easing stress in pets.
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The show begins with Meera Gajjar, an attorney with the Wildlife Whistleblower Program of the National Whistleblower Center. Legal action to counter illegal wildlife trafficking continues to be weak, despite strong laws that are in place. With the Wildlife Whistleblower Program, Gajjar and colleagues expect to change that by providing a clearinghouse of information and […]
Animals Today June 3, 2017: Dogs, hot cars and the law. Another twisted twist on game hunting. Adventure Cats with author Laura J. Moss. Know the risks of pesticides to your furry family members.
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Lori’s first guest is Animals Today legal analyst, Bob Ferber, who discusses the recent Tennessee law, which protects good Samaritans from legal retaliation when they break into hot cars to rescue imperiled animals Then, Joe Meile with Committee to Abolish Sport Hunting returned to explain yet another twisted variety of captive or canned hunting. Unusual forms of […]
Animals Today May 13, 2017: What makes a great animal sanctuary? Micro chipping and estate planning. Dog bite liability. Disaster planning after Katrina.
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Peter begins by welcoming Bobbi Brink, from Lions, Tigers and Bears, a sanctuary for wild animals in Southern California. Brink says there is no excuse for the recent killing of three lions, three tigers and five bears by the owners of a Colorado sanctuary, and goes on to explain what’s involved in operating a top […]
Animals Today March 25, 2017: USDA removes critical animal welfare information from website. Save The Frogs Day will soon be here. A novel program to rehabilitate animal abusers. Fascinating bats.
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Suddenly and without prior notice, the USDA just took down a vast amount of critical information from its webpages concerning the welfare of animals. Lori asks John Goodwin, Senior Director of the Humane Society of the United States’ Campaign Against Puppy Mills, to review this event and its consequences. Goodwin calls it an assault on animals, […]
Animals Today February 11, 2017. Alaska elevates legal status of companion animals. Would you clone your pet? Ecotourism may harm animals. Use care with pesticides when dogs and cats are around.
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We begin with news from Alaska with legal expert Bob Ferber, who tells us about a newly enacted law there that tells judges to take into consideration the best interest of companion animals in cases such as divorce. Alaska is the first state to pass such a law, and it will be very interesting to observe […]