1 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:23,239 Speaker 1: You're listening to Petlifradio dot com. 2 00:00:23,359 --> 00:00:26,760 Speaker 2: Welcome to Animal Toopia on pet Life Radio. I'm your host, 3 00:00:26,839 --> 00:00:30,320 Robert Simro. Thank you for joining us on today's show. 4 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:33,039 We're going to visit the stars, meet an inventor of 5 00:00:33,039 --> 00:00:36,079 a ball that makes dogs want to fly, and finally 6 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:40,479 we'll meet an organization and dogs that give guidance. We'll 7 00:00:40,479 --> 00:00:42,840 be right back with a visit to the star Eco 8 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:45,840 station after these messages from our sponsors. 9 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:52,280 Speaker 3: Sit stay, We'll be right back after a short pause. Well, 10 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:58,719 for to be exact, pet pet Petco where the pets go, 11 00:00:59,039 --> 00:01:00,600 pet go at the pets go. 12 00:01:00,799 --> 00:01:04,760 Speaker 4: Pet Life Radio has tail wagging, fur flying fabulous deals 13 00:01:04,799 --> 00:01:08,680 for our listeners from Petco. Get six dollars off your 14 00:01:08,799 --> 00:01:12,000 order of sixty dollars or more and up to forty 15 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,640 percent off the entire Petco site. That's right, but that's 16 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:18,840 not off because you're a pet Life Radio listener. You'll 17 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:22,200 also get free shipping on your order of forty nine 18 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:25,760 dollars or more, six dollars off up to forty percent 19 00:01:25,879 --> 00:01:29,680 off at free shipping from pet Life Radio and Petco. 20 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:34,439 To get these awesome deals, go to petcodeals dot com. 21 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:37,159 That's head codeals dot com. 22 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 3: To pet Petco, where are the pets Go? 23 00:01:39,359 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 5: I don't make any decisions about who to hire without 24 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:43,439 going to Angie's listeners. 25 00:01:43,519 --> 00:01:46,400 Speaker 6: You'll find reviews on home repair to healthcare written by 26 00:01:46,439 --> 00:01:47,519 people just like you. 27 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:49,599 Speaker 4: With Angie's List, I know who to call and I 28 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:51,480 know the results will be fantastic. 29 00:01:51,799 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 7: Angie's List as you can trust. 30 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:57,799 Speaker 4: Go to Angie's List dot com, forward slash best and 31 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:01,959 get twenty five percent off any sub script that's Angie'slist 32 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:06,159 dot com forward slash best, b Est. 33 00:02:06,599 --> 00:02:09,039 Speaker 8: Welcome to Bird's Eye View on pet Life Radio. 34 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 1: I am doctor Lori Hess here with doctor Michelle Ravish, 35 00:02:12,319 --> 00:02:15,039 and we are both bird and Exotic animal veterinarians. 36 00:02:15,199 --> 00:02:17,919 Speaker 2: We work at the Veterinary Center for Birds and Exotics 37 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:21,159 and All Bird and Exotic Pet Hospital in Bedford. 38 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 4: Hills, New York. 39 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:23,719 Speaker 6: And this is a show all about birds. 40 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 2: It's a Bird's Eye View and we hope you'll tune. 41 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 3: In soon every week on demand only on Petlife Radio 42 00:02:30,719 --> 00:02:47,159 dot com. Let's Talk Pets on Petlife Radio dot com. 43 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:51,319 Speaker 2: Welcome back to Animaltobia on pet Life Radio. We'll start 44 00:02:51,319 --> 00:02:54,039 off today's episode with a trip to an oasis in 45 00:02:54,039 --> 00:02:57,520 one of the biggest counties in America, there are unique 46 00:02:57,520 --> 00:02:59,840 places in the big cities that allow you to escape 47 00:02:59,879 --> 00:03:03,199 to a place where animals are the most important residents 48 00:03:03,599 --> 00:03:06,280 and they are cared for by people who seek only 49 00:03:06,319 --> 00:03:09,599 to care for them and educate the public both about 50 00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:13,560 the animals and the environment they live in. One such 51 00:03:13,599 --> 00:03:17,240 wonderful place exists in Culver City, California, and it's known 52 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:22,120 to Los Angeles County residents as the Star Ecostation. This 53 00:03:22,199 --> 00:03:25,240 beacon of animal carrying was founded in nineteen ninety seven 54 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:29,599 by Eric Senior and Kacia Bozi, along with their children, 55 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:34,439 Eric Junior and Katiana Bozi. The Star Ecostation is an 56 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:39,520 environmental science museum, an exotic wildlife rescue center, and a 57 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:43,879 haven for endangered and illegally trafficked exotic animals who've been 58 00:03:43,919 --> 00:03:48,159 confiscated by the US Fish and Wildlife Services. Some other 59 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:52,080 animals there find their way there by other situations that 60 00:03:52,159 --> 00:03:56,560 are all too frequently occurring these days. As our guide Coriodolphus, 61 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:00,960 one of the Star Eco Stations Carrying ambassadors, told, these 62 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:04,159 animals come to reside there not by any fault of 63 00:04:04,199 --> 00:04:04,639 their own. 64 00:04:05,159 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 9: Each and every one of the animals here at the 65 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:10,280 Ecostation is a rescued animal. There's a few different kinds 66 00:04:10,319 --> 00:04:12,080 of ways we end up rescuing. Some of them we 67 00:04:12,199 --> 00:04:15,120 have that were privately owned. They were pets that people 68 00:04:15,159 --> 00:04:18,079 either could not accommodate anymore for various reasons. Maybe it 69 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:22,360 got too large, maybe they realized something that didn't fit 70 00:04:22,399 --> 00:04:25,120 their lifestyle, or potentially something that shouldn't have even been 71 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:27,240 in a pet in the first place. The majority of 72 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:29,800 the animals we get we get through federal confiscations through 73 00:04:29,879 --> 00:04:32,680 US Fish and Wildlife. People will smuggle these animals, so 74 00:04:32,759 --> 00:04:35,360 traffic them illegally from one continent to another or one 75 00:04:35,399 --> 00:04:38,160 country to another for the pet trade. 76 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 2: Upon arrival to the Star Ecostation, you know that the 77 00:04:42,079 --> 00:04:45,000 staff there is devoted to caring for the animals and 78 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:48,800 educating the public. The entire look and feel the Star 79 00:04:48,879 --> 00:04:54,639 Ecostation is wonderfully authentic and engaging. Volunteers, including many talented 80 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:58,639 people from the surrounding Hollywood community, to great pride and 81 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:02,720 care in helping the Starr Station transform itself from an 82 00:05:02,759 --> 00:05:07,240 empty warehouse into an engaging, unique, and yet authentic experience 83 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:11,360 for the visitors as well as the animal inhabitants. The 84 00:05:11,439 --> 00:05:14,279 walls are made to look like the jungle or grasslands 85 00:05:14,399 --> 00:05:18,360 or deserts and other native landscapes, depending upon the animal 86 00:05:18,399 --> 00:05:21,759 area you are visiting in. Outside of the Star Ecostation, 87 00:05:22,199 --> 00:05:26,560 you begin your animal encounter experience with various birds and tortoises. 88 00:05:27,199 --> 00:05:29,319 When you check in, you can sign up for a 89 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:33,639 personal tour with one of the experienced and knowledgeable staff guides. 90 00:05:34,319 --> 00:05:36,759 They have a great rapport with the animals and an 91 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:41,040 extensive knowledge that is filled with details and interesting tidbits 92 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:42,480 about the animals you are viewing. 93 00:05:43,199 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 9: One of the best parts of the Ecostation I feel 94 00:05:46,319 --> 00:05:47,800 is that we try to be as hands on as 95 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:51,480 possible with our outreach and our education. When you come 96 00:05:51,519 --> 00:05:53,240 to the facility and to take a tour where there's 97 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:56,240 on a field trip, having a birthday party here, or 98 00:05:56,319 --> 00:05:58,800 just coming to one of our events that we host monthly, 99 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:03,000 different kind of experience. It's a guided tour. We take 100 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:05,319 people around with the staff person. So not only will 101 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:08,399 the public and the attendees be educated on why the 102 00:06:08,439 --> 00:06:12,079 animals are here and different interesting facts, they'll also get 103 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:14,399 an opportunity to see some of the animals outside of 104 00:06:14,399 --> 00:06:16,439 the cages, and they'll be able to touch a few 105 00:06:16,439 --> 00:06:18,839 of the snakes, possibly a lizard, maybe hold a tarantula. 106 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 2: Visitors to the star Ecostation are encouraged to experience hands 107 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:28,199 on lessons in ecology and environmentalism through a breathtaking encounter 108 00:06:28,319 --> 00:06:33,240 with rare birds, exotic reptiles, wildcats, and ocean life in 109 00:06:33,319 --> 00:06:36,879 a tropical setting. Another unique feature of the star Ecostation 110 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:40,079 is that it's home to such a wide variety of animals. 111 00:06:40,439 --> 00:06:42,879 Speaker 9: Some of the animals that we have here on side 112 00:06:42,879 --> 00:06:47,040 of the facility, We've got American alligators, We've got two bobcats, 113 00:06:47,439 --> 00:06:52,000 one African serval which is another smaller cat. We've got 114 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:57,720 bullet constrictors, pythons, chameleons, geckos, monitor lizards, turtles, tortoises, tropical fish. 115 00:06:57,959 --> 00:07:04,160 But we've got our bird paradise of different species of macaw, cockatoos, 116 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:06,240 smaller parrots, amazon parrots. 117 00:07:06,959 --> 00:07:12,319 Speaker 2: Environmental partnerships enhance the star Ecostation with discovery exhibits from 118 00:07:12,519 --> 00:07:16,680 organizations such as the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the 119 00:07:16,759 --> 00:07:21,959 Surfrider Foundation, and the Santa Monica Baykeeper's unique Storm Drain display, 120 00:07:22,399 --> 00:07:25,959 as well as a fun and educational walk through Kelp exhibit. 121 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:28,680 There's so much to see and do at the Star 122 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:32,079 Ecostation that you will find something enjoyable for people of 123 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:35,240 all ages and those who like different types of animals. 124 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:38,759 The educational aspects are done in a fun and informative 125 00:07:38,759 --> 00:07:42,360 way that is both positive and memorable. And for those 126 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:45,399 of you wondering if you can really experience something you've 127 00:07:45,519 --> 00:07:49,639 never experienced before. On our trip there, we watched as 128 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:53,680 alligators fed merely five feet from us. We saw about 129 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:57,360 three hundred baby tarantulas that had been seized and given 130 00:07:57,399 --> 00:08:01,279 to the Star Ecostation for care, and can't forget the 131 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:05,160 snakes and birds there come in all sizes and varieties. 132 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:08,439 If you're in the area, I definitely recommend making a 133 00:08:08,519 --> 00:08:11,519 visit there and taking the tour. We've all had that 134 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:14,360 pleasure of walking through a zoo, but to have that 135 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:19,000 added experience of having a knowledgeable guide share their knowledge, 136 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:22,680 their passion and the stories of the animals, and occasionally 137 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:25,680 even taking the animals out of their enclosure for you 138 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:29,079 to touch or hold, well, that's a definite must experience 139 00:08:29,079 --> 00:08:34,080 for me. The Star Ecostation's mission is preservation through education, 140 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:37,840 and they definitely carry that mission out. If you want 141 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:40,919 to learn more about the preservation of our environment and 142 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:45,080 the interdependence of all living things. The Star Ecostation is 143 00:08:45,159 --> 00:08:49,120 a great place to start. The Star Ecostation has two 144 00:08:49,159 --> 00:08:52,679 great locations for you to visit. We visited the location 145 00:08:52,879 --> 00:08:56,320 in Culver City in southern California. They also have a 146 00:08:56,360 --> 00:09:00,799 location in the Rockland, Sacramento area of central California, and 147 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:04,399 for more information on either of them, or about the 148 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:08,279 Ecostation's efforts, you can visit them on the web at 149 00:09:08,399 --> 00:09:12,600 star ecostation dot org. Our next segment is about an 150 00:09:12,639 --> 00:09:16,279 animal world inventor. How often have we seen a pet product, 151 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:18,639 or any product for that matter, and said, that's a 152 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:22,120 great idea. I should have thought of that, or I 153 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:25,759 wonder how they came up with that idea, or how 154 00:09:25,799 --> 00:09:28,360 do people go from ideas to having the products in 155 00:09:28,399 --> 00:09:31,600 the stores. Well, we caught up with Justin Hill, the 156 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:35,000 inventor of the popular dog toy bird Ball for dogs, 157 00:09:35,519 --> 00:09:38,840 and asked him those questions. If you haven't seen this product, 158 00:09:38,919 --> 00:09:42,480 it's a plastic ball with carefully designed holes that make 159 00:09:42,519 --> 00:09:45,759 the ball whistle when thrown. It also has felt wings 160 00:09:45,799 --> 00:09:48,879 to give it that extra something special to grab your 161 00:09:48,879 --> 00:09:52,159 dog's attention. You know, bird Ball is remarkably fun and 162 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:55,120 entertaining for the dogs as well as their owners. And 163 00:09:55,159 --> 00:09:59,000 I asked Justin about his inspiration to create bird Ball 164 00:09:59,039 --> 00:09:59,639 for dogs. 165 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:03,840 Speaker 10: My dog, Billinger basically is the inspiration behind me creating 166 00:10:03,879 --> 00:10:08,159 the toy. He is a Pitbull Shepherd mixed best I know, 167 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:13,559 and he is one of those really really high energetic dogs. 168 00:10:13,879 --> 00:10:18,279 And basically just every day I'd come home from work 169 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:22,120 and he would just be jumping around and really need exercise, 170 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:24,440 and a lot of times I would just be really tired. 171 00:10:24,879 --> 00:10:26,759 So I wanted to find a way where I could 172 00:10:26,759 --> 00:10:29,159 exercise him where I didn't have to spend a lot 173 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:31,879 of energy. And so I started off taking him to 174 00:10:31,879 --> 00:10:34,919 the park and you know, trying different things. You know, 175 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:37,720 he was definitely into fetch, but I love my dog 176 00:10:37,919 --> 00:10:40,600 like he's my kid, and you know, want to give 177 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:42,440 him the best toy that I can give him. And 178 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:44,799 he was really into Squeaker toys for a while. I 179 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:47,480 mean he still is, but I tried bringing Squeaker toys 180 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:48,960 to the park, thinking that would be a good thing 181 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:52,159 for him to combine one of his favorite toys with fetch. 182 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:54,279 But the problem I was having was that I would 183 00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:56,639 throw a ball from him, and he would go get it, 184 00:10:56,679 --> 00:10:59,159 but then he would just lie down and squeak the 185 00:10:59,159 --> 00:11:02,559 toy to death. So it wasn't working, but it did 186 00:11:02,639 --> 00:11:05,440 give me an idea that you know, obviously he's really 187 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:09,519 into sound producing toys, but I wanted him to run, 188 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:11,799 so I thought I would just combine those two things. 189 00:11:11,879 --> 00:11:15,399 So that was basically the seed idea for bird ball. 190 00:11:15,639 --> 00:11:18,120 I'm going to come up with something that makes noise, 191 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:20,960 but only makes noise when it's in the air, so 192 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:23,320 he has to run for it, rather than something like 193 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:25,080 a squeaky toy where he can just lay down with 194 00:11:25,159 --> 00:11:26,799 it and squeak it over and over and again. 195 00:11:27,399 --> 00:11:30,600 Speaker 2: I must confess that I've purchased several bird balls, and 196 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:34,440 my dogs, Sugar and Zoe, are bird ball addicts. They 197 00:11:34,519 --> 00:11:36,240 really love to go and get them. As soon as 198 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:39,440 the ball is thrown and the whistling starts boom, They're 199 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:41,840 often a shot. I really get a kick out of 200 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:44,759 seeing them run after the balls, and I also got 201 00:11:44,759 --> 00:11:47,240 to admit I like hearing the different whistles that it 202 00:11:47,279 --> 00:11:50,440 creates each different time. Now, I asked Justin if he 203 00:11:50,519 --> 00:11:54,120 knew that dogs and people would love bird ball as 204 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:55,000 much as he and. 205 00:11:54,919 --> 00:11:57,720 Speaker 10: I do there's a lot of dogs out there who 206 00:11:57,720 --> 00:12:01,120 would love bird ball because for wine, it's just a 207 00:12:01,159 --> 00:12:04,000 really fun toy, both for the dogs and for the 208 00:12:04,039 --> 00:12:07,480 person who's playing with their dog with it. Basically, it's 209 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:10,519 something that I think is just hardwired into dogs. Dogs 210 00:12:10,799 --> 00:12:13,519 pretty much all dogs that I've ever met, they all 211 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:16,320 like squeaky toys. And I think that all dogs that 212 00:12:16,360 --> 00:12:18,639 I've met pretty much like birdball because it makes us 213 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:21,480 sound that it's just one of those things they have 214 00:12:21,519 --> 00:12:23,679 that better sense of hearing, and they really liked the 215 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:25,559 tones it makes when you throw it, So you're gonna 216 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:28,840 get a dog that is more excited to chase after it. 217 00:12:28,919 --> 00:12:31,879 So especially if you have a dog that's overweight you've 218 00:12:31,879 --> 00:12:34,320 had a hard time getting to play fetch with, it's 219 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:36,720 something that is a little bit more incentive for the 220 00:12:36,759 --> 00:12:39,039 dogs to go after it if you have a dog 221 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:41,039 that there's a lot of dogs out there that you'll 222 00:12:41,039 --> 00:12:43,720 throw a ball and it's got add it doesn't know 223 00:12:43,759 --> 00:12:46,600 you throw the ball, and with bird ball, they always 224 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:49,399 hear the ball being thrown, so the dogs always run 225 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:51,840 after it. They know exactly when and where you throw 226 00:12:51,879 --> 00:12:53,799 the ball, and that's a big deal. And plus for 227 00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:55,480 the person. It's just fun because every time you throw 228 00:12:55,519 --> 00:12:57,720 it makes kind of a different sound, so it does 229 00:12:57,840 --> 00:13:00,440 keep you engaged as well, depending on how hard you 230 00:13:00,519 --> 00:13:02,399 throw it, which way you throw it, whether or not 231 00:13:02,399 --> 00:13:05,120 you're thrawnify hands, whether or not you're using a launcher 232 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:07,720 like a chuck hit or some kind of tennis ball launcher. 233 00:13:07,759 --> 00:13:09,480 Those things also make a difference in what kind of 234 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:12,559 Shunda produces, so it's really it's an engaging toy all around. 235 00:13:13,039 --> 00:13:15,159 Speaker 2: I want to thank Justin for that insight on how 236 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:17,720 he created his product and what has made it such 237 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:21,039 a success. You can find more information about Birdball at 238 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:24,720 birdballtoy dot com. Also, I want to let you know 239 00:13:24,759 --> 00:13:27,600 that if you call or share your animal Topia stories 240 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:32,320 on our toll free Animal Topian hotline at eight five 241 00:13:32,480 --> 00:13:35,879 five two six four six two five eight or eight 242 00:13:36,039 --> 00:13:39,679 five five Animal Topians, you may win a new free 243 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:42,240 bird ball for you and your dog that will ship 244 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:45,080 straight to you. You don't have a story, but you'll 245 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:48,240 want to enter to win no problem. Like us on 246 00:13:48,279 --> 00:13:51,600 Facebook by searching for animal Topia, we will choose a 247 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:54,919 random winner and send them one of our favorite dog toys, 248 00:13:55,159 --> 00:13:57,840 a brand new bird ball toy. If you've got a 249 00:13:57,879 --> 00:14:00,559 great idea for a pet product, there are any ways 250 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:03,679 to make that thought of reality. One of those ways 251 00:14:03,799 --> 00:14:06,840 is by visiting the patent and trademark offices on the 252 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:09,759 web to get some great tips about taking your inventions 253 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:13,960 from ideas to the marketplace. You can find them at 254 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:18,120 USPTO dot gov. When we return, I'll take you to 255 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:21,519 meet a special organization in Oregon that has been saving 256 00:14:21,559 --> 00:14:24,960 and changing lives for more than thirty five years. And 257 00:14:25,039 --> 00:14:27,799 you won't want to miss the story of Nelson, the 258 00:14:27,840 --> 00:14:31,000 two year old black lab. We'll be right back after 259 00:14:31,039 --> 00:14:32,679 these messages from our sponsors. 260 00:14:34,159 --> 00:14:34,399 Speaker 10: Sit. 261 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:38,360 Speaker 3: Stay, We'll be right back after a short pause. 262 00:14:38,919 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 6: Well, for to be exactly, every pet is unique. Maybe 263 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:51,080 they're gray in the muzzle yet young at heart. Maybe 264 00:14:51,080 --> 00:14:53,279 they're growing out of the puppy stage and into their 265 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:57,919 paws and ears, or maybe they're just trying to maintain 266 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:03,600 a more girlish figure. 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You'll be more productive 290 00:16:20,879 --> 00:16:23,480 and become well read. Now I'm able to catch up 291 00:16:23,519 --> 00:16:25,320 on all the great books I've been wanting to read. 292 00:16:25,919 --> 00:16:28,639 Speaker 1: With Audible, I feel smarter pet. 293 00:16:28,519 --> 00:16:32,000 Speaker 4: Life Radio listeners. Try Audible dot Com now and get 294 00:16:32,039 --> 00:16:35,360 your first thirty days of Audible Listener Gold membership plan 295 00:16:35,559 --> 00:16:39,399 free and get a free audiobook. Choose from over one 296 00:16:39,519 --> 00:16:42,759 hundred thousand titles. To get this great deal, go to 297 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:50,320 audibledeals dot com. That's audibledeals dot com. 298 00:16:50,399 --> 00:16:54,000 Speaker 11: Hi, this is Marcy Davis and my service dog Whistle, 299 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:57,519 and we're your hosts of Working Like Dogs on pet 300 00:16:57,679 --> 00:17:00,639 Like Radio. Working Like Dogs is the where you can 301 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:04,359 learn everything you've ever wanted to know about working animals 302 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:07,200 or working dogs, whether you're a member of a working 303 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:10,079 dog team, or you've just seen a working dog or 304 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:12,880 animal out at the mall or the grocery store and 305 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:16,359 you're curious about how these amazing animals work with their 306 00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:19,640 human partners. Been Working Like Dogs is the show for you. 307 00:17:20,039 --> 00:17:23,200 Join us for the inside scoop at Working Like Dogs 308 00:17:23,279 --> 00:17:28,759 on Petlife Radio dot com. 309 00:17:29,519 --> 00:17:33,400 Speaker 3: Let's talk past it, Let's done pets at Life Radio, Petline. 310 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:43,599 Speaker 5: Radio, pet Life Radio dot com. 311 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:47,759 Speaker 2: Welcome back to animal Topia on pet Life Radio. Next up, 312 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:50,880 we're going to shine the spotlight on an organization that 313 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:53,880 is providing incredible dogs for those who need them to 314 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:56,160 do what many of us take for granted. If you 315 00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:59,680 ask me, everyone could benefit from the companionship and love 316 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:02,960 of a dog. Then there are those who really need 317 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:06,480 the love, the dedication, and the abilities of a special 318 00:18:06,519 --> 00:18:10,319 dog so that they can live their lives. These people 319 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:13,240 and the dogs that serve them have found an incredible 320 00:18:13,279 --> 00:18:16,839 support system in Lifeline from the folks at Dogs for 321 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:22,079 the Deaf. This organization's mission is to rescue and professionally 322 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:26,799 train dogs to help people and enhance their lives, also 323 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:30,799 maintaining a lifelong commitment to all the dogs they rescue 324 00:18:31,119 --> 00:18:34,000 and all of the people they serve. Dogs for the 325 00:18:34,039 --> 00:18:37,839 Deaf is a non profit for impact organization that was 326 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:41,640 founded in nineteen seventy seven by the late Roy G. Kabbat. 327 00:18:42,039 --> 00:18:46,160 Roy worked with exotic and domestic animals for movies and television, 328 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:50,319 and also had a small traveling circus. After retiring in 329 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:54,319 southern Oregon, he was contacted by the American Humane Association 330 00:18:54,799 --> 00:18:58,519 and their headquarters in Denver, Colorado. A deaf woman in 331 00:18:58,559 --> 00:19:01,599 Minnesota had had a dog that had trained itself to 332 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:04,079 let her know when things were going on. As she 333 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:07,319 lost more and more, hearing the dog alerted her to 334 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:11,079 more and more things. Then, after her dog died, the 335 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:13,359 woman realized how much she had come to depend on 336 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:16,079 the dog and began a search for someone to train 337 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:19,960 a new Dog for her. The American Humane Association began 338 00:19:20,039 --> 00:19:23,359 some experimental work trying to train dogs to help people 339 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:27,319 who were deaf, and they wanted Roy's advice. After spending 340 00:19:27,359 --> 00:19:30,759 two weeks in Denver, Roy came back to Oregon and 341 00:19:30,839 --> 00:19:34,079 began Dogs for the Deaf. Dogs for the Deaf was 342 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:37,920 first housed in Jacksonville, Oregon, but has since then moved 343 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:41,319 to their current forty acre site at the base of 344 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:45,559 Lower Table Rock in Central Point, Oregon. Roy would be 345 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:48,839 very proud of where the organization is today. Dogs for 346 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:52,680 the Deaf strives to rescue and train dogs to assist 347 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:57,599 people with hearing loss, autism, panic and anxiety issues, and 348 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:02,880 other challenges. Every day has value, and all people should 349 00:20:02,920 --> 00:20:06,599 have the opportunity to feel safe and independent, regardless of 350 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:11,119 their physical or sensory challenges. To that end, each dog 351 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:14,960 that comes to Dogs for Death meets basic characteristics needed 352 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:18,680 for helping people with a variety of their needs. Dogs 353 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:21,279 for the Deaf is responsive to the changing needs and 354 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:25,279 challenges of both the clients and their dogs, and commits 355 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:29,240 ongoing support for the life of every dog and person. 356 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:33,440 Partnership they form the needs and abilities of the applicants 357 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:36,640 and dogs are carefully matched in tract to assure they 358 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:40,960 receive maximum benefit from each other. The standards of excellence 359 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:45,400 in training and placing these dogs exceeds the Assistance Dogs 360 00:20:45,559 --> 00:20:49,799 International standards, and as Vaughan Maurice, the general manager of 361 00:20:49,839 --> 00:20:52,519 Dogs for the Deaf, explained to us, it is a 362 00:20:52,559 --> 00:20:55,640 long process that has followed up with an even longer 363 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:59,920 commitment to both the people and the animals. 364 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:03,960 Speaker 8: Go to many, many different shelters and they look for 365 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:06,759 dogs that they think we'll be able to make it 366 00:21:06,839 --> 00:21:10,519 through the training of one of our programs. The main 367 00:21:10,599 --> 00:21:13,880 thing that they're looking for is confidence. They want a 368 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:17,039 dog that has a lot of self confidence. They want 369 00:21:17,079 --> 00:21:21,440 a dog that can stay focused. If a trainer is 370 00:21:21,599 --> 00:21:24,039 looking at a dog, they'll take them out into the 371 00:21:24,079 --> 00:21:26,880 playyard and show them a tennis ball and hide that 372 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:29,960 tennis ball and hide some other tennis balls as well, 373 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:32,880 but with the primary ball being the target that the 374 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:35,720 dog is supposed to go after, and if he forgets 375 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:38,319 about the other stuff and focuses on that ball, we 376 00:21:38,559 --> 00:21:42,039 kind of know he's a pretty good focusing kind of dog. 377 00:21:42,119 --> 00:21:45,680 He or she and may do well in training. Once 378 00:21:45,759 --> 00:21:48,519 the trainers have a good feel for a dog, they'll 379 00:21:48,519 --> 00:21:51,720 bring them back here to Dogs for the Death and 380 00:21:52,279 --> 00:21:54,680 they'll go into our quarantine unit for a couple of 381 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:57,359 weeks first and make sure they're up to date on shots, 382 00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:00,960 all that good stuff, and then they begin training. Will 383 00:22:01,039 --> 00:22:05,119 last anywhere from about four months to six months, and 384 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:10,200 it's rather strenuous. It's quite the process. As our dogs become, 385 00:22:10,599 --> 00:22:13,720 say certified hearing dogs for example, all day are then 386 00:22:13,799 --> 00:22:16,839 given a public access rights, so a person can bring 387 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:19,880 that dog anywhere that they may go, such as a 388 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:23,480 restaurant or movie theater or anything, and the dog is 389 00:22:23,599 --> 00:22:26,599 welcome to come in as well. Because of that, there's 390 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:32,039 a really high training standard and testing standard. Another results 391 00:22:32,079 --> 00:22:35,640 of that, Unfortunately, about seventy percent of our dogs that 392 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:40,079 we take into training are unable to complete training. Those 393 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:44,480 dogs that we call Doggie School dropouts, those dogs that 394 00:22:44,599 --> 00:22:48,440 do drop out of the training program. At Dogs for 395 00:22:48,519 --> 00:22:51,319 the Death, we act just as a no kill humane 396 00:22:51,319 --> 00:22:54,559 society does, and we take responsibility for that dog for 397 00:22:54,759 --> 00:22:58,920 the rest of that animal's life and find a suitable 398 00:22:58,960 --> 00:23:03,279 good home for adoption for that animal. The dogs that 399 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:06,880 do complete training and finish the testing, our trainers then 400 00:23:07,039 --> 00:23:10,559 go to the home of the recipient regardless of where 401 00:23:10,559 --> 00:23:14,000 that person may be. If we fly from Oregon anywhere 402 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:16,880 in the US, some places in Canada that we've gone. 403 00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:21,559 We've even had a placement in Puerto Rico, and the 404 00:23:21,599 --> 00:23:25,720 trainer will go and then work with the client and 405 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:29,000 the dog together as a team and give the client 406 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:33,039 some pointers on how to keep up training. It's not 407 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:35,920 like we can just train the dog and then all 408 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:38,839 of a sudden training stops and the reward system stops 409 00:23:38,839 --> 00:23:40,920 and the dog is good for life. That's not really 410 00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:44,440 how it works. The client also has to learn some 411 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:49,359 rudimentary skills to be able to keep the animal focus, 412 00:23:50,319 --> 00:23:55,279 and we monitor the client and the dog for the 413 00:23:55,319 --> 00:23:59,000 rest of their partnership. For the life of the animal. 414 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:03,759 The animal passes on, usually we do another animal to 415 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:07,759 that same client. We've had some clients that have had 416 00:24:07,799 --> 00:24:11,440 as many as four dogs in our thirty five year history, 417 00:24:11,519 --> 00:24:12,920 which is quite impressive. 418 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:16,519 Speaker 2: Dogs for the Deaf has many wonderful stories about the 419 00:24:16,559 --> 00:24:18,839 dogs and the people they have helped throughout the years. 420 00:24:19,759 --> 00:24:23,079 Each story is as special and heartwarming as the dogs 421 00:24:23,079 --> 00:24:26,359 and people they detail. Still, I ask Van to share 422 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:30,079 one particular story with everyone. This is the story of 423 00:24:30,119 --> 00:24:32,960 a special dog making a big difference in the lives 424 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:37,640 of everyone it encounters on a daily basis. That dog 425 00:24:37,720 --> 00:24:41,640 is Nelson, whose intuition and abilities are giving some wonderful 426 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:44,799 special needs children the attention and care they need. 427 00:24:46,079 --> 00:24:51,799 Speaker 8: Nelson is a wonderful, beautiful black Labrador and Nelson originally 428 00:24:52,079 --> 00:24:56,599 was bred as a guide dog from the Guide Dog folks, 429 00:24:56,640 --> 00:25:01,400 but unfortunately he had a bad trichea and was unable 430 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:04,440 to work out in their program. So the folks at 431 00:25:04,440 --> 00:25:07,440 the Guide Dog program contacted Dogs for the Deaf and 432 00:25:07,519 --> 00:25:11,880 asked if we could train Nelson as a hearing assistants dog. 433 00:25:11,920 --> 00:25:15,480 And we brought in Nelson, and Nelson is a very, 434 00:25:15,559 --> 00:25:18,200 very intelligent dog, and we made the decision to make 435 00:25:18,279 --> 00:25:22,599 him a program assistants dog and trained him to basically 436 00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:27,680 go into a classroom of special needs students. He actually 437 00:25:27,920 --> 00:25:32,160 works for the teacher and as these students are distracted 438 00:25:32,359 --> 00:25:35,279 or not paying attention or doing something they shouldn't do, 439 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:39,480 Nelson goes over to them and gently nudges them with 440 00:25:39,599 --> 00:25:42,400 his nose. And he does this all on his own. 441 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:46,000 The teacher doesn't need to ask Nelson to do something. 442 00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:49,960 He's been trained very well to be able to act 443 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:53,480 on his own. The students can also earn Nelson time 444 00:25:53,559 --> 00:25:56,720 if they do finish up a lesson do something really 445 00:25:56,720 --> 00:25:59,480 good in class, they can earn five minutes or so 446 00:25:59,519 --> 00:26:03,519 alone with Nelson as a reward, and it's been just 447 00:26:03,599 --> 00:26:07,440 a wonderful benefit to the classroom. It's really super cool 448 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:11,720 to see Nelson in action. He's also really worked as 449 00:26:11,759 --> 00:26:14,599 an ambassador of that classroom for the rest of the 450 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:18,680 school and now rather than the students and the special 451 00:26:18,759 --> 00:26:22,440 needs class being shunned by the general population or ignored 452 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:25,799 by the general population in the school, because of Nelson, 453 00:26:25,839 --> 00:26:30,039 they're much more accepted. So it's really a great benefit 454 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:32,720 for the children that are in Nelson's class. 455 00:26:33,039 --> 00:26:35,920 Speaker 2: From the beginning, Dogs for the Deaf has maintained a 456 00:26:35,960 --> 00:26:39,119 commitment to every dog rescued from the shelter and to 457 00:26:39,359 --> 00:26:42,039 every person it is helped. Dogs for the Deaf is 458 00:26:42,079 --> 00:26:44,799 there for the life of the team, providing guidance and 459 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:48,160 helping to make sure every team is receiving maximum benefit 460 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:51,680 from each other. Dogs for the Deaf has produced great 461 00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:54,480 results for many animals and humans over their thirty five 462 00:26:54,559 --> 00:26:57,359 year existence, and there are plenty of stories to bring 463 00:26:57,359 --> 00:27:00,279 you to tears and plenty to warm your heart. Just 464 00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:02,960 knowing that these dogs may have otherwise been put down 465 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:07,000 is a testament in itself to the wonderful work Dogs 466 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:09,839 for the Deaf is doing. Add to that the big 467 00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:13,319 differences in the lives of those people who receive these dogs, 468 00:27:13,799 --> 00:27:18,480 and it's truly a great successful program. We wish Dogs 469 00:27:18,519 --> 00:27:21,440 for the Deaf continued success as they celebrate their thirty 470 00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:25,119 five years of saving dogs and enriching lives. For more 471 00:27:25,119 --> 00:27:27,400 information on Dogs for the Deaf, you can visit their 472 00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:32,200 website at Dogsforthedeaf dot org. I want to thank everyone 473 00:27:32,240 --> 00:27:34,799 who helped with this episode, and I hope that you 474 00:27:34,839 --> 00:27:38,400 will share the stories about the star Eco Station, Justin 475 00:27:38,480 --> 00:27:42,279 Hill and the wonderful organization and people from Dogs for 476 00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:45,200 the Deaf. If you have an idea for our show, 477 00:27:45,599 --> 00:27:48,640 a suggestion for a topic, or a story of your own, 478 00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:52,880 please call and share your idea on our Animal Topia 479 00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:57,119 hotline at eight five five two six four six' two 480 00:27:57,160 --> 00:28:02,119 five eight or eight five Five Animal. Topiens you can 481 00:28:02,160 --> 00:28:05,680 also reach us On facebook And twitter For Animal, topia 482 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:09,160 Pet Life, radio and all of those who make this show. 483 00:28:09,240 --> 00:28:12,799 Possible i'm your, Host robert samro Saying i'm proud to 484 00:28:12,799 --> 00:28:15,440 be an animal, topian AND i look forward to sharing 485 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:16,319 more stories with you. 486 00:28:16,440 --> 00:28:21,240 Speaker 3: Soon Let's Talk pets every week on demand only On 487 00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:36,519 petlifradio dot com