Bark Radio

Surrey and Sparky are back in agility class and after a long winter off, Terry noticed some nuanced differences in their behavior. Pay attention to YOUR dog’s body language to know what’s going on in that doggy head. Next, Terry talks about lure coursing coming soon to his backyard. Then Dee shares the story of a Lab puppy’s happy ending. It could have easily been otherwise. Finally, Dee shares a little about the temperament testing puppies for Warren Retrievers. Scent testing is part of the test and key in placing dogs in appropriate jobs where scent ability is important. Oh, and that’s Miss Surrey below, doggled up and ready for a jeep ride!

Bark Radio’s condolences go out to Cesar Millan. Daddy, Millan’s 16-year-old pit bull and constant companion, passed away recently. Daddy was an amazing ambassador for his breed and will be missed by many. The conversation turns next to another version of the animal-human bond. American Humane recently launched their nationwide Pets and Women’s Shelters (PAWS) program. The basic premise is that survivors of domestic violence should not be separated from their family pets when they go into a temporary shelter environment. Bravo American Humane. Great idea! Last on the agenda, Terry and Dee talk about Tootsie’s down and Sparky’s new play ethic.

A few days ago Bark Radio’s Terry Griffith experienced something no dog lover should ever experience. His beloved cattle dog, Surrey, was playing with one of her doggy pals when Winston’s lower jaw became caught in Surrey’s collar. Hear Terry share what happened next, including the nightmare of Surrey’s heart stopping. Terry’s story is a reminder to Bark Radio listeners to be prepared for emergencies. Take a pet first aid course. Educate yourselves.

Red Cross dog first aid book
Canine CPR blog post

Newsworthy items this week: A reminder about the importance of proper identification for your dog in this story of a German Shepherd from Virginia turning up in Florida and ultimately being reunited with family because of his microchip. Did you hear about Poppy the Springer Spaniel and her dive off of a 300 foot cliff? Next, we know puppy mills should be put out of business but how can we make that happen? The HSUS has established a puppy mill tip line. Call 1-877-MILL-TIP if you suspect a puppy mill’s presence in your community. And remember the HSUS Rewards program which offers a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in dog fighting.

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Today’s episode finds Terry and Dee discussing Austin’s Town Lake Animal Center, a shelter with a dreadful kill rate. 6,161 dogs and cats were euthanized there in 2009. The good news: Austin Pets Alive, a local nonprofit, has stepped up to make Austin a no-kill city. And what’s that about Rachael Ray’s dog attacking someone? After setting the record straight on that one, the discussion moves to Terry’s volunteer experience at Bark, a Richmond rescue group and the Richmond Animal League’s new spay/neuter clinic.

The conversation about dog laws continues in today’s episode of Bark Radio. Florida is, once again, trying to pass Breed Specific Legislation. Should the legislation pass, following is the estimated cost. And that’s just the cost in dollars. The cost in lives taken for no reason except perception is much higher.

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Estimated Number of Dogs 3,837,760
Estimated Number of Dogs described as Pit Bulls 266,670 (The most likely type of dog to be discriminated against)

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Breed-discriminatory legislation not only affects owners of the targeted dogs by interfering with their right to own property, but also taxpayers forced to fund its enforcement. Animal control programs already tend to be underfunded. Attempting to enforce breed-discriminatory laws will only deplete limited animal control resources more quickly. Misguided breed-discriminatory laws restricting specific types of dogs will cost the citizens of the state of Florida over $25,669,200, while accomplishing little.

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Costs Associated With Breed-Discriminatory Laws

• Animal control and enforcement costs: $15,955,860;
• Expenses for kenneling & veterinary care: $3,570,920;
• Expenses related to euthanasia & carcass disposal: $3,486,570;
• Litigation costs resulting from dog owners impacted by the legislation: $279,640;
• DNA testing costs: $2,376,250.

Actual costs to the citizens of the community will be higher as these estimates do not include:

• Shelter veterinarian if not already onsite;
• Increased enforcement staffing;
• Capital costs associated with increased shelter space.

[1] American Veterinary Medical Association, U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook, (Schaumburg, Ill: Membership & Field Services, American Veterinary Medical Association), 2008.
[2] Calculations based on analysis by John Dunham and Associates, a New York City based economic consulting firm.
John Dunham and Associates: New York

*estimated cost

Information provided by Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, The American Bar Association.

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Bark Radio’s Dee Bogetti just published her puppy book: Puppies chew shoes, don’t they? In today’s episode, Terry and Dee discuss why the book’s subtitle is “a user’s manual for people with puppies”. Dee says “this is not a training book but rather a way to successfully prepare for a new puppy.” The book is available online at lulu.com.

An update on the 14 missing dogs in Tennessee is the first topic of conversation at Bark Radio today. Turns out the whole thing was a hoax perpetuated by one woman. Next, learn about the stray dogs who live peacefully with the residents of Moscow. Among the 35,000 strays are those who ride the metro. This is a win-win story. And this just in: Bark Radio is one of The Top 20 Dog Sites Of 2009 – The Best Of The Canine Web.

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And this just in: Bark Radio is one of

The Top 20 Dog Sites Of 2009 – The Best Of The Canine Web

A Bark Radio friend recently experienced a middle-of-the-night emergency with her six-year-old Lab, Tootsie. If you’ve never seen a dog having a seizure, it’s a very scary thing. The good news is that Tootsie seems fine and we hope she never ever has another seizure. Learn more about seizure disorders here. Want to learn about administering first aid to your dogs? Take the Red Cross pet first aid class. And put your local emergency vet’s phone number in ALL of your family’s phones.

When this episode of Bark Radio was recorded, the disappearance of 14 dogs in from Canine Hope Rescue in Tennessee was in the news. Terry and Dee discuss this situation as it existed then and will continue to update listeners in future episodes. The most tragic story in the news, however, is Haiti. Best Friends Animal Society is part of the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti. The coalition was formed to meet the needs of animals affected by the earthquake. Learn how you can help! And on a lighter note, listeners are invited to nominate Bark Radio as Richmond’s Best Kept Secret.