The Animal Wellness Podcast

Ask the Dog: Teaching Children How to Approach Animals | Episode 80

This episode features Steve Dale, one of the nation’s most trusted voices on companion-animal behavior. For decades, Steve has helped millions of pet guardians better understand the animals who share their lives—through his long-running radio show “Steve Dale’s Pet World,” national television appearances, and more than a dozen books translating animal-behavior science into practical, humane guidance.
His newest book, “Ask the Dog!,” may be his most important yet—and it’s written for children. (It is available for purchase here and through other booksellers.)
At a time when dog-bite injuries are at historic highs and children account for a large share of those incidents, “Ask the Dog!” introduces a simple but powerful idea: before interacting with a dog, you don’t just ask the person holding the leash—you also “ask the dog.” Through an engaging story, the book teaches children how dogs communicate through body language, how to recognize consent and discomfort, and why respecting those signals matters.
Steve joins the show to discuss what dogs are telling us that we often miss—and how learning to listen can make children safer and deepen empathy on both ends of the leash.
The Animal Wellness podcast is produced by Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. It focuses on improving the lives of animals in the United States and abroad through legislation and by influencing businesses to create a more humane economy. The show is hosted by veteran journalist and animal-advocate Joseph Grove. 
www.animalwellnessaction.org
www.centerforahumaneeconomy.org
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnimalWellnessAction
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centerforahumaneeconomy/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AWAction_News
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheHumaneCenter
 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/animalwellnessaction/
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/animal-wellness-action/ 
 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI_6FxM4hD6oS5VSUwsCnNQ 

Our Annual Year-End Review | Episode 79

In this year-end episode of the Animal Wellness Podcast, host Joseph Grove is joined by Animal Wellness Action leaders to reflect on major wins for animals in 2025—and the critical fights ahead in 2026.
• Jennifer Skiff, director of international programs, shares progress in the Kangaroos Are Not Shoes campaign, which has pushed major athletic brands away from kangaroo leather, and previews new international work restoring elephant migration corridors in southern Africa.
• Don Green, political director, sounds the alarm on the dangerous Save Our Bacon Act, explaining how it would overturn voter-approved animal welfare laws, punish humane farmers, and undermine states’ rights.
• Kevin Chambers, lead investigator, details undercover investigations exposing cockfighting and dogfighting rings and explains how federal legislation could strengthen enforcement against organized animal cruelty.
• Tami Drake, research and regulatory policy director, breaks down the major strides made by the FDA, CDC, and NIH towards more humane testing methods for drug development.
The episode closes with Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action, who reflects on a banner year that included historic progress on ending animal testing, eliminating the school milk mandate, and reshaping corporate practices, while outlining the battles still ahead to protect wildlife and enforce new reforms.
Helping animals helps us all—and this episode shows how real change happens.
Mentioned in the Episode
• Follow our Kangaroos Are Not Shoes work—including new publications such as upcoming report on kangaroo meat in the dogfood trade—bookmark this page.
• Visit this link to action immediately to help defeat the Save Our Bacon Act.
• Here is a video that shows the brutality of cockfighting. In particular, note the harsh treatment of birds who are still alive after the fight is over. (Note: The clip is disturbing to view.)
• Care to support the work of Animal Wellness Action with $25 or any other amount? Please go here.
The Animal Wellness podcast is produced by Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. It focuses on improving the lives of animals in the United States and abroad through legislation and by influencing businesses to create a more humane economy. The show is hosted by veteran journalist and animal-advocate Joseph Grove. 
 
www.animalwellnessaction.org
www.centerforahumaneeconomy.org
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnimalWellnessAction
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centerforahumaneeconomy/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AWAction_News
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheHumaneCenter
 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/animalwellnessaction/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centerforahumaneeconomy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/animal-wellness-action/ 
 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI_6FxM4hD6oS5VSUwsCnNQ 

Man and Deer: The unique adventure of a writer and a foal | Episode 78

In this episode of the Animal Wellness Podcast, we explore the extraordinary true story behind “Penelope: The World of Each Other” with author Paul Bochner. His memoir recounts a years-long relationship with a disabled, abandoned fawn who appeared unexpectedly on his property. What began as a simple act of compassion evolved into a profound interspecies bond—one built on trust, patience, and an emotional depth rarely witnessed between humans and wild animals.
We’re also joined by Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action, who reflects on what Penelope’s story reveals about our ethical responsibilities to wildlife living in our own communities. He challenges the notion that people should never intervene in nature, noting that human activity shapes animal lives every day.
Together, Paul and Wayne offer a moving conversation about empathy, coexistence, and what mercy truly requires of us.
“Penelope: The World of Each Other” is available for purchase here.
The Animal Wellness podcast is produced by Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. It focuses on improving the lives of animals in the United States and abroad through legislation and by influencing businesses to create a more humane economy. The show is hosted by veteran journalist and animal-advocate Joseph Grove. 
 
www.animalwellnessaction.org
www.centerforahumaneeconomy.org
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnimalWellnessAction
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centerforahumaneeconomy/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AWAction_News
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheHumaneCenter
 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/animalwellnessaction/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centerforahumaneeconomy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/animal-wellness-action/ 
 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI_6FxM4hD6oS5VSUwsCnNQ 

Flaco the Owl: An interview with children’s author Christine Mott | Episode 77

In February 2023, Flaco—a majestic Eurasian eagle-owl—made headlines after escaping the Central Park Zoo when vandals damaged his enclosure. Born in captivity and confined for more than 13 years, few expected him to survive in the wild. But Flaco defied the odds, becoming a symbol of resilience and freedom as he soared over Manhattan, hunting rats and perching on high-rises—even doing some peeping-tom-ing along the way. His deep hoots echoed through the city, drawing nightly crowds and sparking a social media frenzy.
Flaco’s remarkable year in the wild made him a local legend and New York’s first true "celebrity owl." But his story ended in heartbreak in February 2024, when he died after striking a building—a tragedy compounded by his exposure to rat poison and avian disease. His death triggered public mourning, renewed calls for wildlife-safe urban policies, and a citywide reflection on the human impact on nature.
In this episode, we talk to Christine Mott. She is the author of the children’s book Free Bird: Flaco the Owl’s Dreams Take Flight, which was illustrated by Ofra Layla Isler and will be released on May 6, 2025. The book is aimed at readers ages 4-8, who will learn the importance of following their dreams and showing compassion for wild animals. Half of the proceeds will be donated to The Wild Bird Fund, a 501c3 that rehabilitates sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife and releases the animals back into the wilds of New York City. We also visit with a 7-year-old who read the book and get his opinion on this inspiring and thought-provoking tale of animal liberty and independence.
The book is available for purchase here. And to learn more about the campaign of Animal Wellness Action to spare barred owls from a government-sponsored plant to massacre them, go here.
 
The Animal Wellness podcast is produced by Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. It focuses on improving the lives of animals in the United States and abroad through legislation and by influencing businesses to create a more humane economy. The show is hosted by veteran journalist and animal-advocate Joseph Grove. 
 
www.animalwellnessaction.org
www.centerforahumaneeconomy.org
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnimalWellnessAction
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centerforahumaneeconomy/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AWAction_News
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheHumaneCenter
 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/animalwellnessaction/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centerforahumaneeconomy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/animal-wellness-action/ 
 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI_6FxM4hD6oS5VSUwsCnNQ 

The Complex Forces Behind Animal Festivals | Episode 76

From the running of the bulls in Spain to groundhog weather predictions in Pennsylvania, festivals featuring animals exist all over the world. Some are celebrated as cultural treasures, while others are seen as outdated, even cruel. These events often raise difficult questions: Are they harmless fun, or do they exploit animals for human entertainment? Do traditions justify practices that might otherwise be considered inhumane? And perhaps most importantly—can we honor our cultural heritage without harming the very creatures we claim to celebrate? 
Our guest has explored these questions firsthand. Elizabeth MeLampy is the author of “Forget the Camel: The Madcap World of Animal Festivals and What They Say About Being Human,” a book that takes readers on a journey across the United States to witness these festivals up close. She traces their histories, examines the ethical dilemmas they present, and asks what they reveal about our relationship with animals—and ourselves. 
So today, we’re asking the big questions: What does our use of animals in festivals say about us as a species? Where do we draw the line between tradition and exploitation? And is there a way to celebrate animals without causing them harm? 
While in law school, Elizabeth worked on issues related to farmed animals, wild animals, and captive animals with Harvard’s Animal Law & Policy Clinic. She also was in the inaugural cohort of Emerging Scholar Fellows with the Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law and Policy, where she worked on animal law scholarship. Elizabeth has traveled the country attending these festivals, meeting the people who run them, and grappling with the contradictions they present. We’re excited to hear her insights and discuss what needs to change—and what doesn’t—when it comes to animals in entertainment.
Learn more about Elizabeth MeLampy here, and you can order her book here.
 
The Animal Wellness podcast is produced by Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. It focuses on improving the lives of animals in the United States and abroad through legislation and by influencing businesses to create a more humane economy. The show is hosted by veteran journalist and animal-advocate Joseph Grove. 
 
www.animalwellnessaction.org
www.centerforahumaneeconomy.org
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnimalWellnessAction
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centerforahumaneeconomy/
 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AWAction_News
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheHumaneCenter
 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/animalwellnessaction/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centerforahumaneeconomy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/animal-wellness-action/ 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI_6FxM4hD6oS5VSUwsCnNQ 
 
PRO: BMIComposer: Jonathan Shapiro (IP# 00240288778)Publisher: Kulanu Music (IP# 00240190310)

Philosophical Help for the Reluctant Vegan | Episode 75

What can a philosopher teach us about veganism and how to make the change when confronted with old habits, latent desires, and an apprehension of the difficulty the adjustment would mean to those who share our dinner tables?
That’s the focus of this episode. Host Joseph Grove talks to Matthew C. Halteman, Ph.D., a professor of philosophy at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Mich., and a fellow at the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics in the UK. He is the author of “Compassionate Eating as Care of Creation” and co-editor of “Philosophy Comes to Dinner: Arguments about the Ethics of Eating.”His new book, “Hungry Beautiful Animals,” was released last November and is a heartfelt, humane, and humorous exploration of how going vegan can bring abundance into our lives.
The conversation briefly references various philosophical angles that touch on the issue of veganism but focuses on practical ways to consider making the ethical change to a lifestyle that eschews inclusion of animal-sourced products.
To learn more about “Hungry Beautiful Animals” and Dr. Halteman, visit HungryBeautifulAnimals.com.
The Animal Wellness podcast is produced by Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. It focuses on improving the lives of animals in the United States and abroad through legislation and by influencing businesses to create a more humane economy. The show is hosted by veteran journalist and animal-advocate Joseph Grove. 
 
www.animalwellnessaction.org
www.centerforahumaneeconomy.org
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnimalWellnessAction
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centerforahumaneeconomy/
 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AWAction_News
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheHumaneCenter
 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/animalwellnessaction/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centerforahumaneeconomy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/animal-wellness-action/ 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI_6FxM4hD6oS5VSUwsCnNQ 
 
PRO: BMI
Composer: Jonathan Shapiro (IP# 00240288778)
Publisher: Kulanu Music (IP# 00240190310)

Animal Rescue Amid the Wildfires of Los Angeles | Episode 74

This show focuses on the Los Angeles wildfires, what is being done to save domestic and wild animals involved.
As of recording, January 15, the massive blazes in Southern California have killed at least 25 people and destroyed thousands of houses and other buildings. We’ll never know how many animals have been lost since the Eaton Fire and the Palisades Fire began their scorching march across the Los Angeles area just more than a week ago. One national study of disaster response by the ASPCA found that almost 50 percent of survey-takers had left at least one pet home when evacuating, and that about 4 in 10 of them didn’t return home to those animals for at least four days. And understanding the impact of wildfires on non-domesticated animals is sketchy. Not only are the animals prone to being killed by smoke or burned alive, the resulting loss of habitat can mean starvation, brutal fights for new territory, and the disruption of critical animal-family units.
Host Joseph Grove talks to two people actively involved in abating the animal tragedy. He is joined by Dr. Annie Harvilicz, founder of the Animal Wellness Foundation, which is a sister organization to Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. She is on the ground, using her veterinary skills to treat impacted animals and coordinate placements for imperiled ones. Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and a veteran of helping animals in the context of natural disasters, is working behind the scenes to procure resources and to make long-term plans for the rehab of wildlife.
To learn more about the Animal Wellness Foundation and to donate to the work, go here.
The Animal Wellness podcast is produced by Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. It focuses on improving the lives of animals in the United States and abroad through legislation and by influencing businesses to create a more humane economy. The show is hosted by veteran journalist and animal-advocate Joseph Grove. 
 
www.animalwellnessaction.org
www.centerforahumaneeconomy.org
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnimalWellnessAction
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centerforahumaneeconomy/
 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AWAction_News
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheHumaneCenter
 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/animalwellnessaction/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centerforahumaneeconomy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/animal-wellness-action/ 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI_6FxM4hD6oS5VSUwsCnNQ 
 
PRO: BMI
Composer: Jonathan Shapiro (IP# 00240288778)
Publisher: Kulanu Music (IP# 00240190310)
 

Wolves, Dogs, and a Man Who Knows Them Both | Episode 73

Oliver Starr came to our attention when he spoke in an Animal Wellness Action webinar about wolves and stole the show—and the hearts of attendees—by taking his camera out among the small pack of wolves at Tahoe Wolf Center, where he is executive director. His passion and his endearing bond with the animals made us want to learn more.
Starr also is the author of a new book, “The Wolf Lover’s Guide to Raising Dogs,” which explores the powerful link between domestic dogs and their wild ancestors. It offers practical advice for building a joyful, respectful relationship with your dog, enriching both your lives. He discusses some of those lessons—and a thing or two humans can learn about humans, too—in this exclusive interview.
 
MORE ON THE SUBJECT
To purchase Oliver Starr’s book, “The Wolf Lover’s Guide to Raising Dogs,” go here.
To watch the podcast excerpt featuring Oliver Starr with his wolves, go here.
To watch the webinar in its entirety and learn about the importance of the new Snowmobiles Aren’t Weapons (SAW) Act, go here.
To let your elected officials in Washington know you support the SAW Act, which would criminalize the malicious use of snowmobiles and other vehicles to torment, wound, and kill wild animals, go here.
The Animal Wellness podcast is produced by Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. It focuses on improving the lives of animals in the United States and abroad through legislation and by influencing businesses to create a more humane economy. The show is hosted by veteran journalist and animal-advocate Joseph Grove. 
 
www.animalwellnessaction.org
www.centerforahumaneeconomy.org
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnimalWellnessAction
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centerforahumaneeconomy/
 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AWAction_News
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheHumaneCenter
 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/animalwellnessaction/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centerforahumaneeconomy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/animal-wellness-action/ 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI_6FxM4hD6oS5VSUwsCnNQ 
 
PRO: BMIComposer: Jonathan Shapiro (IP# 00240288778)Publisher: Kulanu Music (IP# 00240190310)