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October 6, 2009 Shadow City: An Interview with Cat City Director Justine Pimlott 
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. News links:
Download mp3s of the interview: Tags: Companion Animals
August 25, 2009 Paying Attention to the Noise: Barbara Smuts’ Research with Dogs, Wolves, and Nonhuman Primates 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.”
Download mp3s of the interview: Tags: Companion Animals
July 28, 2009 Filling the Ark: Dr. Leslie Irvine discusses animals in disasters 
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.
Download mp3s of the interview: June 30, 2009 Friends or Dinner?: A Toronto Subway System Campaign Stops the Public in Its Tracks 
“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. News links:
Download mp3s of the interview: Tags: Companion Animals | Farmed Animals
June 9, 2009 Matters of Life and Death: The Toronto Humane Society Under Investigation 
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. News links:
Download mp3s of the interview: Tags: Companion Animals
March 24, 2009 Reaching Out: The VegFund and Pet Loss Program Offer Support 
© iStockphoto.com / Stephen Uber 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.
Download mp3s of the interview: Tags: Companion Animals
February 24, 2009 Local Work: Animal Overpopulation and Food Sovereignty in Mexico 
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. News links:
Download mp3s of the interview: Tags: Companion Animals | Nutrition
November 25, 2008 ProAnima: Animal Rights Lessons from Brazil 
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. News links:
Download mp3s of the interview: Tags: Companion Animals | Politics
September 16, 2008 
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. News links:
Download mp3s of the interview: Tags: Companion Animals
May 20, 2008 
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. News links:
Download mp3s of the interview:  |
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