Animal Voices - Companion Animals

Shadow City: An Interview with Cat City Director Justine Pimlott

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0400

Beneath the finely constructed facades of an urban centre such as Toronto, there is a different city that teems and struggles to make its way. Though we’re probably all familiar with the cats that live in our homes or neighbourhoods, we might not know so much about the other world of cats that exists in the shadowy places outside of our regular view. Join us for an interview with Cat City director Justine Pimlott as she discusses her new documentary about cat overpopulation in Toronto. We’ll explore the causes and effects of cat overpopulation, from feral cat trapping and steralization to the ever-difficult subject of euthanasia.

Justine Pimlott is one half of Red Queen Productions and an award-winning filmmaker who learned the art of documentary as an apprentice at the groundbreaking Studio D at the National Film Board of Canada. Her documentary Cat City will air nationally in Canada on Global TV.

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Paying Attention to the Noise: Barbara Smuts’ Research with Dogs, Wolves, and Nonhuman Primates

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:00:00 -0400

Dr. Barbara Smuts, professor of Biopsychology at the University of Michigan, knows she isn’t a rock, which is actually very useful information when studying animals. Similarly, for example, baboons are also aware that the scientist sitting nearby is not an inanimate lump. As Smuts discovered, once this mutual acknowledgement has happened, a whole world of possibilities begins to unfold: Suddenly greetings and etiquette and the potential of understanding social relations from a closer, less detached position emerges.

In this interview, Smuts introduces us to her embodied and embedded approach to research. Such an orientation includes paying attention to research results that are often dismissed as mere “noise.” Through highly detailed and rigorous methods, such as frame by frame analysis of dogs’ play behavior, Smuts discovers worlds of emotional, psychological, and social richness too often denied to exist within animal societies. As she explains, her work draws on “evolutionary theory, studies of complex systems, and developmental research to examine the dynamics and functions of long-term social relationships.”

Filling the Ark: Dr. Leslie Irvine discusses animals in disasters

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:00:00 -0400

When disaster strikes, news reports come fast and furious with constant updates and around the clock coverage. However, the coverage of earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes and floods is almost always human-focused; where animals are concerned, the media often has little to say, especially if those animals were to become food or be used as research subjects. In this interview Dr. Leslie Irvine explains how some animals are deemed more worthy of coverage than others, and how an animal’s sociological status affects how they are - or are not - protected when disasters occur. Covering both “natural” and “human-made” disasters, Dr. Irvine discusses the current state of animal protection in times of crisis, and gives practical suggestions for how the plight of animals can be ameliorated in the future.

Leslie Irvine is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Colorado at Boulder. She received her Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Her research focuses on the role of animals in society. She has studied animal sheltering, human-animal relationships, and most recently, animals in disasters. Her book, titled Filling the Ark: Animal Welfare in Disasters, urges us to rethink our use of animals that put them in harm’s way. She is also the author of If You Tame Me: Understanding Our Connection with Animals, and numerous articles on our relationships with other species.

Friends or Dinner?: A Toronto Subway System Campaign Stops the Public in Its Tracks

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:00:00 -0400

“Why love one but eat the other?” is the provocative slogan of the recent campaign launched by concerned citizens of Toronto and the U.S.-based animal advocacy organization, Mercy for Animals. This ambitious initiative, running June 9th to August 15th, involves a series of visually-striking subway posters that centrally juxtapose images of animals typically considered pets in North America against images of animals raised for food. Accompanying these images, text provides stereotype-busting information about “farm animals”. Additional images and commentary highlight contemporary factory farm conditions and animal treatment within the industrial food system. In this program, Kimberly Carroll, a key organizer of the campaign, shares her thoughts on these highly-viewed public education materials, including people’s reactions to the posters and a few background stories about the animals featured in the heart-rending pictures.

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Matters of Life and Death: The Toronto Humane Society Under Investigation

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:00:00 -0400

Toronto listeners will likely be aware of the recent Globe and Mail's shocking investigation of the Toronto Humane Society (THS), Canada's largest animal shelter. The allegations are serious and damning, including claims that animals languish in filthy conditions, as others are left to slowly die without proper veterinary care, while still others are adopted out with undisclosed pre-existing health conditions. Needless to say, the Globe article sparked huge public outcry.

As those who work in animal shelters can attest, the labour is demanding and an ideal care environment can be difficult to achieve. Many feel that the THS has not met the challenges well, arguing that animals continue to suffer unnecessarily under the organization's watch. After the Ontario Society for the Protection of Animals (OSPCA) stepped in to begin their own comprehensive investigation, the THS quickly declared itself vindicated by the organization's initial search, contrary to the opinion of the OSPCA. In this interview, Kristin Williams, spokesperson for the OSPCA, discusses the frictional relationship between the OSPCA and the THS, the phases of the investigation, and potential legal ramifications. Williams also weighs in on some of the sticky issues, such as euthanasia and pet overpopulation, that the THS controversy has undeniably pushed into the foreground.

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Reaching Out: The VegFund and Pet Loss Program Offer Support

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0400

At first glance, that decadent dairy-free brownie may seem like any other dessert, but in the hands of a savvy vegan advocate, that sweet treat can transform into a powerful tool for social and environmental change. As many vegans know, tasty animal-free foods shared at a potluck or offered as a gift can open dialogues and challenge stereotypes in ways that even some of the most compelling arguments cannot. Enter the remarkable VegFund, an organization that provides money to activists who are interested in providing vegan food at non-veg local events. In this interview, Rae Sikora explains why the free food plus educational literature make such a great pair, and how you can start accessing the fund in your area.

In our feature interview, Angie Rupra (M.S.W., R.S.W), shares her insights into animal companion loss. Struck by a dearth of resources when her dog and best friend, Montey, passed away in 2004, Rupra began volunteering with the Halton/Peel Pet Loss Support Group and studying companion animal loss in earnest. Now, as the Pet Loss Program Coordinator with the Pet Vet Hospitals, Rupra continues to help those grieving the death of an animal. If you've ever struggled with the loss of an animal, or know someone who has, please tune in to hear some compassionate advice about ways you can help yourself and others.

Please note that the Pet Loss Program services are offered at no cost, with the exception of long-term counselling (considered more than 2 face-to-face sessions). People from anywhere can call as Rupra does telephone and email support. You can either call or write: 1-866-226-8079, ext. 55 / angie.rupra [at] petvethospitals.ca.

Angie draws on anti-oppressive and critical approaches to social work. She completed her Bachelor of Social Work at Ryerson University, Masters of Social Work with York University, and Bereavement Education Certificate Program with Toronto Advanced Professional Education.

Local Work: Animal Overpopulation and Food Sovereignty in Mexico

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 11:00:00 -0500

Photo from HSUS

Join us for interviews with Mónica Pineda president of GEPDA (Genta por la Defensa Animal / People for Animal Defense), and social justice activist, animal activist, and Nahuatl (Aztec) Indian, Gerardo Tristan Alvarado. First, we connect with Pineda, who describes efforts to control dog overpopulation throughout Mexico. We hear about the authorities' approach to animal control, and GEPDA's educational outreach efforts in urban and rural areas. Pineda also explains some of the key issues that have led to the widespread overpopulation problem.

Photo from Abolitionist Online

Then, Tristan Alvarado discusses "Bio-Justice / Bio-Justicia 2009," the upcoming gathering in Monterrey, Mexico, which will draw together people interested in food sovereignty. Taking a holistic approach to vegetarian advocacy, he argues for local-based initiatives that are directly partnered with the communities they serve. He hopes to collaborate with people inside and outside of Mexico. Please contact him at biojusticia@hotmail.com.

Gerardo Tristan Alvarado is a proud member of the New Tallahassee (Tallahassee Wakokiye) ceremonial grounds in Eastern Oklahoma where he touches sacred medicine.

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ProAnima: Animal Rights Lessons from Brazil

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:00:00 -0500

Brazil boasts some of the world's most progressive animal welfare legislation, but unfortunately what's on paper has not materialized for the majority of the country's animals. Despite the general lack of legal enforcement in Brazil, the organization ProAnima has made great strides for animals, and has carved a space for animal rights within public debate.

ProAnima, a non-profit and volunteer group based in Brasília, focuses on ending the use of animals in circuses and horse carting, changing public policy on Leishmaniasis disease, and stopping the mass slaughter of street dogs and cats. In this interview we connect with ProAnima's founder Simone de Lima to discuss the organization's achievements, including how its members gained the police's sympathy and shifted the public's view of circuses. Additionally, de Lima details the campaign issues, while she also describes the link between colonialism and circuses, and offers fascinating insight into rural and urban attitudes toward animals.

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Black Dog Syndrome

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Photo from Start Seeing Black Dogs

This show explores Black Dog Syndrome (BDS), defined as the "the low adoption and high euthanasia rate of black dogs in shelters." Two prominent BDS activists, Tamara Delaney (founder of Contrary to Ordinary: The Black Pearls of the Dog World) and Heather Rosenwald (founder of Start Seeing Black Dogs) share their insights about the disturbing phenomenon. Speaking together for the first time, Rosenwald and Delaney discuss factors contributing to BDS, effective strategies for change, and the animals who motivate them.

Creative and market-savvy efforts, such as black dog walks and sharp photography techniques, continue to improve the situation for black shelter dogs. Yet, as these two advocates stress, there is still much work to be done.

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Life and Death in Vet School

Tue, 20 May 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Ever considered becoming a vet? If so, you may encounter some unexpected ethical dilemmas in your training. In this engaging interview, Dr. Erika Sullivan provides an intimate portrait of her veterinary school experience. An award-winning graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, Ontario, Sullivan is concerned that many students still choose to practice surgical techniques on live animals. The animals are transported to the college, kept in the students' care, later anesthetized, operated upon, and then killed. Where do the animals come from, and why are healthy animals being "euthanized"? Given that an alternative stream exists, why do the majority of students opt for the regular program? Which program provides the better learning experience? Dr. Sullivan answers these and other questions as we don our scrubs and tour the veterinary classroom. Invaluable to both potential students and the general public, Sullivan's perspective is informed as much by science as compassion.

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China county orders dog cull after quake

When Species Meet: An Interview with Donna Haraway

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Dr. Haraway with Cayenne. Photo © Rusten Hogness

In this interview we speak with Dr. Donna Haraway about her new book, When Species Meet. Haraway is well-known for her cyborg-related scholarship, through such essays as "A Cyborg Manifesto: Science, Technology, and Socialist-Feminism in the Late Twentieth Century." Though not abandoned, the cyborg now rides sidecar to "companion species," the driving figure in her current work.

Born of real infoldings of flesh, trust, and respect, "companion species" entails lived relations of significant otherness. In her own words, "When Species Meet is about the entanglements of beings in technoculture that work through reciprocal inductions to shape companion species." The book is greatly informed by a cross-species sport called agility. In particular, When Species Meet introduces us to two dogs, Cayenne and Roland, her partners in the practice. Importantly, though, "companion species" also resonates beyond human-dog relationships, and maneuvers through, in, and around all sorts of fascinating terrain.

Donna Haraway is a Professor in the History of Consciousness Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She received her Ph.D. in Biology from Yale in 1972. In 2000, Haraway earned the J.D. Bernal Prize, a lifetime achievement award from the Society for Social Studies of Science. A scholar of feminist theory, animal studies, cultural and historical studies of modern science and technology, she is the author of numerous books, such as The Companion Species Manifesto: Dogs, People, and Significant Otherness; Modest_Witness@Second_Millennium. FemaleMan©_Meets_OncoMouse™: Feminism and Technoscience; Simians, Cyborgs, and Women: The Reinvention of Nature; and Primate Visions: Gender, Race, and Nature in the World of Modern Science.

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Beyond the “Crazy Cat Lady” Stereotype: An Introduction to Animal Hoarding

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Source: Humane Society of the United States / ABC News

At the top of hour, we connect with Cyrus Showkati from Canadians for Effective Animal Cruelty Legislation, a coalition that is raising awareness about the weaknesses of Bill S-203. A bogus piece of legislation, argues the coalition, Bill S-203 is set to pass in Parliament in April. Not only does the proposed bill not go far enough to address animal cruelty, but CEACL also claims that it could actually distract attention from the real problem and from creating meaningful change. (Shockingly, Canada's animal cruelty legislation has not been updated since 1892!)

For our feature interview, Gary Patronek explains animal hoarding, a term he coined in 1997. Patronek, who founded the Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium (HARC), has worked with colleagues for over ten years to understand this disturbing psychological and social phenomenon. Tune in to hear about what compels people to hoard, the different types of hoarders, and what can be done to help both the animals and humans involved.

Still strikingly under-researched by the academic and medical communities, animal hoarding largely remains misunderstood by the public, as those who hoard are often demonized, or understood as simply loving animals too much. As Patronek discusses, the HARC research suggests a nuanced account of this difficult problem.

Rescue, Shelter, and Education: The Ferret Aid Society Speaks

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 12:00:00 -0400

When people think of vivisection, ferrets aren't usually the first animals who spring to mind. Or, similarly, mention animal cruelty investigations, and people tend to imagine cats and dogs.

While ferrets are plagued by cultural stereotypes that they stink and love to bite, The Ferret Aid Society offers a very different interpretation of these inquisitive animals. Started in 1994, president and founder of the organization, Randy Belair, tells a heart-wrenching story of the first ferret who inspired her and her mother to launch the FAS. Thirteen years later, Randy has rescued many ferrets, nursed them to health, turned her home into a shelter, educated the public, and side-stepped imminent burn-out. (Needless to say, it's been a lot work!)

Tune in as Randy shares personal stories about the ferrets she and the FAS volunteers have known and loved. Hear about Randy's experiences doing investigations, and find out what ferrets need to thrive. Keep the dial locked to find out more about ferrets not only in Ontario, but also around the world. Additionally, we'll talk about the economic connections among backyard breeders, farmers, and hunters.

Still under the radar of many animal advocates, this show promises to pay homage to the struggles and joys of these underrated animals.

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International Aid for Korean Animals: Cats and Dogs in Korea

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 11:00:00 -0500

In this interview we speak with Yoon Kerr, the UK Director for the International Aid for Korean Animals (IAKA)/ Korean Animal Protection Society (KAPS). Founded in 1997 by Kyenan Kum, IAKA is a non-profit organization that promotes animal protection and humane education in Korea. Tune in to hear Kerr describe Korean markets where cats and dogs are sold for meat and goyangi soju (cat tonic), which can involve boiling (sometimes still alive) cats in pressure cookers and other forms of torture. Providing an historical and economic perspective, she refutes arguments that claim dog consumption is culturally justifiable. "It is a gross ignorance of Korean culture to regard the consumption of dogs as a part of Korean culture. It deliberately ignores many Koreans who find such a practice horrifying and something to be rid of," writes Kerr. "It also doesn't acknowledge the fact that eating dogs is a threat to Korean culture and violation of its essence. There is one underlying element which is very crucial to various aspects of Korean culture. That is reciprocity" ("Eating Dogs: Korean Culture?").

How did the cat and dog trade shift from a being "fringe activity"? How is the trade bound up in International politics, capitalism, and poverty? In what ways can the International community address the Korean cat and dog trade, while also challenging the Western racist stereotypes associated with these practices? Listen into to hear Yoon Kerr's responses and more about this impassioned organization, which currently has branches in Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Netherlands.

Vegan Pet Food: A Discussion

Tue, 21 Mar 2006 11:00:00 -0500

Few issues within the animal movements garner as much controversy as vegan cats and dogs. For some, feeding animals a vegan diet is a natural extension of their guardians' ethics: in an attempt to live cruelty-free, refusing to throw money at the meat industry just makes sense. Supported by companies that claim that vegan cats can be healthy, inconvenience has become less of a barrier and more people are embracing the prepared wet food and kibble. Still, other vegans and animal advocates stand by the conventional perspective that cats are "obligate carnivores," and that feeding cats an exclusively vegan diet is irresponsible and cruel.

In this hour, Animal Voices revisits the issue of vegan pet food, and explores the following questions: What scientific research exists that considers the long-term effects of veganism on companion animals, specifically cats? What do we know about the nutrition of the food exactly, and what do we know about the health of the animals who eat it? Do we have the right to enforce a potentially inadequate diet on our companions animals, any more than we have the right to domesticate, confine, and slaughter "food animals"? Does vegan food cause urinary crystals in male cats, or perhaps predispose them to other illnesses? To what extent does the pet food industry drive the meat industry, or is it simply a by-product of a larger problem?

We will be joined by Dr. Andrew Knight (veterinarian), Eric Weisman (founder and CEO of Evolution Pet Food), Mirha-Soleil Ross (activist and guardian of many cats), and Adam Wilson (CEO of Downbound and a local distributor of veg pet food). This show is the first part of a new two-part series about vegan companion animals.