The Petcast

Dog racing is losing favor in the United States, in part because of increased awareness about inherent cruelties in the sport, and mistreatment of animals at many of the nation’s tracks. Leading the way in advocacy is Greyhound 2K USA, a nonprofit coalition that recently helped to bring about an end to dog racing in Massachusetts. Christine Dorchak is president and general counsel of Greyhound 2K USA, and she joins us from her home in the Bay State. Plus, guest host John Katsilometes announces

Amanda Fortino has done everything from dressing up as a cow in Washington DC to hand out soy hot chocolate at President Obama’s inauguration to stripping down to her to her underwear to protest fur. In fact, when it comes to fighting animal injustices, it seems there isn’t much she isn’t willing to do. Fortino is a campaign coordinator for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and joins us today to talk about an important new initiative to protect our furry friends from the summer

Each spring, the nation’s already crowded animal shelters brace for the phenomenon known as kitten season, an influx of unwanted felines caused by a troubling mix of biological science and unfortunate, irresponsible human behavior. Gail Buchwald, the senior vice president of the Adoption Center for the ASCPA explains what kitten season is and why it happens. (Here’s the ASCPA’s 10 things you can do to help a stray cat.) In Banter, our new guest host, Jen Prosser,

When today’s guest wrote an essay for the New England Journal of Medicine about a nursing home cat’s habit of showing up when patients were nearing death, he never expected it would lead to a book tour. Dr. David Dosa is a geriatrician and an assistant professor of medicine at Brown University in Rhode Island, and he joined the Petcasters to discuss his memoir, “Making Rounds With Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of An Ordinary Cat.” Plus, Vegas journalist Jennifer Prosser,

It’s always difficult when a pet dies, but being prepared can make the grieving process more bearable, especially for the younger members of the family. Today’s guest, author Bill Cochran, has written a wonderful children’s book, “The Forever Dog,” on that tough topic, to help kids understand that happy memories and beloved pets are always with us. In Banter, Emily and guest host Dayvid Figler discuss some great viral pet-related videos (i.e. dog-hates-birthday-song

For some pet owners, the high cost of veterinary care is forcing some tough choices. In some cases, people are opting for euthanasia over treatment or abandoning their pets at shelters or the vet’s office. Fortunately, the American Animal Hospital Association has set up a program to provide financial assistance for these kinds of situations. Today’s guest, Tamara Fox, is the coordinator of the associations’ Helping Pets Fund. Plus, Emily and guest host Dayvid Figler debate airline

If you’ve been lucky enough to see a hummingbird in action, you know what amazing creatures they are. Attracting them to your backyard may be easier than you think but please keep in mind they should be considered welcome visitors and not pets. Dr. Ross Hawkings, the executive director of the Hummingbird Society, joins the Petcasters to talk about the birds, how to take care of them and concerns about a certain breed impacted by the tsunami caused by the Brazilian

If you look out at the world and wonder what you can do to make a difference, consider the example of the Pet Project Midwest. Born of local concerns about animal welfare in Iowa, is now a thriving non-profit that offers an emergency alert system for lost and found animals and  supply pantry to help financially struggling families keep their pets. Founder Becky Mollenkamp joins the Petcasters to explain.Plus, Emily gets a terrifying call regarding Archie and Steve's dogs have a tough day at the