The Animal Guide for Curious Humans
Concerned about the impact we humans are having on them? Then charge up those AirPods - or Bluetooth headset - and get ready for The Animal Guide for Curious Humans. Creator and host Maureen Armstrong brings animal lovers, wildlife experts and decision makers together to discuss the habits and behaviours of animals—including us—and ways we can live together harmoniously in light of ever-increasing population, resource and climate pressures. The Animal Guide for Curious Humans will educate you, entertain you, and get you thinking globally so you can act locally. Discover more about Maureen and the show on the The...
Fri, December 08, 2023
Elephants - Our Majestic Friends
Today we are focussing on one of most intelligent, socially complex, and inspiring animals on the planet; elephants. While being indigenous to just two continents Africa and Asia, elephants are easily one of the most recognizable mammals on earth. While mainly living in the wild, for millennia humans have captured elephants for use as labor, for war and most significantly in recent centuries, for entertainment –circuses, zoos or in television and movies. Thankfully, we are developing a better understanding of and appreciation for these smart, thoughtful creatures, the need to protect them in the wild and to properly care for them when in captivity. Our guest today is Margaret Whittaker, Executive Director of Wild Welfare U.S., a new American branch of the international organization Wild Welfare based on the United Kingdom. Margaret has spent many years working with elephants and understanding their habits and behaviour and she shares her knowledge with us today. Links: Contact Info: margaret@wildwelfare.org Website: https://wildwelfare.org North Carolina Zoo: https://www.nczoo.org The Elephant Sanctuary of Tennessee: https://www.elephants.com
Thu, October 05, 2023
Music to Our Ears - A Look at Some Farm Animal Welfare Studies
Today we will be exploring some interesting studies relating to the welfare of farmed animals. As we have discussed before, billions of farmed animals around the world endure significant suffering and inhumane treatment to feed humans, largely in industrial farming. And yet, like other animals, cows, pigs and chickens, are sentient with clearly documented evidence of emotions, personality differences, kinship with others, etc. For those of us who consume animal products, we can make a real difference in the lives of animals by insisting upon better animal welfare in the human food system. There are many factors that need to be addressed (nutrition, health, environment, behaviour, and mental state) and much work needs to be done. And our guest today is one of the people involved. Dr. Maria Camila Ceballos Bettancourt, is an assistant professor in the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary in Alberta Canada. She has a specialization in beef cattle welfare but, as you will hear, she has been involved in a number of really interesting studies involving pigs and chickens also. She will talk about music and its impact on pigs, the positive benefits of silvopasturing on cattle and how different practices of handling chickens can have a big impact on their welfare. Links: Contact Info: mariacamila.ceballos@ucalgary.ca U of C: https://vet.ucalgary.ca/contact-us/maria Google scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=z85KvpwAAAAJ&hl=es&oi=ao Social Media links: X: @mariaceballosb Mastodon: @mariacceballos Instagram: @animalwelbe Academic Collaborators Mentioned: Dr. Berardo Rodriguez, Ph.D. Professor, Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia Dr. Juliana Zapata, Ph.D. Professor, Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia The late Dr. Ariel Tarazona, Professor of animal welfare and behaviour, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. MSc Victor Lima, Animal Welfare Consultant Additional Resources: Ceballos MC, Sant’Anna AC, Boivin X, Costa FO, Carvalhal MVL, Paranhos da Costa MJR (2018) Impact of good practices of handling training on beef cattle welfare and stockpeople attitudes and behaviors. Livestock Science. (216): 24-31. http://dx.doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2018.06.019 Ceballos MC, Sant’Anna AC, Gois KCR, Ferraudo AS, Negrao JA, Paranhos da Costa MJR (2018) Investigating the relationship between human-animal interactions, reactivity, stress response and reproductive performance in Nellore heifers. Livestock Science. (216): 65-75. http://dx.doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2018.08.001 Tarazona
Mon, August 28, 2023
Ending Bear Bile Farming
When you think about medicine and animals, what comes to mind? For a lot of us, we first think of animal testing; clinical trials, lab mice, etc. But we don’t tend to think so much about the ingredients in our medicines and what animals they come from. Many common drugs and medicines like blood thinners, treatments for menopause and even vaccines contain pig, horse or chicken byproducts. In some countries such as several in Asia, some medicines contain products from animals that are endangered such as tigers and rhinos. Others involve extractions from live animals that can involve considerable pain to animal, damage to its health, and quite horrendous living conditions. Use of bear bile is one example of this latter category. Today, we are going to devote a lot of time to the subject thanks to our guest Dr. Mandala Hunter-Ishikawa. Mandala is a veterinarian with Animals Asia which is a charity headquartered in Hong Kong that has been working for decades to rescue and rehabilitate bears from the bear bile trade in China and Vietnam. It aims to end the bear bile trade through awareness, education and rescue efforts. Links: https://www.animalsasia.org Video of Tuffy, a rescued Moon bear jumping for joy in water for the first time: https://youtu.be/GN4svy6iGT4 Fear Free Pets: https://fearfreepets.com Social Media links: https://www.instagram.com/animalsasia https://www.facebook.com/AnimalsAsia https://www.youtube.com/user/HKAAF?feature=watch https://twitter.com/AnimalsAsia
Fri, July 14, 2023
Caring for Zoo and Aquarium Animals
Happy July everyone! Our guest today is Dr. Heather Bacon, Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Central Lancashire in the United Kingdom. Heather has worked internationally on veterinary education and animal welfare projects for over 15 years. Her experience with and interest in animal welfare issues is so extensive it was difficult to decide on which topic to cover with her today. In the end, we decided to focus mainly on issues of the health and well-being of captive wildlife, specifically those in zoos and aquaria. Heather will talk about the five domains of animal welfare and how they underpin several frameworks around the world for treatment of zoo and aquarium animals. You may recall I did an episode on that subject almost a year ago. That episode is called Feeling Groovy – the Five Domains of Animal Welfare. If you haven’t already done so you may want to check it out. Heather also makes some compelling comments about importance of human interaction with animals, particularly for animals in zoos and aquaria. Enjoy! Links: https://www.uclan.ac.uk/schools/veterinary-medicine Recommendations of books, publications: https://www.routledge.com/One-Welfare-in-Practice-The-Role-of-the-Veterinarian/Stephens/p/book/9780367904067 https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/book/10.1079/9781789247237.0000 https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/8/7/103 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10888705.2021.2012784 Social Media links: @UCLanvets (twitter), @AW_Vet (personal twitter), @UCLan Veterinary Medicine (facebook)
Fri, June 09, 2023
The Cat Did What? Cat Behaviour and You
Today we are exploring the world of domestic cat behaviour. Chances are either you have a cat in your family or you know someone who does. There are around 400 million cats in households around the globe. We humans have long had a fascination with these beautiful creatures dating back to ancient Egypt. It is estimated that cats have been domestic pets for 12,000 years. And yet, in many respects, they remain a mystery to us. Our guest is going to help us deepen our understanding of cat behaviour. Nicky Trevorrow, behaviour manager in the Veterinary Department of Cats Protection, the largest UK charity for rescuing and placing cats for adoption. Nicky’s role at Cats Protection is to implement the charity’s strategy to promote feline behaviour and welfare. She is a registered veterinary nurse. She holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Animal Behaviour. She also undertook an Advanced Diploma in Companion Animal Behaviour Therapy from the Centre of Applied Pet Ethology and a Postgraduate Diploma in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling from the University of Southampton. Nicky is a full member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors and a Registered Clinical Animal Behaviourist through the Animal Behaviour & Training Council (ABTC). The ABTC seeks to promote humane practices in animal training and behaviour therapy by setting and maintaining standards of knowledge and skills for practitioners in animal training and behaviour. We will leave links to those organizations in our show notes if you would like to learn more about them. And please check out Cats Protection’s Youtube channel for lots of great content to help you understand the cats in your life. Links: Cats.org.uk Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@catsprotection Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catsprotection/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catsprotection Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors: https://www.apbc.org.uk Animal Behaviour and Training Council: https://abtc.org.uk
Mon, May 08, 2023
Croc Docs – Protecting Wildlife from Non-native and Invasive Species
Today, we are talking about the impact of non-native and invasive wildlife when they are introduced into an environment. What effect can they have on native wildlife and the ecosystem on which they rely. Today’s guest is Paul Evans, a Science Writer and Outreach Coordinator at Croc Docs, a University of Florida team of biologists, ecological modelers, and outreach specialists conducting research in south Florida and the Caribbean. As you can tell by the name Croc Docs, this scientific group has a special focus on crocodilian (alligators and crocodiles). They are doing important research on native wildlife in south Florida as well as in the Caribbean. They are helping address the challenge of non-native species that have been introduced into the environment, usually because they were kept as pets and either escaped or were released into the wild. Some non-native species are invasive, like the speckled Caiman which is a type of crocodile indigenous to central and south America. These Caimans can have devastating effects on the environment and the native wildlife of Florida. Another highly destructive invasive species is the Argentine tegu, a type of large lizard which poses a serious threat to many native species like the American alligator, sea turtles and ground nesting birds. Paul gives us insights into how these species were introduced to the area, what the Croc Docs are doing to address the challenges they pose and he will share a little bit about what people can do to help stop the spread of these and other invasive species. Links: Website links: https://crocdoc.ifas.ufl.edu Social Media links: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheCrocDocs Twitter: http://twitter.com/TheCrocDocs Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/theCrocDocs Other Mentioned Links and Resources: I’ve Got 1 - App for Apple or Android: https://www.eddmaps.org/florida/report/ Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: https://myfwc.com .
Fri, March 24, 2023
I Feel You: The Human Animal Connection
Today we are exploring the healing power of connecting with animals. You have probably heard of programs in hospitals and nursing homes where animals, typically dogs, are brought in to interact with patients. The human-animal engagement has been found to be highly beneficial for many people and can help combat depression, anxiety and loneliness. Dogs are also employed at some airports to help reduce anxiety in passengers who are afraid to fly. But human-animal interaction can also be a form of therapy for dealing with significant trauma such as PTSD. And, what is not discussed as frequently is that the benefits of the interaction can help heal animals of trauma as much as it does humans. Our guest today is Dr. Genie Joseph, the Executive Director of The Human-Animal Connection, a US non-profit organization dedicated to changing the way humanity relates to animals. Her organization brings people and therapy animals together for the benefit of both. They offer a variety of therapy programs including free therapy dog visits to veterans, Active Duty, Health Care Providers, and anyone experiencing stress in the field of Service to Others. They also provide educational classes and zoom sessions to help people deepen their connection to animals, increase empathy, and facilitate cross-species communication. One of them is the Canines Teach Compassion which s a program for high school students that combines social skills and resilience training with animal interaction. Genie is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, an author, a dog trainer and consultant on relationships between people and animals, and as you will hear a very dynamic speaker. She is the creator of The Act Resilient Method of therapy which works with therapy animals. She authored a book on the subject called The Act Resilient Method. She has presented using that method to over 4,000 Service Members and their families, and for her work, she received a Volunteer Service Award from then President Barack Obama. Her team at Tripler Army Medical Center was given a National Award for Workplace Resilience from the American Psychological Association. Her latest endeavour is her new book entitled The Human Animal Connection: Deepening Relationships with Animals and Ourselves. In this episode, Genie will discuss the benefits of connection between people and animals for both, her work with service personnel, high school students and rescue animals, her own rescue dog Sophia, and how we can all improve our interactions with our pets. And much more! Links: Website links: https://thehumananimalconnection.org Social Media links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheHumanAnimal2 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWvWUghDeo_kMViWDPNnvQQ Instagram:
Wed, March 01, 2023
The Great Ape Escape: Finding Refuge at the Center for Great Apes
Today’s guest is Patti Ragan, founder and president of the Center for Great Apes in southcentral Florida. The Center is a sanctuary for orangutans and chimpanzees, many of whom were in the entertainment industry. Others were personal pets or research subjects. It is currently home to 27 orangutans and 42 chimpanzees and is the only accredited sanctuary for orangutans in North America. A couple of the most well-known residents are Bubbles, a chimpanzee once owned by Michael Jackson and Sandra, an orangutan who, through a legal challenge in Argentina, is the first in the world to be legally recognized as having personhood rights. We talked about some of the legal cases that have brought around recognizing the legal rights of non-human animals in episode 14 Animals in the News so you might want to check that out and we will say more about that in future episodes. Patti gives us a great overview of orangutans and chimps as ape species and she shares stories of some of the residents at the Center. She also provides details regarding the extraordinary facility she and her team of staff and volunteers have created over the past 30 years. Further, she gives us reason to be hopeful for the day when centers such as hers are no longer required because there will no longer be captive great apes needing sanctuary. Links: Website link: https://centerforgreatapes.org Social Media links: https://www.facebook.com/CenterForGreatApes https://twitter.com/CFGA https://www.youtube.com/user/Centerforgreatapes https://www.instagram.com/centerforgreatapes/ Other Mentioned Links: Sandra’s court decision in Argentina: https://www.animallaw.info/case/orangutana-sandra-s-habeas-corpus Tommy’s court decision in New York: https://www.animallaw.info/case/people-ex-rel-nonhuman-rights-project-inc-v-lavery
Wed, November 09, 2022
A Life Well Lived - The Whale Sanctuary Project
We know a great deal about cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) thanks to the remarkable work of scientists all over the world. They have been studied in their natural habitat as well as in captivity. As a result, scientists have identified the significant adverse consequences cetaceans experience in captivity in aquariums and other facilities. Their captivity is usually just for the purpose of entertaining us humans and to make profit for a few people. Our guest today is world renowned neuroscientist Dr. Lori Marino. Lori is an expert in animal behaviour and intelligence, particularly marine mammals held in captivity. She is the President and co-founder of the Whale Sanctuary Project, a science-based non-profit organization working to end the exploitation of whales and dolphins and creating sanctuaries for those who have been in captivity. The Whale Sanctuary Project is currently preparing a sanctuary site in Port Hilford, Nova Scotia. Lori will explain the physical, psychological and mental harms experienced by cetaceans in captivity and the work the Whale Sanctuary Project is doing to create sanctuaries for captive cetaceans so they can live out the rest of their lives in a healthy way. If you follow the news, you may have noticed that the number of stories involving whales and dolphins have been increasing. Unfortunately, many of these stories are sad ones, like the report of almost 500 pilot whales being found dead after being beached on an island in New Zealand. Scientists are still trying to understand the cause of that tragedy. Or the many stories of whales and dolphins getting caught in ghost fishing gear left behind by the fishing industry. But there are also many wonderous stories of our interaction with whales, dolphins and porpoises. Like the group of dolphins who protected swimmers in New Zealand from a great white shark. Or the stories of humpback whales saving seals and others mammals from orcas. These animals are intelligent, complex beings with language, culture, and social skills. We know a great deal about cetaceans the order of marine mammals that includes (whales, dolphins and porpoises) thanks to the remarkable work of scientists all over the world. They have been studied in their natural habitat as well as in captivity. As a result, scientists have identified the significant adverse consequences cetaceans experience in captivity. Their captivity is usually for the sole purpose of entertaining us humans and to make some people some money. Our guest today is world renowned neuroscientist Dr. Lori Marino. Lori is an expert in animal behaviour and intelligence, particularly marine mammals held in captivity. She is the President and co-founder of the Whale Sanctuary Project, a science-based non-profit organization working to end the exploitation of whales and dolphins and creating sanctuaries for those who have been in captivity. The Whale Sanctuary Project is currently pr
Thu, October 13, 2022
Pain in the Cat - The Feline Grimace Scale
How do we know when an animal is experiencing acute pain? As it turns out, for at least some animals like felines, a good indicator of their experience of pain can be seen in their faces. As we humans wince or grimace when we experience pain, so do cats. Our guest today is Dr. Paulo Steagall. Dr. Steagall and a team of researchers working at his laboratory at the Université de Montréal veterinary teaching hospital developed the Feline Grimace Scale ( www.felinegrimacescale.com ), an amazing tool for assessing acute pain in cats. This user-friendly assessment tool assists veterinary practitioners around the world in diagnosing and treating pain in cats. But it is also helpful for those with pet cats in identifying acute pain so that proper veterinary care can be sought. Dr. Steagall is a Professor of Veterinary Anesthesiology and Pain Management at the City University of Hong Kong and the Université de Montréal. He is a board-certified specialist of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia and received his degree in veterinary medicine in his native country of Brazil. He is the head of a clinical research laboratory dedicated to improving pain management and animal welfare with cutting-edge research in pain assessment. Dr. Steagall and a team of researchers working at his laboratory at the Université de Montréal veterinary teaching hospital developed the Feline Grimace Scale ( www.felinegrimacescale.com ), an amazing tool for assessing acute pain in cats. Among other involvements, he is a member of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Global Pain Council, and co-chair of the WSAVA Therapeutic Guidelines Group. He has published and lectured extensively on pain management and is the author of the book “Feline Anesthesia and Pain Management”. Links: Website: www.felinegrimacescale.com Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulo-steagall-3481291a5/ Recommendations: https://www.felinegrimacescale.com/more-about-our-work
Fri, August 05, 2022
Feeling Groovy – The Five Domains of Animal Welfare
How can we tell if an animal is truly well and has quality of life? The five domains model of animal welfare is designed to help scientists, veterinarians, animal caregivers in zoos and others evaluate and monitor the welfare of animals. But the model is also useful for us in our daily lives as we make decisions that affect the non-human animal kingdom. It can assist with considering whether to partake in animal-based activities as part of travel or other entertainment like in zoos. It is also a good lens through which to evaluate the well-being of our pets and the farm animals we rely on for food.
Thu, July 07, 2022
Monkey Business – Tails from a Primate Sanctuary
Monkeys are smart, sophisticated autonomous beings born to be wild and live in communities with their own kind. They aren’t meant to be pets or entertainers. Yet there are so many among us far from their natural habitat mainly due to the exotic pet trade and unregulated zoos. Others are acquired as subjects for scientific research and discarded after they have served their usefulness. Thankfully, some make their way to sanctuaries like the Story Book Primate Sanctuary in Ontario, Canada. This sanctuary has been in existence for more than two decades and is currently home to two dozen monkeys and lemurs. Our guest today is Daina Liepa, the Executive Director of Story Book Sanctuary and, as she says, one of the monkey poop cleaners. She will tell us about the resident monkeys, what life was like for them before they arrived at the sanctuary and what she and her team are doing to give them the best life possible now. Links: Website: https://www.storybookmonkeys.org/ or https://sbfps.org Email: sbfpsanctuary@gmail.com Phone: 416-816-4800 Facebook: @sbfps https://www.facebook.com/sbfps Instagram: @storybookmonkeys https://www.instagram.com/storybookmonkeys/ Twitter: @SBFPrimateS LinkedIn: @sbfps https://www.linkedin.com/company/sbfps/
Thu, June 16, 2022
Saving Mountain Gorillas
If you had to guess, how many mountain gorillas do you think remain in the wild today? For context, there are 7.9 billion humans in the world. How many mountain gorillas do you think there are? The answer: just 1,063. Until recently, there were a critically endangered species. Thanks in large part to today’s guest and her organization, the population of mountain gorillas is growing. Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka is the founder and CEO of Conservation through Public Health (CTPH), an award winning NGO that protects endangered gorillas and other wildlife. CTPH is particularly active with mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwest Uganda. Dr. Kalema-Zikusoka is a graduate of the Royal Veterinary College at the University of London and studied a masters degree in specialized veterinary medicine from North Carolina State University. She has won several awards as has CTPH. We will provide a detailed biography in the show notes so please check those out at www.theanimalguide.com . Dr. Gladys and CTPH apply a one health approach to their work focussing on the interplay between humans, animals and the environment to improve conditions for all. She tells us about some of the important programs CTPH operates around Bwindi National Park to help community members and the gorillas live harmoniously. Thriving and healthy communities are extremely important to support and protect the mountain gorilla population. Links: Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka Twitter: @DoctorGladys Facebook: @DrGladysKalemaZikusoka Instagram: @gladyskalemazikusoka Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladys_Kalema-Zikusoka “Walking With Gorillas” by Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka publishes October 2022: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Walking-With-Gorillas/Gladys-Kalema-Zikusoka/ Conservation Through Public Health Twitter: @CTPHuganda Facebook: @CTPH.org Instagram: @ctph_uganda Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLoS3Cp_2mON9vgeYS2EwA Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservation_Through_Public_Health Gorilla Conservation Coffee Twitter: @GCCoffee1 Facebook: @GorillaConservationCoffee Instagram: <a href='https://www.instagram.com
Thu, June 02, 2022
Why Did The Chicken Cross the Road? To Cool Off!
It is estimated that around 65 billion broiler chickens are consumed by humans every year. Yet, how much do we really know about them? Today’s guest is doing fascinating and important research in animal behaviour, particularly chickens. Dr. Oluwaseun Sera Iyasere is a specialist in Animal Behaviour and Welfare and a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Animal Physiology, at the Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta, Nigeria (FUNAAB). She teaches courses in several subjects including Comparative Animal Behavior, Environmental Physiology, and Animal Welfare. She has more than 45 published journal articles to her credit including several relating to heat stress on chickens. She will share with us several interesting studies regarding chicken behaviour so we can understand these important animals a little better. Social media: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/oluwaseunserah-iyasere Twitter: @os_iyas Select Publications: 1. Iyasere, O.S ., Edwards, S.A., Bateson, M., Mitchell, M and Guy, J.H. (2017). Validation of an intramuscularly-implanted microchip and a surface infrared thermometer to estimate core body temperature in broiler chickens exposed to heat stress. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture , 133 :1-8. 2. Iyasere, O.S., Beard, A.P., Guy, J.H. and Bateson, M. (2017). Elevated levels of stress hormone, corticosterone, cause ‘pessimistic’ judgment bias in broiler chickens. Scientific Reports , 7 (1):1-12 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-07040-y . 3. Iyasere, O.S ., Oyeniran, V.J., Oyawale, O., Adeniyi, D. and Uyanga, V.A. (2018). Social facilitation between commercial broilers and Nigerian indigenous chicks and its effect on their welfare. Agricultura Tropica et Subtropica , 51(4): 139-146. http://www.agricultura.mendelu.cz/wcd/w-rek-agriculturaits/fulltexts/ats_2018_4_iyasere.pdf . 4. Iyasere, O.S., Ajayi, O.D., Alade, S.O. Akinbode, V.O. (2019). Behaviour, physiology and body mass of Nigerian indigenous hens during brooding. Agricultura Tropica et Subtropica , 52(2):43-47. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ats-2019-0005 5. Iyasere, O.S ., Durosaro, S.O., Oke, O.E., Omotosho, T.F., Salako, M.A., Oyeniran, V.J., Oyetunji, D.E and Daramola, J.O. (2020). Behavioural responses of two breeds of domestic chicks to feed and alarm call playback. Applied Animal Behaviour Science , 233: 105153 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105153
S1 E15 · Thu, May 19, 2022
Letting Wild Cats be Wild
On today’s episode, we are taking a look at wild cats who have found themselves in human hands. Lions, tigers, lynx, servals, and other species of wild cats can be targets for profiteers running roadside petting zoos or who are filling a demand for exotic pets. These extraordinary creatures might be bred for their cubs to create a photo opportunity at an unregulated zoo or they may be taken into homes with the expectation they can be domesticated. Neither of these environments allow them to live life as they are intended and many are neglected and abused. Some of the lucky ones find their way to a qualified sanctuary where they can live in conditions that allow them to more natural behaviour. Today’s guest is Tammy Thies, founder and executive director of The Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone, Minnesota. She has a fascinating story of moving from a career in advertising to running The Wildcat Sanctuary, a 40-acre home for over 100 captive wildcats. Animals are not bought, sold, bred or traded by the sanctuary. Each resident is given every opportunity to behave naturally in a wonderful, free-roaming environment and they receive the best vet care at the on-site animal hospital. The Wildcat Sanctuary also provides educational outreach seminars and helps lobby for legislative change to ban ownership of dangerous exotic animals as pets. Tammy shares with us the stories of some of the sanctuary’s residents, what life at the sanctuary is like, and offers suggestions for helping end the capture and exploitation of wildcats. To find out more about The Wildcat Sanctuary and how you can help support them in the great work they are doing, please visit their website https://wildcatsanctuary.org and check out their social media for video footage of some of their residents. Social Media links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildcatsanctuary Instagram: @wildcatsanctuary Tiktok: @wildcatsanctuary Recommendations of books, publications: www.sanctuaryfederation.org www.bigcatalliance.org
Bonus · Fri, May 06, 2022
Animals in the News
Today’s episode is a brief one to touch base on some current news items and to tell you about some of the great episodes we have coming up. We start with the recent heartbreaking story from Dallas, Texas where a little two year old boy was mauled by a coyote while on the front porch of his home. My thoughts and prayers go out to this little boy and his family. Several news stories have reported that neighbours in the area had been seen feeding the coyote and even petting it. In episodes 6 and 7 of The Animal Guide for Curious Humans we spoke with wildlife conflict mitigation specialist Meg Toom. She provided several helpful tips for dealing with wildlife in urban settings and explained why feeding wildlife and allowing them to become habituated to humans can be so dangerous. Coyotes are naturally elusive animals and generally avoid contact with humans. If the stories of feeding and interacting are accurate, this animal may have lost much of its natural wariness to humans that would have kept it away from the neighbourhood. And the outcome is a true tragedy. As Meg discussed, if you see wildlife in your community, please don’t try to get near them or encourage their continued presence through feeding or allowing access to food sources. Encourage them to move on through, for their sake and yours. We also wanted to acknowledge some of the incredible stories of efforts to assist animals in Ukraine. Like the story of zoo staff at the Mykolaiv Zoo in southern Ukraine who have refused to leave putting the animals in their care ahead of their own safety. You may have also heard the wonderful heartwarming story of two African lions, Simba and Mir who were rescued from a zoo in Eastern Ukraine, taken across the border to Romania and who have now found a permanent home in a sanctuary in South Africa. These are just two of the amazing stories coming out of Ukraine of human effort to protect and save non-human animals in the midst of this devastating attack. Unfortunately, there are also many tragedies occuring. Like the 15 year old boy who, while volunteering to help evacuate buffalo from an ecopark in Kharkiv came under fire and was killed. And the many animals who have been killed either by bombing or in some cases, because they have been used as target practice by Russian forces. If you can spare some change, please consider donating to one of the animal welfare organizations helping the animals and people of Ukraine. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA) are two organizations that are active in assisting. No doubt any amount you are able to donate would be much appreciated. On a lighter note, we have several incredible episodes to share in the coming weeks. We will be discussing mountain gorillas in the wild and some of the extraordinary people involved in protecting them. We will also talk about wild cats – both large and small and
S1 E13 · Thu, April 14, 2022
Why we need to stop killing animals for fashion
Why is anyone still wearing fur despite the decades of protests against this practice? Unless you live in a remote community in which fur is used in the context of living responsibly off the land and as part of your culture, you don't need it for warmth. If you're wearing fur, the reason is vanity. In this episode of The Animal Guide For Curious Humans, host Maureen Amrstrong talks to Lesley Fox, Executive Director of The Furbearers , a Canadian charity that is seeking to end the commercial fur trade. The Furbearers believe that we shouldn’t be killing animals for the fashion trade. Its mission is to protect fur bearing animals through advocacy, education, and research. Lesley shares important information about fur farming and trapping practice and discusses the animals who are targeted for their fur. She shares a lot of surprising information about the trade, including some of the really terrible practices used by fur farms and how government subsidies are still being used to prop up this declining industry. A furbearer is a classification of animal whose pelt has commercial value. There are around 21 animals in this category, including mink, foxes, beaver, otters, bears, bobcats, lynx, coyote, squirrels and even skunks! This episode explores: The difference between fur farms and trapping for furs. How animals are gassed and electrocuted to preserve the quality of the pelts. The huge environmental impact of fur farming. The weakness of the arguments used to maintain the fur trade industry. The work the Furbearers is doing to protect animals that are cruelly treated in the fur trade. In addition to her work with the Fur Bearers, Lesley is the co-founder of the Society for Humane Science and president and board chair for the Alberni Community and Women's Service Society (ACAWS). She is a certified Humane Education Specialist through the National Association for Humane and Environmental Education (NAHEE). She graduated with honours from the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) in Public Relations, Marketing Communications and Non-Profit Management and is currently finishing her Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies at Royal Roads University. Lesley lives with her partner on Vancouver Island on the traditional territories of the Hupacasath and Tseshaht First Nations. We would love to have your thoughts and feedback on this episode. Please contact us directly at The Animal Guide , or send us a message via social media. Episode links and resources: The Furbearers Twitter <a href='http://www.ins
S1 E12 · Wed, March 30, 2022
How to shop cruelty-free
More and more consumers are animal lovers, and their love of animals extends to what they buy. So more consumers are making purchasing decisions based on whether products are tested on animals. Many manufacturers have embraced cruelty free as part of their corporate culture. Others just print phrases like “Against animal testing” on their products. But what exactly does this mean? Does it mean that the product was developed without any testing on animals? Or without any testing that would now be viewed as cruel? In this episode of The Animal Guide for Curious Humans host Maureen Armstrong talks to Kim Paschen, manager of the Leaping Bunny Program, a well-established cruelty-free certification program for cosmetics, personal care and household products that guarantees products to be free of animal testing at all stages of product development. The program is operated by the Coalition for Consumer Information On Cosmetics in the US and Canada and by Cruelty Free International for products manufactured elsewhere. Kim manages the day-to-day operations of the program to ensure its integrity in addition to working with certified companies on a wide variety of promotions. Consumers face challenges when identifying cruelty-free products Since there is no universally recognized definition of ‘Not tested on animals’ or ‘Cruelty-free’, shopping cruelty free can be challenging. In some instances, manufacturers add labels or wording to their products to try to mislead consumers into thinking they are cruelty-free. Fortunately, the Leaping Bunny certification program is available to companies who want their customers to know for sure their products are cruelty free. When you see the Leaping Bunny logo on a product, you can be confident that neither the product itself nor any of its ingredients has been tested on animals. Today, more than 2200 companies are certified under the program. Kim talks about the program, the standards it uses and the organisations behind this world renowned certification program. Episode Links and resources: www.leapingbunny.org facebook.com/leapingbunny Instagram.com/leapingbunnyprogram https://ethicalelephant.com/cruelty-free-logos/ https://www.ifaw.org Show links: Host Maureen Armstrong on LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram
S1 E12 · Thu, March 17, 2022
Why we need legal personhood for animals
What are animals exactly? Are they just things? Are they property? Can they be persons even though they aren’t people? We share background on an important legal case on the question of whether an elephant is, in legal terms, a person for the purpose of accessing certain legal rights. This case raises so many important issues regarding the human/non-human animal relationship, the intelligence of elephants in particular, animal ethics, and pathways we need to explore to protect animals in a civilized society. The elephant is named Happy. Born in 1971 in Thailand, she was kidnapped as an infant from her herd. She along with six other elephant calves were purchased by a drive-through zoo in California. They were named for the seven dwarves from Snow White. Over the next few years, some died, some were sent to be circus performers, and two, Happy and Grumpy, went to the Bronx Zoo in 1977. Grumpy died in 2000. Since 2006, Happy has been confined to an enclosure alone. Much been learned about wildlife and elephants since Happy first arrived at the Bronx Zoo. The zoo and its parent organization, the Wildlife Conservation Society, have advanced their thinking since that time. To its credit, the zoo made a decision many years ago not to further acquire elephants. So, the situation Happy is in won’t be repeated; at least not at the Bronx Zoo. But what about Happy and the next years of her life? In October, 2018 the Nonhuman Rights Project, an American not-for-profit organization, filed what is known as a writ of habeas corpus on Happy’s behalf. They want Happy recognized as a legal person with a fundamental right to bodily liberty. They want her released to an elephant sanctuary where she could move around and socialize with other elephants. The zoo has opposed the legal action arguing that elephants are not legal persons who can exercise a right of habeas corpus. The case raises important questions about our understanding and treatment of animals, particularly intelligent species like elephants. We share some of the extraordinary skills and behaviours elephants exhibit and tell how 20 African elephants sensed the death of Lawrence Anthony, a beloved conservationist they had encountered at a reserve in South Africa and how they travelled several miles to his home to pay their respects. How can the needs of such complex creatures be met if they are confined to a small zoo enclosure? Isn’t it time we recognize these extraordinary beings as having an inherent right to quality of life? What do you think? Share your feedback on one of my social media channels with the hashtag #timeforanimalpersonhood and I'll share some of your responses in the next episode. Episode Links and resources: The Nonhuman Rights Program: Happy The Bronx Zoo <a href='https://www.
S1 E13 · Tue, March 01, 2022
Overexploited fish and seafood need protection. Here’s what you can do
In this episode of The Animal Guide we explore the systems used to put aquatic life on our plates, and how we can improve the lives of aquatic animals. Our guest is Catalina Lopez from the Aquatic Life Institute . She is the Director of the Aquatic Animal Alliance (AAA), a coalition of organizations working around the globe to reduce the suffering of aquatic animals used for food. A vet from Columbia who now lives in Mexico, Catalina has worked in the farmed animal protection movement for almost five years, previously leading the Corporate Engagement team at Mercy For Animals Latin America on their work in cage-free campaigns. More than 100 companies committed to going cage-free in Mexico during that time. Catalina shares with host Maureen Armstrong the animal welfare standards created by the AAA that they are actively encouraging countries and companies around the world to adopt. This includes the AAA’s key aquatic welfare recommendations . Exploitation of aquatic life has more than doubled in 40 years Aquatic life is in dire need of protection! Catalina explains that globally, the share of fish populations that are overexploited (i.e. they are caught faster than they can reproduce to sustain their population levels) has more than doubled since the 1980s. This means the current levels of wild fish catch are unsustainable. As a result, aquaculture, which is the practice of fish and seafood farming, increased to make up for the decrease in that supply. To put this in perspective, from the 1960s to 2015, fish farming has increased 50 fold to around 100 million tons per year. And in terms of number of animals, this is around 73 to 180 billion farmed fish and around 400 billion shrimp. Notably, vessels that are registered to wealthy countries are responsible for more than 70 percent of industrial fishing. The Blue Loss Report The episode also explores the issue known as the “blue loss,” which is the term used to describe how many aquatic animals are unaccounted for in the human food chain each year. Aquaculture is often touted as the solution to overfishing, yet the Blue Loss Report from the AAA has found that up to half of all animals caught at sea are fed to carnivorous fish on farms, especially salmon and tuna. This poses serious questions about aquaculture’s animal welfare paradigm. Catalina details what needs to be done to improve aquatic animal welfare, including the psychological welfare of aquatic life. She points out that because aquatic animals are discussed as commodities, humans forget that they are live animals with certain needs and certain behaviors that we need to understa
S1 E12 · Tue, February 15, 2022
DOGS! And the value of a great trainer
In the newest episode of The Animal Guide podcast show, we discuss one of the world’s most popular pets - dogs. Our guest is dog trainer Helen Prinold from the Canadian Association of Professional Dog Trainers. Helen has a Masters degree in Animal Behaviour, is CPDT-KA certified ( Certified Professional Dog Trainer -Knowledge Assessed), a CDBC ( Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant ), and a Certified Fear Free Animal Trainer . In our conversation with Helen we focus on puppy and dog training and the value of retaining a well-qualified dog trainer who is skilled at using humane science-based techniques to help educate and train dogs and their human family members. We also talk about some of the important foundations for all dogs; that they are healthy, well-exercised, well-fed and in a positive environment. Helen, who is the Immediate Past Chair of the Canadian Association of Professional Dog Trainers (CAPDT), explains that CAPDT has made it a priority to apply humane strategies when working with dogs. The Association’s members comply with a strong code of ethics that includes humane techniques recognized by the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants (IAABC). CAPDT and sister organizations in other countries are working towards better regulation for the industry to ensure those working with dogs are well qualified using humane and science-based practices. As Helen says, “I've been running my own business for over 15, 20 years now and I compete against somebody who can just put up a shingle tomorrow after training their own dog to sit”. A little more about Helen. She is the owner, lead trainer, and behaviour consultant for Dog Friendship Inc. – a dog training business in Guelph, Ontario. She also presents the internationally recognized dog bite prevention program Doggone Safe, and also "Be a Tree" for school-aged children and is a pet First Aid instructor. She is also a champion carriage driver, loves horses, and has worked extensively with behaviourally challenged dogs, rescue dogs and service dogs. She currently has a YorkiePoo who is changing Helen’s mind about how effective small dogs are at dog sports. Episode Links and resources: CAPDT website: www.capdt.ca Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CAPPDT/ CAPDT Code of Ethics: https://capdt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Code-of-Ethics-2019.pdf www.Fearfreehappyhomes.com Other associations of professional dog trainers: United States - www.apdt.com United Kingdom - https://apdt.co.uk</a
S1 E8 · Mon, January 31, 2022
Animal welfare in China
Obtaining an accurate picture of animal welfare in China requires understanding of history, culture and politics in this large and complex country. In this episode, Dr. Peter Li, a distinguished scholar and China animal policy expert, shares insights on animal welfare in China including wet markets and the role they played in the outbreak of the COVID 19 pandemic. Dr. Li is Associate Professor of East Asian Politics, Animal Law and Policy at the University of Houston (Downtown) and a consultant (China Policy Specialist) for Humane Society International (HSI). He is the author of Animal Welfare in China: Politics, Culture and Crisis . In this episode Dr. Li explains current animal welfare concerns in China through the socio-political dynamics of the past 70 years and how they differ from historical cultural norms. In addition to discussing the use of wildlife for traditional medicine and other purposes, he explores companion animals and farm animals in China, and the ways in which the communist government has impacted many of the country's cultural practices regarding animals and animal welfare. Here you can see a select number of Dr Li's his op-ed pieces: https://www.scmp.com/author/peter-j-li ; and his peer-reviewed journal articles ( https://works.bepress.com/peter-li/ . Dr. Li’s latest publication on China’s animal welfare crisis, animal policymaking and legal development at a time of great social and economic transformation . Episode Links and resources: Dr. Peter Li on LinkedIn Global Animal Law Association Twitter Book: Animal Welfare in China: Politics, Culture and Crisis . Show links: Host Maureen Armstrong on LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram
S1 E7 · Wed, January 19, 2022
Managing encounters with wolves and other wildlife
In episode 007 of The Animal Guide , we continue our conversation with Meg Toom. Be sure to listen to episode 006, Encounters With Wildlife , to hear host Maureen Armstrong and Meg discuss managing wildlife and human conflict, and in particular the human impact on bear habitats. They also discussed cougars and coyotes. Meg is principal of Serratus Wildlife Services in British Columbia, Canada, and specializes in human-wildlife conflict mitigation. Wolf culling in British Columbia In this episode, Meg and Maureen talk about wolves, and a little bit about foxes and bobcats. Wolves have been a controversial topic of conversation in British Columbia, Canada, in the last few years. The province has instituted a wolf culling program in recent years, ostensibly to protect the caribou population from predation. It hires contractors to shoot and kill wolves from aircraft. This has led to large numbers of kills and, at times, entire packs being wiped out. The culling is the subject of legal action at this point in time (January, 2022) and we will be following its progress in the coming months and years. Takaya, the lone wolf British Columbia allows recreational hunting of wolves. This episode includes the story of Takaya, a lone wolf who lived near Vancouver Island and was shot and killed by a recreational hunter in 2020 . You can find out more about Takaya and his bond with wildlife photographer Cheryl Alexander in this The Nature of Things documentary called Takaya, Lone Wolf. Meg shares thoughts on how to address urban-wildlife conflict prevention that are applicable no matter which part of the world you live in. Wolves are wary of humans Meg points out that while wolves are naturally wary of humans, they will enter an unsecured property if there are animals including pets and farm livestock. Indeed, wolves have been known to stalk dog walkers. Important safety measures include fencing off one’s property securely; being extra careful and vigilant when taking pets out if you live in or visit a location with a wolf population; and not leaving pet food out. Of course, deliberately feeding wolves should not be done. If a wolf is encountered, the practices recommended by Meg for encounters with bears will work: making lots of noise, and, if necessary, using bear spray.. As in the last episode, Meg encourages listeners to be prepared by educating themselves about wildlife by finding out what’s being done by various levels of government where you live (or visit) and if possible, volunteering with a reputable animal protection organization. Meg gives some suggestions for avoiding conf
S1 E6 · Wed, January 05, 2022
Encounters with wildlife
No matter where we are in the world, we share the planet with wildlife. You may only see squirrels or birds when you take the dog out or head to the office, but these creatures are still classed as wildlife. Some listeners will regularly encounter raccoons, coyotes, bears, snakes, monkeys, jackals, possums, and more. In this episode of The Animal Guide for Curious Humans, host Maureen Armstrong talks with Meg Toom, principal of Serratus Wildlife Services in British Columbia, Canada. Meg specializes in human-wildlife conflict mitigation. She works with communities and governments to develop strategies to reduce negative human-wildlife encounters. This can involve education and outreach programs as well as the creation of policies and bylaws that help keep both humans and animals safe. Meg is also an avid outdoors person. Meg’s passion for this work grew out of tragedy when, in 2004, 27 bears were killed as part of a bear conflict management program in the community in which she lived. Right then, she decided to become part of a volunteer program to build awareness around animal care and wildlife, a step that led her to work full-time in this field. Preventing wildlife-human conflict Education is the key to preventing wildlife-human conflict. Humans attract wildlife into urban areas, but typically, it’s wildlife that pay with their lives. Urban sprawl and our interest in recreating in nature mean encounters with wildlife are on the rise. How can we make those encounters positive interactions rather than harmful conflicts? In this episode we explore certain species of wildlife common in North America, the types of interactions that occur, and how to avoid conflict with them. Particular emphasis is placed on black and grizzly bears What about wolves? In our next episode, Maureen continues the conversation with Meg to explore wolves - a particularly important subject for our listeners in Western Canada and the American Northwest - before moving on to discuss a framework for wildlife conflict prevention that can be applied wherever you live in the world and no matter what species of wildlife you are likely to encounter. Please join us for it. Episode Links and resources: Meg Toom on LinkedIn How to use bear spray (7-minute video worth watching) WildSafeBC BC Ministry of Environment Wildlife Conflict Wild Smart, Alberta Ontario Bear Wise Living with Bears. A Practical G
S1 E5 · Tue, December 21, 2021
Happy Holidays!
The holiday season is a time to reflect on how fortunate we are, but also to acknowledge how much our lives are enriched by other species and to consider what we might do for them. If you haven’t already, now is the perfect time to consider donating your time, money and expertise—whichever you can spare, as much as you can spare—to organizations that work on animals’ behalf. I hope you will consider doing so. I am so grateful and thankful to all of you for “tuning in” and lending your support. If you like what you hear, please spread the word to your friends and family so that we may continue to bring you interesting, thought- and action-provoking, and entertaining content in 2022 and beyond. We appreciate you subscribing to the podcast and giving us a review. From my household to yours, I wish you and the non-human species in your lives a very safe and happy holiday season, and may 2022 bring you and yours love, joy and good fortune. Thank you, and we’ll see you in January! Maureen Show Links The Animal Guide for Curious Humans Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Facebook
S1 E4 · Wed, December 08, 2021
Tips to alleviate animal cruelty in our food system
In the previous episode of The Animal Guide for Curious Humans, host Maureen Armstrong spoke with Steve McIvor, CEO of World Animal Protection about the many ways humans are cruel to the animals we rely on for food. It was an illuminating and somewhat disturbing discussion that ended on a positive note: you have the power to help reduce the cruelty caused to animals in the food system even if you aren’t a vegan or vegetarian. In this episode, Maureen shares her seven strategies for thoughtful consumption of animal products in our diet that will help address the current animal cruelty crisis in the global food system. The strategies include looking at what we eat, where we eat, and the importance of speaking out to create positive change for billions of animals. Ready to start? Have a listen, and be sure to share your thoughts via the show links below. Episode Links: Animal Welfare Institute – Consumer Guide to Food Labels ASPCA Consumer Resources Meat Eggs and Dairy Label Guide https://www.worldanimalprotection.ca/our-work/animals-farming/humane-shopping-guide Animal Welfare Approved certification by A Greener World https://agreenerworld.org/certifications GAP 5-Step Animal Welfare Program https://www.globalanimalpartnership.org/5-step-animal-welfare-rating-program Maureen’s Blog: Being Thoughtful When Consuming of Animal Products Show Links The Animal Guide for Curious Humans Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Facebook
S1 E3 · Wed, November 24, 2021
Farm Animals
Join host Maureen Armstrong as she talks with Steve McIvor, CEO of London, UK-based World Animal Protection, an international organization that has been working for over 50 years to end animal cruelty by addressing the root causes. A major—if not the major—cause of animal suffering is one that most of us are aware of but, perhaps, tend to ignore: factory farming. The way humans have raised animals for food hasn’t always been as cruel as it is today, but an increasing human population has created extraordinary demands. From the facilities in which animals are raised and slaughtered, to the physical characteristics of animals themselves, that chicken sandwich, glass of milk, or cheeseburger in your hand is the product of an international, interdependent system that generally treats sentient beings as inanimate commodities. It is also a key driver of climate change. But, as Steve reveals, it’s not all doom and gloom. Thankfully, via social media and channels like this podcast, awareness of animal cruelty in farming is increasing, and changes to regulations and technology mean that we can do better for billions of animals around the globe. It’s a conversation that will increase your awareness, enable you to make positive changes, and leave you feeling hopeful about the future. Don’t miss it! Highlights 01:30 Introduction, Steve and World Animal Protection. 04:34 Overview of the farmed animal industry and how things have changed. 10:00 Forgetting what (or whom) we’re eating. 22:40 A driver of climate change. 30:00 Plant-based alternatives and cultivated meat. 38:30 Things the consumer can do to help. Episode Links: World Animal Protection World Animal Protection on Instagram @SteveMcIvorCEO Steve’s LinkedIn
S1 E2 · Mon, November 15, 2021
Your Dog Has Opinions
Be sure to join host Maureen Armstrong for the inaugural episode of The Animal Guide for Curious Humans . The Animal Guide for Curious Humans brings animal lovers, wildlife experts and decision makers together to discuss the habits and behaviours of animals—including us—and ways we can live together harmoniously in light of ever-increasing population, resource and climate pressures. In this episode, Maureen talks with Professor Kristin Andrews, a Toronto-based animal researcher and author, who teaches philosophy at York University and is a College member of the Royal Society of Canada. Kristin’s book The Animal Mind is a fascinating journey into animal cognition as revealed by researchers studying a wide range of species around the globe. Like most animal lovers, Kristin’s interest in animals began with house pets and watching programs like “Flipper" on TV, but it wasn’t long before she was in Hawaii studying real dolphins, and from there she has travelled all over the world getting to know a variety of species, writing about her findings, and working with colleagues from different disciplines. She is a preeminent scholar in the field of animal cognition and has written extensively on the subject. You may be familiar with studies on animal communication and tool use, but how about culture and social norms, morality and ethics, personality and emotions? Viewing animals through a philosophical lens reveals some of the shortcomings of animal studies to date, and the many opportunities that exist for us to better understand animals, improve our relationships with them and co-exist more harmoniously. It’s a discussion that will have you questioning your own assumptions about animals, and thinking in new ways about who they are and what they’re trying to tell us. Kristin is author of the books How To Study Animal Minds and The Animal Mind . Don’t miss it! Episode Links: Kristin’s website @KristinAndrewz Kristin's books on the Routledge site . Show Links The Animal Guide for Curious Humans
S1 E3 · Mon, November 15, 2021
Animal Farm
Join host Maureen Armstrong as she talks with Steve McIvor, CEO of London, UK-based World Animal Protection, an international organization that has been working for some 50 years to end animal cruelty by addressing the root causes. A major—if not the major—cause of animal suffering is one that most of us are aware of but, perhaps, tend to ignore: farming. The way humans have raised animals for food hasn’t always been as cruel as it is today, but an increasing human population has created extraordinary demands. From the facilities animals are raised and slaughtered in, to the physical characteristics of animals themselves, that chicken sandwich, glass of milk, or cheeseburger in your hand is the product of an international, interdependent system that not only treats sentient beings as if they’re inanimate commodities, but it’s a key driver of climate change. But, as Steve reveals, it’s not all doom and gloom. Thankfully, via social media and channels like this podcast, awareness of animal cruelty is increasing, and changes to regulations and technology mean that we can—and hopefully will—do better by our non-human counterparts going forward. It’s a conversation that will increase your awareness, enable you to make positive changes, and leave you feeling hopeful about the future. Don’t miss it! Highlights 01:30 Introduction, Steve and World Animal Protection. 04:34 Overview of the farmed animal industry and how things have changed. 10:00 Forgetting what (or whom) we’re eating. 22:40 A driver of climate change. 30:00 Plant-based alternatives and cultivated meat. 38:30 Things the consumer can do to help. Episode Links: World Animal Protection Steve’s LinkedIn World Animal Protection on Instagram @SteveMcIvorCEO Show Links The Animal Guide for Curious Humans
S1 E1 · Thu, November 11, 2021
Attention All Animal Lovers
Love animals? Concerned about the impact we humans are having on them? Then charge up those AirPods - or Bluetooth headset - and get ready for The Animal Guide for Curious Humans . Creator and host Maureen Armstrong brings animal lovers, wildlife experts and decision makers together to discuss the habits and behaviours of animals—including us—and ways we can live together harmoniously in light of ever-increasing population, resource and climate pressures. The Animal Guide for Curious Humans will educate you, entertain you, and get you thinking globally so you can act locally. Discover more about Maureen and the show on the The Animal Guide’s About page . Discover more at TheAnimalGuide.com . And be sure to tune in, like, subscribe and share; our animal friends are counting on us!
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