[Laurie2]

Yesterday (September 26) on the NPR program Fresh Air, there was an interview with John Bradshaw, an anthrozoologist who wrote the books Dog Sense and Cat Sense. (I had to look up anthrozoologist because I had never heard the word before.)

The first part of the show was about cats and the second part about dogs. Bradshaw talked about some common things that pet owners sometimes deal with, like how to introduce a second cat or how to help a dog deal with separation anxiety.

I had never heard of dogs with separation anxiety until just a few years ago. I have had quite a few dogs in my life, but never one with a separation disorder. In fact, my dogs were opportunists. They always used the time we were gone to sleep on the forbidden couch. They must have slept with one ear cocked because they always jumped down just in time. (You see, we are very stupid people and never noticed the dog hair on the couch cushions.)

Bradshaw also addresses the sad topic of trying to decide whether the time has come for the rainbow bridge.

Yesterday’s show was a repeat. The books are not brand new. If you would like to hear the interview, you can go to npr.org and click on programs, find Fresh Air and yesterday’s show, titled “What’s Mittens Thinking? Make 'Sense' of Your Pet’s Behavior” and there you can listen to the entire program.

I am sharing this because so many of you have dogs and/or cats so I thought you might find this interview and these books interesting.