1 00:00:02,439 --> 00:00:22,559 Speaker 1: You're listening to Petlifradio dot com. 2 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 2: Welcome to animal Toopia on pet Life Radio. I'm your host, 3 00:00:26,199 --> 00:00:29,640 Robert Simro. Thank you for joining us on today's show. 4 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:32,359 We've got some really fun and inspiring stuff for everyone. 5 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:35,520 We're gonna start with a real Dolphintale that has been 6 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:38,640 adapted into a movie. Then we're gonna hang twenty with 7 00:00:38,719 --> 00:00:42,399 some surfing dogs doing their thing for charities. After that, 8 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:46,280 a story about an inspired animal Kingdom inventor, and we'll 9 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:49,640 finish off with a fun story from animal Topia shared 10 00:00:49,679 --> 00:00:52,960 with us by a listener. So stay tuned. We'll be 11 00:00:53,079 --> 00:00:58,119 right back with the real Dolphintale, surfing dogs, an inspired inventor, 12 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:02,119 and a story from animal Topia, all after these messages 13 00:01:02,159 --> 00:01:04,760 from our sponsors. Sift. 14 00:01:05,359 --> 00:01:08,640 Speaker 3: Stay We'll be right back after a short pause. 15 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 4: Well, for to be exactly. 16 00:01:14,439 --> 00:01:17,040 Speaker 5: Fluster, you're telling me my dog food products can't go 17 00:01:17,079 --> 00:01:17,519 on your show. 18 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:19,680 Speaker 6: That's right, didn't pass one of my pet Cot certified 19 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:20,640 nutrition checklists. 20 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:22,400 Speaker 7: Sorry, Wayne, who made these checklists? 21 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:23,000 Speaker 3: Geniuses? 22 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:24,079 Speaker 2: Very smart guys. 23 00:01:24,159 --> 00:01:25,959 Speaker 8: Well it's good enough for most grocery stores. 24 00:01:26,359 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 4: Do you see cheese muffs on my shelves? Mayonnaise soda pop? 25 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:32,040 Speaker 6: No, that's because I ain't running no grocery store. Wayne, 26 00:01:32,079 --> 00:01:35,120 Your pets will get better nutrition. I guarantee that coke 27 00:01:35,239 --> 00:01:36,079 a healthy pets. 28 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 8: Go enter the code behave ten. Behave the number ten 29 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:44,840 and get ten percent off any order, no minimum at 30 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:51,359 petcode dot com. 31 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 4: How would you like your business to reach out and 32 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:56,680 invite in our audience? We have a brand new trade 33 00:01:56,680 --> 00:02:00,640 in our content called info sees. A short second seeds 34 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:04,200 of information about your place of business, practice, or service 35 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:07,560 is the best, most cost effective way to invite us in. 36 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:10,560 We only have a limited number of slots left. For 37 00:02:10,719 --> 00:02:12,159 more information, visit the. 38 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:14,759 Speaker 3: Website petlifradio dot com. 39 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:17,960 Speaker 4: Click on sponsorship information. There you can listen to a 40 00:02:18,039 --> 00:02:21,120 sample of inbo see remember on the limited number of 41 00:02:21,199 --> 00:02:22,719 opportunities are available. 42 00:02:24,479 --> 00:02:27,639 Speaker 6: Hi, this is Timlink, host of animal rights on pet 43 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:30,680 Life Radio. Join me as we feature interviews with best 44 00:02:30,719 --> 00:02:34,919 selling pet related authors, award winning writers and journalists and bloggers, 45 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,039 and we'll tell stories about the animals and interesting topics 46 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:40,439 about the animals in our lives. Each of the interviews 47 00:02:40,479 --> 00:02:42,919 will give you a firsthand knowledge about why the authors 48 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:46,000 and writers chose a particular story, what the feature animals 49 00:02:46,039 --> 00:02:48,199 meant to them, and what has become of those animals 50 00:02:48,199 --> 00:02:50,800 that we've talked about. And of course I'll also share 51 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:54,520 stories from my own books, blogs, articles and experiences. So 52 00:02:54,599 --> 00:02:57,159 be sure to join me and the writers and authors 53 00:02:57,280 --> 00:02:58,520 on animal rights. 54 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:07,479 Speaker 3: Every week on the n only on petlifradio dot com. 55 00:03:07,719 --> 00:03:18,719 Let's Talk Pets on petlife Radio dot com. 56 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:22,759 Speaker 2: Welcome back to Animal Toopia on Petlife Radio. By now, 57 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:26,039 you've probably heard and maybe even seen, the amazing story 58 00:03:26,039 --> 00:03:30,000 about Winter, the two month old bottlenosed dolphin who became 59 00:03:30,199 --> 00:03:34,120 entangled in a crab potline in Mosquito Lagoon in Florida. 60 00:03:34,879 --> 00:03:38,360 The Mosquito Lagoon is a long, narrow, shallow estuary that 61 00:03:38,479 --> 00:03:41,120 is bordered on the east by a barrier island and 62 00:03:41,199 --> 00:03:44,400 on the west by the mainland. Sometimes referred to as 63 00:03:44,439 --> 00:03:47,280 a cradle to the Ocean, Mosquito Lagoon is home to 64 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:51,400 many different types of fish, shrimp, clams, and oysters that 65 00:03:51,439 --> 00:03:55,400 are all thriving in this lagoon. Sea turtles, manodes, and 66 00:03:55,479 --> 00:03:58,919 dolphins can all be found here, and in some cases 67 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:03,159 these larger animals will spend their entire lives in this lagoon. 68 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:06,599 I've been blessed to swim with the manatees, dolphins, and 69 00:04:06,639 --> 00:04:10,360 other spectacular sea creatures in the various waters of Florida. 70 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:12,599 And I can tell you it's a rich and diverse 71 00:04:12,719 --> 00:04:16,000 landscape beneath the waters there. It's really easy to see 72 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:19,759 why there's such an abundant and vibrant area for sea life. 73 00:04:20,439 --> 00:04:23,639 So let's go back to December tenth, two thousand and five, 74 00:04:24,079 --> 00:04:27,399 in Mosquito Lagoon, where this two month old dolphin was 75 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:31,319 entangled in a crab pot line. Though most fishermen stayed 76 00:04:31,319 --> 00:04:35,720 at home that day, one fisherman, Jim Savage, decided he 77 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:39,480 would make the journey to Mosquito Lagoon as usual. Well, 78 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:43,319 this day would prove to be anything but usual for Jim. 79 00:04:43,759 --> 00:04:46,360 Once Jim was on the water, he headed over to 80 00:04:46,399 --> 00:04:49,199 a crab pot booy line that caught his eye because 81 00:04:49,199 --> 00:04:52,360 of its contradictions. See, most of the line was being 82 00:04:52,399 --> 00:04:55,600 tilted with the wind, but there was one pot that 83 00:04:55,759 --> 00:04:59,639 was bending into the wind. As he came closer, he 84 00:04:59,639 --> 00:05:03,319 heard an audible sound that sounded like gasping and a 85 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:06,879 struggle for breath. As Jim pulled up alongside the pot, 86 00:05:07,199 --> 00:05:09,759 he was startled and saddened by what he saw. It 87 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:14,000 was a baby dolphin terribly tangled in the lines, struggling 88 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:18,160 to breathe let alone free itself from its predicament. An 89 00:05:18,199 --> 00:05:21,279 auto mechanic by trade, Jim did his best to free 90 00:05:21,319 --> 00:05:24,519 and assist the frightened and injured baby dolphin. He also 91 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:28,160 phoned the emergency number for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, 92 00:05:28,519 --> 00:05:31,279 who arranged to have someone come out to assist the dolphin. 93 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:35,040 That person was Teresa Maza, a twenty three year old 94 00:05:35,079 --> 00:05:39,600 research assistant for the non profit hubs SeaWorld Research Institute 95 00:05:39,639 --> 00:05:42,800 in Orlando. She was ferried out to the dolphin by 96 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:45,199 a second boat that had stopped to help Jim with 97 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:50,000 the injured baby dolphin. After assessing the situation, including the 98 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:53,160 severe injuries to the tail area of the dolphin, she 99 00:05:53,319 --> 00:05:56,920 reached out to a colleague for help. Claire Surrey of 100 00:05:56,959 --> 00:06:01,319 the Wildlife Commission was that colleague. Teresa and Clair took 101 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:05,879 turns cradling the struggling baby dolphin in the frigid December waters. 102 00:06:06,319 --> 00:06:11,399 Hubseaworld contacted the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, who had a 103 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:15,680 special ambulance for injured whales and dolphins. It dispatched the 104 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:18,439 ambulance plus a chase truck with a vet and a 105 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:22,959 team of dolphin experts. However, on the way, Harbor Branch 106 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:25,959 called and let them know that the special ambulance had 107 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:28,720 blown a tire and would not be making it. Still, 108 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:32,279 the team of experts continued on their way to meet them. 109 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:36,480 As evening came, a rescue van from SeaWorld arrived to 110 00:06:36,519 --> 00:06:40,480 transport the injured dolphin to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Teresa 111 00:06:40,519 --> 00:06:42,560 did not make the trip with the dolphin, as she 112 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:45,879 had to attend to a marine science conference the next day, 113 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:50,000 completely across the country in San Diego. She did not 114 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:52,879 know what would happen to this severely injured little dolphin, 115 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:55,279 but she knew that she and the others had done 116 00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:58,040 their best to give the dolphin a chance to survive. 117 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:01,160 She would get her next update on the dolphin at 118 00:07:01,199 --> 00:07:04,560 the marine conference when a colleague told her that the 119 00:07:04,639 --> 00:07:08,839 baby dolphin had lost its tail. Only one aquarium in Florida, 120 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:12,839 the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, was willing or able to take her. 121 00:07:13,399 --> 00:07:16,720 Waiting for the bleeding and severely injured baby dolphin was 122 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:22,199 veterinarian Janine Cianchola, known as Doctor C. Doctor C and 123 00:07:22,319 --> 00:07:26,800 trainer Abbey moved quickly and tiresly to stabilize the dolphin. 124 00:07:27,079 --> 00:07:30,319 The outlook may have been bleak and the challenges were mounting, 125 00:07:30,759 --> 00:07:34,240 but doctor c Abby and the others were determined to 126 00:07:34,279 --> 00:07:37,920 make a Winter miracle occur, and thus Winter became the 127 00:07:37,959 --> 00:07:42,959 dolphin's name. Within days, Winter's tail had virtually melted away, 128 00:07:43,519 --> 00:07:47,279 lost to necrosis or cell death, and if Rod reached 129 00:07:47,319 --> 00:07:51,160 Winter's spinal cord, the dolphin would die. Doctor c worked 130 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:54,519 on the tail daily for months, and in late February, 131 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:58,439 the necrosis of the tail stopped, just one vertebra short 132 00:07:58,439 --> 00:08:02,680 of the spinal cord. Winter began to stabilize. She gained 133 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:05,959 weight and began to swim on her own, swimming like 134 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,600 a fish, moving the stump of her tail side to 135 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:12,040 side rather than up and down as dolphins do. She 136 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:15,560 dog powdered with her pectoral fins, which were designed for steering, 137 00:08:15,879 --> 00:08:20,480 not for propulsion. Aquarium CEO David Yates had witnessed much 138 00:08:20,519 --> 00:08:23,439 of the miracle that was Winter, and as Winter improved, 139 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:27,160 David used his media savvy and background to bring this 140 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:30,399 incredible story to the world. As fate would have it, 141 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:33,519 not only would David generate a lot of interest, sympathy, 142 00:08:33,519 --> 00:08:37,399 and visitors, but his media attention brought a potential solution 143 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:40,200 to Winter. Listening to a radio interview in his car 144 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:43,600 one day was Kevin Carroll, the national vice president of 145 00:08:43,639 --> 00:08:47,399 Hanger Prosthetics and Orthodox, a company that makes artificial limbs. 146 00:08:47,759 --> 00:08:50,639 Kevin was inspired by the story and reached out to 147 00:08:50,759 --> 00:08:53,039 David to say that he thought he could assist with 148 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:55,759 a tail for Winter. I recently had a chance to 149 00:08:55,799 --> 00:08:58,799 speak with Kevin and animal lover since his early days 150 00:08:58,799 --> 00:09:03,279 in Ireland, that day and the entire process, and he 151 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:06,519 told me that when he heard that report on the radio, 152 00:09:06,639 --> 00:09:10,080 as he was listening about this inspiring poor little dolphin, 153 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:14,159 he thought to himself, that's what we do. Why can't 154 00:09:14,159 --> 00:09:16,759 we put a prosthetic tail on the dolphin. Well, not 155 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:19,679 everyone was as optimistic as Kevin, but he spoke with 156 00:09:19,759 --> 00:09:23,879 his friend and future collaborator on the project, Damn Strenka. Dan, 157 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:28,000 who himself wears a prosthetic leg since a childhood accident 158 00:09:28,039 --> 00:09:31,919 at age four, agreed, and so he and Kevin got started. 159 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:35,039 Dan and Kevin faced many challenges in trying to create 160 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:37,360 a tale that had no place to be affixed to 161 00:09:38,039 --> 00:09:41,039 had to stand up to salt water travel at twenty 162 00:09:41,039 --> 00:09:45,720 plus miles per hour and survived nine foot bursts out 163 00:09:45,759 --> 00:09:48,600 of the water into the air, all while working with 164 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:51,519 a patient who had no ability to tell the designers 165 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:55,120 any of the problems with their designs. Dan and Kevin 166 00:09:55,159 --> 00:09:59,360 developed over fifty tail prototypes. They also developed a liner 167 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:02,240 and a gel that allowed the tail to be fixed 168 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:05,559 to winter stump. Kevin and Dan felt that Winter, like 169 00:10:05,639 --> 00:10:10,000 most dolphins, was very intelligent. They got the sense that 170 00:10:10,039 --> 00:10:12,840 Winter was working with them and knew they were there 171 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:17,080 trying to help Winter. With that acknowledgment, they knew they 172 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:20,039 were going to be successful, and it fueled their efforts 173 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:22,960 even in the most difficult of times. As Kevin and 174 00:10:23,039 --> 00:10:26,799 Dan continued to develop the tail trainer, Abbey began getting 175 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:29,879 Winter used to wearing the materials. They had created this 176 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:33,639 special liner with lubricants so that the tail could go 177 00:10:33,879 --> 00:10:37,399 over the dolphin stump, but they had to be cognizant 178 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:41,360 that dolphins shed heat through their tails, so it required 179 00:10:41,399 --> 00:10:44,799 a lot of care and understanding of the effects. Abby 180 00:10:44,799 --> 00:10:47,360 would have Winter wear the liner for small periods in 181 00:10:47,399 --> 00:10:52,039 the beginning to see what reactions Winter might have. Additionally, 182 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:56,120 the lubricant had to allow for the liner to be 183 00:10:56,240 --> 00:11:00,360 slid onto the stump yet also be slid off, as 184 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:03,159 it is not something that can be worn all the time. 185 00:11:03,519 --> 00:11:08,120 Well through fifty prototypes in countless hours, the biggest noticeable 186 00:11:08,279 --> 00:11:12,919 encouraging development that they saw was that winter Severe scoliosis 187 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:17,039 had reversed. Finally, after more than a year and a half, 188 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:21,200 Winter began using the prosthetic tale the way it was designed. 189 00:11:21,639 --> 00:11:25,399 It was another exciting development in a series of incredible moments. 190 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:29,200 Winter continues to improve her usage of the prosthetic tale 191 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:32,120 and thrills many visitors a year. If you're looking for 192 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:35,759 some inspiration and you have a few hours, go see 193 00:11:35,759 --> 00:11:38,480 the movie about Winter and all the people we've been 194 00:11:38,519 --> 00:11:42,879 talking about, called Dolphintale. While it's been adapted by Hollywood, 195 00:11:43,159 --> 00:11:47,039 the story is inspiring and uplifting, and though many characters 196 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:50,279 have been modified for the movie, including our friends Kevin 197 00:11:50,279 --> 00:11:52,919 and Dan, who have been combined in the movie into 198 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:57,120 a single character played by Morgan Freeman, Winter the dolphin 199 00:11:57,159 --> 00:12:00,559 herself is the star of the movie, and if that 200 00:12:00,639 --> 00:12:04,080 were the end of the story, it would be simply incredible. 201 00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:08,120 Yet as inspiring as this dolphin story is, the humans 202 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:11,000 who were inspired to help her have continued to help 203 00:12:11,159 --> 00:12:15,639 many more with their discoveries and developments. Because of their 204 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:19,600 work with Winter, many of the technologies and techniques they 205 00:12:19,639 --> 00:12:22,480 adapted for Winter have now been adapted in use for 206 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:25,440 humans from all walks of life, from school children to 207 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:29,200 wounded veterans. The efforts and technologies developed to save this 208 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:33,120 amazing baby dolphin are now giving new life and hope 209 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:36,879 to humans. This is what Animotopia is all about. Animals 210 00:12:36,919 --> 00:12:40,120 inspiring humans to accomplish more than they otherwise would think 211 00:12:40,159 --> 00:12:43,440 to do. And when faced with that life or death challenge, 212 00:12:43,879 --> 00:12:47,600 Winter rose to the occasion and she inspired the humans 213 00:12:48,159 --> 00:12:51,720 that she encountered to do the same, and she continues 214 00:12:51,759 --> 00:12:55,240 to inspire them to this day. What an incredible story 215 00:12:55,279 --> 00:12:57,840 and I hope you enjoyed it. Next up, I'm going 216 00:12:57,879 --> 00:13:00,720 to share a couple of great recent events that feature 217 00:13:00,799 --> 00:13:04,200 dogs hanging twenty for great charities and a few records. 218 00:13:04,639 --> 00:13:06,440 I'm also going to share with you a story about 219 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:09,759 a gentleman facing a challenge of his own and finding 220 00:13:09,799 --> 00:13:13,240 the answers to that challenge at a world famous aquarium. 221 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:16,000 You don't want to miss these stories, so we'll be 222 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:20,440 right back after these messages from our sponsors sift. 223 00:13:21,039 --> 00:13:24,320 Speaker 3: Stay, We'll be right back after a short pause. 224 00:13:24,879 --> 00:13:30,720 Speaker 7: Well for to be exact, Love your pets, but wish 225 00:13:30,759 --> 00:13:33,759 their medications were a lot less expensive they are. At 226 00:13:33,759 --> 00:13:36,120 one eight hundred pet Meds, you'll not only save on 227 00:13:36,159 --> 00:13:40,240 flea and heartworm medications, but on prescriptions for arthritis, incontinence, 228 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:43,519 thyroid and more. And you get fast service, free shipping, 229 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:47,399 and a one hundred percent satisfaction guarantee. Plus our licensed 230 00:13:47,399 --> 00:13:51,519 pharmacist insure accuracy, monitor drug interaction and more. See why 231 00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:54,240 over five million people have trusted their pets health to 232 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:57,840 one eight hundred pet Mets, America's largest pet pharmacy. Call 233 00:13:57,960 --> 00:13:59,440 now or order online. 234 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:04,879 Speaker 8: Go to PetMeds dot com, forward slash lucky lucky to 235 00:14:04,919 --> 00:14:08,559 get ten percent off any order and free shipping on 236 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:14,320 orders of thirty nine dollars or more at PetMeds dot com. 237 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 9: How would you like your business to reach out and 238 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:18,799 invite in our audience? 239 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:22,679 Speaker 4: We have a brand new trademark concept called info Seeds. 240 00:14:22,679 --> 00:14:26,039 Speaker 9: Info seeds are short, twenty second seeds of information about 241 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:29,159 your place of business, practice, or service. We only have 242 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:30,919 a limited number of slots left. 243 00:14:31,039 --> 00:14:34,240 Speaker 5: For more information, visit petlifradio dot com. 244 00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:37,240 Speaker 9: Click on sponsorship information. There, you can listen to a 245 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:39,759 sample of info seed or email us. 246 00:14:39,759 --> 00:14:41,759 Speaker 3: At petlifradio dot com. 247 00:14:41,799 --> 00:14:44,840 Speaker 9: Remember, only a limited number of opportunities are available. 248 00:14:49,159 --> 00:14:51,919 Speaker 10: The crams and pondkeeping are among the most popular of 249 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:55,120 all hobbies in the United States and throughout the world. 250 00:14:55,639 --> 00:14:59,039 In fact, fish are probably the most numerous pet in 251 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:02,799 people's homes and in their businesses. In aquarium Mania, we'll 252 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:05,399 learn more about the secret and not so secret life 253 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:08,679 of fish and other inhabitants, the basics of good aquarium keeping, 254 00:15:08,919 --> 00:15:12,360 the complexities of the aquarium industry, and the science and 255 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:16,399 art that's around this fascinating hobby. I'm your host, royan Ang, 256 00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:18,159 and I'd like to thank you for joining us. 257 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:24,879 Speaker 3: Aquarium Mania every week on demand only on pet life 258 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:32,000 Radio dot com. 259 00:15:32,759 --> 00:15:36,919 Speaker 4: Let's Talk Past, Let's done, pet Radio, Headline Radio. 260 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:49,159 Speaker 5: Pet Life Radio dot Com. 261 00:15:49,399 --> 00:15:52,639 Speaker 2: Welcome back to Animaltopia on pet Life Radio. Yeah, we 262 00:15:52,679 --> 00:15:55,320 all love watching the videos of dogs hanging twenty on 263 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:58,320 the waves and the sunny skies in the beach. Well, 264 00:15:58,399 --> 00:16:01,159 this past weekend there were two wonderful events that featured 265 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:04,440 dogs and a few other humans hanging in twenty. The 266 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:08,159 Helen Woodward Animal Center hosted their sixth annual Surf Dog 267 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:11,840 Surfathon presented by Yukanuba, which is the largest surf dog 268 00:16:11,919 --> 00:16:14,720 contest in the country. The event, which is held at 269 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:18,480 the Dog Beach in Delmar, California, was more than just 270 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:22,840 dog surfing. The surfathon featured a tribute to working dogs, 271 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:27,720 including police, search and rescue and service dogs. Other activities 272 00:16:27,759 --> 00:16:31,440 included the Beach Bum Bikini Babe Canine costume contest that 273 00:16:31,639 --> 00:16:35,279 Do the daw where people and pets and costumes surf together, 274 00:16:35,639 --> 00:16:38,960 as well as the introduction of the first dog into 275 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:42,279 the Helen Woodward Animal Center Surf Dog Hall of Fame. 276 00:16:42,759 --> 00:16:45,080 I want to give a special woof to the event's 277 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:49,600 biggest fundraiser and someone we're familiar with here, surf dog Ricochet, 278 00:16:49,879 --> 00:16:53,720 who was the top fundraiser for this year's Surf Dog Surfathon, 279 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:57,799 raising more than six thousand dollars for pets and programs 280 00:16:57,799 --> 00:17:01,440 of the Helen Woodward Animal Center. Overall, more than one 281 00:17:01,519 --> 00:17:05,279 hundred thousand dollars was raised during the sixth annual Surf 282 00:17:05,279 --> 00:17:10,559 Dog Surfathon. About four thousand spectators, including myself, watched eighty 283 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:14,599 dogs compete, but only one was named Top Dog and 284 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:17,799 that was surf dog Buddy from Ventura. Buddy, who has 285 00:17:17,839 --> 00:17:21,720 won five of the six Surf Dog Surfathons, also became 286 00:17:21,839 --> 00:17:26,519 the first inductee into the Helen Woodward Animal Center's Surf 287 00:17:26,599 --> 00:17:30,160 Dog Hall of Fame. I spoke with Buddy's owner, Bruce Hooker, 288 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:33,839 who told me about Buddy literally taking to the surfboard 289 00:17:33,839 --> 00:17:35,880 on his own, who shared the story that he was 290 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:38,920 teaching his son to boogie board and they lost the board. 291 00:17:39,279 --> 00:17:41,799 The board came into the shore and Buddy found it. 292 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:45,160 Buddy raced over and jumped onto the boogiey board and 293 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:47,480 then began to write it as if Buddy was a 294 00:17:47,599 --> 00:17:51,640 veteran surfer. Well. As some spectators shared with us, the 295 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:54,799 greatest thing about Buddy is that he can actually turn 296 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:57,480 and maneuver the board, so he does more than just 297 00:17:57,519 --> 00:18:00,720 sit on it. He rides it. He works the waves. 298 00:18:01,079 --> 00:18:03,880 It's also clear that Buddy really enjoys being in the water. 299 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:07,920 We all watched it as he triumphantly shouted or barked 300 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:11,640 as he would ride his waves into the shore, much 301 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:14,759 to the delight of the thousands of onlookers. That you 302 00:18:14,839 --> 00:18:17,759 may not know Buddy by name, but you've most likely 303 00:18:17,799 --> 00:18:20,720 seen Buddy Surfing. He's been the face of the dog 304 00:18:20,799 --> 00:18:23,480 surfing world for the past ten years, and his main 305 00:18:23,559 --> 00:18:28,839 appearances on Animal Planet, Pet Star, ESPN, CNN, NBC, the 306 00:18:28,839 --> 00:18:33,559 CBS Morning Show, The iPad launched in so many more things. 307 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:36,519 You know. Buddy the Surfing Dog is a fourteen year 308 00:18:36,519 --> 00:18:40,000 old Jack Russell Terrier and he surfs because he loves 309 00:18:40,039 --> 00:18:43,519 the water and he enjoys the surfing. Not every dog 310 00:18:43,599 --> 00:18:46,759 wants to surf, but those that do really seem to 311 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:49,839 enjoy it. And after his fifth victory in del Mar, 312 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:53,359 his owner Bruce said that last heat was probably the 313 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:56,319 best of Buddy's life. It may also be his last 314 00:18:56,319 --> 00:19:01,200 competition regardless. Wesalute, Buddy the Surfing Dog. May you proudly 315 00:19:01,279 --> 00:19:04,519 and playfully hang twenty for many more years to come. 316 00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:07,200 And how are you listening and thinking that your dog 317 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:08,759 surf or may want to surf? 318 00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:09,359 Speaker 10: Yeah? 319 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:11,599 Speaker 2: I spent some time down at the event with Peter Knowle, 320 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:15,079 who leads a San Diego based group called so Cow Surfdogs, 321 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:17,640 and he says, if your dog is gonna do it, 322 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:19,759 it should be because your dog loves to do it 323 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:23,079 and loves the water. He also shared with me that 324 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:27,119 safety equipment is a must, especially a life jacket. One 325 00:19:27,160 --> 00:19:28,960 of the more interesting things that I saw at the 326 00:19:28,960 --> 00:19:32,119 event is that there is now a surfboard manufacturer that 327 00:19:32,279 --> 00:19:36,319 is making a surfboard just for dogs. This surfboard has 328 00:19:36,319 --> 00:19:38,960 some safety features that only a dog would want, like 329 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:41,480 a softer top side so the dogs can get a 330 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:44,160 better grip and if there are any falls or bumps, 331 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:46,359 it has less of an impact or a chance to 332 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:50,279 hurt a dog. To the north, in Surf City, USA, 333 00:19:50,319 --> 00:19:53,519 also known as Huntington Beach, the surf City Surf Dog 334 00:19:53,599 --> 00:19:57,079 Contest was held. This contest featured a number of surf 335 00:19:57,079 --> 00:20:00,759 dogs and some owners hanging twenty and get some Guinness 336 00:20:00,759 --> 00:20:03,640 Book of World records in the process. One of the 337 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:07,559 more prominent Guinness records was accomplished by surfing dog Abby, 338 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:11,000 who wrote the longest wave recorded by a dog surfing 339 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:14,599 sixty meters on her board. Abbey's owner, Michael and the 340 00:20:14,599 --> 00:20:17,720 many spectators were very proud and never had a doubt 341 00:20:17,759 --> 00:20:20,119 that Abby could set the record. And while there were 342 00:20:20,160 --> 00:20:22,839 plenty of award winners at the Surf City Surf Dog Event, 343 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:26,400 the biggest winners were the charity partners who saw thousands 344 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:29,880 of dollars raised to continue to help support their charity efforts. 345 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:33,160 I love these type of events where animal owners find 346 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:35,000 a way to tie in a love for something that 347 00:20:35,039 --> 00:20:39,000 they have with more time spent with their animals. Additionally, 348 00:20:39,359 --> 00:20:42,039 taking that extra step and being able to raise money 349 00:20:42,079 --> 00:20:45,000 and awareness for a great animal cause is something I 350 00:20:45,039 --> 00:20:47,720 certainly want to recognize and applause. So to all the 351 00:20:47,759 --> 00:20:51,319 surfing dogs listening, I say, hang twenty dude, and I'll 352 00:20:51,359 --> 00:20:53,839 catch you on a great wave soon. Next up is 353 00:20:53,839 --> 00:20:57,039 a great story about someone facing a personal challenge and 354 00:20:57,119 --> 00:21:01,240 overcoming it with inspiration from the animal ward. Remember back 355 00:21:01,279 --> 00:21:04,640 to your birthday or Christmas when you really wanted something 356 00:21:04,799 --> 00:21:08,200 so bad that you would forsake all other presents just 357 00:21:08,319 --> 00:21:11,160 to get this one present. Well, that's how Alex Andon, 358 00:21:11,319 --> 00:21:15,680 president of Jellyfish Art, felt about jellyfish. The following story 359 00:21:15,759 --> 00:21:19,079 is about someone wanting something so bad that they create 360 00:21:19,160 --> 00:21:22,119 something that doesn't exist so that they can be closer 361 00:21:22,119 --> 00:21:25,119 to the animals they love. Alex and I recently sat 362 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:27,519 down and he shared with me how he was inspired 363 00:21:27,559 --> 00:21:31,240 to create Jellyfish Art. It all started the first time 364 00:21:31,279 --> 00:21:34,880 he ever saw jellyfish, and that fascination continued to grow 365 00:21:34,920 --> 00:21:38,599 throughout the years until while a marine biology student at 366 00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:42,400 Duke University, he started to see it as more than 367 00:21:42,599 --> 00:21:45,880 just a hobby. Alex saw how much people truly love 368 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:49,119 their jellyfish, and that you could go to any aquarium 369 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:52,359 and you would see masses of people huddled around and 370 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:56,799 mesmerized by the jellyfish in the jellyfish tanks. Unfortunately, for 371 00:21:56,920 --> 00:21:59,240 Alex and the rest of us who love jellyfish, there 372 00:21:59,279 --> 00:22:02,720 was not a commercial available jellyfish tank there was affordable 373 00:22:03,079 --> 00:22:06,000 or in reach of the average consumer, and that's where 374 00:22:06,039 --> 00:22:10,240 inspiration and passion met the business world. Alex, who has 375 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:13,880 built some very beautiful and large commercial jellyfish tanks, began 376 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:16,359 working on the idea of bringing the jellyfish tank to 377 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:19,599 everyone who wants one. But since jellyfish are ninety five 378 00:22:19,599 --> 00:22:24,160 percent water and easily get sucked into standard tanks filtration systems, 379 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:26,599 he had to redesign the way the fish tank would 380 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:30,279 work and operate. He went from modifying existing tanks to 381 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:35,240 literally creating and engineering the first desktop tank for jellyfish 382 00:22:35,279 --> 00:22:39,119 in the marketplace. He experimented with different species of jellyfish 383 00:22:39,119 --> 00:22:43,839 before finally settling on the beautiful and majestic moon jellyfish. 384 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:47,319 In fact, now he has created a moon jellyfish breeding 385 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:50,839 program to supply his customers with the jellyfish that they 386 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:53,319 need and want. One of the great things about what 387 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:55,720 Alex has done is that he made it simple for 388 00:22:55,759 --> 00:22:59,119 those of us not blessed with a blue thumb or 389 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:01,519 whatever kind of thing I need to keep a saltwater 390 00:23:01,559 --> 00:23:05,799 tank healthy. He's included everything we need, including the unique 391 00:23:05,839 --> 00:23:09,359 jellyfish desk top tank, the water pump, the feeding pipe 392 00:23:09,359 --> 00:23:13,400 at the color changing LEDs, the jellyfish food, and the 393 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:16,640 jellyfish themselves. Of course, Yeah, Alex has put in a 394 00:23:16,680 --> 00:23:19,559 tremendous amount of work and effort, even going so far 395 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:22,680 as to research jellyfish from a rubber dinghy in the 396 00:23:22,759 --> 00:23:25,799 chili and shark infested waters of San Francisco to achieve 397 00:23:25,839 --> 00:23:29,440 this dream. Fortunately for oceanic and jellyfish lovers like me, 398 00:23:29,920 --> 00:23:33,160 Alex has achieved his dream and has brought to life 399 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:36,759 and the marketplace the reality of having a home jellyfish 400 00:23:36,759 --> 00:23:41,160 tank in everyone's home. If you love jellyfish, and who doesn't. 401 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:44,519 You can see more about Alex in Jellyfish Art by 402 00:23:44,599 --> 00:23:48,599 visiting Jellyfish Art at their website, which is jellyfish art 403 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:51,279 dot com and if you're a jellyfish lover or just 404 00:23:51,319 --> 00:23:55,400 a saltwater tank lover, if you're a fan of saltwater tanks, 405 00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:59,440 hand or jellyfish, I'd really recommend visiting their website. They've 406 00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:02,279 got a lot of great information both from the inside 407 00:24:02,279 --> 00:24:06,119 perspective as well as the everyday perspective on everything from 408 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:10,400 jellyfish to saltwater tanks. It's really a great sight with 409 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:13,759 a lot of information. Again, I love stories like this. 410 00:24:14,359 --> 00:24:17,799 Something wasn't there for the animal world or the animal 411 00:24:17,799 --> 00:24:21,599 lover and someone took the initiative to put their mind 412 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:25,640 to it and create that Alex, kudos to you. I 413 00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:28,240 can't wait to get my jellyfish our tank soon. And 414 00:24:28,279 --> 00:24:30,359 I'm sure there are others listening right now who are 415 00:24:30,359 --> 00:24:34,519 thinking the same thing. Okay, listeners, one last story before 416 00:24:34,559 --> 00:24:37,359 we bid a do today. This one comes from Juno, 417 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:40,200 Alaska and was sent to me by one of our listeners, 418 00:24:40,759 --> 00:24:44,359 and this is a great one. Recently, an Alaskan woman 419 00:24:44,519 --> 00:24:47,680 punched a beer in the snout to save her dog. 420 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:50,519 You know, started off as any typical evening for twenty 421 00:24:50,559 --> 00:24:52,680 two year old Brooke Collins when she let her dogs 422 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:55,839 out around seven thirty pm, and then all of a sudden, 423 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:59,480 she heard some barking and then the most horrific sound 424 00:24:59,559 --> 00:25:02,160 in the world. And that's when she looked outside and 425 00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:05,759 she saw a bear was crouching down with fudge and 426 00:25:05,799 --> 00:25:09,720 its paws her little dog. So she ran out there instinctively, 427 00:25:10,079 --> 00:25:13,759 and what would you do. Well, what she did was 428 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:16,920 punch the bear in the face, scoop her dog away, 429 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:20,839 and run back into the house. Maybe not the way 430 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:23,640 they might tell you in a training video, but you 431 00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:26,920 know what, it worked. And Brooke, I would have done 432 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:29,160 the same thing had it been one of my two dogs. 433 00:25:29,599 --> 00:25:33,599 So kudos to you. You survived it, you saved your dog, 434 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:36,680 and we all got to enjoy this great story in 435 00:25:36,799 --> 00:25:40,640 animal Topia. You know, folks, we want you to share 436 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:43,880 your great stories as well. That's why we've set up 437 00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:47,160 a toll free phone number for you, the animal lovers, 438 00:25:47,519 --> 00:25:50,200 to call in and share your amazing animal tales with 439 00:25:50,240 --> 00:25:53,440 our listeners. Give us a call and share your inspiring, 440 00:25:53,559 --> 00:25:57,599 your funny, your heartwarming stories. We'll continue to have contests 441 00:25:57,640 --> 00:26:00,519 with giveaways for the best stories. And we you know, 442 00:26:00,599 --> 00:26:03,359 we all have an incredible story about our animals, so 443 00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:05,960 share it. With us at the following toll free number, 444 00:26:06,319 --> 00:26:09,000 and you may hear your story on an upcoming episode 445 00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:12,000 of animal Topia. The toll free number is eight five 446 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:17,319 five two six four six two five eight. Again that's 447 00:26:17,359 --> 00:26:21,640 eight five five two six four six two five eight, 448 00:26:22,119 --> 00:26:24,799 or if it's easier, just do what I do, call 449 00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:28,599 eight five five animal Topia. Well, everyone, we're out of 450 00:26:28,599 --> 00:26:31,319 time for this episode, but we will be back soon 451 00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:34,880 with more adventures in animal Topia. I'm your host, Robert 452 00:26:34,920 --> 00:26:37,759 Semro and I'm proud to be an animal Topia for 453 00:26:37,839 --> 00:26:41,240 animal Topia. Pet Life Radio and all those who make 454 00:26:41,279 --> 00:26:44,720 this show possible, thank you, and we'll talk again soon. 455 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:50,319 Speaker 3: Let's Talk Pets every week on demand only on petlifradio 456 00:26:50,599 --> 00:27:03,319 dot com