1 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:03,560 Speaker 1: This is Pet Life Radio. 2 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:07,879 Speaker 2: Let's Talk Pets. 3 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:26,199 Speaker 3: Welcome to Loving Animals. I'm your host, Doctor Robin Ganser, 4 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:29,039 and I'm so excited you join us this week because 5 00:00:29,079 --> 00:00:31,440 we have an amazing episode to share with you. 6 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:31,839 Speaker 4: Today. 7 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:35,640 Speaker 3: Actress, speaker, and best selling arthur Barbara Niven is here 8 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:38,840 discussing her passion for protecting the world's animals and her 9 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:42,359 advocacy against the cruelties of the horrific dog meey trade. 10 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:44,880 Barbara has been one of our most devoted supporters for years, 11 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:47,799 and beyond her actionable work on behalf of Animals, she 12 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:50,759 also has one of the kindest, most beautiful hearts of 13 00:00:50,799 --> 00:00:54,560 anyone I've ever known. Don't go away now, because coming 14 00:00:54,719 --> 00:00:58,799 up next we'll hear from the beautiful, inspirational Barbara Niven 15 00:00:59,079 --> 00:01:01,439 on this week's episod so of Loving Animals. 16 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:09,480 Speaker 1: We'll be right back. When Helen Brown ran away to 17 00:01:09,599 --> 00:01:12,079 New York City five years ago, she had no idea 18 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:15,079 that a homeless cat with a punk rock haircut and 19 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:18,439 enough catitude to light up the Empire State Building would 20 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:20,480 be the one to teach her the true meaning of 21 00:01:20,599 --> 00:01:23,719 love and a forever home. In the tradition of her 22 00:01:23,799 --> 00:01:28,560 internationally best selling memoir Cleo. Helen Brown's Bono, The Amazing 23 00:01:28,599 --> 00:01:31,519 Story of a Rescue Cat who Inspired a community, is 24 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:34,840 a heartwarming true story about a woman without an anchor, 25 00:01:35,079 --> 00:01:38,640 a homeless cat without much hope, and finding a forever 26 00:01:38,719 --> 00:01:42,120 home in the city that Never sleeps. Modern Cat Magazine 27 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:46,359 calls Bono an uplifting tale about how everyone deserves love 28 00:01:46,519 --> 00:01:49,799 and a second chance. Bono by Helen Brown is on 29 00:01:49,879 --> 00:01:51,120 sale now everywhere. 30 00:01:55,959 --> 00:02:07,560 Speaker 5: Let's Talk Pets on Petlife Radio dot com. 31 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:12,000 Speaker 6: Well, welcome to Loving Animals this week. I'm so thrilled 32 00:02:12,039 --> 00:02:16,120 to welcome our wonderful friend, a personal inspiration to me, 33 00:02:16,879 --> 00:02:21,520 beautiful actress, someone who actually practices. I know it's called 34 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:25,280 star power affirmations, which are beautiful and most importantly to 35 00:02:25,319 --> 00:02:28,159 all of our listeners, she loves animals as much as 36 00:02:28,159 --> 00:02:31,199 we do. Please join me and welcoming, Barbara Nevin. Barbara, 37 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:32,199 thank you for being here. 38 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:35,960 Speaker 7: Oh, thank you for asking me. Anybody who loves animals 39 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:39,280 is a friend of mine, because we are already connected, 40 00:02:39,319 --> 00:02:39,960 aren't we? 41 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:43,199 Speaker 3: We absolutely are. And Barbara, I know that today's busy 42 00:02:43,199 --> 00:02:46,879 for you. You're in Vancouver, you're filming for three and 43 00:02:46,879 --> 00:02:50,319 a half months. The series Chesapeake Shores, which we're so 44 00:02:50,439 --> 00:02:55,319 excited about. So and we love what you do on Hallmark, 45 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:59,439 and we've loved following you. I loved Oh my goodness, 46 00:02:59,439 --> 00:03:02,039 it goes back to the Great Show with Andy McDowell too. 47 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:03,159 That was wonderful. 48 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:07,199 Speaker 7: Oh thank you so much for watching. Seriously, I feel 49 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:09,080 so blessed to be able to do what I love 50 00:03:09,199 --> 00:03:11,479 and get paid for it. I mean, it's like getting 51 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:14,919 paid to prey pretend. It's it was my dream from 52 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:17,520 a long time ago, and so I could not do 53 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:21,039 it if we didn't have people who watch and bring 54 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:24,560 it full circle back. So it's such a blessing and 55 00:03:24,599 --> 00:03:26,479 a gift to be able to do this, and I 56 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:28,719 just want to say thank you for anybody who watches. 57 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:31,759 And Chesapeake Shores is really special because we are now 58 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:36,199 in our second season. We shoot on Vancouver Island, which 59 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:40,719 is another plane ride, either in a propeller plane or 60 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:43,840 on a ferry to go over to Vancouver Island. But 61 00:03:43,919 --> 00:03:49,080 the scenery here is magnificent. It's almost like it's God's country. 62 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:52,879 You're just reminded so much every day of God's magnificence 63 00:03:53,199 --> 00:03:56,639 and in the scenery and in the energy outside and 64 00:03:56,759 --> 00:03:59,360 every day, I take a walk on the beach and 65 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:05,280 just sit and meditate and just reflect and just feel 66 00:04:05,319 --> 00:04:08,120 the energy. And I'm so grateful to be able to 67 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:12,680 align with you, Robin, and with your causes as well 68 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:16,519 with American Humane and all you do for animals, because 69 00:04:16,639 --> 00:04:19,720 putting all the positive energy that we can find into 70 00:04:19,879 --> 00:04:23,480 making a difference for those who have no voice is 71 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:27,600 just such a thrill and such a duty an honor 72 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:30,199 for all of us to do. And the people that 73 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:33,360 you can reach with your show now and the people 74 00:04:33,399 --> 00:04:37,399 who are listening, just thank you for supporting animals and 75 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:40,560 for loving them and doing everything we can to make 76 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:41,360 their lives better. 77 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:44,519 Speaker 3: Oh, Barbara, that's so beautiful. And you know, I just 78 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:48,319 am so fascinated your careers is just amazing. I love 79 00:04:48,439 --> 00:04:51,079 your work. I love that you rescue and use your 80 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:54,800 platform for conversations about animals not just in the United States, 81 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:57,160 but are animals around the world and how they're impacting. 82 00:04:57,560 --> 00:04:59,439 But one thing that I want to read is one 83 00:04:59,439 --> 00:05:02,839 of your stars our power affirmations, and I want you 84 00:05:02,879 --> 00:05:05,439 to share with our listeners what this is. This is 85 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:09,279 one of my favorite quotes of all time from Barbara Niven. 86 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:12,480 It's never too late to become who and what you 87 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:15,720 always were meant to be. All that has come before 88 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:18,240 will lead you exactly to your future self. 89 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:19,199 Speaker 8: Wow. 90 00:05:19,639 --> 00:05:23,199 Speaker 7: Yeah, yeah, what a truth that is for me, and 91 00:05:23,439 --> 00:05:26,639 I find that it resonates with most people, especially as 92 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:30,600 as one gets older. You find that all those things 93 00:05:30,639 --> 00:05:34,519 that you've been through our lessons and you kind of 94 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:38,360 connect the dots eventually as to why they happened. You 95 00:05:38,399 --> 00:05:41,040 don't always know why at the time, but you kind 96 00:05:41,079 --> 00:05:43,759 of are shown the way eventually, and it's like a 97 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:49,000 map to a destination and a journey. And as I've 98 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:51,639 gotten older, like I'm in I'm sixty four now and 99 00:05:51,959 --> 00:05:54,480 proud of it. And I know in my in my profession, 100 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:57,959 women especially don't like to share their age, but dang it, 101 00:05:58,519 --> 00:06:02,879 we have to stop at age discrimination that we impose 102 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:05,560 on ourselves. Not that so much that everybody else does it, 103 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:09,439 but we feel like we do that we get belittled 104 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:12,879 or we are not as much value as we get older. 105 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:16,480 But we have so much more life and more lessons 106 00:06:16,519 --> 00:06:19,240 to share. And if you don't go through something, how 107 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:22,120 can you ever teach the lesson and pay it forward 108 00:06:22,639 --> 00:06:25,839 from what you've just come through? And so as I 109 00:06:25,879 --> 00:06:28,360 get older and you tell me if I mean, you're 110 00:06:28,399 --> 00:06:30,079 way younger than I, but you tell me if you 111 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:32,600 have these kind of whispers in your spirit as well 112 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:35,160 to where that I feel like I am being led 113 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:39,439 and being guided towards my purpose now, my life purpose. 114 00:06:40,079 --> 00:06:42,759 And the older I get, the more I feel like 115 00:06:43,199 --> 00:06:46,319 I have been guided in these things that I have, 116 00:06:46,639 --> 00:06:49,000 things that I'm meant to do, that everything has happened 117 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:50,800 to me, all the lessons that I need to share 118 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:53,639 and pay forward. Now is that happening to you too? Or? 119 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:56,319 Because I know your purpose now and you do so 120 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:59,800 much work for animals and that heading American you may 121 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:03,519 is such a huge purpose and how did how did 122 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:06,000 you even get started? And how did how did you 123 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:08,199 make that commitment and decide to take that lead? 124 00:07:08,319 --> 00:07:09,399 Speaker 8: Robin Wow? 125 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:12,240 Speaker 3: Well, you know, Barbara, that is I think what you've 126 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:15,079 said is so so true. I do hear you know 127 00:07:15,519 --> 00:07:17,959 daily I try to listen to what is my purpose 128 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:20,720 and stay focused on that because this world can be 129 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:23,959 so distracting. It can be so distracting. We let so 130 00:07:24,079 --> 00:07:27,560 much you know, come at us and attack our spirit 131 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:30,199 and our core and our and what is meant to 132 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:33,040 be our purpose. We can be often led down a 133 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:36,120 different path, and so that's why I'm just I'm in 134 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:39,560 love with your quotes and your star power affirmations. That's 135 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:42,160 I think so important if I'm going to be posting 136 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:45,319 some of these just in my personal space, so I 137 00:07:45,399 --> 00:07:48,360 will wake up every morning and repeat these, because I 138 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:50,959 think that's really what it's all about, is repeating how 139 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:53,680 did we get into what our life is meant to be? 140 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:56,800 So I ended up at America in Jumaane after spending 141 00:07:57,240 --> 00:08:02,160 a career in social good in you know, the philanthropy space. 142 00:08:02,439 --> 00:08:05,079 But I felt that I was doing public policy lots 143 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:07,959 of different things, that a real calling was more hands 144 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:10,680 on work, and that I would feel that my purpose 145 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:12,959 would be better served in life to be able to 146 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:16,000 make a difference in the lives of creatures and creatures 147 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:18,800 not just including our cats and dogs, but all creatures. 148 00:08:18,839 --> 00:08:21,519 I've known since I was a little girl watching those 149 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:25,279 little Disney movies and Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom that 150 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:29,920 I remember those and I wanted to make a difference 151 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:34,000 for animals. And I'm just so fortunate that I had 152 00:08:34,039 --> 00:08:37,440 this opportunity to lead American Humane. It is challenging every 153 00:08:37,519 --> 00:08:40,399 day because we'd see so much cruelty, so much lack 154 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:44,519 of awareness, lack of resources to do the work that's needed. 155 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:46,840 That's a big challenge every day. We know what the 156 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:50,159 problems take in terms of resources to resolve and to 157 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:52,240 make a difference in the lifes of animals, and that's 158 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:55,120 challenging to secure the resources. 159 00:08:54,559 --> 00:08:55,159 Speaker 1: To do the job. 160 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:57,480 Speaker 3: Well, that is all, you know, what we think about 161 00:08:57,519 --> 00:09:00,639 every day. So I have to tell you from your 162 00:09:00,879 --> 00:09:03,600 affirmations are so important to me and I want to 163 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:05,000 thank you for putting those out there. 164 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:07,759 Speaker 7: Thank you well. The particular one that you that you 165 00:09:07,879 --> 00:09:10,960 read about is never too late to begin, is really 166 00:09:11,159 --> 00:09:13,840 true because so often we feel like, oh, if we 167 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:17,399 didn't make a certain choice in at say at eighteen, 168 00:09:18,039 --> 00:09:22,440 whether it's for career or love or something, it's never 169 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:24,480 too late to change. I think it takes a lot 170 00:09:24,519 --> 00:09:27,159 of courage to change. And I call it just doing 171 00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:30,519 a course correction. It doesn't even have to be a 172 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:33,960 major you know, like move or anything. But sometimes of 173 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:37,759 just a few little little degrees on that dial, maybe 174 00:09:37,879 --> 00:09:41,159 veering just a little bit to the left or maybe 175 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:43,960 a little bit to the right can make all the difference, 176 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:49,080 and you're probably already being guided. But sometimes you just 177 00:09:49,159 --> 00:09:52,279 need to. And I do it honestly. I do it consciously. 178 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:55,919 Every New Year's I sit and think, well, where have 179 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:59,360 I gone this last year? What has happened, and what 180 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:01,799 do I need to do now to look at the 181 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:04,759 bigger picture to maybe make it incorporate just a few 182 00:10:04,759 --> 00:10:07,159 more little changes in here. And what you were saying 183 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:11,039 too about there being such an overwhelming need for to 184 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:13,720 help creatures that's both both the two legged and the 185 00:10:13,759 --> 00:10:17,200 four legged and ones that don't have any legs, that 186 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:20,840 it can be really overwhelming. And sometimes you get so 187 00:10:20,919 --> 00:10:24,159 overwhelmed and so depressed by the need and by the 188 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:28,240 cruelty that we see, and by the poor little creatures 189 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:30,159 who have no voice, and we want so much to 190 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:32,480 be their voice. But all we can do is say them, 191 00:10:32,519 --> 00:10:35,440 one animal at a time. And what I find is 192 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:40,799 that by joining forces with others like you or I 193 00:10:40,879 --> 00:10:44,879 do other animal rescue groups or people saving groups. I 194 00:10:44,919 --> 00:10:48,840 work with other organizations too, that sometimes we can be 195 00:10:48,919 --> 00:10:51,480 a leader, and sometimes we in need to just sit 196 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:56,200 back and let other people lead and help recharge and 197 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:59,440 refill our own little energy tank and a heart tank, 198 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:02,279 because it can be too overwhelming. 199 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:04,159 Speaker 3: For one person, especially. 200 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:07,919 Speaker 7: Yeah, with such a negative there's so much negative energy 201 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:10,200 right now. But I feel like we are awakening and 202 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:12,600 we're coming together, like you and I have, and like 203 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:16,279 your listeners here on that will hear this show, we 204 00:11:16,399 --> 00:11:19,000 are being awakened for a purpose, and we're being led 205 00:11:19,039 --> 00:11:22,360 together to come together because we can make much bigger 206 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:25,960 of a difference together. And I need you, I need 207 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:29,559 them because sometimes that I can be the strong one, 208 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:32,320 and other times when I'm crying over seeing an email 209 00:11:32,399 --> 00:11:35,960 about dog meat festivals happening in China, you know, I 210 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:39,039 need to be able to be filled up by all 211 00:11:39,039 --> 00:11:41,840 of you two. And that's how we help each other, 212 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:44,960 and we can. I do believe that the good energy 213 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:47,519 and the good people and the good hearts will win 214 00:11:47,759 --> 00:11:51,360 in the end, but just in the meantime, we have 215 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:53,279 to hurry and do it as fast as we can. 216 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:55,200 But all we can do is they one at a time. 217 00:11:55,519 --> 00:11:57,960 Speaker 3: I think that's beautiful. One other one of your quotes 218 00:11:58,000 --> 00:11:59,879 that means a lot to me, particularly when I think 219 00:12:00,039 --> 00:12:04,039 about the cruelty and abuse we see in the animal world, 220 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:08,159 how humans treat animals. This is one that just resonates 221 00:12:08,519 --> 00:12:11,759 what they did to me then does not define who 222 00:12:11,799 --> 00:12:15,080 I am today, I'm hereby reclaim my power, and I 223 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:18,639 thought that was beautiful. I hereby reclaim my power, and 224 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:21,000 each of us have power to make a difference in 225 00:12:21,039 --> 00:12:23,799 the lives of animals, which is one reason I think 226 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:27,039 we're called to do this work. We know that we 227 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:29,519 have to reclaim our power to do it. Barbara, we're 228 00:12:29,519 --> 00:12:31,759 going to have to go into a commercial break briefly, 229 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:34,039 but I want to come back and talk about the 230 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:39,519 meat festival in China and your advocacy about eliminating one 231 00:12:39,519 --> 00:12:42,639 of the most horrific cruelties I think out there for 232 00:12:43,039 --> 00:12:46,759 our precious canine. So we'll be back right after this 233 00:12:46,799 --> 00:12:49,600 brief message. You're listening to Loving Animals. This is your 234 00:12:49,639 --> 00:12:50,639 first Robin Canton. 235 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 2: We'll be right back right after these messages. 236 00:12:53,639 --> 00:12:54,279 Speaker 5: Stay tuned. 237 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:01,720 Speaker 4: I know that feeling when you go to clean the 238 00:13:01,759 --> 00:13:05,600 litter box and it's a complete disaster. Yeah, we've got 239 00:13:05,639 --> 00:13:09,360 you covered. Introducing world's best cat litter, zero Mass, the 240 00:13:09,399 --> 00:13:12,159 advanced litter that gives you two times better clumping and 241 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:16,000 more odor control with less litter. Zero Mass combines the 242 00:13:16,039 --> 00:13:20,120 concentrated power of corn with super absorbent plant fibers, translation 243 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:23,519 scoop once and you're done, Find it at a pet 244 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:27,120 store near you and save two dollars. Visit www dot 245 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:29,559 save on World's Best dot com. 246 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:32,559 Speaker 2: Does your dog itch, scratch, stink or shed like crazy? 247 00:13:32,879 --> 00:13:34,080 Come to dinabite for help. 248 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:37,240 Speaker 7: Order a ninety day supply of Dynabte Dinavite for Life. 249 00:13:37,279 --> 00:13:40,360 Speaker 2: Pick up two tubes of Dogosides, get the third tube free. 250 00:13:40,399 --> 00:13:43,960 Peppermint t tree lavender Dogoside shampoo. 251 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:46,039 Speaker 7: Made with all natural coconut jojoba alo. 252 00:13:46,279 --> 00:13:49,639 Speaker 2: Great for healthy skin and soft shiny coats, but no itchy, 253 00:13:49,679 --> 00:13:53,840 harsh chemicals. Lather up rinse away. Try dog Osides Buy two, 254 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:56,360 get one free at dinavite dot com, d. 255 00:13:56,799 --> 00:14:01,559 Speaker 7: N obit e dot com. 256 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:05,399 Speaker 2: Let's talk past it, Let's done past About Life Radio, 257 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:06,519 Hetline Radio. 258 00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:18,559 Speaker 8: Pet Life Radio dot com. 259 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:21,720 Speaker 6: Well, welcome back to Loving Animals. This is your host, 260 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:26,879 Robin Ganzer. We're here with the inspirational Barbara Neven and Barbara, 261 00:14:26,919 --> 00:14:31,720 I'm so glad that your life purpose involves loving animals, 262 00:14:31,919 --> 00:14:35,559 and so much so that you have been a significant 263 00:14:35,639 --> 00:14:38,679 advocate for making change, not just in our country, but 264 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:41,240 indeed around the world. Talk to me a little bit 265 00:14:41,279 --> 00:14:45,399 about your feelings, your angst, your pain when you learned 266 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:48,039 more about the Yulon meat festival in China. 267 00:14:48,559 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 7: Well, and okay, so there's a Yulin meat festival in China, 268 00:14:53,039 --> 00:14:56,360 but it's not just the dog and cat meat trade 269 00:14:56,600 --> 00:15:00,279 in China. It's around the world, and there there are 270 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:04,559 videos out there that talks about that shows actually what's 271 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:06,879 happening to these animals. So let me let me just 272 00:15:06,919 --> 00:15:10,879 say what it is. First. In many mostly Asian countries, 273 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:16,960 people feel that eating animals or and particularly for man, 274 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:21,519 eating the animal's penis makes them more viraal. And you know, 275 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:25,039 it's not just about animals here, but you know, we 276 00:15:25,039 --> 00:15:27,120 can go into so much more about like eating the 277 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:31,200 rhino horns and all these different myths that happened because 278 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:34,440 they feel like these animals give them magical powers. But 279 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:39,600 specifically about the dog meat festival in Yulen, China. We've 280 00:15:39,639 --> 00:15:43,399 all kind of heard the words before, but it's easy 281 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:46,720 to close your eyes and not think about it because 282 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:50,919 it's so horrific. So I finally started watching one of 283 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:54,480 the videos that I got in my email, and I 284 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:58,200 will never get the site out of my mind. I 285 00:15:58,399 --> 00:16:01,679 urge you, probably maybe you can watch three seconds of 286 00:16:01,679 --> 00:16:04,720 one of these videos. It will be implanted forever, and 287 00:16:04,759 --> 00:16:06,480 you will never get the picture out of your mind 288 00:16:06,879 --> 00:16:11,039 because what they do. They have these animals, these beautiful 289 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:15,360 dogs and cats that are often stolen, they've been pets, 290 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:19,279 they are stolen because there's such a need in these 291 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:23,919 festivals at this time to take them out one by 292 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:28,759 one and in front of the other dogs, to kill them. 293 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:32,039 And before they kill them, they believe that their meat 294 00:16:32,519 --> 00:16:36,960 tastes better if they have been terrified first and tortured first. 295 00:16:37,159 --> 00:16:40,960 So they will do whatever they can to make the 296 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:45,000 animals suffer the absolute most, including their main thing that 297 00:16:45,039 --> 00:16:48,080 they love to do is to skin these animals alive. 298 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:52,639 You watch the video with them actually starting at the 299 00:16:52,639 --> 00:16:58,000 top of their neck pulling the skin off of these animals, 300 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:03,600 whether they're it is so horrible you cannot even believe it. 301 00:17:03,679 --> 00:17:07,079 And often in these videos you see these men who 302 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:09,839 are doing it and I'm saying, man, there are maybe 303 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:13,759 women who do it too. I'm saying that man as 304 00:17:13,839 --> 00:17:19,240 a collective human race, man are smiling because they're getting 305 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:22,680 off on it. There are each one of the un 306 00:17:22,759 --> 00:17:26,839 Meat Festival happens in June. It's coming up again twenty 307 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:30,039 ninth or somewhere. The last week of June. 308 00:17:30,279 --> 00:17:32,839 Speaker 3: And in Korea, right, I mean there's Korea. 309 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:35,240 Speaker 7: Yeah, yeah, it happens in Korea too, but the Yuan 310 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:39,240 one we're focusing on right now because it's happening so quickly, 311 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:43,160 and we're trying to put pressure at the Chinese embassies, 312 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:47,000 et cetera. And in Korea it happens as well, and 313 00:17:47,079 --> 00:17:49,799 there is a new South Korean leader that was just 314 00:17:49,839 --> 00:17:54,039 elected who is an animal lover, so he is said 315 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:57,359 to be going to putting a stop on it, at 316 00:17:57,440 --> 00:18:01,039 least exerting pressures, because these are not just fund festival. 317 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:05,640 These are culture driven because their myths that the village 318 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:09,039 and the people have passed down that by eating these 319 00:18:09,640 --> 00:18:13,799 animals and torturing them they actually get their magical powers 320 00:18:13,799 --> 00:18:16,359 in their body. But of course we know that that 321 00:18:16,519 --> 00:18:20,279 is not true, and they are eating such bad karma. 322 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:24,559 And so anyway, I'm trying everything I can to raise awareness. 323 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:28,480 And the thing that I find the most difficult, and 324 00:18:29,119 --> 00:18:32,079 which is what it didn't even sink into my soul 325 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:34,559 that this could be happening for so long, is when 326 00:18:34,599 --> 00:18:36,759 something is so horrible, we all close our eyes and 327 00:18:36,799 --> 00:18:39,759 turn away because we can't look at it. But we 328 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:43,519 have to look at it and be crushed enough in 329 00:18:43,559 --> 00:18:46,599 our souls to pass it on and see their urgency. 330 00:18:46,839 --> 00:18:49,079 So that's what I'm doing now. I'm trying to do 331 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:52,359 everything I can to raise awareness. You and I have 332 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:55,880 talked about what American Humane is doing to help this 333 00:18:56,039 --> 00:18:58,880 cause as well, and thank you so much for doing it, 334 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:01,640 because I know you just rest. Thank you many animals 335 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:04,839 again from China didn't hear from the document trade I. 336 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:05,599 Speaker 1: Did last fall. 337 00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:07,640 Speaker 3: I was in Hong Kong and we were able to 338 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:10,680 be part of a rescue effort that involved over one 339 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:13,440 hundred dogs, and I think it was a dozen that 340 00:19:13,519 --> 00:19:17,400 we paid for for full transport, for every bit of 341 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:21,160 their relocation back to the United States. And that was 342 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:25,079 a moment that really it really shook me. It really 343 00:19:25,799 --> 00:19:28,400 made me feel like, again, that's our purpose, right, that's 344 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:31,079 the purpose we started out in this conversation about how 345 00:19:31,079 --> 00:19:33,359 we can really make a difference. And I believe that 346 00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:38,000 bringing those dogs back is an opportunity for Americans to 347 00:19:38,079 --> 00:19:42,559 have a conversation. Because the dogs are here on our soil, 348 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:45,119 we can look at them and see their creatures just 349 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:47,119 like the own dogs in our own shelters here in 350 00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:48,960 our country. And rescue groups in the country. 351 00:19:49,039 --> 00:19:50,000 Speaker 7: They are just normal. 352 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:51,359 Speaker 3: They're normal dogs. 353 00:19:51,519 --> 00:19:55,559 Speaker 7: Yes, they're not packed anything and a dog. Even when 354 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:59,119 I've heard when they're rescued from a meat farm like this, 355 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:02,400 they still when the rescuer comes up and they've never 356 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:06,480 ever had a kind hand to pet them. They're often 357 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:10,559 without food or water. They're raised in fear. Yet when 358 00:20:10,599 --> 00:20:14,039 they first planned love the way good Tail still dogs 359 00:20:14,039 --> 00:20:15,000 have such hope. 360 00:20:15,279 --> 00:20:17,240 Speaker 3: Yes, and they have hope and they have faith in 361 00:20:17,319 --> 00:20:20,599 us humans, and it is a it's all about love. 362 00:20:21,039 --> 00:20:23,839 And Barbara, I have to say that I'm so touched 363 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:27,480 by your willingness to use your incredible platform to help 364 00:20:27,519 --> 00:20:30,640 make the world better for helping us all be aware 365 00:20:30,799 --> 00:20:35,079 so that we can use our tools to drive change 366 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:38,039 and use our platforms to drive change. We've worked with 367 00:20:38,079 --> 00:20:42,319 the World Dog Alliance. We're hoping that through some international 368 00:20:42,759 --> 00:20:46,759 relationships that we'll be able to stop this horrific practice 369 00:20:46,799 --> 00:20:50,920 and importantly stop the practice in South Korea before the Olympics. 370 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:54,480 A lot of work for us to do for animals, 371 00:20:54,519 --> 00:20:57,359 and I think there's some great partnerships that we can 372 00:20:57,480 --> 00:20:59,559 build internationally. 373 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:04,079 Speaker 7: To help and also absolutely and it's huge now that 374 00:21:04,559 --> 00:21:09,480 we use the economic and in the high level platform 375 00:21:09,599 --> 00:21:13,400 of the Olympics in South Korea at kan Yang. Isn't 376 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:15,440 that where it is? I'm not sure if I pronounced 377 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:18,920 that correctly, but we all need to put a pressure on. 378 00:21:19,119 --> 00:21:21,960 And I won't also say that each one of us 379 00:21:22,079 --> 00:21:25,799 can do something. It's just like working to save animals 380 00:21:25,799 --> 00:21:29,119 and the animal shelter or rescue efforts. Each one of 381 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:31,599 us has a tool and a gift and a talent 382 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:35,680 that we can use. Maybe it's starting a petition or 383 00:21:35,759 --> 00:21:39,119 adding your signature to a petition or and there are 384 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:41,559 so many petitions out there now. All you have to 385 00:21:41,599 --> 00:21:45,599 do is google dog meat trade, South Korea, Olympics, et cetera, 386 00:21:45,759 --> 00:21:48,559 and you will go to a site and all the 387 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:51,799 action items are right there. If each one of us 388 00:21:51,920 --> 00:21:54,400 is listening, who is listening right now, would go and 389 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:58,440 do that? Call the South Korean consulate, call the Chinese 390 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:01,759 embassy in your area. There are people who are already 391 00:22:01,839 --> 00:22:05,000 giving you the tools and mapping out the actions that 392 00:22:05,039 --> 00:22:08,279 you can take daily, because now is the time that 393 00:22:08,319 --> 00:22:12,519 we can come together and do something every single day 394 00:22:12,559 --> 00:22:16,240 to help end this and help raise awareness. I personally 395 00:22:16,279 --> 00:22:19,440 have been sharing this with on social media every day 396 00:22:19,519 --> 00:22:22,160 on my Twitter feed and my Twitter if you want 397 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:24,759 to get in on this and start sharing too. Is 398 00:22:25,079 --> 00:22:28,319 at Barbara Niven and so many of my friends that 399 00:22:28,319 --> 00:22:30,519 I've met now on social media are also paying it 400 00:22:30,559 --> 00:22:34,079 forward and doing that. So just raise awareness where you 401 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:38,240 are and then have the groups that you're creating just 402 00:22:38,319 --> 00:22:41,920 start taking action, because I really feel like we are 403 00:22:41,960 --> 00:22:45,519 in the best time possible that we can help stop this. 404 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:49,680 It's about educating us here and also educating the people 405 00:22:49,759 --> 00:22:52,880 in the countries because they don't know any better. I 406 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:56,839 guess at these festivals as they're doing this, people like 407 00:22:56,960 --> 00:23:00,960 there's probably in a four x four crate cage, wire 408 00:23:01,039 --> 00:23:03,839 cage where the animals have no food and water. There 409 00:23:03,880 --> 00:23:07,400 are probably six huge dogs crammed in there in there 410 00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:10,279 somewhere on the bottom where they can't breathe, et cetera. 411 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:13,519 And then the humans that are at the festival, they're 412 00:23:13,559 --> 00:23:16,799 celebrating and they say, oh, I want that one with 413 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:18,319 the tongue hanging out on the bottom. 414 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:20,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's horrible suffered the most. 415 00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:23,759 Speaker 7: And their children are watching, so they come out, they 416 00:23:23,799 --> 00:23:26,359 watch the animal. They're all laughing as they're getting tortured 417 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:29,559 and skinned alive and then sometimes and it's cats too. 418 00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:32,799 Sometimes they're all thrown into boiling water alive because and 419 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:35,559 they watch them screen because they think it tastes better. 420 00:23:35,799 --> 00:23:37,920 These are things we need to know. We have to 421 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:41,440 talk about that that is not right. And they're passing 422 00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:44,960 that down to the kids too, because they're getting normalized. 423 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:50,920 They're getting numbed to cruelty. Up when we know better, 424 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:55,039 we can do better. So let's know better here, and 425 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:58,000 the people that are hearing this right now, please do 426 00:23:58,079 --> 00:24:02,200 something today and let stop this. Let's do what we can, 427 00:24:02,319 --> 00:24:05,119 one animal, one person at a time, they help stop this. 428 00:24:05,440 --> 00:24:10,279 Speaker 3: Thank you, Barbara for that powerful statement. On one closing note, 429 00:24:10,759 --> 00:24:13,200 give me the names of the senior pets in your 430 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:15,640 life because you have some wonderful loves at home. 431 00:24:16,039 --> 00:24:18,319 Speaker 7: Yes, I do, and I miss them. Can you tell 432 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:21,359 me tell I'm homesick today, I'm like a wreck. I 433 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:24,240 think about the animal things that I do. Yes, I 434 00:24:24,319 --> 00:24:26,599 have when I'm gone. I'm gone for three and a 435 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:30,240 half months on this shoot, and I never have gone 436 00:24:30,359 --> 00:24:33,079 anywhere without. You know, I can't take my animals, so 437 00:24:33,279 --> 00:24:35,440 I always make sure that I have a wonderful couple 438 00:24:35,519 --> 00:24:38,079 staying there. So my animals all sleep in the bed. 439 00:24:38,119 --> 00:24:41,160 They've never not slept with humans. In fact, that's kind 440 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:43,240 of how I judge people. Hopefully they all let their 441 00:24:43,240 --> 00:24:46,319 animals sleep with them. I probably sleep with animals mostly, 442 00:24:46,680 --> 00:24:49,680 but I have a sixteen year old death and almost 443 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:52,920 completely blind. Your key named Lucy have no teeth either, 444 00:24:53,240 --> 00:24:57,680 but she's doing great. A fifteen year old Chiwawa named Pepper. 445 00:24:58,039 --> 00:25:01,039 And then my dear Lola just passed way in November. 446 00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:04,720 She ended up with a brain tumor and passed away. 447 00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:08,160 And I called the same rescue that I had gotten 448 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:13,079 her from because I'm a foster failure, and adopted an 449 00:25:13,119 --> 00:25:16,920 eight year old little ram chubby Chiwow and named Meggie. 450 00:25:17,039 --> 00:25:20,839 So that's my family. I love YEP. I know we'll 451 00:25:20,839 --> 00:25:23,279 have to talk again again. Anybody who follows me on 452 00:25:23,359 --> 00:25:26,440 social media knows me and loves my dogs as well 453 00:25:26,599 --> 00:25:29,759 and has helped me through. When you have senior dogs, 454 00:25:30,039 --> 00:25:33,039 things go wrong just as with us. So there's extra 455 00:25:33,160 --> 00:25:37,359 medications and you know, extra surgeries and extra bit man, 456 00:25:37,519 --> 00:25:41,920 adopting a senior is so wonderful, not only for you 457 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:45,960 but for them and I. One of my things that 458 00:25:46,480 --> 00:25:48,400 my cause is that you are so kind about to 459 00:25:48,519 --> 00:25:52,160 let me talk about Robin, is is how to really 460 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:55,160 consider adopting a senior and not just a cute puppy. 461 00:25:55,319 --> 00:25:57,200 Speaker 3: And we're going to have you be for that. People 462 00:25:57,240 --> 00:25:59,519 need to know this. Seniors need a home and you're 463 00:25:59,519 --> 00:26:02,119 in a great example of fostering and being a foster 464 00:26:02,200 --> 00:26:04,680 failure with the senior dog is the best failure ever, 465 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:08,319 I think. Yeah, Tom, Barbara, I'm so glad you could 466 00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:12,559 join us today. This has been such a wonderful episode, enlightening, informative, 467 00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:15,200 hard to hear at times, but I tell you it's 468 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:17,960 a game changer for many of our listeners who now 469 00:26:18,039 --> 00:26:21,000 know about what animals face around the world. 470 00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:21,759 Speaker 2: Wow. 471 00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:24,880 Speaker 3: Friends, you know, I think sometimes we forgot some of 472 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:27,240 the whores that are going on across the world that 473 00:26:27,279 --> 00:26:30,759 are impacting our favorite animals, like the terrible dog meat 474 00:26:30,799 --> 00:26:34,599 trade that Barbara discussed today. As a CEO of American Humaine, 475 00:26:34,759 --> 00:26:38,960 I'm dedicated, just like Barbara, to stopping these whores, to 476 00:26:39,039 --> 00:26:42,200 stopping and ending the abuse of animals, and to really 477 00:26:42,279 --> 00:26:45,839 building a better humane world for all creatures. From one 478 00:26:45,880 --> 00:26:49,640 animal lover to another, thank you for joining us for 479 00:26:49,759 --> 00:26:53,799 this week's episode of Loving Animals. Remember this week and 480 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:56,480 every week I'm loving animals, and I know you are too. 481 00:26:57,200 --> 00:27:01,079 Speaker 5: Let's talk beats every week on demand and only on 482 00:27:01,319 --> 00:27:26,559 petlifradio dot com.