Lots of Barkin' & Bitin' Going on Over Marley & Me

Although the movie, Marley & Me, promises to be a big hit, especially with fans of John Grogan's mega-bestseller book, not everyone loves the story and the human characters.

In Gina Spadafori's Pet Connection Column, "'Marley and Me'-Don't Try This at Home" (December 26, 2008, http://is.gd/e18L), Gina expresses the distaste that is shared by other animal lovers.

Gina writes, "But the book? I found it too irritating for words, and gave up on the reading halfway through. I found myself wanting to grab the man by the lapels and beg him to get competent help from a good trainer or behaviorist. There was nothing wrong with Marley that some consistent, well-informed environmental changes, training and exercise couldn't have fixed. "Bad" dogs just aren't funny to me. And now, of course, Marley's a movie. Thanks, but I'll pass."

The column elicited a flurry of responses from readers.

Kathleen Weaver wrote, "I'm glad you confessed. I feel the same way. I spent an almost an 8 year period of my life, finding out of control labs and retrievers, placing them with potential K9 officers and training dog and officer to find dope. Made a lot of people happy, especially the frustrated owners. The last thing I want to do, is waste almost 2 hours of my life watching clueless dog owners. I can do that anytime I want, just go to a local park or worse yet, dog park."

We posted a link to Gina's column on http://twitter.com/angelanimals and on our Angel Animals Facebook page, (Facebook-Linda-Allen Anderson). We also received comments from people who had not wanted to go against the grain and admit that they felt squeamish about labeling Marley as "the world's worst dog.

Megan, a reader of Gina's column, offered the point of view that we've heard expressed most often about why millions of people appreciated the drama in Marley & Me. Megan writes, "I think people loved the book because it makes them feel less guilty about their own shortcomings with their pets (if someone makes unruly pets or storm phobias seem funny, it becomes a character trait rather than a problem to be dealt with). Sad sad sad."

Marley & Me has become an empire with children's books and now a movie that tugs at the heartstrings. To their credit, although the Grogans almost got rid of Marley early on, they didn't join the ranks of the "dumpsters." Instead, they wound up keeping and loving Marley throughout his life.

So what do you think about Marley & Me?

Christine Agro offers 40 Days to Manifest Course

40 Days To Manifesting The Life You Want

Conscious Animal Radio host Christine Agro is a clairvoyant natural healer who works with both people and animals.

Work with Christine Agro to help shift the energy that stops you from manifesting your life's dreams.

Using psychic energy tools and age old mantras, you will set about breaking through the energies that get in your way.

We'll be working on clearing blocks (those things that keep you hiding, those things that make you accept less, those things that have you believing this is all there is) and opening the way to bring in more.

Are you ready to create more?

Are you ready to live your passion and purpose?

Are you ready?

This course runs 40 days - and will meet 7 times via teleconference* during the 40 days.
Teleconference are Wednesdays at 9 - 10 PM EST
First class January 7th
Jan 7, Jan 14, Jan 21, Jan 28, Feb 4, Feb 11 and Feb 18.

We will work together, but most importantly you will work each day for a minimum 30 minutes to help manifest all that you want. 40 continual days is necessary.

Are you ready? Sign up now!
$40





*your normal long distance charges apply to the teleconference.

December 29th Show - What does 2009 Hold for your Pet?

Want to know what 2009 holds for the animals in your life? Call-in on Monday December 29th and ask your questions to me and my guest astrologer/tarot reader Kathy Biehl.

Call-in to 646-716-7281.

The show airs live at 12 Noon EST and ends at 1 PM EST.

We look forward to hearing from you!

ASPCA Reminds Public of Laws Designed to Protect Carriage Horses

Edited Press Release

NEW YORK, December 18, 2008—During the busy—and very often cold—holiday season, carriage horse rides seem to be a staple of tourist activity in New York City. The ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® would like the public to be aware of some of the laws designed to protect the carriage horses and which agencies are responsible for enforcing those laws.

“Since our founding in 1866, the ASPCA has worked to protect and aid horses, as well as other animals, and continues that work today by enforcing carriage horse and animal cruelty laws in New York City,” said Stacy Wolf, Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel for the ASPCA’s Humane Law Enforcement division.

While ASPCA humane law enforcement agents and an equine veterinarian currently monitor horses and their drivers while out in the field and investigate complaints concerning the care and treatment of the horses, , the ASPCA reminds the public that several other agencies are also authorized to enforce the New York City carriage horse regulations, including the New York City Department of Health, the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs, the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, and the New York City Police Department.

“For many years, the ASPCA has stepped up to the plate and volunteered to oversee and ensure humane treatment of these horses at our expense,” Ms. Wolf added. “Because of limited resources, we can’t oversee them 24/7 and depend on the other agencies to work with us.”

New York city and state laws protecting carriage horses include:

•Carriage horses cannot be worked when the temperature reaches 18 degrees and below.
•During the winter, horses must be blanketed while awaiting passengers.
•Carriage horses cannot be driven faster than a trot.
•Carriage horses can only be worked nine hours during any 24-hour period.
•Horses must be given a rest period of at least 15 minutes for every two hours they work.
•Fresh water must be made available to them during their rest periods.
•Horses must be provided with enough food and water and allowed to eat and drink at reasonable intervals while they are working. (Carriage horse drivers may carry water on the carriage or make use of troughs in the park. The law does not specify how to provide water--only that it be provided.)
•Horses cannot be worked when they are lame or suffer from a physical condition, illness or condition that makes them unsuitable for work.
•The law prohibits “abuse “of carriage horses which means physical maltreatment or failure to provide the care required by the regulations.
•Horses are prohibited from working during “adverse weather conditions,” which means any condition that is hazardous to the health and safety of the horse, driver or the public. This includes, but is not limited to, ice, snow, heavy rain and other slippery conditions.
•Carriage horses are not allowed on bridges or in tunnels.
•Carriage horse operators must obey traffic laws. This includes traffic lights, signs, prohibitions on U turns, etc.

In addition to the New York City code and rules, state law makes cruelty to horses a crime. Cruelty means knowingly causing injury or death to a horse, or allowing someone else to do so.

Reports of suspected animal cruelty should be made to the ASPCA at (212) 876-7700, ext. 4450, or humanel@aspca.org

No Bowls for Goldfish

Did you know that in NY State Goldfish are protected under the Animal Cruelty Law and that "A person is guilty of aggravated cruelty to animals when, with no justifiable purpose, he or she intentionally kills or intentionally causes serious physical injury to a companion animal with aggravated cruelty."


So I've been asking the question and will continue to ask the question.."why do pet stores sell goldfish together with a bowl?" If your not up on your fish keeping, goldfish cannot survive in a goldfish bowl. There isn't enough surface area to provide the amount of oxygen they need to live a healthy, happy life. Water quality is an issue and stress on their systems can easily allow the "Ich" parasites to take hold and feast off the goldfish.

I found all of this out the hard way. I am an educated person and tend to research things before jumping in. But my son wanted a goldfish and all I could remember of goldfish was having one as a child. I opted for the biggest bowl they had, already intuitively feeling that the bowl was an issue. And even asked 'will the fish be OK in this bowl?" "Icy" as my son quickly named the fish, arrived with Ich. Ich is a parsite that latches on to the fish and feeds off the fluids of the fish. As I placed Icy in his new home, I noticed two white spots on his tail. I went back to the pet store the next day looking for help. The owner said 'yes, I saw that a few of the fish had Ich. Bring him back and we'll exchange him." Exchange him? My son took this fish out of his bag and said "Hi Icy, I'm Caidin. Welcome to our home." I wasn't about to 'exchange' him. So I bought the Ich treatment and set about my mission to save Icy.

During this process, Icy struggled for enough oxygen (as I found out by jumping on line...wishing I'd done this first...and now writing in the hopes of sparing another goldfish the same cruel fate). He seemed to be getting better and then the bowl sprung a leak. And why is it that when this happens it's always after hours. So I put him in the biggest bowl I could find and did frequent water changes using Poland Springs water (I went through 33 liters of Poland Springs). Icy didn't make it though. He was found lifeless on the bottom of his bowl and thus began a running conversation about life and death with my 4 year old.

Icy was buried in a Metropolitan Museum of Art Jewelry Box in front of our apartment.

So not only do I feel really awful about Icy's life, I am really questioning why pet stores, especially in a State where goldfish are protected under the animal cruelty law, are allowed to sell a goldfish and bowl together.


We now have a 10 gallon take with a filter going through a cycling process awaiting the arrival of our next goldfish. It's been two months and is currently home to one snail. I'm not sure where it came from but it's growing by the day. And I am not sure about getting another goldfish, so for now, it's just speedy the snail.

NYC's Best Dog Psychic...is...ME!

I'm excited to share with you that Pocket Change.com chose me as the Best Dog Psychic in NYC. The greatest thing is that they understood my work was more than just 'talking' to animals. They understood that through my work people gain a deeper understanding of the animals in their lives, what we can be done to better support their animal friends and how to better provide for their animal's needs.

Here's a link to the article "10 Ways To Spoil Your Dog" http://pocketchangenyc.com/

The long road to Vicktory...A story that begins in dark and ends in the light.

In early 2001 the newly drafted Atlanta Falcon’s Quarterback Michael Vick along with two others, Quanis Phillips and Tony Taylor began a venture to sponsor pit bull terriers in dog fighting. A fourth, Purnell Peace joins the group. Vick then buys a piece of property for $34,000 in Smithfield Virginia to set up their Bad Newz Kennels.

Throughout 2001/2003 the group acquires and tests pit bulls for fighting suitability. Numerous dogs deemed unsuitable were killed by Peace, Phillips and Taylor during this time. By Spring 2003 the group is entering dogs in fights, winning and subsequently hosting fights at Bad Newz Kennels. Dogs both travel to and from Bad Newz Kennels to participate in fights.

In April 2007 according to Vick’s summary of events, Peace, Phillips and Vick test several dogs from the Bad Newz Kennels and agree to the killing of 6-8 dogs who perform poorly. The dogs were killed by various methods, including hanging and drowning.

On April 24, 2007 Vick’s cousin David Boodie is arrested on drug charges. He gives the address of Bad Newz Kennel as his place of residence and a warrant to search the property is issued. Animal control officers find 66 dogs – 55 of them pit bulls and a training complex on the property. they found dogs, some injured and scarred, chained to buried car axles. Forensic experts on a subsequent search discovered remains of dogs that had been shot with a .22-caliber pistol, electrocuted, drowned, hanged or slammed to the ground for lacking a desire to fight.

Initial reports indicated that most if not all of the dogs will be euthanized, but after much outcry, debate and behind the scenes maneuvering many of the dogs are given a reprieve. 47 dogs in total are sent to sanctuaries around the country, 22 in need of the most support, including Lucas – Vicks prize fighter and Jane (now named Georgia) his first fighting dog find homes at the Best Friends Animal Society in Utah.

Lucas now at Best Friends

In Nov 2007 Vick agrees to pay almost $1 million into an escrow fund to cover the cost of care for the dogs found on his property.

To give you an idea of what these dogs experienced here is a segment from a February 2, 2008 New York Times article written by Juliet Macur.

“A quick survey of Georgia, a caramel-colored pit bull mix with cropped ears and soulful brown eyes, offers a road map to a difficult life. Her tongue juts from the left side of her mouth because her jaw, once broken, healed at an awkward angle. Her tail zigzags.

“Scars from puncture wounds on her face, legs and torso reveal that she was a fighter. Her misshapen, dangling teats show that she might have been such a successful, vicious competitor that she was forcibly bred, her new handlers suspect, again and again.

“But there is one haunting sign that Georgia might have endured the most abuse of any of the 47 surviving pit bulls seized last April from the property of the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick in connection with an illegal dog fighting ring.

“Georgia has no teeth. All 42 of them were pried from her mouth, most likely to make certain she could not harm male dogs during forced breeding.”

A quick visit to Best Friends website and you will learn the names of these 22 dogs and learn about their unique personalities – warm, funny, shy, sneaky eyes and more.

On Monday December 22nd Dr. Frank McMillian, DVM, auhtor of "Unlocking The Animal Mind" and Director of Well-Being Studies at Best Friends has been working with the Victory dogs. He will be joining me to talk about their inspiring road and what it has been like to be at the center of such a high profile case.

Join me live on Monday, December 22nd 12 Noon EST...

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/consciousanimal