AnimalChat - An Alberta SPCA Podcast
24 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 months ago -Animal behaviour, animal welfare, animal protection. We cover it all.
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Episodes
Pet Allergies
June 02, 2023 12:00 - 20 minutes - 13.8 MBAllergies can be as common in our pets as they are in humans. On this episode of AnimalChat, we speak with veterinarian, Dr. Vicki Janes, about the signs of pet allergies, which breeds are more susceptible, and options for treating our animals.
Grieving Pets
April 21, 2023 12:00 - 29 minutes - 20.6 MBWe talk to social worker Joey Leslie, who works at a veterinary clinic to help families deal with the flood of emotions that come when pet owners must make the difficult decision to euthanize their beloved animals.
Defining Distress
November 18, 2022 13:00 - 38 minutes - 26.7 MBAlberta SPCA Peace Officers enforce the Animal Protection Act (APA) which makes it an offence to permit an animal to be in distress. In this episode, Peace Officer Karen Stevenson explains what is distress under the APA and what she looks for at properties when investigating complaints of distress.
Pets & Seniors Housing
November 01, 2022 12:00 - 16 minutes - 11.5 MBIt can be difficult for older adults to find affordable housing that allows pets, as many landlords are wary of having animals in their buildings. However, research shows allowing seniors to have a pet helps to keep them healthy, feel less isolated, and can actually keep them from forming abusive relationships with other adults.
Biggest Risks to Pets in their own Home
July 08, 2022 12:00 - 24 minutes - 16.7 MBSummer is here, and that increases the amount of trouble your pet can get into at home, in the yard or inside. We talked to a local small animal veterinarian about the most common health issues she sees at her clinic, and what you can do to keep your pet safe.
Reptiles Need Vet Care Too
July 01, 2022 12:00 - 29 minutes - 20.3 MBReptiles are a popular pet for many people, but many owners choose to not seek veterinary care for their pets. On this episode we talk to a veterinarian who specializes in reptiles about some of the common health concerns with lizards and snakes and why it's important to seek proper health care for them.
Collectors of Animals
April 08, 2022 12:00 - 37 minutes - 26 MBCollectors are people who accumulate more animals than they can properly care for. Often referred to as hoarders, collectors often have a mental illness that leads to their predicament, and managing these situations so the collector does not re-accumulate animals is challenging. We talk to one of our Peace Officers about how she manages these investigations in order to ensure the animals are not in distress, and to ensure the owner receives help as well.
Mental Health in Animal Welfare
January 21, 2022 13:00 - 24 minutes - 16.9 MBBell Let's Talk Day is on January 26th. We see the impacts on animals from poor mental health, it's a part of most of our investigations where animals are in distress. Peace Officer Karen Stevenson joins us to talk about how Peace Officers ensure they are helping the people as well as the animals.
Have The Courage
November 16, 2021 20:00 - 12 minutes - 8.41 MBEnd of life decisions are never easy when it comes to our animals. However, it's important to have those conversations as the cold weather sets in to ensure our animals do not face unnecessary suffering.
The Violence Link
October 29, 2021 12:00 - 19 minutes - 13.3 MBWhen people suffer, so do their animals. The Alberta SPCA's One Family Welfare department offers temporary care for pets so their owners can get the help they need to deal with crisis situations. The Director of our One Family Welfare Department joins us to explain the Violence Link and how we help pets and people in crisis.
Why It's Important To Include Your Pets In Your Will
September 17, 2021 20:00 - 15 minutes - 10.7 MBOur animals are exceptionally important to us but many people fail to plan for their pets should the animals outlive them. In this episode, we discuss why it's important to have your pets included in estate planning, and what decisions need to be a part of the will.
Animal Welfare on Alberta's Egg Farms
September 03, 2021 14:00 - 22 minutes - 15.7 MBWe talk to an Alberta egg farmer about what measures are in place to ensure hens live a happy and productive life. We also hear from the non-profit Egg Farmers of Alberta about how they ensure their members are meeting their high standards for animal welfare and care.
Budgies are not Starter Pets
August 20, 2021 12:00 - 23 minutes - 16.3 MBThere has been an increase in pet budgies being surrendered this summer. We talk to a vet who works with exotic birds about why budgies are being turned in and what prospective bird owners should understand about budgies before adding them to a family.
Animal Welfare on Alberta's First Nations
August 06, 2021 12:00 - 20 minutes - 14.2 MBWe talk to the Animal Control Officer from the Siksika Nation in southern Alberta about the First Nation's perspective on animals and how their culture and history guides them.
The Benefits of Taking Pets to Work
July 23, 2021 12:00 - 24 minutes - 17.1 MBMany people added pets to their family during the pandemic, and with people returning to the office, we're encouraging businesses to look at allowing pets in the work place. We discuss the benefits of having office dogs and cats, for the business, the staff and the animals.
The Evolution of Animal Welfare
July 09, 2021 12:00 - 18 minutes - 13 MBThe expectations of how owners care for their animals has changed considerably since the Animal Protection Act was first passed in Alberta. We're joined by Alberta SPCA President, and retired veterinarian, Dr. Duane Landals to discuss the evolution of Animal Welfare.
Myths About Dog Training
June 25, 2021 12:00 - 33 minutes - 23.1 MBThere are lots of misconceptions on how best to train your dog. We chat with Certified Professional Dog Trainer Kris Rooney about what works and what does not work when getting your canine family member to be a respectful, good listener in and out of your home.
How to choose a boarding facility
June 10, 2021 12:00 - 28 minutes - 19.3 MBOne of the most stressful parts of a family vacation can be trying to find a trusted boarding facility. We talk to a local owner/operator about what questions you should ask and what you should look for when choosing a home away from home for your pets.
The Legalities of Cat Traps
May 28, 2021 11:00 - 19 minutes - 13.7 MBControversial Issue Alert! Cat traps are used by many to deal with unwanted wandering cats that come into their yard, but the person doing the trapping has legal responsibilities the moment the cat is trapped, and they could be charged if the cat becomes distressed. Peace Officer Stuart Dodds joins us to talk about the legalities of using cat traps.
Be Pet Prepared
May 14, 2021 12:00 - 26 minutes - 18.5 MBMay is Emergency Preparedness Month and every emergency kit needs to be put together with your pets in mind. The Fort McMurray fire in 2016, along with the southern Alberta floods and other disasters remind us how quickly residents may have to leave their home. In this episode, Executive Director Terra Johnston joins us to discuss her experience helping animals after Fort McMurray was evacuated, and what you should plan for when putting together an emergency plan for your home and your anima...
Geese Patrol
May 07, 2021 12:00 - 12 minutes - 8.5 MBDuring Be Kind to Animals Week, a City of Edmonton police officer invested 40 minutes to help guide a family of geese, including 4 goslings, across the High Level Bridge. This is a one way, two lane bridge that is about 800 meters long, and it's one of the most treacherous roads in the city, even for the drivers. Once you're on the road, there's no where to go but to continue driving (or in this case walking) to the other side. We caught up with the Sr, Constable Garth Snider to talk about...
The Importance of Cat Enrichment
April 30, 2021 12:00 - 21 minutes - 14.7 MBOften people will choose a cat for a pet under the assumption they're easier to care for, and while cats have less intense needs than a dog, they still need to express natural behaviours, they just do it in a much different way than dogs. In this episode our Director of Education, Melissa Logan, along with her cat Neville, stop by to talk about the importance of cat enrichment and how to meet your cat's instinctual needs.
21-Hour Road Trip
April 16, 2021 12:00 - 24 minutes - 16.9 MBOur Peace Officers help animals in distress all over Alberta (outside of Calgary and Edmonton), and sometimes that means a long trek to get to the animals in need. In this episode we talk to an Alberta SPCA Peace Officer about her 21-hour road trip to help two dogs in Alberta's far north, including a drive across a frozen river.
Introducing AnimalChat, An Alberta SPCA Podcast
March 31, 2021 16:00 - 10 minutes - 7.55 MBWelcome to our first episode of AnimalChat where our host, Dan Kobe, and our Executive Director, Terra Johnston, explain types of topics we plan to discuss in our episodes.