Seeking great guests for The Animal House!

WAMU's newest show, The Animal House, is about to join our Saturday morning roster. And we're eager to hear from you about people who might make great guests for the show -- whether it's a zoologist who spends his summers in the jungles of South America or a backyard birdwatcher who knows all about the unique behavior of local wildlife. Most of all, we're looking for great stories about how we interact with animals -- and what animals can teach us about ourselves.

To suggest a guest, contact us at animalhouse@wamu.org or shoot a note to producer Tara Boyle at tboyle@wamu.org.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jon Coe on June 10, 2009 at 11:20am: Hi,

My name is Jon and I have many thoughts on our shrinking animal poulation. I see many animals displaced by construction and development and it is a crying shame. Thank goodness that the economy has slowed things down for now.

I live in a development that borders on beautiful Baltimore County Countryside and have rabbits, chipmonks and squirells in my backyard. Just a few blocks away, there are Deer and the occassional Fox.

I just wanted to let you know that I care and am always concerned about the animal population as we can learn so much from these beautiful creatures, more than we could ever realize.

Jon; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tara on June 12, 2009 at 12:43pm: Hi Robert,

I think my husband would second you on that one! Thanks for the suggestion -- we'll definitely consider it for the show.

Best,
Tara

Robert B said:
I would like you to have Patrick McDonnell who draws the comic strip Mutts, if that's possible. Thanks!

Mutts Home
Patrick McDonnell Bio
Interview with Patrick McDonnell 12/08/08
Today's Mutts Comic Strip; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kathleen Dwyer on June 17, 2009 at 11:29pm: Hi! So, is this where we are supposed to post our questions for the show? I missed my opportunity on the original thread. I'm also happy to call in to the show.

Anyway, here's my question:

I have an extremely affectionate, docile, 13-year-old, indoor, female cat who I adopted when she was about a year old. Her only fault is that she absolutely despises other cats. As soon as she sees one (even across the yard), she snaps into fight-or-flight mode. If the cat gets closer, she growls, screams, spits, and hisses. If I get too close to her, she will spin around and attack me. She has even come toward me to attack me during one of these bouts.

I have tried many different strategies over the years. I have tried to calm her down. I have scolded her, usually pointing a finger, which seems to be particularly annoying to her. When I have water handy, I will spray her, although it takes a lot of water to snap her out of it. The most effective strategy I have found is trying to keep other cats away from the house: I hiss at any poor neighbor cat who happens into the garden. And this isn't so effective at, say, the vet's. In fact, visits to the vet are particularly traumatic.

Is there anything else I can do? I have trained her to do lots of things, including sitting and sitting pretty, but this just seems to be beyond us.

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Permalink Reply by Ioana Hance on July 31, 2009 at 4:53pm: Hi -

Being a greyhound fan, I vote for inviting Cynthia A. Branigan, the author of Adopting the Racing Greyhound.

Thanks,
Ioana; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by John G. Boyle on August 7, 2009 at 11:50am: I do, in fact, second Robert's suggestion ;)

Tara said:
Hi Robert,

I think my husband would second you on that one! Thanks for the suggestion -- we'll definitely consider it for the show.

Best,
Tara

Robert B said:
I would like you to have Patrick McDonnell who draws the comic strip Mutts, if that's possible. Thanks!

Mutts Home
Patrick McDonnell Bio
Interview with Patrick McDonnell 12/08/08
Today's Mutts Comic Strip; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Anna Toyna on September 25, 2009 at 3:30pm: Could I interest you in an animal communicator?
Anna Toyna
please see my web site.
www.anna-toyna. com
I do people , too!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sara Rufusino on October 10, 2009 at 8:51am: Ian Dunbar!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Pat McCoy on October 11, 2009 at 10:56am: What about representatives from various wildlife rescue organizations?

Pat McCoy; ▶ Reply to This