Animal Instinct

Animal Instinct returning guest Julia Szabo, a.k.a Pet Reporter, is inspired by animals in everything she does. A journalist, blogger and author, she wrote the acclaimed memoir “Medicine Dog” about how her canine crew motivated her to seek stem cell therapy for a chronic GI condition. These days, Julia’s combining her animal activism with her love of fashion and food to produce “Get Dressed Change The World” a blog all about cruelty-free vegan style. Check her out online!  Today their talking about vegetarianism in the animal kingdom, which animals are truly vegetarian and which ones aren’t. Tune in to hear a thorough discussion on the various diets from zoo animals to your pup at home.  This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA.   “Especially for older dogs, lapping up Vitamix-ed food would be such a special treat.” [33:40] “The stink factors – that is something that coconut oil fixes.” [35:00] –Julia Szabo on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is finishing off the season with veterinarian and wildlife photographer, Yaron Schmid. Sharing how he fell in love with animal photography, Yaron details his many African safari experiences and talks staggering statistics on endangered species. With the death of Cecil the lion in the headlines, discussion ensues on the topic of hunting for sport and in which situations it is acceptable plus thoughts on ‘conservation hunting.’ Tune in for this important episode and check out Yaron’s photos available for purchase online! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “Sport hunting in Africa is something I’m totally against and there’s no justification for that.” [20:00] “People that hide behind conversation hunting, if they want to give money they should just give it directly to conversation without killing.” [22:00] —Yaron Schmid on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher welcomes Donna Lentol to the studio from Angels for Animal Rights (AFAR), an online resource devoted to educating the public about at risk animals. Donna shares that she has spent 14 years advocating for animal rights using social media, fostering animals, encouraging legislation measures, and as a rescue volunteer. She has engaged animal loving professionals in many fields to bring information that is relevant, helpful and encouraging in order to affect change for the betterment of our homeless animals and the people who want to help improve and encourage the humane treatment of animals everywhere. Tune in to hear about all her efforts to help animals through her Vets Pets Program plus thoughts on how we can all make a difference! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “We believe that every pet is a form of emotional therapy, especially for veterans.” [12:18] “We have to make animal welfare cool and harming animals uncool.” [24:30] —Donna Le

Sit! Stay! Fetch! On today’s Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is in studio with dog trainer and owner of Empire of the Dog, Denise Herman. Discussing the pitfalls of punishment when it comes to training dogs, Denise takes us through her training philosophy that has helped many owners and pets overcome a plethora of problems. Defining operant and classical conditioning and debunking the pack mentality, Denise gives Celia the facts and encourages dog owners everywhere to re-examine the use of choke and prong collars. Tune in for a great episode! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “Operant conditioning is a change in behavior based on cause and effect. Classical conditioning is what comes along for the ride – it’s always happening.” [7:30] “Growling is your dog’s warning… in dog language it’s ‘please don’t make me bite you.'” [12:00] —Denise Herman on Animal Instinct

After three decades of omnivorous eating, all the while dabbling in vegetarianism and veganism, Julia Szabo, finally went vegan for good and she’s on air talking about it with Animal Instinct host Celia Kutcher. As with most things in Julia’s life, her beloved dogs were her motivation to go vegan, she explains. Tune for tips and tricks for a better quality of life and a definitive explanation of ‘rational veganism.’ This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. Featured: Julia sporting blue “lip tar” by Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, a vegan makeup brand in NYC “Gorillas are vegan. What could be more virile than that animal?” [28:00] “Start by making a salad and build from there… even romaine lettuce is toothsome!” [30:00] —Julia Szabo on Animal Instinct

What is cruelty-free clothing? Find out on a brand new episode of Animal Instinct! Returning guest Julia Szabo joins Celia Kutcher for a conversation on animals, fashion and why they shouldn’t be so intertwined. From leather to feathers, tune in for alternatives, ideas and inspirations for a cruelty-free fashion life! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “This is not some hemp rough hippie clothing. These are every bit as sleek and sometimes even sleeker [than leather].” [03:00] “When animals are raised for leather and fur it has a tremendously damaging impact on the environment.” [05:00] “Getting dressed is something we all do. Fashion is an amazing way to convey the message of compassion.” [10:00] “It’s not faux fur, it’s vegan fur. It’s not faux leather, it’s vegan leather.” [14:00] –Julia Szabo on Animal Instinct

How well do you communicate with your pet? Tune in to Animal Instinct as host Celia Kutcher gets animal communicator Adrienne Wisok on the line from Detroit talking how she uses her background as a veterinary technician with degrees in biochemistry, molecular biology, and neuroscience to understand animal intuition (which is also the name of her animal consulting business!). Adrienne highlights how she trains animals on an individual basis and how important it is to pay attention to a pet’s body language. Her new project uses conversation, information, and technology to initiate change in the way people treat their dogs in an urban environment while also increasing the vaccination and licensing rate for canines. This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “I help people really learn how to understand a good relationship relationship with their animal.” [3:25] “Dogs and wolves have very similar genomes. There’s about 0.2 difference between dogs and wolves – that’s about the same between a human an

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is sitting down with Dr. Christine Iacovetta of BluePearl: Emergency Veterinary & Specialty Animal Hospital discussing emergency or critical pet care. Christine kicks off the show explaining the difference between critical pet care versus typical veterinary care and details which instances she tends to see most often at the practice as well as the specialities housed at BluePearl. Conversation also touches upon the controversial issue of the cost of veterinary care and how it compares to the cost of health care for humans plus thoughts on euthanasia of pets. Tune in for an informative show! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “I think it takes a different type of person to want to do emergency/critical care. You have to be able to and enjoy the unknown.” [7:15] —Dr. Christine Iacovetta on Animal Instinct

Flu season isn’t just for humans anymore, as Dr. Doug Aspros joins Celia on a brand new episode Animal Instinct talking about the canine influenza. Dr. Aspros is the American Veterinary Medical Association Immediate Past President and shares that the dog flu is a contagious respiratory disease in canines caused by specific Type A influenza viruses known to infect dogs. Dr. Aspros relays that the signs of this illness in dogs are cough, runny nose, and fever, but not all dogs will show signs of illness. The severity of illness associated with canine flu in dogs can range from no signs to severe illness resulting in pneumonia and sometimes death. Walking through the process of treating a sick dog, Dr. Aspros stresses the importance of consulting a veterinarian instead of administering over the counter drugs meant for humans. Do you have a dog? Tune in for this crucial episode. This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “The place that we know there have been lots of dogs tested and lots of dogs ac

You may have heard of the popular “Humans of New York” website, but have you heard of “Felines of New York?” This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher welcomes Jim Tews, comic and creator of the website Felines of New York to the studio. Chatting with Celia about why he thinks cats are so comical he shares how he picks up on each cat’s personality and works it into his write ups, plus, Jim takes each cat photo himself. Cats make for excellent subjects whether they cooperate or not and because of that Jim has seen his spoof blog skyrocket in followers across social media platforms. He also features cats that are up for adoption on Felines of New York and has perhaps helped kitties find forever homes. Tune in for a great episode! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “I think cats lend themselves to comedy more than any other animal!” —Jim Tews on Animal Instinct

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is talking dog jobs and has Dale Picard of East Coast Assistance Dogs (ECAD) on the line. ECAD was founded by Dale Picard and his wife Lu. Dale shares that when his father in law suffered a stroke, he and his wife taught their family pet to help him rise from a chair and retrieve some items. They noticed that his father in law actually became more active and less depressed than when help came from a human. Celia chats more with Dale about the breeding and training process of the golden and labrador retrievers and how the presence of the K-9s truly helps those in need of medical attention. At ECAD, the training tailors each dog’s skills to the needs of clients, who have a variety of limitations in strength, balance, coordination, or mobility. Tune in for an inspiring episode! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “The dog is a life support for these people.” “We try to critique our training to each client that comes in.” —Dale Picard on Ani

Welcome to Season 5 of Animal Instinct! Host Celia Kutcher ushers in the new season with special guest Patrick Martins, Heritage Foods USA and Heritage Radio Network founder, and author of “The Carnivore’s Manifesto: Eating Well, Eating Responsibly, and Eating Meat.” In his book, Patrick explains how to eat well, responsibly, and eat meat. A collection of edifying essays, further reenforcing our need to play an active role in the sustainable food movement, Patrick aims to assure a better (and more delicious) world in the future. Celia and Patrick engage in a thought-provoking conversation ranging from animal rights to Big Macs to commodity meats. After the break, Patrick shares a highlight from the book via the perspectives of a pig and goat! This program was brought to you by The International Culinary Center. “Factory farmers are not true farmers. They need medicine for their animals… Their animals can’t survive in nature for 2 or 3 days.” [9:55] “We fight for the endangered breeds of livestock knowing th

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is finding out everything you wanted to know about alpacas but were afraid to ask! Welcoming guest Linda Lachanski of Alpaca911, an alpaca rescue and rehoming organization which began as a necessity when the alpaca breeding market started to decline. Linda shares great information regarding alpaca fiber and its marketability and also relays that unfortunately, for the most part, alpacas do not make great pets unless you have done your research! Territorial and aloof, it’s not uncommon for an unhappy alpaca to spit in retaliation or to get into a ‘neck wrestling’ match with one another. After the break, Linda shares more details about how she became involved in alpaca rescue and some highlights of her work. Tune in to learn all about this intriguing camelid! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “The alpacas are a prey animal. They do not have any way to defend against coyotes or anything like that… They are very good PR animals. There are som

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is talking guinea pigs! Guest Laura Budean is a lover of all animals but explains that guinea pigs have always held a special place in her heart. An advocate for proper guinea pig care, she started volunteering and fostering guinea pigs for Helping All Little Things Guinea Pig Rescue and Have-a-Heart Guinea Pig Rescue in New Jersey, and fostered a vast knowledge of the piggies. Having owned guinea pigs for almost 20 years and dedicating time and resources to bettering the lives of piggies in her care, she shares with Celia important tips and tricks of having the happiest and healthiest guinea pig. What happens when a guinea pig “popcorns”? What should be in a guinea pig’s cage? How smart is the average guinea pig? Tune in for great answers and a ton more! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “I honestly prefer them spayed and neutered because it tends to save a lot on health issues later on.” [11:30] “The hours that they don’t sleep they ten

What do you call a happy rabbit? A hop-timist! On today’s Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher takes listeners through the ‘need to knows’ about rabbits before the Easter holiday hits! Welcoming guest Dayna DeCarlo to the show, she has been a rabbit owner for 22 years and has her own pet walking business that takes care of dogs, cats, and even bunnies. Starting off the interview with bunny basics, the conversation delves into details such as locating an appropriate exotic veterinarian, the importance of spaying and neutering, plus realizing that because rabbits are prey animals it can be difficult to detect illness. After the break, Dayna explains the concept of ‘bunny speed dating’ and the amazing life span of these furry friends. Tune in to find out more! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “They’re cute and the kids get attracted to them and they want one, but you really have to educate yourself.” [5:00] “They’re prey so they hide their sickness – they’ll sit the in corner, they won’t m

Raising a dog in the big apple is no easy feat! This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is sitting down with Robert Haussmann, founder of Dogboy Inc. based in New York City. As a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and Canine Behavior Counselor, he chats with Celia about the best ways to raise dogs in urban areas and to help create harmony between humans and their four-legged friends. Working together with a network of veterinarians, groomers, sitters, day care centers, and pet stores, Robert and his team pride themselves in offering great advice for all your big city K-9 needs. After the break, Celia and Robert talk about the differences in training big breeds versus smaller breeds and how temperament ultimately rules. Tune in for some great stories, tips, and tricks to acclimate your pooch to the fast paced city life! This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “Between 2 and 16 weeks the dog is going through a developmental stage called a critical phase where basically everything the d

What happens when pets die? Find out this week on Animal Instinct! Celia Kutcher is joined by Alicia Halloran. Alicia is an animal communicator who’s specialty is contacting pets after they’ve passed on. This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA.

Did you know that dogs in warfare have a long history dating to ancient times? This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is digging into this topic with guest Nancy Schiesari, a professor at The University of Texas at Austin as well as the producer/director of the documentary “Canine Soldiers.” Initially giving Celia the rundown of what a canine soldier is and what their duties include, Nancy shares a typical timeline of a chosen pup, and also states it’s possible for these dogs to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) over a lifetime of work. Celia also gets the details behind “Canine Soldiers,” which is a first-hand and timely wartime narrative that focuses on military working dogs and their handlers’ quests to locate improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The film explores the intimate bond between the dogs and their handlers—combat soldiers who make life-and-death decisions based on the instincts and behavior of the dogs who lead their patrols, giving soldiers comfort, hope and protection.

No dogs or cats allowed! This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is on air with Lorelei Tibbetts, LVT, VTS, of The Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine. The Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine is the only exclusive avian and exotic veterinary hospital in New York City. Special pets deserve compassionate veterinarians who have dedicated their careers solely to exotic pet care. Lorelei jumps right in and discusses ways to ensure your exotic pet has a healthy winter, from reptiles to rodents, and comments on many other hazards to be aware of if you are an exotic pet owner or prospective owner. Unfortunately, The Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine recently sustained a terrible flood on February 16th, 2015 the Center endured a horrendous tragedy. A hot water pipe burst in the building, and while all animals are now safe, there were some animals that did not survive. Words cannot begin to express the devastation felt, so the Center is has started a fundraising page to help efforts and have since been ve

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is joining the PupScouts! Welcoming guests Jennifer Jo-Moyer and Kelleigh Noftell, they share that PupScouts was started by Susan Godwin and Lela Hadick as an on-line social group and an excuse to wear the adorable Brownie and Cub Scout uniforms they found on line. PupScouts has since developed into a charitable fund raising organization who’s members are all over the US, Canada and even the UK. The ladies explain that the group meets in person and has forums on DPFamily. Complete with badges, doing good deeds, and with PupScout cookies in the works, Celia gets the scoop on this great organization! Tune in to hear details on joining a troop, their upcoming Oscar event, doggy fashion shows, and details on the many charities they support. This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “Anyone can join the PupScouts – we had a cat sign up the other day!” [8:50] “Our pledge is ‘On our honor I will try to do my duty to help the dog community.'” [18:05]