DOG TALK® (and Kitties Too!) on

icon of side silhouette of dog and cat drawn inside the dog Tracie Hotchner the Radio Pet Lady

DOG TALK® features Tracie's interviews with authors, pet experts and animal welfare advocates from around the world, discussing practical and philosophical issues regarding our relationships with dogs, cats, other pets, wildlife and the natural world.

The show broadcasts from WLIW FM 88.3 in Southampton, the only NPR station on Long Island, reaching from the East End across Long Island into Southern Connecticut and Westchester.

The show’s theme song is “Mmm My Best Friend” by Sophie B. Hawkins from her album TIMBRE.

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Dog Overheated? Life-Saving Solution: Dunk Their Head in Water!

#946B: Dr Cynthia Otto [Director of the Penn Vet Working Dog Center and Professor of Working Dog Sciences & Sports Medicine] knows a thing or two about the dangers of heatstroke for dogs, particularly ones who are active outdoors as military or Search & Rescue working dogs. But for pets, when the ground and air outside are really hot for you, it’s too hot for dogs! No hiking! No jogging! Dogs can collapse (and die) from heatstroke. Dr. Otto did a study on the best way to cool down a dog in a heat emergency: Dunk their head!

World Class Dog Food & Philanthropy — Born From a Family Tragedy

#946A: A story of triumph over tragedy. Jim Scott and his wife Janet sold Wellness pet foods (the very first truly holistic recipes) to look after their sons, who both had been in life-altering accidents — but then created an even more premium pet food — RAWZ — so they could give away 100% of their profits in gratitude for all they still had.

Did You Ever Wish To Find A Mate As Great as Your Dog?

#945B: Stella Hayward’s novel “The Good Boy” sets up the problem of how to put the genie back in the bottle if your wish for a boyfriend as great as your Golden Retriever comes true — and now you have a naked blonde man in your dog bed?!

No More Cat Allergies! (You Can Thank the Alpacas?!)

#945A: Dr Evan Zhao talks about developing Pacagen with his wife, Dr. Siyang Han, who turned out to be allergic to their "pandemic pussy cat,” which inspired the two scientists to look for an effective anti-allergen — and they found it in the unique immune system of Alpacas!

Who Doesn’t Love Goat Milk?!

#944B: Sue Delegan, the co-founder of Brutus Bone Broth, realized that goat milk was another delicious way to supply fluids and nutrients to pets, especially kitties who often need encouragement to stay hydrated. So they developed a shelf-stable container for easy use.

Happy Hounds, Calm Kitties and Blissful Bunnies

#944A: Dr Patrick Pageat in Provence, France — the “grandfather of pheromones” developed to calm pets — has invented a new technology to deliver these substances more effectively for each species with sprays and diffusers for stress and anxiety: Secure Cat, Secure Dog, and Secure Bunny.

Old Dog, New Dog

#943B: Kathy Callahan discusses “Old Dog, New Dog - Supporting Your Aging Best Friend and Welcoming a New One," which she co-wrote with Helen St. Pierre, about the challenges and wonderful surprises of overlapping an old-timer and a newcomer, with practical suggestions on how to make the transition work for all ages of canines.

Petsmart Charities Addresses “Sticker Shock” on Vet Costs

#943A: Aimee Gilbreath, President of PetSmart Charities, discusses the Gallup poll they commissioned, which discovered that half of all Americans skip or refuse veterinary care due to financial considerations, while most did not get treatment options that were more practical or affordable.

Vasectomies on Peacocks

#942B: Dr. Don Harris was called in to reduce the explosive population of invasive peacocks in the Pinecrest neighborhood of Miami — because the birds are protected and even their nests cannot be disturbed. But you cannot neuter them or they lose their big beautiful fan tails.

Lessons from Cats for Surviving Fascism

#942A: Stewart “Brittlestar” Reynolds calls his book "the little book that might just save democracy," because cats are intrinsically "little fluff balls of resistance." Tracie says this handbook of feline wisdom should remind us that if we do not remember history (for example Hitler's rise to fascism, which current events bring to mind) — that we might just be on the road to ignoring the wisdom not to repeat history.