Episodes

July 3, 2017

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.

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 […]
June 25, 2017

Animals Today June 24, 2017: It’s American Eagle Day and we celebrate eagles. Update on sulfoxaflor, bees and pollinators. Protecting elephants with technology. Bats and their viruses. Robot falcons and more animal news.

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. Plus, China cracks down […]
June 11, 2017

Animals Today – June 10, 2017. Is horse urine in your pills? Emotional Support dog bites airline passenger. Delaware rejects breed specific legislation. Seizures in companion animals.

The first guest of this show is Susan Wagner, President of Equine Advocates. The urine of pregnant mares is used to produce estrogen and hormone-replacement drugs such as Premarin, PremPro and PremPhase – and now DUAVEE, a “PremPro-Lite” which contains Premarin. Susan explained the history of these drugs, how harmful they are to the people who […]
June 3, 2017

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.

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 […]
May 14, 2017

Animals Today May 13, 2017: What makes a great animal sanctuary? Micro chipping and estate planning. Dog bite liability. Disaster planning after Katrina.

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 […]
May 1, 2017

Animals Today April 29, 2017. Adopting baby turtles confiscated after LA bust. World Turtle Day. Critically endangered animals. Dog cloning. Educating about animals and nature. Vaccines for cats: what’s needed?

The show begins with Peter welcoming Susan Tellem, Co-founder of American Tortoise Rescue. A recent law enforcement investigation in Los Angeles netted 70 baby turtles being illegally offered for sale, and Susan’s organization took them all in. Plus, World Turtle Day is coming up; it’s celebrated in many locations around the globe. Then, Lori and […]
April 25, 2017

Animals Today April 22, 2017. Animal assisted therapy: fact and fiction. Human hormone therapy poses risks to pets. It’s kitten season again!

Lori first welcomes Professor Hal Herzog, one of the world’s most influential Anthrozoologists. In a recent Psychology Today article, Herzog criticized much of the research about the value of using animals in the treatment of emotional, mental and physical diseases. His recent book is titled, Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat – […]
April 15, 2017

Animals Today April 15, 2017: Appreciating Beavers. Do cats need more respect? History and value of micro chipping. Estate planning. Legal news. Would you share a spoon with your dog?

Lori begins by recognizing International Beaver Day! This large mammalian herbivore is the national animal of Canada. Plus, it’s Respect Your Cat Day. No kidding. The show continues with Lori talking about micro chipping for cats and dogs, including a happy reunion of a dog and guardian due to the chip. Then Lori and Peter […]
April 8, 2017

Animals Today April 8, 2017: Wolfdogs. Early days of the Audubon Society. Scorpions. Cesar Chavez, animal advocate.

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 […]
March 26, 2017

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.

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, […]
March 12, 2017

Animals Today March 11, 2017. Obesity in dogs and cats is getting more common. Neat products reviewed. Toxicities of rodenticides. Manatees! Dolphins!

Is your dog or cat overweight or obese? This problem has become all too common in the US. Lori is joined by Dr. Douglas Kunz who explains. Then, Lori and Peter talk about their kittie, Elton, who they thought might be overweight but, as it turns out, it not. The segment continues with our reviews […]
March 8, 2017

Animals Today March 18, 2017: Choosing dog toys and treats wisely. Driving the Southwest US with dogs. Genetic testing on dogs, with our dogs’ results.

This show begins with Dr. Douglas Kunz, Medical Director of VCA Desert Animal Hospital who provides sage advice on choosing safe toys and treats for dogs. Doug advises not to use hard chew toys, which can fracture teeth. Doug also doesn’t like pig’s ears and bully sticks because they may harbor E coli bacteria. Doug […]
March 4, 2017

Animals Today March 4, 2017: Special update: USDA removes animal welfare information from website

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 […]
Feb. 27, 2017

Animals Today February 25, 2017. What are the best ways to train dogs? Dental hygiene tips for dogs. Relief for itchy dogs. The Iditarod sled dog race is animal exploitation.

This show features topics about dogs and begins with a discussion about training with Arizona State University animal behavior psychologist Clive Wynne. Dr. Wynne is concerned that there is growing confusion on how to best train dogs. Clive feels this is in large part due to misunderstandings about the concept of dominance, as well as […]
Feb. 11, 2017

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.

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 […]
Feb. 5, 2017

Animals Today February 4, 2017: Exposing taxpayer funded vivisection. Diabetes in cats. The pets of the Presidents.

We begin with a revealing discussion with Anthony Bellotti, who leads White Coat Waste, which is working to determine how our tax dollars are used in research involving dogs and other animals. Mr. Bellotti wants to radically revamp the US system of animal experimentation, where most of the research is funded by tax dollars. White […]
Jan. 29, 2017

Animals Today January 28, 2017. Ringling Bros. to close! Cannabis products for pets. Dogs protecting the President. Cat scratch disease.

Lori begins the show by celebrating the wonderful news that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will close May 2017. A sustained effort from animal advocates and animal welfare organizations, updated laws, and changing times all contributed to its demise. Lori continues with a fascinating talk about the use of medical cannabis for animals […]
Jan. 16, 2017

Animals Today January 14, 2017. Adopt a rescue bird month. Helping injured birds. Protecting nesting petrels on Hawaii. Elephant Sanctuary Brazil. Synthetic dog models for training. A sanctuary for senior cats.

The show begins with our rescue of an injured hawk, and many practical tips on how to aid birds who may be in need of assistance. The first key is to learn which birds need to be left alone. Then, to commemorate Adopt a Rescue Bird Month, Peter describes the ideal ways to acquire a […]
Jan. 8, 2017

Animals Today January 7, 2017: The Bald Eagle: American icon and conservation success story. Ending captive lion hunting in Africa

Happy New Year! January is a special month for eagles because Save the Eagle Day is January 10th and Bald Eagle Appreciation Days are January 21st and 22nd. 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 […]
Dec. 24, 2016

Animals Today Dec 24, 2016: Most important animal stories of 2016

This show features Lori and Peter’s choices for the most notable and important animal rights and animal welfare stories of the year. After Lori tortures Peter with some holiday animal trivia questions, they get on with the review. This year its not a countdown, but a sampling of events they considered most meaningful for various […]
Dec. 18, 2016

Animals Today December 17, 2016: Myths surrounding plant-based diets. How to move toward a plant-based diet. Expert Vet tips for holiday pet safety. Challenges of coping with the loss of pets around the holidays.

The holidays are here, and we have food on our minds! So we thought it would be an ideal time to talk about plant-based, or vegan, diets. In segment one, Lori explains why vegan diets are so healthful, and shoots down a few of the prevalent myths surrounding them. Make a resolution to improve your […]
Dec. 10, 2016

Animals Today December 12, 2016: Animals and religion: An in-depth discussion with Frank Hoffman. Keeping companion animals safe during the holidays.

This show features a fascinating discussion about religion and animals with former Pastor Frank Hoffman, founder of All Creatures, www.all-creatures.org. Lori introduces the show by exploring the many contradictions we have in our relationships with animals, such as the hunter who loves his hunting dogs but has no problem blasting ducks out of the sky. […]
Dec. 3, 2016

Animals Today December 3, 2016: Myths surrounding plant-based diets. How to move toward a plant-based diet. Expert Vet tips for holiday pet safety. Challenges of coping with the loss of pets around the holidays.

The holidays are here, and we have food on our minds! So we thought it would be an ideal time to talk about plant-based, or vegan, diets. In segment one, Lori explains why vegan diets are so healthful, and shoots down a few of the prevalent myths surrounding them. Make a resolution to improve your […]
Nov. 20, 2016

Animals Today – November 19, 2016: Animals and religion: An in-depth discussion with Frank Hoffman. Keeping companion animals safe during the holidays.

This show features a fascinating discussion about religion and animals with former Pastor Frank Hoffman, founder of All Creatures, www.all-creatures.org. Lori introduces the show by exploring the many contradictions we have in our relationships with animals, such as the hunter who loves his hunting dogs but has no problem blasting ducks out of the sky. […]