On the season finale of Animal Instinct, Celia is joined by Denise Herman, founder and head trainer of The Empire of the Dog. Celia and Denise talk about high-tech pet toys and recap Celia's favorite Animal Instinct moments as Celia prepares to take a brief break from the show. Be sure to keep in touch and send in topic suggestions, questions, and messages!

On this week's episode of Animal Instinct, Celia is joined by Jen Leemis, Vice President of Marketing at Paradise 4 Paws, a premier resort for cats and dogs located in Chicago, Denver, and Dallas. Jen talks about creating a safe and comfortable space for pets, featuring crate-free boarding and making everything to ensure pets are happy and healthy. Animal Instinct is powered by Simplecast

Ada Nieves is back in the studio! On this week's episode of Animal Instinct Celia talks to Ada about the holiday pet show at Radio City & many more holiday events in the tri-state area! Animal Instinct is powered by Simplecast

This week on Animal Instinct, Celia is joined by Miriam Chisholm, one of the founders of New York Farm Animal Save (NYFAS), an all-volunteer group whose mission is to promote the benefits of a vegan, compassionate lifestyle. NYFAS seeks to educate the public through bearing witness, community outreach and education where the main issues are human health, environmental well-being, and the suffering of “food” animals, such as chickens. Animal Instinct is powered by Simplecast

On this week's episode of Animal Instinct, Celia is joined by Christopher Gervais, founder and CEO of The Wildlife Conservation Film Festival. An award winning producer, Christopher founded the WCFF in 2010 using his life savings to get the organization off the ground and has maintained the operations since then. He is a philanthropic supporter of conservation organizations across the globe. Animal Instinct is powered by Simplecast

On this week's episode of Animal Instinct, Celia is joined in studio by Garrett Rosso, the creator of the annual Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade. In addition to his work as a dog trainer, Garrett was one of the founders of Friends of First Run -- the first official dog park in New York City. When not working with dogs, Garrett is an accomplished art director for TIME Magazine. As an animal advocate, he has appeared on ABC, CBS & NBC News, WPIX, Animal Planet and The Today Show. His writing on animal behavior and dog parks appear in "The Bark" magazine. Garrett is the owner and training director of Village Dogworks. Animal Instinct is powered by Simplecast

What do manatees do during dangerous storms? Jenna Golden fills us in on what they do and how they did with the storms that have hit so far. We talk about climate change and its effects on the oceans and sealife. For more information visit: www.savethemanatee.org Animal Instinct is powered by Simplecast

On this week's episode of Animal Instinct, Celia is joined by Michael Vecchione. Michael went to sea as a cabin boy on a three-masted schooner at the age of 16. He has been working on the biology, evolution, and life history of cephalopods (squids, octopods, and their relatives) since 1976. As a NOAA employee at National Museum of Natural History, Vecchione is Curator of Cephalopods and a Curator of the Sant Ocean Hall. He has participated in 40 offshore research expeditions, 13 of them as Chief Scientist, studying deep-sea biology. Animal Instinct is powered by Simplecast

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is joined in the studio by Ada Nieves, a certified pet fashion designer by The Fashion Institute and Technology of NYC. Ada is also co-chair and creative director for the New York Pet Fashion Show, a standing member of the Pet Fashion Professionals Association, and an animal talent manager and pet stylist who has been featured on a number of TV programs. Animal Instinct is powered by Simplecast

On this week's episode of Animal Instinct, Celia is joined by Tony Eliseuson of the Animal Legal Defense Fund. The Animal Legal Defense Fund’s mission is to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. ALDF accomplishes this mission by filing high-impact lawsuits to protect animals from harm, providing free legal assistance and training to prosecutors to assure that animal abusers are punished for their crimes, supporting tough animal protection legislation and fighting legislation harmful to animals, and providing resources and opportunities to law students and professionals to advance the emerging field of animal law. Animal Instinct is powered by Simplecast

On this week's episode of Animal Instinct, Celia is joined by Ulara Nakagawa and Dr. Keith Lindsay of Elephants in Japan. In 2015, the story of a solitary, elderly Japanese elephant named Hanako went viral. Dubbed “the loneliest elephant in the world,” Hanako lived and died alone in a concrete jail within a Japanese zoo, having spent the vast majority of her life without a mate and without basic amenities like heating or shade. Now Ulara Nakagawa, the same person that brought to light the story of Hanako, has created an organization called Elephants in Japan. The organization is working with Dr. Keith Lindsay, a biologist best known for his long-term study of elephants, to research and develop a report that reveals the dire conditions of 14 additional solitary elephants in public and private zoos across Japan. Elephants in Japan is a humanitarian wildlife group dedicated to providing a better life for extremely lonely, socially-deprived elephants before they suffer the same fate as Hanako. Time is of the essence - since the report began, two of the 14 elephants observed have already died. Three of the remaining 14 elephants live in particularly cruel environments, including the case of Teru, who has been entirely alone since 2000 and is kept in extreme weather conditions. Animal Instinct is powered by Simplecast

On the season finale of Animal Instinct, guest host Ada Nieves is joined in the studio by Todd Evans of Dawn Animal Agency and The Sanctuary for Animals, a non-profit charity that cares for old, abandoned, and abused animals on their large and scenic farm in Westtown, located in rural Orange County, New York. Animal Instinct is powered by Simplecast

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is on vacation, but filling in is special guest host, Ada Nieves! Joining Ada are Cristal Rojas of Let Your Bark Create Photography, and Mina Miyoko of Matilda's Annual Celebration & Cat Fashion Show! Animal Instinct is powered by Simplecast.

Denise Herman is the owner and lead trainer at Empire of the Dog in NYC. Empire of the Dog was founded in 2000. Denise has written for The Bark magazine, Modern Dog, and The Nest, and has been profiled in Dog Fancy magazine. She also apprentices and trains dog trainers through the Dog Training Internship Academy, and is on the advisory board for AFAR NYC, an organization that runs local pet programs including programs to provide support of pets of military veterans. She just started fostering a rat to train, named Splinter.

On this week's episode of Animal Instinct, Celia is joined by sculptor, installation artist, and painter Karrie Hovey. Karrie grew up in the Northeast Kingdom, a rural area in northern Vermont. There she developed an appreciation of the natural world and a respect for the environment. This is also where she learned many of the hand-craft and construction techniques that are present in her current installations and paintings. On today's show she talks about some of her installations and how animals inspire her to create her work.

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is joined by Ceyda Torun, the director and producer of Kedi, a new documentary film about the hundreds of thousands of Turkish cats that roam the metropolis of Istanbul. Far from being mere strays, these cats live between two worlds, neither wild nor tame, and have become an essential part of the communities that make the city of Istanbul so rich.

We talk with Julie Andersen about Plastic Oceans, her non-profit that helps to save the oceans by educating people about plastic and helping to get organizations to band together to save the oceans and the planet.

On this week's episode of Animal Instinct, Celia is joined by Joanne Rittenhouse of Companions for Courage, an organization that brings therapy dogs into the courtroom to help kids deal with stress during trials. Joanne got involved in rescue work 25 years ago after a few years of witnessing abuse and neglect. She is an educator and advocate for adopting deaf and blind dogs.

On this week's episode of Animal Instinct, Celia is joined by Susan Ewing. Nature and animals have played a key role in Susan’s work and in her life. She has been writing about natural history and the outdoors since the early 1990s, and has written books on the nature of Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and the Rocky Mountains. Her greatest joys and comforts have come from a string of very good dogs and the birds, frogs, foxes, and other animals she is lucky enough to encounter on her hikes and walks in the Montana mountains where she lives. She is the author of six books, most recently Resurrecting the Shark, and her articles, essays, and short stories have appeared in Salon, The Pacific Standard, Cowboys & Indians, Montana Quarterly, Big Sky Journal, and numerous other publications and anthologies.

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is joined by Maribeth Decker, an intuitive animal communicator, and owner and founder of Sacred Grove. Maribeth uses her abilities to address animals’ issues that interfere with people being able to enjoy their animals.

On this week's episode of Animal Instinct, Dr. Taylor Truitt of Vet Set joins Celia to talk about dog behavior myths, crossbreeding, and more! Dr. Truitt knew since she was four years old that she wanted to be a veterinarian when she grew up. She started working in veterinary practices when she was 18. Her lifelong passion and adoration of dogs and cats transitioned into her professional commitment to their physical and mental well-being when she graduated from veterinary school.

On the season premiere of Animal Instinct, Celia is joined by PR specialist Nancy Hassel, founder and president of American Pet Professionals, an award winning business-networking and educational organization for the pet industry since 2009. Nancy works with pet companies in many aspects of PR, event planning, media relations and training for pet professionals. Nancy also runs the Re-tails & Sales Pet Expo with Dana Humphrey, a trade show featuring Made in the USA pet products. Nancy is also a speaker at various pet industry conferences, a writer for pet trade and consumer magazines, blogger and photographer, and was a TV producer and production coordinator for 10+ years. Nancy also created a Responsible Dog Ownership program and taught over 2,500 pet parents in a 5-year period. Nancy resides on Long Island, NY and is the proud pet parent of Cody, a rescued American Pit Bull Terrier.

On the season finale of Animal Instinct, Celia is joined by Pam Johnson-Bennett. Pam is a superstar in the world of cat behavior. She is the best-selling author of 10 books, including the brand new release, CatWise (Penguin Books, 2016). Pam’s best-selling book, Think Like a Cat (Penguin Books), changed the way cat owners view cat training and has been referred to as the “cat bible” by veterinarians, shelters, behavior professionals and cat owners world-wide. Her book, Cat vs. Cat (Penguin Books), was the first of its kind to address the unique needs of households with multiple cats. Pam hosted the Nat Geo Wild/Animal Planet show Psycho Kitty, which aired in the UK and Canada. With a career that spans over 30 years, she is considered a pioneer in the field of cat behavior consulting and her books have been used as texts for professional behavior and shelter training.

This week on Animal Instinct, Celia is joined by filmmaker Nancy Schiesari, director and producer of Canine Soldiers: The Militarization of Love. The film explores the intimate bond between military working dogs (MWDs) and their handlers -- combat soldiers who make life-and-death decisions based on the instincts of the dogs who lead their patrols.

On this week's episode of Animal Instinct, Celia is joined by researcher Dave Knieter to talk about trophy hunting. Having lived in multiple states and countries, Dave is a self-described "geographic mutt”. After serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in South Africa (2003-05) he settled down in Missouri for ten years, where he earned masters degrees in Education and Geography. It was the latter discipline that got him interested in the politics of conservation and the making of “wild” spaces. Dave is now a PhD student at West Virginia University where he studies trophy hunting, game farms, and conservation in relation to the political economy of South Africa and land reform initiatives. He currently lives in Pittsburgh with his wife, an emergency veterinarian, and their two special-needs cats, Nanook and Devlin.

On this week's episode of Animal Instinct, Celia is joined by Alicia Prygoski to discuss Arkansas's recently passed Ag-Gag Bill. Alicia is a public policy coordinator for farm animal protection at the Humane Society of the United States. She holds a law degree from Western Michigan University and was previously a lobbyist for an environmental organization in Michigan. Alicia now lives in Washington DC with her rescue dog, Patches.

On this week's episode of Animal Instinct, Celia is joined by Gil Webb, Cookie's dad, and Sara, Tumbleweed's mom. Cookie is an Eastern Gray Squirrel who was found at a day old. She required months of close attention and care to pull through. She now lives in Florida with her chihuahua, horse, cat and human. Tumbleweed is 19 months old and suffers from hydrocephalus. Most people know this as water on the brain. He isn't your typical squirrel and can't do most things squirrels do. We love him with all of our hearts and as long as he is fighting for his life, we will fight for him too

On this week's episode of Animal Instinct, host Celia is joined in studio by Dr. James Brusseau, PhD in philosophy, and author of numerous books and articles in the history of philosophy and ethics. His most recent is the short narrative nonfiction Dignity, Pleasures, Vulgarity, which investigates animal rights reflecting between the nonhuman and human animal realms.

This week on Animal Instinct, Professor Frank Grasso is back to chat with Celia about monk parakeets. If you live in Brooklyn you've probably seen one of these small green birds. Nobody knows for sure, but Professor Grasso gives us a few possible explanations for why there are so many monk parakeets in this specific region of NYC.

This week on Animal Instinct, Celia is joined in studio by Frank Grasso. Frank is a Professor of Psychology at Brooklyn College the City University of New York. He directs the BioMimetic and Cognitive Robotics research laboratory there the aim of which is to understand how brains control and coordinate behavior in animals. His research with octopuses follows the lab philosophy that to understand brain function one must be able study the organism, build a brain model that captures the behavior and validate that model by comparing robot performance against animal performance on the same task. Octopuses represent an great challenge to this approach because they are so alien and so complex in brain and body.

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia is joined by marine biologist and underwater videographer Josh Stewart. Josh has studied and filmed mantas around the world and has spent several years studying coral recruitment on historic shipwrecks in the Dominican Republic. It was during one of these projects that he saw his first manta ray, and was instantly taken by the beauty and grace of these amazing animals. Josh has filmed for National Geographic and Animal Planet, as well as producing a number of independent documentaries and video shorts, one of which earned him the Australian Geographic Spirit of Adventure Award in 2010. He is currently a PhD student at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and is being supported by a National Science Foundation Fellowship for his research on manta rays.

Can spiders hear? Do they see color? What are their webs made of? Tune in and learn about the world of spiders as host Celia talks to researcher and spider specialist Dr. Todd Blackledge, Leuchtag Endowed Professor of Biology at The University of Akron. Dr. Blackledge has spent his life studying spiders and their webs to understand how spider silks evolved into a toolkit of diverse fibers that includes some of nature’s toughest and stretchiest materials.

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is joined in studio by Dr. Taylor Truitt founder of The Vet Set. Dr. Truitt brings veterinary care to homes, offices, or hotels to avoid the stress her patients might experience during a trip to the vet's office. The Vet Set also offers "Fear Free" hospital visits, where pets can receive surgery, dental care, x-rays, ultrasound and critical care.

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is joined by Sharon Nunez, president and co-founder of Animal Equality. Sharon talks about the release of iAnimal, an immersive virtual reality experience into the lives of farmed animals. iAnimal uses cutting-edge virtual reality technology to give viewers an immersive look at the life cycle of factory farmed animals from birth to death. This latest project features footage filmed by 13 investigators in six countries.

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia is joined by Lisa Luckenbach from WiggleLess, a company specialized in back braces for dogs. Lisa explains how to find the best back brace for your pet to protect it after surgery, injury or disease. Inspired by her own struggles with back pain, Lisa decided to start a business to ensure the well-being of our furry friends.

On the season premiere of Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is joined by Denise Herman, the founder and head trainer for Empire of the Dog. She is a Valedictorian Graduate of the Academy for Dog Trainers – widely considered the "Harvard of dog schools." After graduation, she was hired as a staff trainer at the San Francisco SPCA and opened Empire of the Dog in 2000. Tune in to hear them discuss why dog trainers are so important, even if you think you already know a lot about dogs!

On the season finale of Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is joined in the studio by Zeke Freeman of Bee Raw Honey. Working as an advisor to Beehive Bee Products, Inc., Freeman repackaged the company's honeys in clear, retro-inspired glass jars, earning recognition in Metropolitan Home’s Top 100. In 2005, Freeman acquired majority ownership of Beehive Bee Products, in partnership with Sam Yocum, a photographer and designer. Freeman and Yocum re-launched the company under its current name: Bee Raw Honey. Today, Freeman solely manages the company, and he has expanded Bee Raw’s distribution, making its single varietal honeys and honey flights available nationwide. He also actively promotes the importance of American family-owned apiaries and works to educate the public about beekeeping and its vital role in agriculture.

Today on Animal Instinct, actress, model, and animal lover Missy Hargraves calls in to tell us about her efforts rescuing creatures when catastrophe strikes. Hargraves' past work has included documenting the claustrophobic conditions suffered by dolphins in Japan's Taiji Whale Museum. The museum is in close proximity to the infamous cove denounced in the hit documentary The Cove.

Today on Animal Instinct, we talk to the talented Olivia Barash. In a past life, Barash played the female lead role of “Leila” in cult classic Repo Man. Continuing her career in Hollywood, she's gotten to work with the likes of Robert Downey, Jr. and Johnny Depp. But let's talk about animals! In the last year, Olivia has been hard at work on BarkvilleTV with her new production company, Original Pixel Cowboys. A YouTube channel, Barkville TV stars dogs rather than humans, and seeks to help them get adopted!

Today on Animal Instinct, we hear from Tod Enko, a conservationist who founded the first and only free, year-round animal hospital in the Galápagos Islands: Darwin Animal Doctors. Tod also created an international humane education program called "A Piggy's Tale," based on the life of his dog. He now endeavors to stop poaching in Sumatra's Leuser Ecosystem, a UN World Heritage Site.

Today on Animal Instinct, we hear from guest Val Nassetta – who cares after convalescent raccoons – about the benefits of keeping this animal around in society (hint: they eat ticks!).

Today on Animal Instinct, we're joined by documentary filmmaker Yeray Lopez Portillo, who's working on a film about hunting dog culture in Spain. Yo Galgo tells the story of the galgo, a greyhound breed treated like goods rather than creatures. Used for hunting down hare, a strong hunting dog has a short shelf life, such that thousands are abandoned or killed at the end of each hunting season. Yeray tells us about his journey sharing the plight of the galgo on camera.

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is joined in the studio by Ada Nieves, a certified pet fashion designer by The Fashion Institute and Technology of NYC. Ada is also co-chair and creative director for the New York Pet Fashion Show, a standing member of the Pet Fashion Professionals Association, and an animal talent manager and pet stylist who has been featured on a number of TV programs. Also joining is Jennifer-Jo Moyer, troop leader for PupScouts.org. Tune in to hear them talk about all the fun events in October for New York pets and their families!

Today on Animal Instinct, we speak with Elizabeth M. Goudie-DeAngelis, an animal anesthesiologist trained in putting under creatures ranging from cats, dogs, boas, turtles, tigers and eels!

Forbes Ellis works in a hospice in Santa Cruz, California, where he's been working to bring dogs into a palliative care program at the facility. We'll be talking about the comfort brought by canines, even as we humans face our final moments.

Today on Animal Instinct, we're joined by oceans expert Matthias Elliot to talk all about global warming's "ugly step-sister:" ocean acidification. Man-made carbon emissions affect the pH level of the planet's oceans; listen in to learn all about what that does to their ecology and wildlife.

Today on Animal Instinct, we talk to nutritionist Cynthia Farris about introducing fermented foods in your dog's diet. The reputed benefits of probiotics might not stop at helping the human gut, but could extend to canines, too.

Today on Animal Instinct, Dana Humphrey joins us in the studio to tell us all about cannabidiol and how it can help your pet with chronic pain. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a hemp derivative – not a cannabis derivative – so it won't give your cat or dog the munchies.

Today on Animal Instinct, we have both an excellent guest host and an excellent guest! Julia Szabo is sitting in for Celia Kutcher, and she's joined by Laura Pople, the founder of a non-profit organization that helps people keep their pets in times of crisis. New Jersey's Seer Farms helps shelter “foreclosure pets” and other animals attached to families going through tough times.

We're placing a call to Spain on today's episode of Animal Instinct, to speak with Jose Antonio Fernandez Flores. eZOO seeks to bring an IMAX-like experience to zoos, giving them the opportunity to replace captive animals with big-screen visuals and augmented reality.

Cookie is an Eastern Gray Squirrel who was found at one day old. She required months of close attention and care to pull through after being abandoned in a storm. She now lives in Florida with her chihuahua, horse, cat, and human. That human is Gil Webb, the Florida resident who rescued Cookie, and our guest this week on Animal Instinct.

For episode 100 (!) of Animal Instict, Ann Greenberg joins us in the studio to tell us all about her line of fashionable vegan products for pets. They're not snacks; they're cute backpacks (for your dog to carry) and fashionable purses (for you to carry your dog!).

Dr. Katie Tripp of the nonprofit Save the Manatee Club joins us to discuss the plight of the creature, a sea mammal living alongside the Atlantic coast of the Americas and beyond. Not unlike its close relative, the elephant, the manatee today is endangered. Threats to the animal include hunting, habitat destruction, being hit by watercraft – on pace for records number this year – and getting caught in fishing nets.

Mike Mease of the Buffalo Field Campaign joins us on the phone to talk about the American buffalo. Also known as the bison – and recently named the US's national mammal – the creature faces culling in the state of Montana.

According to the CDC, 4.5 million dog bites happen each year in the United States. On the last day of National Dog Bite Prevention Week, certified professional dog trainer Lisa J. Edwards joins us in the studio to talk to us about her new book. Please Don't Bite The Baby (and Please Don't Chase the Dogs) tells the story of her approach to introducing new human members of the family to our furry friends.

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher speaks with Michael C. Blumenthal, a poet, lawyer, and educator who has also ventured into essays, memoirs, and fiction. His nonfiction works includes Because They Needed Me: The Incredible Life of Rita Miljo and Her Struggle to Save the Baboons of South Africa (2015), a book about a remarkable woman and how she came to play a significant role in baboon conservation in South Africa.

Adrienne Wisok is working on an app to help the dogs of Detroit and other cities. Many dogs in the Motor City live tethered outside to ward off burglars, as Wisok writes on her GoFundMe page. She's raising money to fund a free app that connects people with information on how to look out for their pets, including notifications for vaccine clinics and weather warnings for very hot or cold days. Up to 50,000 stray dogs roamed the streets and empty homes of Detroit, as Bloomberg reported in 2013, the year the city declared bankruptcy.

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is joined by Dave Magpiong of the Fledging Birders Institute. Over a decade ago, a single Gray Catbird changed the trajectory of Dave Magpiong's life - leading him on a mission to bring the joy and benefits of birdwatching to others. From writing for local outlets to leading walks, his first efforts focused on southern New Jersey but ultimately grew to impact people around the world. Dave has been involved in many bird outreach activities such as the Bird Education Network (BEN) Bulletin and Winter Bird Count for Kids. After founding the Fledging Birders Institute, he organized a series of Focus on Diversity: Changing the Face of American Birding Conferences, which were aimed at making birdwatching a more inclusive activity. He was also a co-founder of the Pledge to Fledge initiative which inspired new birders on every continent (but Antarctica!)

On this week's Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher speaks with Jeanne Selander, who runs a petting zoo in the Florida Keys that is located on the grounds of the Monroe County Sheriff's Office Stock Island Detention Center. The Sheriff's Office Animal Farm features all sorts of animals, both the traditional farm animals like horses, chickens, pigs, goats and rabbits as well as exotic animals like a sloth, kinkajous, lemur, pythons, peacocks, tropical birds, alpacas, Patagonian cavies, alligators, sugar gliders, and African Spurred Tortoises. Many of the animals have come from abusive or neglectful homes, or have been donated by people who simply cannot care for them any longer. Farmer Selander oversees a crew of inmates from the detention center. The animals at the farm are cared for primarily by Detention Center inmates, who also benefit from the experience. They receive training in some aspects of animal husbandry, which they may be able to use once they are released from the facility. At the very least, they learn to work closely with many creatures in need of the compassion and caring of a human being - an experience that cannot help but be a positive factor in their lives.

On this week's episode of Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is joined in the studio by Mark Michaels, an author and relationship and sexuality educator. He and his wife Patricia Johnson have written five books, most recently Designer Relationships (Cleis Press, 2015). He has been interested in nature and especially birds since elementary school, when he was captivated by the legendary Ivory-billed Woodpecker. He has been actively searching for the bird in the southeast since 2007.

On this week's episode of Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher speaks with Karrie Hovey and Charles Merrill about their involvement with Project Thorn. Project Thorn is an organization formed to find and fund tangible projects to help protect rhinos in South Africa. Hornucopia is one of Project Thorn’s initiatives to fund an anti-poaching horse patrol in South Africa’s iMfolozi Wildlife Reserve. Karrie Hovey is a visual artist and activist. Her installations and artworks are inspired by the symbiotic relationship between the human landscape and the natural environment. She became involved with rhino conservation after her first trip to South Africa in 2012. Karrie's work can be viewed on www.karriehovey.com Charles Merrill is a technologist, cyclist and wildlife advocate who lives in Northern California. He is a former professional sailor who has transited the mid-pacific multiple times since the 1980s seeing first hand the impact humans have on the ocean. Charles became involved with Project Thorn through his participation in JoBerg2C, a 9 day/900 km mountain bike race in South Africa. The race is chronicled on www.3ringcircus.us and www.joberg2c.co.za.

On this week's episode of Animal Instinct, Celia is joined in the studio by Lorelei Tibbetts to talk all about hedgehogs! Lorelei earned her first bachelor's degree (in broadcast journalism) from Boston University. Realizing that this would not fulfill her dream of working with animals, she earned her second degree in veterinary technology. Since then, she has worked in New York City, where she currently is the manager of The Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine. She has worked exclusively with exotic pets since 2004, and is the chair of her veterinary technician specialty academy, The Academy for Veterinary Technicians in Clinical Practice, where she was a founding member of the Exotic Companion Animal specialty. She is passionate about exotic pet education, and enjoys lecturing at veterinary symposiums, as well as teaching students at her practice.

On this week’s episode of Animal Instinct, Celia is joined by Julia Szabo, a journalist, blogger, and author of seven books about animals. Szabo also produces the vegan style website Get Dressed Change The World, all about cruelty-free fashion and lifestyle, and soon to be a book. Follow the project on Instagram @getdressedchangetheworld. “More and more, pets find their way into these kind of more lifestyle-y apps.” [12:15] – Julia Szabo  

On this week’s episode of Animal Instinct, Celia welcomes Ian Urbina of The New York Times. Urbina was the winner of the Polk award for Foreign Reporting for “The Outlaw Ocean,” an ongoing series about lawlessness on the high seas. During the year and a half reporting the stories, Urbina traveled through Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, much of that time spent on fishing ships, chronicling a diversity of crimes offshore, including murder of stowaways, intentional dumping, illegal fishing, stealing of ships, stranding of crews, and murder with impunity. Talking his way onto fishing ships at considerable risk, he also related firsthand stories of the plight of indentured Cambodian boys, a deckhand shackled by the neck, and Filipinos living in squalor who endured beatings, lost fingers to infection, and were forced to swallow amphetamines to work longer hours. Urbina secured and investigated a video of four men shot to death at sea before dozens of witnesses, including some who then celebrated and posed on camera. The reporting also took readers aboard a ship operated by environmental activists in the culmination of a 10,000-mile chase leading to the sinking of a notorious pirate trawler that had eluded Interpol and other authorities for a decade. The series spurred Congressional hearings and testimony, class-action litigation against the seafood industry, and, abroad, several criminal investigations and convictions. “If anything, I feel guilty about the fact that I go there, I witness it, and then I leave, and those people have to stay there, that guilt kind of haunts me a bit. But, for the most part, I guess I assuage it thinking that, well, if I do a good enough job writing about it, that maybe it will have small impact on those very people whose story I’m telling.” [23:15] – Ian Urbina  

Patricia Johnson is certified in reptile monitoring by the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation and a New York State Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator. She specializes in native turtles, with a particular interest in Eastern Box Turtles. In 2015 she was selected to be the NEPARC Fellow – Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science PARC/SSAR workshop. Patricia produces Turtle Intensives, semi-annual meetings to spark conversations and the sharing of ideas among those working in turtle conservation.  She has co-authored five award-winning books with her husband ( www.MichaelsandJohnson.com) and lives in Yorktown Heights. They share their home with three parrots, four cats, and dozens of turtle patients at any given time.  If you would like to give a turtle a forever home, or if you would like to help wild turtles (or any animal for that matter) contact Patricia at TurtleAdvocate@gmail.com, and she’ll talk you through the licensing process (very easy and you only need to be 16). Feel free to write her if you’re interested in having her present a workshop, or have any additional questions about turtles. “You want to see a turtle really go to town, put a slug in front of one.” [15:20] – Patricia Johnson  

On today’s episode of Animal Instinct, guest Dr. Patricia C. Wright talks about her work studying wild lemurs in Madagascar. Dr. Wright is a Distinguished Professor at Stony Brook University, NY, and a founder of the Centre ValBio Research Station in Madagascar, a “green” sustainable hub of research, environmental arts, village community health, education and economics. She has discovered a new species of lemur, spearheaded a national park World Heritage Site, won three medals of honor from the Malagasy government, been awarded the Indianapolis Prize for Animal Conservation (“Nobel Prize” for conservation), received a MacArthur Genius Award. Her work is featured in the IMAX film “Island of Lemurs: Madagascar” and Anthony Bourdain’s CCN TV show Parts Unknown. Her most recent books are “High Moon Over the Amazon” and “For the Love of Lemurs: my life in the wilds of Madagascar. As the first animals to arrive in Madagascar, lemurs play an important role in dispersing seeds and pollinating flowers, making them indispensable to the evolution of that ecosystem. “I just couldn’t let those animals go extinct, they’re so beautiful.” [30:30] – Dr. Patricia Wright  

Tune in for a fascinating episode about everyone’s favorite bivalves!  Talking clams and oysters, Animal Instinct host Celia Kutcher welcomes the Oyster Baron von Clam Man himself, Nolan Meredith to the studio.  Between the typical lifespan, breeding patterns, environmental impact, and details on Nolan’s oyster farm, Celia gets to the bottom of how he got into the business plus his thoughts on oyster “merroir” and more!  Heritage Radio’s Patrick Martins and Alexes McLaughlin join in the fun too, taste some oysters, and learn all about the clam and oyster industry. “One oyster will filter 50 gallons of water a day.” [2:45] “The best hangover cure I know of is a clam!” [21:30] –Nolan Meredith on Animal Instinct  

This week on a brand new Animal Instinct , host Celia Kutcher is on the line with author and animal communicator Marta Williams and Veterinarian Sue Chan.  Discussing the hot topic of the California Veterinary Medical Board (CVMB) imposing increasingly strict regulations on how they define veterinary medicine and who can work on animals, several years ago, the board made it illegal for acupuncturists, chiropractors and equine dentists to work on animals without direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian.  Those that continue to provide services face fines into thousands of dollars and legal action.   Recently the CVMB proposed to do the same with animal massage and physical rehabilitation with the rationale that animal owners need to be protected from incompetent service providers who are not overseen by the CVMB.  However, even veterinarians will acknowledge that this is an attempt to eliminate competition for economic reasons.  Tune in for this important show and click here to learn more!

This week on Animal Instinct host Celia Kutcher is in studio with Danielle Hlatky, who recently returned from a month volunteering at the Moria refugee camp in Lesbos, Greece.  While there, she helped people from Syria, Iraq and elsewhere who are seeking safety in Europe via Turkey and also observed the various family cats and dogs making the journeys as well.  Tune in to hear more about this situation and learn how to help and contribute to an important Go Fund Me Account.

Celia Kutcher is in studio with Animal Instinct regular, Denise Herman, and is recapping the past year in animal news from Cecil the Lion to pizza rat. Tune in for thoughts on the most viral stories and perhaps ones you may have missed!

_ Animal Instinct _ is kicking off 2016 in style as host Celia Kutcher welcomes Delikate Rayne co-founders, sisters Meg and Komie. A cruelty-free women’s contemporary label that is shaking up the eco and vegan fashion scene, Delikate Rayne uses their upbringing alongside their adoration of animals to create green luxury – definitive and progressive designs with a purpose. Delikate Rayne’s pieces are ethically and consciously made in LA, 100 percent animal friendly plus utilizing sustainable leather to provide an array of guilt-free, seasonless garments which create a harmonious blend of compassion, opulence, and street style.  Tune in for a great episode! “There’s a direct correlation between veganism, vegan clothing, vegan food, vegan life to climate change and reducing your carbon footprint.” [18:15] –Delikate Rayne on Animal Instinct  

_ Animal Instinct _ is getting artsy this week as Celia welcomes Andrea Gianchiglia to the show. Andrea Gianchiglia is an animal portrait artist based in Califon, NJ. She is also an art instructor at the Visual Art Center of New Jersey, The Center for Contemporary Artists, and teaches online. Andrea holds memberships to various art groups such as the Society of Animal Artists, the Salmagundi Club, the Catherine Lorillard group and the Pastel Society of America. Painting animals is Andrea’s passion, “A portrait can keep a pet with us for a lifetime, because they aren’t just pets they are family.”  Tune in for a great discussion! “For me, it’s the eyes that really draw attention. I really like the emotion in the eyes.” [9:30] –Andrea Gianchiglia on Animal Instinct  

In the new documentary,  Racing Extinction, a team of artists and activists exposes the hidden world of extinction with never-before-seen images that will change the way we see the planet. This week on Animal Instinct , host Celia Kutcher is on the line with the project’s Academy Award Winning Director Louie Psihoyos, also director of The Cove, chatting about his experiences shooting Racing Extinction, the campaign #startwith1thing, and most importantly, how listeners can take action to make a difference.  Tune in for some staggering statistics, thoughts on conservation, as well as details surrounding the documentary’s airing on the Discovery Channel on December 2, 2015 at 9PM/ET. “They say you never really finish a documentary, you abandon it.” [6:00] “If somebody wants to change the world, save the planet, change your diet.” [8:00] –Louie Psihoyos on Animal Instinct    

This week on Animal Instinct , Celia Kutcher is joined by ** Melanie Butera, DVM** , a veterinarian with more than twenty years of emergency experience. She has owned the Elm Ridge Animal Hospital for the past ten years and the Stark County Veterinary Emergency Clinic before that. She has treated more than 100,000 emergency cases in her career and now enjoys the different challenges of private practice work. Dr. Butera and her husband, Steve Heathman, live in Canal Fulton, Ohio. She & her husband saved and raised Dillie, who is now part of the family.

Animal Instinct is getting artsy this week as host Celia Kutcher welcomes caricature artist James Woods to the show to talk about his pet portrait business.  He shares that his challenge with each painting is to try and establish a connection between the personality of the subject to the painting or drawing.  Working out of Jackson Square in New Orleans, James highlights his experiences painting pets from sphynx cats to English bulldogs.   “Each person has a story to tell about his pet whether they lost it or it was a childhood pet.” [22:30] –James Woods on Animal Instinct

Saddle up! This week on _ Animal Instinct _, host Celia Kutcher welcomes Beth McReynolds of GallopNYC to the studio.  GallopNYC brings the proven benefits of therapeutic horsemanship to children and adults with disabilities in New York City. Through weekly riding sessions with PATH-certified instructors, Beth shares that the organization helps riders walk, talk, connect, focus, behave, and learn, encouraging each student to live life as fully, productively, and independently as possible.  Tune in for an inspiring show!

_ Animal Instinct _ is on the catwalk this week as host Celia Kutcher welcomes pet fashion designer Ada Nieves to the show.  Ada is a renowned, certified NY FIT Pet Fashion Designer, a successful events-Pawty Planner, Co-Chair and Creative Director for The New York Pet Fashion Show, founder of Ada Nieves Chihuahua Nation and Friends which runs the largest Chihuahua group in the nation with global reach. Jennifer Jo-Moyer is also in studio contributing to conversation revolving around Ada’s craziest clients, details on the NYC dog parade, and more!

Your pet is diagnosed with cancer – what is the next step? Animal Instinct is taking on the tough topic of pet cancers with Veterinary Oncologist Brooke Britton.  What are the most common forms of cancer in dogs and cats? How do veterinarians view the option of euthanasia? Tune in for an enlightening show and to hear about the promising developments in treatment options! “Unfortunately, normal blood work does not mean that everything is always all clear.” [22:00] “Cancer progression in dogs and cats is accelerated.” [23:00] –Brooke Britton on Animal Instinct  

The Vet Set was founded by Dr. Taylor Truitt and Dr. Eva Radke to bring the best veterinary care to your home, office, or hotel in Manhattan and Brooklyn 7 days a week. This week they’re in studio for a brand new episode of Animal Instinct!  Understanding that stress interferes with pets’ health, they have effectively eliminated the anxiety of a hospital visit by making home visits their business.    Offering preventative medicine, vaccines, diagnostic testing, health certificates, acupuncture, and hospice care with an easy to use app plus telemedicine make it more convenient to stay in touch with your veterinarian.  Tune in as they share more information about the mobile practice as well as highlights from their time out in the field! “It’s hard to remember easy to forget that our pets are very programed to be pets and to live with us in a way that they mask a lot of their pain, and dental pain is included in that.” [23:30] –Dr. Eva Radke on Animal Instinct  

What do a car company and a conservation organization have in common? Plenty. This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is on the line with Dr. John Rowden of the New York City Audubon and Toyota Togethergreen talking conversation, birds, and more. After the break, John explains how TogetherGreen has trained more than 500 conservation leaders and has mobilized more than 460,000 people to reduce energy use, protect wildlife habitat, and improve water quality in every state in America. Tune in for an informative show! “Where birds thrive people do as well.” [2:00] “We encourage people to think creatively about solutions, and not every attempt works but we try to then take a step back and think how to forge ahead. That’s a trademark of the program was well.” [22:00] –Dr. John Rowden on Animal Instinct      

Animal Instinct returning guest Julia Szabo, a.k.a Pet Reporter, is inspired by animals in everything she does. A journalist, blogger and author, she wrote the acclaimed memoir “Medicine Dog” about how her canine crew motivated her to seek stem cell therapy for a chronic GI condition. These days, Julia’s combining her animal activism with her love of fashion and food to produce “Get Dressed Change The World” a blog all about cruelty-free vegan style. Check her out online!  Today their talking about vegetarianism in the animal kingdom, which animals are truly vegetarian and which ones aren’t. Tune in to hear a thorough discussion on the various diets from zoo animals to your pup at home.  This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA.   “Especially for older dogs, lapping up Vitamix-ed food would be such a special treat.” [33:40] “The stink factors – that is something that coconut oil fixes.” [35:00] –Julia Szabo on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is finishing off the season with veterinarian and wildlife photographer, Yaron Schmid. Sharing how he fell in love with animal photography, Yaron details his many African safari experiences and talks staggering statistics on endangered species. With the death of Cecil the lion in the headlines, discussion ensues on the topic of hunting for sport and in which situations it is acceptable plus thoughts on ‘conservation hunting.’ Tune in for this important episode and check out Yaron’s photos available for purchase online! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “Sport hunting in Africa is something I’m totally against and there’s no justification for that.” [20:00] “People that hide behind conversation hunting, if they want to give money they should just give it directly to conversation without killing.” [22:00] —Yaron Schmid on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher welcomes Donna Lentol to the studio from Angels for Animal Rights (AFAR), an online resource devoted to educating the public about at risk animals. Donna shares that she has spent 14 years advocating for animal rights using social media, fostering animals, encouraging legislation measures, and as a rescue volunteer. She has engaged animal loving professionals in many fields to bring information that is relevant, helpful and encouraging in order to affect change for the betterment of our homeless animals and the people who want to help improve and encourage the humane treatment of animals everywhere. Tune in to hear about all her efforts to help animals through her Vets Pets Program plus thoughts on how we can all make a difference! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “We believe that every pet is a form of emotional therapy, especially for veterans.” [12:18] “We have to make animal welfare cool and harming animals uncool.” [24:30] —Donna Lentol on Animal Instinct

Sit! Stay! Fetch! On today’s Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is in studio with dog trainer and owner of Empire of the Dog, Denise Herman. Discussing the pitfalls of punishment when it comes to training dogs, Denise takes us through her training philosophy that has helped many owners and pets overcome a plethora of problems. Defining operant and classical conditioning and debunking the pack mentality, Denise gives Celia the facts and encourages dog owners everywhere to re-examine the use of choke and prong collars. Tune in for a great episode! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “Operant conditioning is a change in behavior based on cause and effect. Classical conditioning is what comes along for the ride – it’s always happening.” [7:30] “Growling is your dog’s warning… in dog language it’s ‘please don’t make me bite you.'” [12:00] —Denise Herman on Animal Instinct

After three decades of omnivorous eating, all the while dabbling in vegetarianism and veganism, Julia Szabo, finally went vegan for good and she’s on air talking about it with Animal Instinct host Celia Kutcher. As with most things in Julia’s life, her beloved dogs were her motivation to go vegan, she explains. Tune for tips and tricks for a better quality of life and a definitive explanation of ‘rational veganism.’ This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. Featured: Julia sporting blue “lip tar” by Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, a vegan makeup brand in NYC “Gorillas are vegan. What could be more virile than that animal?” [28:00] “Start by making a salad and build from there… even romaine lettuce is toothsome!” [30:00] —Julia Szabo on Animal Instinct

What is cruelty-free clothing? Find out on a brand new episode of Animal Instinct! Returning guest Julia Szabo joins Celia Kutcher for a conversation on animals, fashion and why they shouldn’t be so intertwined. From leather to feathers, tune in for alternatives, ideas and inspirations for a cruelty-free fashion life! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “This is not some hemp rough hippie clothing. These are every bit as sleek and sometimes even sleeker [than leather].” [03:00] “When animals are raised for leather and fur it has a tremendously damaging impact on the environment.” [05:00] “Getting dressed is something we all do. Fashion is an amazing way to convey the message of compassion.” [10:00] “It’s not faux fur, it’s vegan fur. It’s not faux leather, it’s vegan leather.” [14:00] –Julia Szabo on Animal Instinct

How well do you communicate with your pet? Tune in to Animal Instinct as host Celia Kutcher gets animal communicator Adrienne Wisok on the line from Detroit talking how she uses her background as a veterinary technician with degrees in biochemistry, molecular biology, and neuroscience to understand animal intuition (which is also the name of her animal consulting business!). Adrienne highlights how she trains animals on an individual basis and how important it is to pay attention to a pet’s body language. Her new project uses conversation, information, and technology to initiate change in the way people treat their dogs in an urban environment while also increasing the vaccination and licensing rate for canines. This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “I help people really learn how to understand a good relationship relationship with their animal.” [3:25] “Dogs and wolves have very similar genomes. There’s about 0.2 difference between dogs and wolves – that’s about the same between a human and a chimpanzee… dogs are not wolves!” [15:45] —Adrienne Wisok on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is sitting down with Dr. Christine Iacovetta of BluePearl: Emergency Veterinary & Specialty Animal Hospital discussing emergency or critical pet care. Christine kicks off the show explaining the difference between critical pet care versus typical veterinary care and details which instances she tends to see most often at the practice as well as the specialities housed at BluePearl. Conversation also touches upon the controversial issue of the cost of veterinary care and how it compares to the cost of health care for humans plus thoughts on euthanasia of pets. Tune in for an informative show! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “I think it takes a different type of person to want to do emergency/critical care. You have to be able to and enjoy the unknown.” [7:15] —Dr. Christine Iacovetta on Animal Instinct

Flu season isn’t just for humans anymore, as Dr. Doug Aspros joins Celia on a brand new episode Animal Instinct talking about the canine influenza. Dr. Aspros is the American Veterinary Medical Association Immediate Past President and shares that the dog flu is a contagious respiratory disease in canines caused by specific Type A influenza viruses known to infect dogs. Dr. Aspros relays that the signs of this illness in dogs are cough, runny nose, and fever, but not all dogs will show signs of illness. The severity of illness associated with canine flu in dogs can range from no signs to severe illness resulting in pneumonia and sometimes death. Walking through the process of treating a sick dog, Dr. Aspros stresses the importance of consulting a veterinarian instead of administering over the counter drugs meant for humans. Do you have a dog? Tune in for this crucial episode. This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “The place that we know there have been lots of dogs tested and lots of dogs actually positive is in and around Chicago.” [19:00] “This new flu virus has been shown to replicate in cats.” [26:00] —Dr. Doug Aspros on Animal Instinct

You may have heard of the popular “Humans of New York” website, but have you heard of “Felines of New York?” This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher welcomes Jim Tews, comic and creator of the website Felines of New York to the studio. Chatting with Celia about why he thinks cats are so comical he shares how he picks up on each cat’s personality and works it into his write ups, plus, Jim takes each cat photo himself. Cats make for excellent subjects whether they cooperate or not and because of that Jim has seen his spoof blog skyrocket in followers across social media platforms. He also features cats that are up for adoption on Felines of New York and has perhaps helped kitties find forever homes. Tune in for a great episode! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “I think cats lend themselves to comedy more than any other animal!” —Jim Tews on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is talking dog jobs and has Dale Picard of East Coast Assistance Dogs (ECAD) on the line. ECAD was founded by Dale Picard and his wife Lu. Dale shares that when his father in law suffered a stroke, he and his wife taught their family pet to help him rise from a chair and retrieve some items. They noticed that his father in law actually became more active and less depressed than when help came from a human. Celia chats more with Dale about the breeding and training process of the golden and labrador retrievers and how the presence of the K-9s truly helps those in need of medical attention. At ECAD, the training tailors each dog’s skills to the needs of clients, who have a variety of limitations in strength, balance, coordination, or mobility. Tune in for an inspiring episode! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “The dog is a life support for these people.” “We try to critique our training to each client that comes in.” —Dale Picard on Animal Instinct

Welcome to Season 5 of Animal Instinct! Host Celia Kutcher ushers in the new season with special guest Patrick Martins, Heritage Foods USA and Heritage Radio Network founder, and author of “The Carnivore’s Manifesto: Eating Well, Eating Responsibly, and Eating Meat.” In his book, Patrick explains how to eat well, responsibly, and eat meat. A collection of edifying essays, further reenforcing our need to play an active role in the sustainable food movement, Patrick aims to assure a better (and more delicious) world in the future. Celia and Patrick engage in a thought-provoking conversation ranging from animal rights to Big Macs to commodity meats. After the break, Patrick shares a highlight from the book via the perspectives of a pig and goat! This program was brought to you by The International Culinary Center. “Factory farmers are not true farmers. They need medicine for their animals… Their animals can’t survive in nature for 2 or 3 days.” [9:55] “We fight for the endangered breeds of livestock knowing that the best way to save them is to keep them an active part of the marketplace – you gotta eat ’em to save ’em.” [14:45] “This isn’t about meat. this is about pigs, cows, ducks, geese, chickens… this is about a majority of the world’s animals.” [26:50] —Patrick Martins on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is finding out everything you wanted to know about alpacas but were afraid to ask! Welcoming guest Linda Lachanski of Alpaca911, an alpaca rescue and rehoming organization which began as a necessity when the alpaca breeding market started to decline. Linda shares great information regarding alpaca fiber and its marketability and also relays that unfortunately, for the most part, alpacas do not make great pets unless you have done your research! Territorial and aloof, it’s not uncommon for an unhappy alpaca to spit in retaliation or to get into a ‘neck wrestling’ match with one another. After the break, Linda shares more details about how she became involved in alpaca rescue and some highlights of her work. Tune in to learn all about this intriguing camelid! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “The alpacas are a prey animal. They do not have any way to defend against coyotes or anything like that… They are very good PR animals. There are some alpacas that can sense anybody with special needs.” “It’s best to learn about them before getting them rather than learning after!” —Linda Lachanski on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is talking guinea pigs! Guest Laura Budean is a lover of all animals but explains that guinea pigs have always held a special place in her heart. An advocate for proper guinea pig care, she started volunteering and fostering guinea pigs for Helping All Little Things Guinea Pig Rescue and Have-a-Heart Guinea Pig Rescue in New Jersey, and fostered a vast knowledge of the piggies. Having owned guinea pigs for almost 20 years and dedicating time and resources to bettering the lives of piggies in her care, she shares with Celia important tips and tricks of having the happiest and healthiest guinea pig. What happens when a guinea pig “popcorns”? What should be in a guinea pig’s cage? How smart is the average guinea pig? Tune in for great answers and a ton more! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “I honestly prefer them spayed and neutered because it tends to save a lot on health issues later on.” [11:30] “The hours that they don’t sleep they tend to chew on hay and you can imagine what that produces – a lot of fiber!” [19:05] —Laura Budean on Animal Instinct

What do you call a happy rabbit? A hop-timist! On today’s Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher takes listeners through the ‘need to knows’ about rabbits before the Easter holiday hits! Welcoming guest Dayna DeCarlo to the show, she has been a rabbit owner for 22 years and has her own pet walking business that takes care of dogs, cats, and even bunnies. Starting off the interview with bunny basics, the conversation delves into details such as locating an appropriate exotic veterinarian, the importance of spaying and neutering, plus realizing that because rabbits are prey animals it can be difficult to detect illness. After the break, Dayna explains the concept of ‘bunny speed dating’ and the amazing life span of these furry friends. Tune in to find out more! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “They’re cute and the kids get attracted to them and they want one, but you really have to educate yourself.” [5:00] “They’re prey so they hide their sickness – they’ll sit the in corner, they won’t move, they won’t eat, they don’t know how to react to pain.” [8:35] “Bunnies are as smart as cats – one of my bunnies I clicker trained.” [25:35] —Dayna DeCarlo on Animal Instinct

Raising a dog in the big apple is no easy feat! This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is sitting down with Robert Haussmann, founder of Dogboy Inc. based in New York City. As a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and Canine Behavior Counselor, he chats with Celia about the best ways to raise dogs in urban areas and to help create harmony between humans and their four-legged friends. Working together with a network of veterinarians, groomers, sitters, day care centers, and pet stores, Robert and his team pride themselves in offering great advice for all your big city K-9 needs. After the break, Celia and Robert talk about the differences in training big breeds versus smaller breeds and how temperament ultimately rules. Tune in for some great stories, tips, and tricks to acclimate your pooch to the fast paced city life! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “Between 2 and 16 weeks the dog is going through a developmental stage called a critical phase where basically everything the dog is experiencing during that time with positive results is going to stay positive… during the critical phase is when you want to get them used to people, dogs, and situations like going to vet, groomer, having their paws examined, etc.” [6:45] “Dogs are really the only species that have evolved in a cooperative way with us.” [27:50] “It is our duty to teach this animal how to live here.” [30:50] —Robert Haussmann on Animal Instinct

What happens when pets die? Find out this week on Animal Instinct! Celia Kutcher is joined by Alicia Halloran. Alicia is an animal communicator who’s specialty is contacting pets after they’ve passed on. This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA.

Did you know that dogs in warfare have a long history dating to ancient times? This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is digging into this topic with guest Nancy Schiesari, a professor at The University of Texas at Austin as well as the producer/director of the documentary “Canine Soldiers.” Initially giving Celia the rundown of what a canine soldier is and what their duties include, Nancy shares a typical timeline of a chosen pup, and also states it’s possible for these dogs to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) over a lifetime of work. Celia also gets the details behind “Canine Soldiers,” which is a first-hand and timely wartime narrative that focuses on military working dogs and their handlers’ quests to locate improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The film explores the intimate bond between the dogs and their handlers—combat soldiers who make life-and-death decisions based on the instincts and behavior of the dogs who lead their patrols, giving soldiers comfort, hope and protection. Tune in to hear much more about these remarkable animals and this great documentary! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “The dog is awarded with a Kong once he finds an IED… there as to be a balance between play and work.” “We’ve got some really great dog stories and the dog handlers are amazing people.” —Nancy Schiesari on Animal Instinct

No dogs or cats allowed! This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is on air with Lorelei Tibbetts, LVT, VTS, of The Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine. The Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine is the only exclusive avian and exotic veterinary hospital in New York City. Special pets deserve compassionate veterinarians who have dedicated their careers solely to exotic pet care. Lorelei jumps right in and discusses ways to ensure your exotic pet has a healthy winter, from reptiles to rodents, and comments on many other hazards to be aware of if you are an exotic pet owner or prospective owner. Unfortunately, The Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine recently sustained a terrible flood on February 16th, 2015 the Center endured a horrendous tragedy. A hot water pipe burst in the building, and while all animals are now safe, there were some animals that did not survive. Words cannot begin to express the devastation felt, so the Center is has started a fundraising page to help efforts and have since been very touched by the outpouring of support. This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “We pull a lot of weird things out of lizards’ stomachs from coins, buttons, rocks, children’s toys… they’re just curious!” [5:45] “Birds cannot eat avocado – it’s toxic to them. Same way dogs can’t eat chocolate, avocado is dangerous for birds.” [9:30] “One of things that’s been absolutely heartwarming and wonderful is people being so amazingly supportive; the phone calls, emails, Facebook posts, it’s been so uplifting when it could have gone either way.” [25:35] —Lorelei Tibbetts on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is joining the PupScouts! Welcoming guests Jennifer Jo-Moyer and Kelleigh Noftell, they share that PupScouts was started by Susan Godwin and Lela Hadick as an on-line social group and an excuse to wear the adorable Brownie and Cub Scout uniforms they found on line. PupScouts has since developed into a charitable fund raising organization who’s members are all over the US, Canada and even the UK. The ladies explain that the group meets in person and has forums on DPFamily. Complete with badges, doing good deeds, and with PupScout cookies in the works, Celia gets the scoop on this great organization! Tune in to hear details on joining a troop, their upcoming Oscar event, doggy fashion shows, and details on the many charities they support. This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “Anyone can join the PupScouts – we had a cat sign up the other day!” [8:50] “Our pledge is ‘On our honor I will try to do my duty to help the dog community.'” [18:05] —Jennifer Jo-Moyer on Animal Instinct

Do you like coffee? Sweets? Cats? If so, tune in to this week’s episode of Animal Instinct with host Celia Kutcher who is chatting with Emilie Legrand, the ‘catrepreneur’ and co-founder of New York City’s first cat cafe, Meow Parlour. Celia gets the scoop on the city’s hottest new cafe, asking how they were able to bring this idea to life considering hurdles from the Department of Health, how exactly the cat interaction works, and a description of their adoption process if patrons want to take a cat home. Emilie explains that from one cat to another how they tend to adapt to the unique space and socialize with customers. After the break, Emilie shares that Meow Parlour does allow children on a special schedule and that the cats get every Wednesday off, as the cafe is closed. Check out the rest of the episode to hear all about Meow Parlour! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “Very early in the process we contacted the Department of Health, so we have two different store fronts, one with that cats and one with the bakery… We are not preparing or serving food in the [cat] space.” [4:20] “Sometimes we have people who say ‘I think I’m allergic to cats. I want to come check if I’m really allergic.’ Good thing we have a really good pharmacy around the corner!” [23:55] —Emilie Legrand on Animal Instinct

We’ve all heard of landmine sniffing dogs, but how about landmine sniffing rats? This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher gets an update from APOPO ( check out APOPO on Episode 13), the organization that trains rats to sniff out landmines as well as tuberculosis. Chatting with US Director, Charlie Richter, about what’s new and where the organization is headed, he shares the numbers of current working ‘hero rats’ and those that are in training to help those in need. He also reminds listeners how exactly the rats detect landmines and TB, all of which upon successful detection is rewarded with a treat. Charlie takes Celia through the life of a hero rat and shares the time he was ‘kissed’ by a rat! After the break, Charlie explains how dire the landmine situation is in the countries APOPO operates in and reinforces their life-saving work in these underdeveloped nations. This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “The average rat passes through the process in 9 months and ultimately they live on average 7 years.” [8:05] “They are pets doing great tasks at the end of the day.” [9:10] “98% of our employees are from the countries they work in. It’s a very important part of our core value.” [12:55] —Charlie Richter on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is chatting the truth about potbellied pigs with the Marcia Christensen, President of the California Potbellied Pig Association. The California Potbellied Pig Association was founded in 1989, making it one of the oldest potbellied pig clubs in the country. It began with a few new pig owners in the San Francisco Bay Area getting together to discuss this wonderful new pet. From just a handful of people, this club has now grown to be hundreds strong from all over California, the United States and Europe. A non-profit organization dedicated to educating people about potbellied pigs as well as a referral rescue for pigs in need of new homes, Marcie explains that through the organization she has seen the full run of bad and unexpected pig experiences brought on by either irresponsible breeders or uneducated owners. Celia and Marcie go through the basics of responsible pig ownership and agree that in order to own a pig one has to have a great sense of humor! Tune in for a wonderful show! This program was brought to you by The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. “You always have to think what can [pigs] they get into and what can they destroy, and stay ahead of the game.” [18:55] “Two pigs are much better than one… they do like companionship!” [21:40] —Marcie Christensen on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher welcomes the ladies from the HIppy HIve HoneyBee Co-Op to the studio. The co-op has created a community to become aware of the radical interdependence with honey bees and the imminent dangers to their existence and ultimately ours; to become familiar with time honored, hands on techniques of organic bee caring and mindful honey harvesting, and to share this knowledge and experience. Celia gets the scoop not only on how the co-op started, but also the basics on caring for and tending to bees in a responsible manner. After the break, the ladies share how they treat their hives differently than the average beekeepers, including fun details like naming each of their queen bees and smoking the bees with sage. Tune in to hear all about beekeeping from the ladies who know the trade best! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “If you have a queen who can really rev up her hive and get them working and lay a lot of eggs… it produces a lot.” [15:30] —Susanmerrie Hellerer on Animal Instinct “Hives can get up to nearly 100,000 bees in the height of summer.” [21:30] —Sarah Shepherd on Animal Instinct

This week host Celia Kutcher is kicking off 2015 with a brand new episode of Animal Instinct celebrating National Bird Day with Dr. John Marzluff of the University of Washington. Talkin’ all about crows, John answers many questions regarding the well-known bird such as the typical lifespan and social structure of the species. John goes on to relay that crows are exceptionally intelligent and possess social structures that aid in how they learn and communicate with one another. After the break, Celia and John discuss ways in which crows have influenced humans, including language, culture, and even burial techniques. Tune in to hear about the guest’s research and findings he has contributed to the ornithological field and why experts say that crows never forget! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “All the different members of the crow group have slightly different social structures but they do mate for life.” [4:10] “Social animals like a lot of crows, they learn both by direct experience and by social learning or observation.” [7:40] —Dr. John Marzluff on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is giving tips on traveling with pets along with guest Dr. Patrick Mahaney, holistic veterinarian. Dr. Mahaney is a veterinary consultant for The Honest Kitchen pet food, contributes to PetMD among many other professional advocacy groups, and is a highly sought after VMD. He starts off telling Celia that taking animals on vacation should be considered on a pet by pet basis and sometimes might be best to be left out of the vacation fun. He goes on to give a rundown on international travel with pets and if vaccinations should be kept in mind, plus airline regulations for flying with pets. After the break, Dr. Mahaney gives tips on how to calm an anxious pet once the plane has been boarded and doors shut. Tune in for an informative episode! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “I always suggest to my clients to practice with those medications [tranquilizers] at a time when you’re going to be around for the next 5 to 8 hours to see what the response is.” [23:00] “When you have a pet that’s eating a whole food based diet, it’s easier to transitions their food from one thing to another, versus pets that just eat processed food like kibble.” [25:25] —Dr. Patrick Mahaney on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is talking the history of canines! Welcoming Mary Thurston, author of “The Lost History of the Canine Race,” she has explored fifteen thousand years of canine-human interactions reflected in art, photos, documents and artifacts created by generations of dog lovers. Telling Celia how she became inspired to write the book and what sparked her interest in the history of dogs, she shares that she still hears from avid readers even twenty years after its initial publication. Mary goes on to give listeners information about the first dogs and how for many generations archaeologists did not consider animal relics important enough to keep record of, until the subject of zooarchaeology came about. After the break, Celia asks Mary about the domestication of the first dogs and the evolution of the wild dog to the dog as we know it today. Tune in for a great show! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “Dogs themselves are not a naturally occurring species. Dogs are, in a sense, a living artifact created by humans.” [10:40] “Domestication, basically, is a form of arrested development in animals.” [22:30] —Mary Thurston on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is talking to Scott Tarter of Twin Lakes Farm all about what it’s like to own an equestrian facility and what riding does for the horses and people. Scott Tarter is Twin Lakes Farms’ stable and general manager where he is in charge of daily horse care and operations. He has been a professional horseman for twenty years in the Westchester County area and holds an A.A.S. from Cazenovia College in Stable & Farm Management as well as a B.S. from The University of Connecticut in Animal Science. In addition to his responsibilities as general manager, Scott also travels with the USEF and IHSA teams and drives the horsevan and trailer. Talking to Celia about how he found himself drawn to the horse world and the history of Twin Lakes Farm, Scott divulges all that the facility has to offer and answers some questions along the way! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “About a third of our riding academy and a third of our borders come from New York City.” [12:00] “It becomes a life long sport and it’s athletic and mentally, physically challenging.” [36:20] —Scott Tarter on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is talking nutrition for pets and welcomes her mentor, Phil Klein, to the show. Phil and his wife began Whiskers Holistic in 1988, there were few if any, alternatives to traditional invasive, harsh, chemically-based animal care. Among the early pioneers of the alternative, holistic pet care movement, they are proud to have had some small responsibility for the growing number of people who understand the benefits of a more natural approach to animal healthcare. Phil is delighted that so many of customers have come to see that herbal remedies work, homeopathy is not just for “health nuts,” and that like humans, animals deserve the highest quality, most humane level of care. Tune in to hear Phil’s thoughts on being a pet parent and to learn about changing a pet’s diet for the better! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “Fiber is a major portion of what they need to eat.” “Holistic means everything touches everything else.” —Phil Klein on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is delving into the interesting topic of music for animals. Lisa Spector is a concert pianist, Juilliard graduate, and canine music expert. By combining her passion for music with her love of dogs, she co-created Through a Dog’s Ear, the first music clinically demonstrated to relieve anxiety issues in dogs. Lisa heads the Through a Dog’s Ear “Music in Shelters” program, a project inspired by her volunteer work in shelters. Her piano playing is currently played in over 1,500 shelters worldwide, where it is helping increase adoption rates. In addition to calming the dogs, it helps create a quieter atmosphere, encouraging visitors to stay longer and adoption rates to increase. The donated music is also sent home with adopters and their new forever dogs. Explaining to Celia how she came to research and compose music that has been proven to calm dogs, she sheds a great deal of light on how much more in tune dogs are to sounds and humans’ reactions to sounds. Tune in to learn all about different types of listening! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “I’ve always noticed that they [dogs] gravitate toward the piano… and particularly, I noticed the calming effect.” [3:00] “In the shelter environment it’s classical music that helps calms dogs.” [5:30] “Any anxiety issue has to do with stress.” [11:55] —Lisa Spector on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is speaking with Farah Ravon of the Vafa Animal Shelter, location in Iran. Founded in 2004, the Vafa Animal Shelter is the first animal shelter in Iran and is dedicated to providing help and shelter to injured and homeless animals in Iran. At present, the shelter is run by a group of devoted volunteers and caring veterinarians who donate much of their services and is home to over 450 dogs. Explaining the conditions that make owning a dog in Iran difficult, including the illegality to walk a dog in the country, Farah takes Celia through the typical adoption process. After the break, Celia delves into what the treatment of pets is like as well as what the most popular Iranian pets are. Farah also shares how she became involved with Vafa Animal Shelter and how listeners can get involved and help the shelter’s cause. Listen in for a truly inspiring show. This program was brought to you by Roberta’s Pizza. “The majority of citizens in Iran are not animal friendly, but that is changing.” [23:05] “I think every single dog that I manage to re-home makes all the hard work worthwhile.” [28:30] —Farah Ravon on Animal Instincts

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher welcomes Denise Herman of Empire of the Dog to talk about safety tips for dogs on Halloween. Most holidays tend to pack some threat to pets, however the little candies that come along with Halloween tend to be toxic to Fido. Starting off a discussion on costumes, both Celia and Denise recently judged pet costume contests and saw a variety of outfits, some of which were “designed but not engineered,” according to Denise. She goes on to explain signs of stress to look out for when the dog is in costume or in a parade setting. After the break, Denise points out that most sweets and decorations are without a doubt toxic to dogs and cats and how to handle a pet home on Halloween, especially with trick or treaters. Tune in to prep for a safe holiday! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “You need to test drive these costumes.” [4:45] “The dog will eat the candy but the cat will eat the wrapper.” [18:20] —Denise Herman on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher welcomes Maggie Howell, Executive Director of the Wolf Conversation Center (WCC) located in South Salem, NY. The Wolf Conversation Center’s mission is to promote wolf conservation by teaching about wolves, their relationship to the environment, and the human role in protecting their future. The main voice of the WCC, Maggie’s interest and experience with wildlife runs deep. Growing up in New York City, Maggie visited her local veterinarian more often than her pediatrician, routinely bringing in injured city “wildlife” she had rescued. She continued her studies more formally at Vassar, earning a degree in biology, focusing on animal behavior. Chatting plenty of wolf basics with Celia, Maggie also explains the genetic similarities between wolves and common dogs as well as the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park. Tune in to learn all about this remarkable animal and the great things happening at the Wolf Conversation Center. This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “Wolves are a keystone species.” [7:48] “You certainly can have an alpha female.” [11:07] “Wolves are not really designed to care about people.” [24:25] —Maggie Howell on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is taking on the topic of animal medicine and spirit animals with guest Dr. Steven Farmer. Dr. Farmer is not only a shaman, but is also a licensed psycho-therapist, working with animal medicine while being an active writer and teacher. At the top of the show, Dr. Farmer explains what shamanism is and goes on to share his personal path to becoming a shaman. After initially attending a workshop, Dr. Farmer felt that becoming a shaman was his life’s calling. He goes on to share with Celia the concept of a spirit animal and how the natural world communicates with us if we choose to hear the message. After the break, Celia and Dr. Farmer discuss the differences between an animal spirit guide and a power animal and what to look for when deciphering possible messages from either. Tune in for a truly interesting show! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “When an animal shows up to you in an unusual way or repeatedly, there’s something pretty special going on.” [11:10] “We’re born with specific power animals.” [20:20] —Dr. Steven Farmer on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is going nuts for squirrels! Welcoming the one of the country’s experts on the small mammal, Dr. John L. Koprowski, to the show, he explains the evolutionary background of the squirrel and that the squirrel can be found on every continent, minus Antarctica. Dr. Koprowski also explains the various colors of squirrels throughout the country, such as a black or orange squirrel, and the ill-attempts of taming a wild squirrel. After the break, Dr. Koprowski shares the details behind the lifespan, mating habits, and social behaviors of the different types of squirrels. Tune in to learn all about these interesting creatures and what to do if you find a lost baby squirrel. This program was brought to you by Edwards VA Ham. “Squirrels were one of those species that at an early age something I could look out the window [and see]… whenever I would think about biology and what I might want to do in the future with my life, I would always come back to find squirrels in that somehow.” [2:36] “They’ve actually been around for a really long time. They first start to show up in the fossil record about 35 to 40 million years ago.” [4:19] —Dr. John L. Koprowski on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, guest host Denise Herman takes over for Celia and welcomes Juliet Sternberg to talk about a topic that has no doubt touched us all: losing a pet. Juliette is a Licensed Master Social Worker and is also the founder and practice director at Hope Veterinary Clinic. Juliet shares how she came to find that palliative care for terminally diagnosed pets was a real need for many people. Many times when a pet is terminally ill, it is assumed that the pet should be put to sleep immediately. Today, it is common for many to consider pets as real members of the family. With this in mind, Juliet has found that many owners need more time to cope with the loss of the pet and to say goodbye. Denise talks with Juliet about the advancements of pet medicine and pain management, and that these issues now are vastly different than they were even a decade ago. Tune in for an important episode that can help you learn to manage the grief that comes along with the loss of a pet. This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “We realized what a need there was for veterinarians to get together with social workers to help both the human and the pet at the same time.” [4:25] “Essentially veterinary medicine is pediatric medicine because you’re treating the ‘child’ of the family.” [8:20] —Juliet Sternberg on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher talks all about racing pigeons! Welcoming Deone Roberts, Sport Development Manager with the American Racing Pigeon Union, to the show, she gives Celia the story behind racing pigeons and how they are still relevant to this day. Located in Oklahoma City, she aids the members of the not-for-profit organization share the sport and hobby of racing homing pigeons and has done so for nearly 14 years. Chatting about the pigeons’ lifestyles and how the sport works, Deone explains the ins and outs of getting involved in area race clubs. Along with being an interesting hobby, she goes on to share that the sport actually fosters a community of bird lovers. The American Racing Pigeon Union endorses a mentorship program for experienced members to help beginners ease into the activity. Exceptionally knowledgable about this bird and excited about the sport, tune in to hear this great conversation between Deone and Celia. This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “The theory is that they detect magnetic pulls of the Earth’s surface, they detect sounds from as far as a state away, and they use the sun like a compass. They are amazing animals!” [8:02] “It’s a unique person that enters the racing sport – they truly enjoy the birds.” [32:04] —Deone Roberts on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, we’re talkin’ lions and tigers! Host Celia Kutcher welcomes Susan Bass, the Director of Public Relations for Big Cat Rescue, to the show. Located on 67 acres just north of Tampa, Florida, Big Cat Rescue is one of the world’s largest sanctuaries for exotic cats and is a leading advocate in ending abuse of captive big cats and saving wild cats from extinction. Susan shares that, currently, Big Cat Rescue is home to about 100 lions, tigers, bobcats, cougars, servals, and other species, most of whom have been abandoned, abused, orphaned, or retired from performing acts. Tune in as Celia gets a behind the scenes account of this organization and its noble mission. This program has been brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “All of our cats are wild, whether they’ve been pets or not, you can never tame a wild cat truly… and we treat them with the respect and dignity that wild cats deserve.” [2:20] “Every cat has a different story.” [9:09] —Susan Bass on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher kicks off the new radio season welcoming guest Dave Marcks, President of Geese Police, a Canada goose control company that, for the past 25 years, utilizes highly trained working Border Collies to herd the geese off a client’s property. Talking to Celia about his business’ beginnings and on his dog breed of choice, he goes into detail about why geese become such nuisances and about the dog training process. What makes his removal business different from other methods to eradicate geese is that he brings no harm to the geese. With his specialized training method, his dogs boast the brains to be patient and over several times a day per week, harass the geese using “fowl play” which forces the geese to loiter elsewhere. Once the geese see the property as an unsafe haven, the geese will simply start to gather in a new location where they do not sense danger. Tune in for an incredibly informative episode! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “My opinion… border collies make lousy pets. The problem is, they’re highly intelligent, working breed dogs, and if you give them nothing to do, they will find something.” [8:58] ” I originally bought my first dog to take care of the goose problem on my golf course. It was fantastic, that dog listened to everything I said. The geese were gone – I’m a hero!” [10:15] — Dave Marcks on Animal Instinct

On today’s episode of Animal Instinct Celia speaks with animal communicator, Karen Krueger. Karen has been practicing Reiki for people and pets since 1997. Since then Karen has become certified in many types of healing modalities and is a certified Equine Body Worker through Equinology and the Upledger Institute. Today, Karen introduces the world of animal communication and describes her personal experiences with animals. She mainly deals with physically and/or emotionally injured animals and tries to help them deal with their pain. Karen shares that the best thing about her practice is that anyone can learn how to do it. Tune in as we embrace the idea of communicating with our fellow animals. This program has been brought to you by Brooklyn Cares Vet. “…typically the owners contact me because they need answers, they’d like to get some insight with what’s happening with their animals. A lot of times they’re injured or something’s happened and the owner wants to know what’s happened. Sometimes it’s an emotional problem, sometimes they don’t understand why their pet is acting a certain way”. [02:00] “The most common question I get from owners is wanting to know whether their animals love them or not”. [17:00] “…most animals are in the now.” [19:00] “You can kind of tell the practical jokers. Dogs have a sense of humor, I’ve seen horses have a sense of humor. It comes through sometimes when I’m communicating with them”. [23:00] –Karen Krueger on Animal Instinct

There any many different forms of animal healing and this week on Animal Instinct, Celia Kutcher explores the world of crystal healing with Allison Robbins. Allison is a crystal healer who works with animals and people. Her love of horses began in her early teens as a competitor in the show world. She recently returned to the States after living in England for 16 years where she had a practice in Vibrational medicine, trained polo ponies, and played polo. Her work healing and training horses has also brought her to Switzerland, Argentina, and Brazil. This program was brought to you by Brooklyn Cares Vet. “You want to use crystals in harmony with each other and when you work with your client you asses their energy field and figure out which crystals would be helpful for their condition.” [03:00] “Healing can reach somebody over a distance just as if they were in a room.” [09:00] –Allison Robbins on Animal Instinct

You think you know bats – but you have no idea. Tune in to an absolutely fascinating episode of Animal Instinct as Celia Kutcher is joined by bat expert Amanda Lollar, Founder and President of Bat World Sanctuary. Amanda is an author of both scientific and popular literature about bats, including her most recent work, Standards and Medical Management for Captive Insectivorous Bats. Amanda is a licensed bat care specialist in the State of Texas, permitted to work with threatened and endangered species. Why do bats sleep upside down? What’s the deal with vampire bats? Find out on a batty episode of Animal Instinct. This program was brought to you by Brooklyn Cares Vet. “Bats are nothing at all like what you’d think – they have an intelligence level of a dolphin. They have 25 different vocalizations they use to communicate. They actually use syntax – the only other mammal that does that are humans.” [06:00] “If you work with bats at any time you realize truly how un-special you are.” [10:00] “In reality, bats actually have anti viral properties – most bats are disease resistant.” [15:00] –Amanda Lollar on Animal Instinct

Ever consider goats as backyard pets? You will after today’s episode of Animal Instinct, as host Celia Kutcher chats with Dr. Tatiana Stanton, a member of the Cornell University Sheep and Goat Extension Program. In her spare time, Tatiana maintains a small, pasture-based herd of 40 meat goat does. She has worked as a goat/hair sheep consultant for various nonprofit organizations in the Caribbean and Central America training both new and experienced farmers in sheep and goat management. Within the United States, Tatiana has also worked as a herdsperson for commercial goat dairies and the International Dairy Goat Research Center at Prairie View, Texas. She gives an A-Z breakdown of what it means to keep a goat as a pet – from breeding to behavior. Today’s program was brought to you by Brooklyn Cares Vet. “Unlike us, goats get most of their carbohydrate energy from fibers. It’s the most important feed for them.” [10:00] “If you choose a really rare breed of goat and you want to keep that breed pure you might have a lot of difficulty finding a male goat that’s unrelated.” [21:00] –Tatiana Stanton on Animal Instinct

Bees are incredible creatures. They’re the topic this week on Animal Instinct as host Celia Kutcher is joined by bee enthusiast David Graves. David explains how bees make honey, what it means to be a “beekeeper”, and why bees are so special to him. From artificial insemination of Queen bees to rooftop beekeeping – get the inside scoop on these precious pollinators on an un-bee-lieveable episode of Animal Instinct. This program was sponsored by Brooklyn Cares Vet. “It’s possible that the electomagnetic field frequencies are messing with the honeybees orientation and they’re becoming disoriented” [20:00] –David Graces on Animal Instinct

So you wanna raise chickens in your backyard? This week’s episode of Animal Instinct is for you. Tune in as host Celia Kutcher chats with chicken keeper and editor of Sweets & Bitters, Hannah Kirshner about her experiences with chickens. From breeds to behavior, find out everything you need to know about keeping chickens in an urban environment. They make excellent pets and you may be surprised to find out how you can even train chickens! This program was brought to you by Brooklyn Cares Vet. “With food motivated training and a clicker as a marker – you can train chickens pretty well.” [08:00] “Chickens are omnivores and can eat anything but mostly you want to feed them vegetables and grains.” [18:00] “The most important thing is to figure out what breeds make sense in your climate.” [30:00] “Purebred chickens like purebred dogs can sometimes have health problems if they’ve been selected for some decorative feature.” [32:00] –Hannah Kirshner on Animal Instinct

What is it like at an emergency veterinary office? Amy Lubinski, Manager at Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners, joins Celia Kutcher on this week’s episode of Animal Instinct to discuss the ins and outs of emergency care for animals and pets. Find out what a day in the life of Amy is like and get some insight into animal treatment and what makes it such a difficult task. This program was brought to you by Brooklyn Cares Vet. “Many of the drugs, machines and fluids [at animal hospitals] are the same as you’d see at the [regular] emergency room…Pet insurance frees up our doctors to give the gold standard in care without worrying about cost to the owner.” [34:00] “Preparation is the key to most emergencies. There’s a small margin of error between safety and otherwise in New York.” [37:00] –Amy Lubinski on Animal Instinct

What’s a Thoroughbred? What’s a day like in the life of a racehorse? What’s the gambling culture like around horse racing? Learn everything you’d want to know about racehorses on a special episode of Animal Instinct. Host Celia Kutcher chats with Barry Meyers, an equine consultant with expertise in international transport, sales and purchase of performance horses. His career in the thoroughbred industry has meant that he is never far from horses. His private life includes a passion for playing polo internationally, hunting, and breeding horses. This program was brought to you by Brooklyn Cares Veterinary Clinic. “It takes a very good eye to pick out a successful baby horse and know it will be a good race horse. they go through so many changes as they mature it takes a bit of luck and talent.” [04:00] –Barry Meyers on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, Celia Kutcher chats with Edward Martin III of the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery- also known as The Peaceable Kingdom. The Peaceable Kingdom is a pet cemetery located in Westchester County, New York. Hear how burial laws caused Hartsdale to become a pet-specific cemetery. Find out how Edward and his family got involved with the business, and why he considers it to be such satisfying work. How did a lion cub come to be buried at Hartsdale Pet Cemetery? Why types of burial ceremonies are performed at the cemetery? Why are some human remains buried at Hartsdale Pet Cemetery? Find out all of this and more on this week’s edition of Animal Instinct! Thanks to our sponsor, Brooklyn Cares Veterinary Clinic. Music by Dead Stars. “The grief you feel with the loss of a pet is very profound. In this day and age, many people consider their pets part of their families. It wasn’t until very recently that people took on this mindset.” [9:40] — Edward Martin III on Animal Instinct

Did you know stem cells can be used as therapy for pets? Did you know you could get stem cells from belly fat? Learn all about the fascinating world of stem cells as it relates to healing as Celia Kutcher is joined by guest Julia Szabo, author of Medicine Dog on this week’s episode of Animal Instinct. Julia Szabo is a nationally recognized Pet Reporter and animal health advocate, produced the popular “Pets” column in the New York Post for eleven years, and was health editor of Dogster.com. The author of six previous books, she pens the blog “Dog is My Doctor,” and her writings on dogs have also appeared in The New York Times, Reader’s Digest, The New Yorker, Travel + Leisure, Cesar’s Way, The Bark, and Fido Friendly. She lives in New York City with her family of rescued dogs and cats. This program was brought to you by Brooklyn Cares Veterinary Clinic.

When’s the last time you bought you treated your dog to a new bikini? Tune in to a very fun and interesting episode of Animal Instinct, as host Celia Kutcher chats with pet fashion designers, Ada Nieves and Jennifer Jo-Moyer. It may surprise you to learn that pet fashion is a real industry, and these two ladies know their stuff! Ada is like the Martha Stewart of pet fashion and has been featured in TV programs like “CBS The David Letterman Show”, “Anderson Cooper Show”,” “NBC 30 Rock” and “The MTV VMA Animal Reenactments”. Tune in to learn everything you didn’t know about pet fashion – including why it actually makes pets happy! This program was sponsored by Brooklyn Cares Veterinary Clinic. “This is a big market – so many people are interested in dressing up their pets. They want to incorporate their personality in their animals and make them members of their family. You wouldn’t want your family members to be naked!” [04:00] –Ada Nieves on Animal Instinct “Things you could never wear – you can put on your dog. I can’t walk around in tutu all the time as much as I want to but Fifi can wear a tutu any day of the week.” [05:00] –Jennifer Moyer on Animal Instinct

Unwanted pest wildlife can take refuge inside inviting homes. Nuisance pests and wildlife can cause damage, contaminate food, and increasing your risk of disease from exposure. Jim Horton of QualityPro Pest & Wildlife Services provides professional pest control and wildlife removal in Westchester NY, Greenwich, CT and surrounding Putnam Counties. Tune in to this week’s episode of Animal Instinct as Jim Horton describes why and when wildlife need to be removed from homes. Find out what it’s like on the job and learn more about some of the potential dangers that wildlife can bring into to a home setting. This program was sponsored by BK Cares Vet. “The way they’re building houses these days they’re leaving a lot of construction traps that’s allowing animals to sneak in.” [13:00] –Jim Horton on Animal Instinct

Amelia Deslongchamps was born to rescue cats! Amelia can’t remember a time when animals weren’t a part of her life. After spending time wearing suits in the corporate world she decided to pursue her passion for a career with animals. Tune in to a special episode of Animal Instinct as Celia Kutcher chats with Amelia about all things involved in cat rescue. Find out how to handle feral cats, what to do with strays, and why street cats are unsung heros. If you’ve ever wanted to welcome a cat without a home into yours – this episode is a must listen! Animal Instinct is brought to you by Brooklyn Cares Veterinary Hospital and Dental Clinic. “A feral cat is a cat that’s not socializable. Basically it reverts to its wild state where it doesn’t want contact with people.” [03:00] “Feral cats can be very helpful. You can guarantee you won’t have a lot of rats around.” [17:00] “There’s an old saying about feral cats – feeding equals breeding. If you’re going to feed regularly – get those cats fixed” [19:00] –Amelia Deslongchamps on Animal Instinct

This episode of Animal Instinct is for the birds! David Kidd, wildlife bird and rescue expert, is this week’s guest and he gives listeners a wealth of information about pet birds and what it takes to rescue birds in the wild. He’s got scars and stories for days – tune in and hear some fun facts about birds, rescue war stories and heart warming pet tales. Find out why birds are smarter than you might think – and why they make such interesting pets. David lives with 6 dogs and 2 birds, all rescues, in Sarasota, Florida. This program was sponsored by Brooklyn Cares Veterinary Clinic. “Birds are very smart creatures. That’s what makes them such good pets – they can bond with you pretty well. The only problem is you have to put a lot of time in with them.” [03:00] “The key when rescuing these animals is not to over-stress them. One of the best things to do is put a towel over the birds head.” [08:00] “There is no bonding with a wild animal – if they’re wild they won’t be all cuddly.. they want to tear you apart.” [11:00] –David Kidd on Animal Instinct

Animal Instinct is back for another season! Tune in to hear all about animal rescue in the suburbs with special guest Tina! Tina has been rescuing and rehabilitating animals since she was a child. Tina is a pet care provider who is trained in CPR and disaster relief, she has worked in animal hospitals since 1987, but her heart is in volunteering to save all animals. She’s an appointed member of the District Attorney of Westchester County’s Prevention of Animal Abuse Task Force and works with many different shelters and rescue organizations all over the U.S. by setting up or running transports for relocation to a safer environment, fostering and helping in the adoption process and evaluating an animal’s medical or behavioral condition and getting their needs met. Tina has helped countless animals by giving them better opportunities and lives, she is truly a friend to animals. This program was sponsored by Rolling Press. “There may be an i in Tina, but there is no i in team.” [28:00] –Tinaon Animal Instinct

Dogs are much different than humans. Seems simple enough – but most dog owners get this simple fact twisted when trying to train their companion pet. Dog Trainer Denise Herman is this week’s guest on Animal Instinct with Celia Kutcher. They discuss the art and science of training dogs. Why do dogs bark? What makes them urinate on things? How can we, if at all, change our dogs behavior patterns? Tune in and find out! This program was sponsored by Heritage Foods USA. “Pet dogs really aren’t allowed to be dogs. We don’t want them to bark – but that’s what dogs do. We don’t want them to bite and chew on things – but that’s what dogs do!” [03:00] “Dogs don’t really have a concept of respect. They are much more simple.” [08:00] –Denise Herman on Animal Instinct

Continuing with her recent theme of what humans and animals do for each other, Celia interviews dog groomer Justine Keefe on this week’s episode of Animal Instinct. Justine explains the many benefits of taking your dog to a groomer and tells us about how she approaches each pet differently from their first visit. This program has been sponsored by Heritage Foods USA. Today’s music provided by Obey City. “A groomer is not going to groom a coat that is dirty.” [12:50] “There is no magic tool in grooming.” [22:30] –Justine Keefe on Animal Instinct

How does one communicate with animals? Simple — telepathy! This week’s truly extraordinary guest on Animal Instinct is Catherine Ferguson, human and pet psychic. Transcend beyond reality as host Celia Kutcher chats with Catherine about telepathic communication, the afterlife and existentialism at large. According to Catherine – dogs and cats speak in images – telepathically. Sound interesting? Tune in. Today’s program was brought to you by Whole Foods Market. “Dogs and cats have a lot to say, in general.” [13:00] “Our own fears sometimes can block the ability to see short visits pets will make to us [after they have died]. [19:00] –Catherine Ferguson on Animal Instinct

APOPO is a social enterprise that researches, develops, and implements detection rats technology for humanitarian purposes such as Mine Action and Tuberculosis detection. With roots in Belgium and headquarters in Tanzania, APOPO also maintains operations in Mozambique, Angola, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos. The HeroRATs and their human colleagues have cleared over eight million square meters of land in Mozambique and destroyed over 2,700 landmines. Meanwhile, they have found over 5,000 TB-positive patients originally misdiagnosed by local hospitals in Tanzania and Mozambique. The HeroRATs literally work for peanuts, saving lives for a delicious food reward of peanuts or a banana! This program has been sponsored by Heritage Foods USA. Today’s music provided by PEELS. “Within Mozambique we’ve destroyed over 3,000 land mines.” [17:40] “We’re going to continue working until no more lives need to be saved.” [42:40] –Chris Hines on Animal Instinct

Why should pet food be natural? The question is, why shouldn’t pet food be natural? On this week’s episode of Animal Instinct, Celia Kutcher chats with one of the biggest names in natural pet food, Dr. Harvey Cohen, a successful nutritionist, lifelong animal lover and founder of Dr. Harvey’s Healthy Formulations. They makes fine health food & safe all-natural care products for companion animals. Learn about the history of pet foods and why it’s important to treat your pets the same way you’d treat your children when it comes to feeding them. This program was sponsored by White Oak Pastures. “The original foods for dogs and cats were corn and wheat. I thought that was a bit strange.” [01:00] “Dogs and cats are our companions, our best friends. You’d hope to assume that you’d want the best for them.” [04:00] –Dr. Harvey Cohen on Animal Instincts

This week on Animal Instinct, Celia interviews Mike Thomas, Vice President of Development at QT Dog, LLC. Mike tells us about the most durable dog products around, and tells us about how deer antlers are such a great chew toy for dogs. This program has been sponsored by White Oak Pastures. Today’s music provided by Space Disease. “It’s very difficult to make it in this business. It’s rare that you just put something out and it’s a success. [10:00] “I bought about 150,000lbs of deer antlers last year…it’s a lot of horn!” [19:40] Mike Thomas on Animal Instinct

Kevin Duck, founder of DuckyWorld Products and creator behind the award winning Yeowww! brand of catnip and catnip toys, he’s made some real changes to the catnip industry. He is a man of many lives and talents, from production manager for Pink Floyd to selling cars, Kevin is a been there-done that kind of guy. Some would consider him to be a career connoisseur. His creativity and curiosity kept him on the hunt for work that really satisfied him, as an office job wasn’t going to work and he wanted to find something that people dream of and would be fun. Being a part of something creative like film got Kevin’s own creative juices flowing. The work really set him up for wanting to do something on his own. He started off in the pet industry by making disposable dog beds out of coffee bean sacks but became frustrated with the issues with making and shipping large, bulky items. He loved making things for animals and that lead him to catnip toys. In the past, he made his own cats toys and stuffed them with catnip, from that idea a company evolved, Duckyworld Products, Inc. This program has been sponsored by The International Culinary Center. Today’s music provided by Hardbodies. “We put the kitten back in the old puss.” [3:45] –Kevin Duck on Animal Instinct

Matthew Koss has been Founder and President of Primal Pet Foods Inc. since the inception of the company in October 2001. Primal Pet Foods Inc. is a San Francisco based manufacturer of 100% human grade raw foods for dogs and cats. Matthew has shared his life with dogs and cats for over 13 years and has become adept as to the well being of these beloved animals. He has extensive experience and knowledge in food product development, large scale food production and proper food safety. Matthew has studied extensively on the topic of animal nutrition and has researched and studied the methods of a select few homeopathic veterinarians that specialize in the feeding of raw foods to dogs and cats. This program has been sponsored by Of A Kind. Today’s music provided by Cookies. “It is amazing how many testimonials we have received…that the animal’s personality or psychology has changed dramatically merely from changing the food.” [8:30] Matt Koss on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, Celia interviews Dr. Timothy Mann, the Medical Director at Brooklyn Cares Vet. Dr. Mann tells us about using acupuncture to treat animals. This program has been sponsored by The International Culinary Center. Today’s music has been provided by Hardbodies. “On reptiles, acupressure is absolutely an option. Of course not going to put a needle through a turtle’s shell for a number of reasons.” [10:15] “The trick is I follow [the animals’] lead. I do a really good physical exam, I figure out where they’re most comfortable, and I work with them and we make it work.” [19:45] Timothy Mann on Animal Instinct

Erin Kalagassy is a veterinary massage therapy practitioner from Brooklyn NY, living in Dublin, Ireland, studying for a degree in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. She’s a graduate of Cornell University and the Swedish Institute, licensed as both a veterinary technician and as a massage therapist. She’s worked with with over 100 different species, including humans, in her own massage practice, during her 20 years in healthcare, through Cornell, the Brooklyn Zoo & ASPCA, and our favorite holistic Vet Hospital, Brooklyn Cares VC. She’s also published articles on animal behavior, nursing care, and veterinary technicians, and appeared on Animal Precinct and PBS’ Souls of NY. On this week’s edition of Animal Instinct, learn the difference between animal massage and petting, and learn what types of ailments animal massage can treat. How do animals become acclimated to massage? How do animal owners’ emotions effect the anxiety levels of pets during massage? Find out all of this and more on this week’s episode of Animal Instinct! Thanks to our sponsor, Whole Foods. Music by Dead Stars. “When working with exotic animals, the differences are often a thrill for me!” [17:00] — Erin Kalagassy on Animal Instinct

Denise Eaton is a registered practitioner through the Bach Foundation International Registry for human and animal. She has been employed with Nelson Bach USA, Ltd. for the past fifteen years holding the positions of Education and Regulatory Manager. Denise’s primary role with Nelsons is to develop course curriculum and manage programs that are conducted by trainers throughout USA and Canada. Her portfolio of speaking venues consists of New Hope Natural Expos, Natural Products Association Expo, National and Independent distributor shows, Whole Foods regional shows, Independent retailers, Local Community Colleges, and radio programs. Tune into this edition of Animal Instinct to hear Denise and Celia Kutcher talk about Bach Flower remedies, and treating emotional distress in animals with different healing modalities. Learn the history of Dr. Edward Bach, and how he was influenced by the natural world and homeopathy to delve into the world of holistic medicine. Learn how Bach Flower remedies work, and why these remedies do not interfere with medication. What issues are treated with the Bach remedies? Find out on this week’s episode of Animal Instinct! Thanks to our sponsor, Whole Foods. Music by Pamela Royal. “The effects of these remedies can be seen very well in animals and children because they don’t experience placebo effects; they are not aware!” [9:30] — Denise Eaton on Animal Instinct

On this episode of Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher welcomes guest Karen Krueger to discuss the Japanese healing art of Reiki. Karen has been practicing Reiki for people and pets since 1997 when she was originally attuned to Reiki to help her horse. Since then, Karen has become certified in many types of healing modalities and is a certified Equine Body Worker through Equinology and the Upledger Institute. Karen is a practitioner in Quantum Touch, CranioSacral Therapy for people and pets, Chinese Energetic Medicine, TTouch for dogs and horses, and animal communication. Karen maintains two websites relating to Reiki for pets at ReikiGal and KruegerHorseTherapy.com. This program has been sponsored by Rolling Press. Music provided by PEELS. “Because it’s a universal energy, Reiki can be used for anything – imbalances in the body, mind, spirit.” [15:05] “It just goes where it needs to go, and it fixes what it needs to fix.” [20:10] — Karen Krueger on Animal Instinct

Robert Sousa’s career all started at the age of 14 when he rescued a friend’s unwanted pet- a Corn snake. That’s when he began building his collection of exotics. At one time, he maintained and cared for a collection of more than 500 animals. That experience led to Robert serving as Vice President of the (now inactive) New York Herpetological Society. For just under a decade, Robert worked with them, breeding and selling his reptiles and working with the Center for Animal Care & Control Exotics Adoption Program in NYC. Throughout his career, Robert has also taught reptile awareness through seminars to NYC public school children, Boy Scouts, and other similar organizations.Currently, Robert’s focus is working with a network of people that are striving to maintain regional variants of snakes from around the country as habitats continue to be replaced by housing and strip malls. Tune in to hear how reptiles differ from domestic animals in terms of their relationships with their owners. Hear some of Robert’s wild snake and reptile rescue stories, and why so many reptiles are abandoned by their owners. Are reptiles good pets for children? Learn what environments are appropriate for snakes, and why snakes don’t need exercise in the way that mammals do. Why doesn’t Robert believe that turtles make good pets? Find out all of this and more on this week’s edition of Animal Instinct! Thanks to our sponsor, Cain Vineyard & Winery. Music by Jack Inslee. “It wasn’t until the 60s that we tried to keep reptiles as pets and have them reproduce in captivity. Until that point, they were only kept for scientific research.” [10:20] “Reptile muscles don’t atrophy in the way that mammals’ do. They can sit motionless for weeks with no negative effect.” [18:10] — Robert Sousa on Animal Instinct

Lorelei Tibbetts returns to Celia Kutcher’s Animal Instinct to talk about pet rodents! Lorelei works in New York City where she currently is the manager of The Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine. She has worked exclusively with exotic pets since 2004, and is the chair of her veterinary technician specialty academy, The Academy for Veterinary Technicians in Clinical Practice, where she was a founding member of the Exotic Companion Animal specialty. Learn what rodents live well together in cages, and find out what bedding is best for rodent health. Where can you find a rodent rescue in New York City? Later, find out what rodents are nocturnal, and if it’s possible to change their sleep patterns. Learn about herbivorous rodents, and what kinds of greens truly aid their diet. Thanks to our sponsor, Tekserve. Music by Sleepies. “Mice can live well together in groups, but if you have a male and female together, you’re going to have a lot of baby mice! I would recommend you spay or neuter them, or keep the sexes separate.” [8:45] — Lorelei Tibbetts on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, Celia Kutcher is talking with Lorelei Tibbetts about pet or companion birds! Lorelei works in New York City where she currently is the manager of The Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine. She has worked exclusively with exotic pets since 2004, and is the chair of her veterinary technician specialty academy, The Academy for Veterinary Technicians in Clinical Practice, where she was a founding member of the Exotic Companion Animal specialty. She is passionate about exotic pet education and enjoys lecturing at veterinary symposiums as well as teaching students at her practice. Find out what types of living environments are good for birds, and whether or not a bird is a good first pet. Learn about the life spans of various birds, and find out what outlets in New York City are best for finding a bird companion. How do birds connect with their owners? Find out how different varieties of perches can affect your bird’s foot health. What food should pet birds eat? Find out on this week’s edition of Animal Instinct! Thanks to our sponsor, S. Wallace Edwards & Sons. Music by PEELS. “I think all animals should have a companion, except for maybe a hamster- they tend to eat each other.” [10:00] “Just like dog and cat nutrition, bird food has evolved. We know a lot more about what’s important to their diet.” [22:45] — Lorelei Tibbetts on Animal Instinct

Welcome to Animal Instinct, brought to you by Celia Kutcher, aka the Food Healer. You may remember Celia from her past interviews on the HeritageRadioNetwork.org, but Celia is starting off the debut episode of Animal instinct by talking dog and cats with Denise Herman! Denise has been training dogs since before the turn-of-the-century.She graduated valedictorian from the SF Academy for Dog Trainers in 1999 and opened Empire of the Dog in Brooklyn, New York in the year 2000. Empire of the Dog specializes in family-friendly pet dog training and their motto is “World Domination through R+”. Denise has an iPhone and iPod app (via iTunes) called Positively Dog Training and has written 2 e-books, as well. At this time she enjoys training specialty classes like Frisbee Skateboarding and “Urban Agility.” What’s important to think about when adopting a dog or cat? How can you prepare your living space for a new pet? Will a puppy be a good addition to a family? Find out on the first installment of Animal Instinct! Thanks to our sponsor, Cain Vineyard & Winery. Music provided by EULA. “If you really want a dog that will be good with a family, you should try to get a puppy so that it grows up and becomes socialized with the family, but there are no guarantees… A puppy isn’t necessarily a blank slate, but it’s more of an unknown slate.” [8:50] “You can get a great dog from rescue, but you cannot be an impulsive shopper.” [17:50] — Denise Herman on Animal Instinct