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When your pets' behavior threatens to destroy your house--and your relationship--Who you gonna call? Dr. Marty Becker, America's Veterinarian answers that question, and has joined the Behavior Tour, sponsored by Ceva Animal Health and American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. The tour travels across the country helping pet owners understand some of the most common pet behavior challenges and where they can find help to solve them, often in your own back yard! Listen to today's Pet Peeves show to understand what YOU can do and how your veterinarian can partner with you and others to ensure your cat and dog stay happy, healthy--and you do, too. Don’t forget to subscribe to the Pet Peeves Enewsletter at www.AmyShojai.com to get announcements about the latest shows, and free behavior and care advice for your pets, and check out the latest puppy-licious content at puppies.About.com. Questions or Comments? Send them to: amy@petliferadio.com. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Keep the L.O.V.E. Alive Behavior Tour with Amy Shojai on Pet Life Radio

Service dogs offer aid and comfort to thousands of people around the world. And a service dog's duties encompass all sorts of work. They guide vision impaired partners or sniff out bombs, find lost people or rescuing individuals from disaster--and of course offer emotional support and nonjudgmental love along the way. Caring for their health can be pricey, though, so the 5th Annual ACVO/Merial National Service Dog Eye Exam Event offers free exams in May 2012. Learn more from Dr. Bill Miller, a veterinary ophthalmologist with the program, in this eye-opening Pet Peeves show! More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Seeing Eye to Eye: Visionary Care for Service Dogs with Amy Shojai on Pet Life Radio

There's no doubt that dogs bring smiles to our faces with happy wags. Some of these canine nurses could be furry angels when they become therapy dogs that visit with people in need of healing face licks and snuggles. But exactly what is a therapy dog and how are they trained? Can you and your dog become a therapy team? Learn all about the ANGEL ON A LEASH program from author David Frei's book of the same title. As the voice of Westminster David is known to millions of television viewers, but also volunteers with his own dogs in such places as the Ronald McDonald House. You won't want to miss this show--and learn about some of the touching experiences from the book. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Angel on a Leash: An Insider's Look at Therapy Dogs with Amy Shojai on Pet Life Radio

Your old cat needs medicine for hyperthyroidism. The puppy burned his mouth chewing something "wrong." A veterinarian diagnoses and prescribes the best treatment for your fur-kids, parrots and other exotics--but what if your animal companion refuses to cooperate? How do you get that Rx down those snapping jaws? It becomes even more of a challenge with zoo animals who throw the sedative dart back at the veterinarian! Pet Peeves guest Chris Simmons is a pharmacist who specializes in prescriptive problem-solving, with compounded medications. Drugs get mixed up into tasty treats, or combined with transdermal gels to deliver medication through the skin--or Pupcicles that offer pain control with therapeutic medications! This is a show your pet--and your vet--won't want More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Compounding: Helping The Medicine Go Down with Amy Shojai on Pet Life Radio

You can find self-proclaimed experts all over the Internet, so it's refreshing to find a pair of debut authors who actually have the credentials for their topic. Join Pet Peeves today to learn how the book Cat Calls came about from co-authors Susan Logan (editor of Cat Fancy Magazine) and famous New York cat sitter and CatChannel.com columnist Jeanne Adlon. You'll not only hear some fun anecdotes from the diary of a 35-year-veteran of cat sitting, but get practical kitty advice. Those pursuing their own writer's dream won't want to miss tips these savvy authors share about working with co-authors. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Cat Calls: Pet-Sit on THIS with Amy Shojai on Pet Life Radio

I hate mosquitoes not only because they’re itchy aggravation, but these nasty vampires spread deadly heartworm disease. Heartworms are found all over the world, affect wildlife, dogs and cats. While it’s easy to prevent the disease there are concerns that some populations of heartworms have become resistant to the medication we give our pets. And the treatment used to cure dogs has become temporarily unavailable! The president of the American Heartworm Society, Dr. Wallace Graham, addresses these questions and more in this edition of Pet Peeves. Find out what you need to know to keep your cats and dogs safe from heartworm disease. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Heart To Heart: Understanding Heartworm Disease with Amy Shojai on Pet Life Radio

Camilla Gray-Nelson trains women to train their dogs--and yes, it's a bit different than the male viewpoint. If you're a lady with a pet dog and at the end of your leash with Fido's antics, you'll want to learn the tips in this show. Camilla has been training dogs and solving problems for more than 20 years and today runs Dairydell Canine Center in Northern California. She and her staff have helped more than 9000 dogs and owners from all over the United States! More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Women Training Dogs with Amy Shojai on Pet Life Radio Enter the code: PEEVES and get 10% off your order + Free shipping at Shoebuy.com!

In our modern society where perfect bodies and youthful looks rule the media, it may be politically correct to "make allowances" for other-abled humans. But in the world of pets, where so many need homes, would you adopt a disabled animal? What would you do if the perfect pet turned out less than ideal? How do you decide when and where to draw the line, and is it fair to put your family through the process? Join author Natalie C. Markey, the Special Needs Dog Care columnist for Examiner.com, as we discuss the issue and her new book, Caring for Your Special Needs Dog. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Isn’t That Special? Caring For Special Needs Dogs with Amy Shojai on Pet Life Radio

It’s called natural, holistic, complementary, and integrative-- bottom line, veterinary medicine has gone back to the past to treat and cure pets. What exactly is holistic healing? The natural vet, Dr. Shawn Messonnier, explains the concept and why he decided to expand his practice to include holistic treatments. In this show, learn how natural medicine can work alongside conventional Western therapies and offer pets the best of all possible worlds. Don’t forget to subscribe to the Pet Peeves Enewsletter at www.shojai.com to get announcements about the latest shows, and free behavior and care advice for your cats and dogs. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Natural Medicine & Veterinary Care with Amy Shojai on Pet Life Radio

Alley Cat Rescue (ACR) sponsors the 2nd Annual "Free Feral Cat Spay Day" on April 27, 2011. But just what is a "feral cat" and why should you care? Feral cats are born and raised without human contact, and live life on the wild side. You might call them yowling nuisances when they potty in your garden or drive indoor cats crazy-- but they’re simply trying to survive. Louise Holton, founder and president of ACR, says TNR (trap-neuter-return) can solve a host of feral cat problems in a humane way. And after all, if you hadn’t adopted your purring lap-kitty, he might have ended up as a feral! Learn about the TNR solution, and how you can get your community and veterinarian involved. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Feral Cats -- The TNR Solution with Amy Shojai on Pet Life Radio

Today the pet products industry appears to be one of those "bullet proof" endeavors even in the wake of economic downturn. That’s wonderful for the companies, of course. And a number of the big guys fund high-profile animal foundations -- Pet Peeves featured Morris Animal Foundation and Winn Feline Foundation to name two worthy organizations. But smaller organizations struggle to stretch every dollar, and aren’t always on the funding radar. Kristen Smith, Brand Ambassador for Planet Dog and the Executive Director of Planet Dog Foundation describes some of the terrific pet-dreams their organization has helped come true! By the way, my Magical-Dawg is a big fan of Planet Dog toys-- and each time you purchase a toy, you make a donation to a worthy doggy cause! Learn how Planet Dog Foundation is "playing" it forward. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Planet Dog Foundation - Playing It Forward with Amy Shojai on Pet Life Radio

About 4 million cats pass through United States shelters annually, and most never make it out alive. A top killer of cats in shelters might surprise you - it’s kitty colds! What can we do to stop this horrible situation? Join my guest Dr. Kate Hurley, director of the Koret Shelter Medicine Program at the University of California - Davis. She reveals some surprising results of shelter cat studies that can not only save cat lives, but also save shelters $3 million a year! More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Pet Loss & Rescue -- Dealing with Grief with Amy Shojai on Pet Life Radio

Losing a beloved pet devastates owners, yet we don't always get the support we need, or know where to turn for help. Dr. Diane Pomerance is a certified Grief Recovery Specialist who serves as director of the Pet Grief counseling Program for the SPCA of Texas. She is also active in pet rescue--pets who have lost loves of another kind--and has written a lovely book Our Rescue Dog Family Album honoring these furry loves. Listen to Pet Peeves to learn more about how you can help support yourself or others who mourn a pet, and find out more about what's involved in pet rescue. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Pet Loss & Rescue -- Dealing with Grief with Amy Shojai on Pet Life Radio Enter the code: PEEVES and get 10% off your order + Free shipping at Shoebuy.com!

Service dogs have become a very public and vital part of our society. But there’s another area that doesn’t get quite as much hand-waving. Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) includes companion animals as a part of the patient’s therapy in a treatment plan designed by a health care professional. For instance, a child might be more willing to toss a ball for the dog to fetch, than follow a human therapist’s instructions to rehab a painful injury. A pioneer in the field, Nancy Stanley first introduced "Animal Therapy" to severely handicapped children and to convalescent hospitals for the elderly in 1982 after founding Tender Loving Zoo, a nonprofit organization. She talks about her experiences, the benefits of pet therapy, and new gift book PILLOW WITH A HEARTBEAT, narrated by therapy dog Truffles. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Pillow Talk -Therapy Dogs with Amy Shojai on Pet Life Radio

Today's guest, P.A. Woodburn, share the making of her mystery book CRIES IN THE DARK on today's show. It incorporates the world of animal research, and the "what if" of communicating with animals. As an animal lover who at one time worked for Green Peace, she brings an insider's perspective to this work of fiction, a thrilling story that's a perfect holiday gift for pet lovers. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Animal Research: Cries In The Dark with Amy Shojai on Pet Life Radio

Millions of homeless animals end up in shelters every year. Half of the pets that go into shelters die there, because time runs out before they can be adopted. How can caring pet lovers stem the furry tide? Janice Brown, Founder of Tails Magazine, has started a letter-writing campaign called "Letters for Pets," urging President Obama to declare April 30th National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day by Presidential Proclamation. Listen to the show to learn how you can add your vote to help shelter pets find forever homes! More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Vote! For National Pet Adopt A Shelter Pet Day with Amy Shojai on Pet Life Radio

November is Adopt-A-Senior-Pet Month. Older dogs and cats offer many benefits as pets, compared to youngsters. It’s time that mature pets get the respect and attention they deserve! This show offers sneak peeks into updated and revised award-winning books Complete Care for Your Aging Cat and Complete Care for Your Aging Dog. You’ll hear some of the "Golden Moment" true stories that illustrate successful pet aging. Please check the "episode page" for direct links to find these books, as well as additional excerpts and free book give-aways during my "Golden Moments Senior Pet Blog Tour." More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Old Dog, Old Cat? Pet Care for Old Fogie Pets with Amy Shojai on Pet Life Radio

There’s a reason such events are called a disaster -- but that word falls short when it comes to Katrina. The animal victims haunt pet lovers, especially those personally touched by the tragedy who did everything right -- and still lost so much. Karen O’Toole lived through the devastation, and was on the front lines as a rescuer and witness. She chronicles her experiences in a book, ORPHANS OF KATRINA, and in today’s show describes what it was like inside the world’s biggest animal rescue. For more pet behavior and care tips for your special cats and dogs, subscribe to the free Pet Peeves Newsletter available at Shojai.com. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Orphans of Katrina: A First-Person Account with Amy Shojai on Pet Life Radio

The old adage "you are what you eat" applies to dogs just as it does people. And today, pet owners need a crystal ball to sift through the choices on the grocery aisle. Even if you home cook or raw feed, there are pitfalls that could leave your dog in trouble. Steve Brown offers answers for owners who home prepare food-- or buy it in the bag-- in his new book "Unlocking the Canine Ancestral Diet." Dogs may have moved from life on the wild side into the family room, but they still need food fit for an ancestor. Learn how to improve your dog’s diet-- and health-- in this "foodie" episode of Pet Peeves. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Food For Thought: Unlocking The Canine Ancestral Diet with Amy Shojai on Pet Life Radio

Not all trainers believe in cookie power and clickers--they consider it lax or ineffective. But punishment-based training of some high-profile celebrity trainers is labeled unscientific and ineffective by others. Who’s right? Is there room for both? Would you shock your dog to get him to behave? Stephanie Smith, PhD has something to say on the matter--see if you agree with some of her surprising statements. You can read more about cat behavior in my cats.About.com columns. Want to know more about dogs? Check out the new Pet Peeves website for both dog and cat information, and videos . Don’t forget that you can subscribe to the free Pet Peeves E-newsletter for more care and behavior tips. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Shock Collars: A Shocking Discussion of Dog Training Collars with Amy Shojai on Pet Life Radio