Lori begins with a monologue about the state of the contemporary wind turbine industry, and their negative effects on animals. There is a lot of evidence that eagles are killed by wind turbines despite efforts of the companies to avoid being transparent. Lori favors efforts to move toward green energy but argues that animal protection can conflict with green energy, particularly the corporate green energy industry. She tells us how ESI, a wind energy corporation lost a big federal lawsuit because it had not obtained proper permitting for farms in Wyoming and New Mexico, which killed scores of ..read more

Lori begins the show with the story of the five activists who, in 2017, entered Circle Four Farms in Utah, intent on documenting animal abuse at Smithfield Foods huge pig facility housed there. But not only was extremely graphic video obtained, but the men also rescued 2 nearly dead piglets, which was not part of the plan. Ultimately, each of them, members of the organization Direct Action Everywhere, was charged with multiple counts, and three agreed to plea deals. The activists who went to trial, Wayne Hsiung and Paul Darwin Picklesimer, ultimately were acquitted in October 2022 of the multi ..read more

Lori begins with something any animal advocate ought to know about: the history of the animal rights and welfare movements.  From the practices of ancient spiritual teachers of India, to the ideas of modern philosophers, Lori hopes this condensed history will inspire you to continue learning on your own. Next, do you have a plan in place if you cannot make it home because of an emergency? Lori’s unexpected hospitalization while Peter was away presented such a situation, and fortunately, our trusted neighbors were prepared to step in and take care of the dogs and cats. So get your plan in ..read more

Lori begins the show with news about some aggressive urban squirrels in Queens, NYC, who are reportedly jumping onto people and attacking them. Authorities advise against hand feeding, which probably contributed to the bold behaviors these animals are displaying. Fortunately squirrels rarely harbor rabies, and no documented case of transmission of rabies to humans has been recorded. But they have sharp teeth! Lori continues with some interesting history from Hitchcock’s iconic film, The Birds. Numerous wild caught birds were “recruited” into service for the filming. Actress Tippi Hedren, in he ..read more

In recognition of International Orangutan Day, Lori and Peter kick off discussing some of the fascinating facts about these great apes. These gentle creatures are the largest tree-dwelling animals on earth. Indeed they even sleep in the trees, fashioning leafy nests each evening for that purpose. Orangutans are native to only 2 island on earth, Borneo and Sumatra, and their diets consist mostly of fruit (preferring durians), along with flowers, leaves, honey and insects. Males, whose arm spans can reach eight feet and who can weigh 200 lbs., are much larger than females. Orangutan populations ..read more

Lori begins with a monologue about the state of the contemporary wind turbine industry, and their negative effects on animals. There is a lot of evidence that eagles are killed by wind turbines despite efforts of the companies to avoid being transparent. Lori favors efforts to move toward green energy but argues that animal protection can conflict with green energy, particularly the corporate green energy industry. She tells us how ESI, a wind energy corporation lost a big federal lawsuit because it had not obtained proper permitting for farms in Wyoming and New Mexico, which killed scores of ..read more

Lori begins with a detailed exploration into the ethics of dog breeding. The purebred dog industry not only creates innumerable animals with genetic defects, causing dogs to have a lifetime of medical problems and diseases, but also interferes with the adoption of healthy dogs confined in shelters by enticing people to buy from breeders instead of adopting. Because of selective breeding (and even inbreeding) many purebred dogs develop conditions such as cancer, hip dysplasia, heart problems, epilepsy, and early onset cataracts.Lori contends three parties are responsible for the regrettable pop ..read more

If you believe your pet was harmed by the actions of your veterinarian, what are your legal options for recourse? In this episode, Lori explores many aspects of veterinary malpractice with attorney Bob Ferber, former Los Angeles animal cruelty prosecutor. Although there are some parallels between the law as it relates to medical malpractice issues and procedures in humans and those in veterinary care, the practical situations are quite different. A central issue is the legal status of animals. Essentially, nonhuman animals are considered to be property by the law, and not persons, which consid ..read more

During the summer heat, you may come across a situation where an animal, typically a dog, has been left alone in a car that is too warm for comfort or safety. Even though it’s no secret that leaving dogs in hot cars is dangerous and often illegal, it continues to happen too frequently. So, we animal lovers should be prepared for these unfortunate and stressful situations so we can confidently act according to the urgency and severity of the situation and minimize harm to animals from neglectful owners. Lori offers useful guidance on many aspects of dealing with dogs in hot cars including how t ..read more

Lori begins the show by taking on the still controversial topic of laws and regulations aimed at specific dog breeds, generally referred to as breed specific legislation. There are hundreds of such laws and regulations on the books across the US, which regulate or ban certain dog breeds.  Breed specific legislation (BSL) typically targets pit bull type dogs. Those in favor of BSL say it’s necessary to ensure the public’s safety and argue that such legislation protects citizens from vicious and dangerous dogs. Lori goes on to explain how the assumptions inherent in these types of laws ..read more