Animal House w/Deborah Roberts

It's time once again for Kathy Burns from the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando to stop by, and this time she brought Fiesta, a two-year-old Belgian Malinois that is available for adoption. She also helps Jim figure out if getting a cat is a good idea, and how to protect our four-legged friends from the intense summer heat. To see photos of Fiesta, or to learn more, go to www.petallianceorlando.org or call (407) 351-7722.

Lee Asher joins us from The Asher House nonprofit Animal Sanctuary to talk about what it's like to devote your life to rescuing our four-legged friends. Lee talks about that it's like to sleep with 40 dogs in one bed, and what inspired him to establish The Asher House. Learn more at www.theasherhouse.com.

Daisy Fiore coordinates the education programming for the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland, Florida, and she brings along Sanford, a 13-year-old Eastern Screech Owl who resides at the center to talk about their upcoming Baby Owl Shower to raise funds to offset increased costs incurred during baby season. Baby season is their busiest season for bird care, sometimes caring for over 100 young birds in May alone! The fun takes place on Saturday, May 11th, 2024, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and is FREE with an item from their general wishlist or Amazon wishlist. Learn more at cbop.audubon.org or call 407-644-0190.

It's that time once again for Darryl Payne from Pawfection Dog Training to join us and answer listeners' questions. This time, he covers what to do when your new puppy treats your older dog like a chew toy and how old is a puppy before they become a 'teenager,' or adult? Darryl also discusses a really cool idea called a 'dig pit' that you can build for the dog that likes to dig. Book your dog's training by calling (407) 456-1066 or learn more by visiting www.pawfectiondogtraining.com.

Miranda Nathanson joins us from the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando to talk about the arrival of ‘kitten season,’ and what that means. She also discusses how to become a foster for kittens of any age, and what they provide to help get you started. To learn more, go to www.petallianceorlando.org or call (407) 351-7722.

Bree Burkett, Animal Services Program Coordinator for Seminole County Animal Services, joins us to talk about the importance of foster families for dogs. She says their shelter has been above-capacity for a while, and foster families allow the dogs to spend some time away from the shelter environment, making them more adoptable. And they cover all the costs! Learn more at www.seminolecountypets.com or call (407) 665-5201.

Ambassador Animal Keeper, Nathan Jordan, and Education Specialist, Jifu Jennings, from the Central Florida Zoo, introduce us to Steve, a Florida Box Turtle, and talk about what it takes to be an animal keeper and work for a zoo. Celebrate Earth Day at the Central Florida Zoo at their Party for the Planet, and learn how to create the perfect backyard habitat for wildlife. And don’t forget about Brews Around the Zoo, a fun event for the grown-ups. Get your tickets now at www.centralfloridazoo.org or call (407) 323-4450.

It’s time once again for Darryl Payne of Pawfection Dog Training to come in and answer listener’s questions. This time, Darryl tackles issues like what to do when your dog jumps up on people, how much to expect when potty training a puppy, and can you train your dog to lift their leg higher? Get answers to your questions and set up your training appointment at www.pawfectiondogtraining.com or call (407) 456-1066.

Robert Ramos, a former K9 deputy, now works for K9’s United, a national nonprofit dedicated to advocating for and supporting law enforcement canines with vital equipment and training. K9’s United is encouraging Florida drivers to pre-order its specialty license plate before the October 15, 2024, deadline. Pre-order at www.k9sunited.org for $34.00, or from your local DMV for $33.00, and $25.00 from each plate sold will directly benefit K9’s United.

Angie Klein and Ciji Swanton bring along Gracie, a 3-year-old dog, and Icicle, an 11-year-old cat, available for adoption from the Humane Society of Lake County, a no-kill animal shelter located in Umatilla, Florida. We kick things off by talking about how they assess their animals to help them find their forever homes, and their upcoming fundraising events, including a Trivia Night on March 23rd, and Pedal For Paws bike riding event on April 20th. To get your tickets, or to find your next fur-ever friend, go to www.humanelake.com or call (407) 589-7400.

Zoo Teacher, Justin Johnson, and Ambassador Animal Keeper, Amanda Mossor, join us from the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens and bring along PT Cruiser, a prehensile-tailed skink. They share some fascinating features about this species of skink, including how they live in the trees of the Solomon Islands in large family groups. Plus, Justin talks about the Zoo’s upcoming events, like Hippity Hop Adventure and Brews Around The Zoo. Get your tickets at www.centralfloridazoo.org or call (407) 323-4450.

Darryl Payne with Pawfection Dog Training joins us once again to answer listeners’ questions about their dog’s behavior, and to also share some funny stories about his time as a K9 officer at Buckingham Palace. To book your training appointment, go to www.pawfectiondogtraining.com or call (507) 456-1066.

Kathy Burns and Sally Edmonds from the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando stop by with 8-week-old puppies Joy and Dawn, who will be available for adoption in just a few days. And with Spring right around the corner with its usual influx of new kittens and puppies, they talk about the need for fosters. The good news Kathy says is they cover all costs for those who choose to become fosters. Learn more at www.petallianceorlando.org or call (407) 351-7722.

Cora Berchem is the Director of Multimedia and a Manatee Research Associate for Save the Manatee Club, and she joins us to share some good news about manatees’ recovery. From more sea grass and record numbers of newborn calves, Cora shares the strides forward this amazing species has accomplished, and the work yet to do. To learn more, go to www.savethemanatee.org, call (407) 539-0990 or toll-free 1-800-432-5646.

Jamie Ling and Eva Ortiz-Feder are Teachers at the Central Florida Zoo, and they bring along Willy, the Zoo’s resident gopher tortoise, a keystone species, meaning many other animals depend on them for survival. In fact, 350 different species of animals make their homes in the gopher tortoise’s burrows, including another keystone species, the eastern indigo snake. Coming up on Saturday, February 10, 2024, is their “I ❤️ Indigos Day!” at the Zoo, along with a Bluegrass BBQ fundraising event supporting their conservation partner, the Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation. To get your tickets, go to www.centralfloridazoo.org or call (407) 323-4450.

Debbie Helsel is the Executive Director of the Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge in Orange County, Florida, and today she brought along Luna, an Eastern Screech Owl, and Hang Ten, a Gopher Tortoise. Debbie shares what types of animals they are rescuing and the impact Florida’s increasing development is having on wildlife. She also talks about their upcoming reopening and plans for their 35th birthday. To learn more, go to www.btnwildlife.org or call (407) 568-5138.

Darryl Payne from Pawfection Dog Training comes in to once again answer listeners’ questions about their dogs’ behavior. This time, he talks about how to deal with a puppy that nibbles, a dog who pees inside, and how to prepare your dog for your return to the office. To book your training session, go to www.pawfectiondogtraining.com or call (407) 456-1066.

Dr. Daisy Fiore joins us from the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland, Florida, and brings along Billy Owlish, an Eastern Screech Owl, one of their ambassador birds. Daisy shares some fascinating facts about owls, from their serrated feathers to help with silent flight, to their exceptionally long legs. She also encourages school groups of all kinds to take advantage of their education packages. To meet Billy and more, go to www.cbop.audubon.org or call (407) 644-0190.

Senior Ambassador Animal Keeper, Christina O’Donnell, and Zoo Teacher, Justin Johnson, from the Central Florida Zoo, introduce us to Cobb, a red rat snake, along with an enrichment tree for him to climb on. They share fascinating facts about this species of snake, including how one defense mechanism is for them to lay still and show their underside, which resembles an ear of corn. To see Cobb and get your tickets to the Asian Lantern Festival Into the Wild, go to www.centralfloridazoo.org or call (407) 323-4450.

Darryl Payne of Pawfection Dog Training joins us to talk about what folks who are planning to bring a new puppy home for the holidays need to do to prepare both their home and family. He covers everything from what size crate to use, to how to introduce your new furry family member to your family. Plus, their dog training sessions make a great holiday gift! Book your appointment at www.pawfectiondogtraining.com or call (407) 456-1066.