Who will win: the cat or the printer?
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Manliest pets
OK men, Valentine’s has passed. You spent all your money on flowers and probably bought your lady something cute. Time to re-assert your macho-self with one of the Top 10 Manliest Pets.
Sadly, I actually have two of the more creepy pets on this list in my home at this very moment. When you date a girl who sells pets for a living, you sometimes end up with a few snakes and scorpions at your place. These things happen. 
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
Happy Valentine’s Day
Here is a picture of a mouse on a flower.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
Give a lolcat – not a pet – for Valetine’s Day
Even though we here at Pet Show say NO to giving pets as gifts, we say YES to anything lolcat.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pet Show – our second anniversary!
Listen to Pet Show! Valentine’s Day marks our second anniversary of broadcasting important animal news and information to the WORLD! So what better way to celebrate (a little early) than by recapping our best shows? Here are our Top 10 favorites:
- Lucas Miller, the Singing Zoologist, and our amazing singalong
- Chris Burney of Bowling for Soup talking about traveling with animals
- The dog IQ tests
- Dr. Phil Mosca of Integris with his dog, Boz
- Halloween costumes with Steve Dale of gadzoo.com
- Turkey genetics and behavior with Dr. Don Skinner-Noble of OCU
- Oklahoma’s animal fighting fund with Attorney General Drew Edmondson
- Fish tattooing
- Horse racing with Joe Lucas of the Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma
- Snake breeding
We also gave out some Pet Show awards: best advice, favorite celebrity, Young Pup of the Year, best head-wear, myth-buster and favorite expert. (You’ll have to listen to the show to find out who won, but I’ll tell you the winner of Best Show Title: “Happy Mew Year.” ha)
But Pet Show would not be complete without news or tips. For news, Bryan told us about a prehistoric monster snake. To make up for it, he also told us about comfort animals in Utah. Dawn also gave us some excellent tips for Valentine’s Day.
The modern gift for a second anniversary is China. So here is our gift to you, Pet Show fans:
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Valentine’s date gives a look at zoo animals’ sex lives
Witnessing this kind of thing traumatizes some kids for life. But at the Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek, Mich., it’s entertainment. High-class, high-dollar, Valentein’s entertainment.
The zoo is hosting a special event called Zoorotica. Yes, really. It really is called that. Patrons pay $50 a person for a fancy dinner and a look into the sex lives of some of the zoo’s popular animals. There will be a DVD presentation and then a special tour of the zoo. The event is 21 and up. Good idea.
My thoughts:
- Creepy.
- Yucky.
- A severe invasion of privacy for those poor, amorous animals.
- Creepy. Again.
Apparently I’m alone with my sentiments, though. The event is sold out and there’s a waiting list. Apparently lots of folks think Zoorotica is a good Valentine’s Day date. And The Binder Park Zoo isn’t alone. Zoo sex tours have been popular for many years, dating back to the first tours in San Francisco in the 1980s.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Animal’s bonding behavior linked to human actions. (national)
- Animals fall victim to Australian fire. (Australia)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Cancer patient discusses importance of pets
If you haven’t had a chance yet to look at Life is Real, take a minute to check it out.
Jim Chastain has terminal cancer, and he’s sharing the process of dying with readers. You can read his blog here.
There’s one blog in particular that caught my eye. Here’s an excerpt:
“I often wonder about people who have cancer, but don’t have a good support group. I see them from time to time at the Cade Cancer Center in Oklahoma City or at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, making their way to the next appointment, and I wonder how they do it alone. I’m not sure I could.
I have no great advice for these people. Cancer can be so God-awful lonely even when you’re surrounded by friends.
But I can say this: I hope they have a good pet. Or to be more specific, I hope they have a pet like Gracie, a companion who’s never, ever in a bad mood, never too tired to play, never too busy to give you the time of day. Gracie may not make it all the way up to Winston status, but if she keeps cuddling up by me after chemo, she has a shot.”
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pet advice after the tornados
The tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma were a reminder to pet owners how important identification is.
Severe weather can rip down fences, pull down walls and leave pets confused and scared. At least one veterinarian is helping reunite lost dogs with their owners. The best way to ensure a pet is returned is by microchipping, he said. Collars and tags can sometimes be caught and torn by debris. Microchips stay under the skin and can be tracked by any vet or shelter official.
Here is some more information from the ASPCA about disaster readiness:
- The Pet Evacuation Transportation Safety (PETS) Act, passed after Hurricane Katrina, allows owners to take their companion animals with them to shelters. Contact the shelter before you show up to make sure it’s OK. Some shelters are designed for animal owners.
- Practice getting your animal out of the house so it isn’t scary or difficult. This is especially important for cat carriers.
- Owners with pets that require special temperature settings, such as reptiles, need to have duplicates of everything, such as heaters. Fish owners should have a small, transportable tank ready.
- Socialize your pet as much as possible in case they come in contact with rescuers or other people at the shelter.
- Keep an emergency kit of your pets needs, such as any medicines and some food, that you can take with you. Be sure to keep a photo of you with your pet if you get separated and have to claim him.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
OKC vet helping find lost dogs
There’s hope for some dogs lost because of the tornado in Oklahoma City. Read the full story. Here’s an excerpt:
“Dr. Gary McNeill and his staff at the Rockwell Pet Clinic are looking after dogs gone astray because of storm damage. Three dogs had been brought to the clinic by 6 p.m. Two had collars but none had identifying microchips or tags.”
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
