THE OTHER END OF THE LEASH

I have read your excellent comments with great interest, thank you all so much for writing. I do agree that in many ways it is far too simplistic to sort the world into two groups as I did in my earlier post. I suspect that it’s easy to oversimplify when you are frustrated, and truth be told, I was feeling a bit frustrated when I wrote last week. Part of that stemmed from recently hearing what I believe has been meant as a compliment to Calling All Pets. Several times I’ve heard people say that Calling All Pets is a good show for Wisconsin Public Radio because “it brings in people who wouldn’t normally listen to pubic radio.” This presupposes that the show’s listeners are different than most listeners of public radio. Does that mean that most people who listen to public radio are not that interested in pets and animal behavior…? I have to say, in fourteen years of doing the show, I’ve heard hundreds and hundreds of people comment on the show, and never once has anyone said “You know, I never listened to public radio before, but now that I’ve listened to your show, I”ll start!” That is what got me thinking about the word ‘pets’ and how ambivalent we are about it (and them) as a society.

Speaking about how we categorize the animals we live with, I love Jeff’s comments about the three perspectives that the dog food company grouped people into: 1) dog as dog, 2) dog as part of the family and 3) dog AS family.  Of course, as many of you so appropriately pointed out, there are vast continuums within those 3 categories, but I like the way this grouping gets you thinking about where you place your own animals. (And oh yes, yes, it is so true that “Just a….” can be applied to any group, whether it be cats or rats or gerbils.  You can find earlier writings that talk about children as “just children”… sigh.)

One of the continuums that I find especially interesting are people who would be categorized as “dog as dog” people… those who have working animals on farms or ranches.  I have spent a lot of time with farmers and ranchers who have working dogs and horses, who ostensibly will tell you that their relationship with their animals is mostly that of utility. And yet, nothing can choke up a cowboy quicker than losing a dog he worked with for ten years, and a great horse who became one of his best friends.  Perhaps that’s one of the most interesting part of our complicated relationship with our ‘pets’.. that they can assume so many roles: family members, colleagues, and best friends too. This, of course, includes the knowledge that family members don’t always get along, colleagues can drive you crazy and best friends can betray you… our relationships with dogs and other pets isn’t always smooth, but it sure is interesting.

Speaking of interesting, I just talked to Temple Grandin (author of Animals in Translation) and she has a new book coming out soon, titled Animals Make Us Human.  I have a review copy and can’t wait to read it… It’s coming out in January. I’ll keep you posted.

Back on the farm.. here’s some photos from the clearing out the 5 huge elm trees that died a few years ago, and have been threatening to fall on my power lines. A bunch of wonderful folks came out, chain saws a’blazing, and we cut and hauled and ran branches through the rented chipper for 6 hours.  Tired, but what a wonderful day to work outside. Poor Will didn’t get much work that day… but  if I can get my work done before dark, he will tonight!

Well, this is a hard one to write.  Wisconsin Public Radio has cancelled production of Calling All Pets.  They will still play repeats for several months in Wisconsin, and stations around the country have the option of offering the show until next summer.  I’ve been doing the show with Larry Meiller for fourteen years, and it’s hard to imagine not doing it anymore. It’s tough  timing too in that the show had taken off last year, thanks to a lot of work from Larry, me and a new producer and executive producer. The show was even picked up in Washington DC, Dallas and Seattle. However, I have to admit that I won’t miss getting up early in the morning to do the show, and working seven weekends a year on pledge drives and fund raising events.  But here’s what I will miss:

Working with Larry Meiller. He is a truly wonderful man, and he makes it look easy to be on the radio.  It isn’t, not if you’re good at it, but you’d never know that listening to him. He taught me so much, and I will forever be indebted to him. I think of him as a close friend, and will come on his daily show as a guest on occasion.

Connecting with people who believe that animals are important. This is the toughest part by far.  I have realized since I heard the news about the cancellation that what I have valued most about the show is the connection it has given me to a group of people who believe that our love, interest and concern for animals–both wild and domestic–is important.  It’s as important as music or art or literature or news about sports events. It seems that the world sorts into two groups in a way: those who get it, and those who don’t. It feels like I’ve worked all my life to  convince people that our connection to animals is important, that “pets” aren’t trivial and that knowledge and concern about the natural world is vital to our individual and social health.

The great thing about Calling All Pets is that I had fourteen years to make that argument, along with advocacy for using positive reinforcement, instead of punishment and “dominance” as a training technique.  Fourteen years is a long time in the media, and I’m truly grateful to WPR for creating that opportunity. I expect that the decision to cancel the show didn’t come easily, and that the decision was made by folks doing their best to make the best decisions they could for WPR. I wish they hadn’t made the decision they did, but it will give me an entire day a week to do other things. Who knows what doors will open as another one shuts.

Speaking of opportunity, how very glad I am that I have this blog. I have already enjoyed your comments immensely, and am grateful that I have another opportunity to communicate to others who believe that animals are important.

On a lighter note: On Sunday, ironically, I had a party for donors to Calling All Pets and WPR. It was delightful to meet such generous people, and we had a great time.  I didn’t think to get any photos during the party (geeeez), but thought you might enjoy what my rug looked like right before everyone came and what it looked like a few hours after they left.

Pre party rug:

Post party rug (it’s usual condition)

Of course, the newspapers, dog magazines and journal articles are still hidden in the study, the mangy wool cover over the couch isn’t as mangled and messed up as it usually is, and there are no clouds of dog hair wafting around.  Otherwise, it looks pretty much like normal…