Transcript
Eddy Aragon: Hey, I’m 1600 KIVA, 93.7, FM the web, rockoftalk.com, here with our favorite person, Barbara Bruin and her pets. Barbara Bruin, good morning.
Barbara Bruin: Good morning, Eddy.
Eddy Aragon: How are you?
Barbara Bruin: Great. Happy Saturday.
Eddy Aragon: It’s always a happy Saturday here in the Kiva. Glad that you’re here to join us. And, how have we been performing out in the feline and canine world in terms of adding these people to our… And they are people, to our forever homes?
Barbara Bruin: That’s right. Well, last week was a good week for Baby Doll and Lilly. They’ve both been at the Bernalillo County Shelter for a long time, and they both got there forever homes.
Eddy Aragon: Awe, Baby. I got to tell you it was the big bopper.
Barbara Bruin: Baby Doll, that’s right. And she’s so pretty. So good news for them, but we still have many that we’ve promoted before, like Bruce Wayne, Sophie, Trooper, Athena and last week’s Dingo and Cheese. So…
Eddy Aragon: I still want Dingo and Cheese.
Barbara Bruin: I know. They’re darling.
Eddy Aragon: Awe, it’s the best. I need anything called Cheese, 24/7.
Barbara Bruin: There you go.
Eddy Aragon: The best.
Barbara Bruin: There you go. Just wonderful, wonderful pets and wonderful people there at the Bernalillo County Animal Shelter on South Second street. It’s new. Just a couple of years old, and they really need your help as a volunteer or a foster, because they’re new. There’s plenty of pets that need your help too. So please get in touch with them at their website, which is bernalillocountyanimalcareservices. Or call 468-PETS. And like I said, they’re new and they’re wonderful and they need your help.
Barbara Bruin: And the animals in general need your help by making sure you get your pet fixed. I know we’re like a broken record, but that is the very best thing any animal lover can do, so we don’t overpopulate any more than we already have. We do have an animal overpopulation problem. We’ve gotten a bit of a handle on it. The year I joined the shelter, in December of 2009, there were like 26,000 animals.
Eddy Aragon: Wow.
Barbara Bruin: I know. That’s obscene.
Eddy Aragon: Yep.
Barbara Bruin: By the time I left, there was about 15,000 that came in. I’m sure that’s gone down, but partly because they’re not taking in animals. Just emergency strays and such. So it’s a tough time for animals and animal shelters. So if you can volunteer, please do.
Barbara Bruin: There’s a lot of reasons to have your pet fixed other than just combating the pet overpopulation problem. Spay and neuter means decreased incidence of cancers, testicular, and memory, which are major concerns for pets. Decreased prostatic problems with age in males. Decreased trauma, as intact animals are more likely to wander and be attacked or hit by a car.
Barbara Bruin: Spaying completely eliminates the chance of birthing complications, which can be life threatening for both mom and pups and kittens and can cost the owner thousands of dollars to manage. When I was at the shelter, we would have little Chihuahuas come in who were trying to give birth, but couldn’t because they were not made for it.
Barbara Bruin: It was obviously an emergency situation and many owners couldn’t afford to take the pet to an emergency veterinarian.
Eddy Aragon: Oh, wow.
Barbara Bruin: So they would surrender the pet. Yeah. So our fine crew there-
Eddy Aragon: That’s the worst.
Barbara Bruin: I know. And it’s so sad. Vet prices are so high that it’s a terrible thing as far as pets being relinquished for that reason. When I was there, we had our Operation Keep Your Pet, and they’ve continued along those lines and trying to help as much as possible with the vet care, or at least spay and neutering vaccines so that pets can stay in the home. Because there are a lot of people who really don’t want to give up their pet, but don’t see themselves as having an alternative.
Barbara Bruin: We were even helping people build fences for dogs who kept escaping and all sorts of new services. So don’t assume you have to relinquish your pet. If you can’t manage something, they will tell you when you call 311, or 468-PETS about the programs they have available.
Eddy Aragon: Yeah. Pretty incredible. And thanks for all that information. It’s a tough time weather-wise as well. It’s not just stuff they’re dealing with, but the weather’s kind of tough right now, Barbara.
Barbara Bruin: It is.
Eddy Aragon: We’re over 100 degrees, and we’re in monsoon season. And then on top of that, you compound it with the humidity. And if you’ve got fur on you, boy, it’s brutal.
Barbara Bruin: Yeah. They really need to be inside with you if at all possible. It is the law that they need certain kinds of shelter and certainly water. So don’t take it for granted that your pet’s okay in the heat, because all too often, that’s not…
Barbara Bruin: I also see people walking their dogs on pavement that’s much too hot. So keep that in mind, that the pavement might be too hot for your pets’ paws.
Barbara Bruin: Obviously, we talk about cars every time. Do not leave your pet in a locked car with the windows up for any length of time. That’s a death sentence, and it-
Eddy Aragon: Have you ever seen those unbelievable little booties that they put on them for a hot pets? Have you ever seen that?
Barbara Bruin: Yes. I have.
Eddy Aragon: Yeah. How do you feel about those? Just curious.
Barbara Bruin: If they work, it’s great. And they also have them for cold weather, those little pet boots.
Eddy Aragon: Oh, okay.
Barbara Bruin: Yeah, whatever works for your pet.
Eddy Aragon: There you go. Whatever works.
Barbara Bruin: If you can get your pet to wear them. I mean, some pets are not really in the clothing state of mind. But others are just fine with whatever.
Eddy Aragon: Let’s talk about the pets of the week, this week. Who’s available?
Barbara Bruin: Okay. We have two wonderful pets, again from Bernalillo County Shelter. We’re highlighting them because they need the most help.
Barbara Bruin: We have a cute kitty named Lucy. Lucy is a tortie. She’s got the beautiful orange and black and white coloring. She’s shy, but sweet. She’s just a year old. She’ll hide under blankets when she’s scared, but eventually she adjusts and learns that the world is pretty cool. She’s done well in our communal rooms with other cats, which is great, and loves to be doted on with affection. Lucy almost looks almost like the famous “chimera” cats with her split face, which you can see on my website, barbarabruin.com. She’s got half black and half orange and sort of tortie. She would love someone to adopt her and make her Insta-famous too. So Lucy could be your Insta-star. A 1-year-old, spayed female at Bernalillo County Shelter. And she’s really cute.
Barbara Bruin: Then we have Elaina, who is-
Eddy Aragon: Blana.
Barbara Bruin: Elaina.
Eddy Aragon: Oh, Elaina.
Barbara Bruin: Elaina.
Eddy Aragon: Okay. I was going to go with the [inaudible 00:06:34], but there we go.
Barbara Bruin: Oh, okay. Do you have any songs?
Eddy Aragon: I did, but, well, I had an artist.
Barbara Bruin: Oh, okay. Oh.
Barbara Bruin: She’s 10 months old and spayed. She looks like an interesting combo that we might call an Albuquerque brown dog. She has big, floppy ears.
Eddy Aragon: Oh, okay. Albuquerque brown dog. I like the way that sounds.
Barbara Bruin: Yeah. Albuquerque brown dog.
Eddy Aragon: It’s a great breed.
Barbara Bruin: It is a great breed.
Barbara Bruin: You don’t see them at Westminster very often, but there’s a lot of them around here.
Eddy Aragon: Well behaved. They love their green chili, tortillas, sopapillas-
Barbara Bruin: They do. They do.
Eddy Aragon: They’re Albuquerque brown, right there.
Barbara Bruin: And it looks like Elaina’s story is very Albuquerque-like. Elaina came to us after she was dumped by her previous owner.
Eddy Aragon: Oh, my gosh.
Barbara Bruin: I know.
Eddy Aragon: The typical Albuquerque story, by the way.
Barbara Bruin: I was going to say, Elaina has the Albuquerque story as an Albuquerque brown dog.
Eddy Aragon: Yeah.
Barbara Bruin: She didn’t get a lot of manners training in the front half of her life, which is pretty typical.
Eddy Aragon: Is she a member of a gang of any type? Any tattoos?
Barbara Bruin: I don’t see any tats. I don’t see any but, they might just not be in [crosstalk 00:07:32].
Eddy Aragon: No neck tattoos?
Barbara Bruin: No neck tattoos. You can’t see her neck, so [crosstalk 00:07:35].
Eddy Aragon: Oh, okay. That’s good. Yep.
Barbara Bruin: And she would like a home that wants to help her learn new things. She would love to go to training class with you. I found out working at the shelter that really most dogs can benefit by training. Some of the older dogs or luckier dogs come in already trained. But many, many dogs need some manners. And the shelter staff and volunteers frequently get them started with some leash training and some CIT, and things like that. But it’s always a good thing.
Eddy Aragon: I love the CIT class. That’s my favorite.
Barbara Bruin: Yeah. It’s good that-
Eddy Aragon: It’s the most restful one.
Barbara Bruin: It’s very restful. It’s relaxing. Yeah. Have you ever taken a CIT class?
Eddy Aragon: All my life.
Barbara Bruin: All my life.
Eddy Aragon: And I’ve been standing ever since.
Barbara Bruin: There you go.
Eddy Aragon: It’s all I do is stand, as you know, but-
Barbara Bruin: You do stand there behind the golden microphone.
Eddy Aragon: … I refuse to sit. Yeah. For every hour that I’m up, I stand the whole entire time. And for whatever reason, it bothers me when… Well, when other people would host and they would sit down. Because I don’t know how you think while you’re sitting down. It just didn’t work for me, so…
Barbara Bruin: Yeah, yeah. Well, that’s the trend now. Everybody has stand-up desks.
Eddy Aragon: Oh, there it is. You know what? I was a trendsetter before it was a trend. Maybe I brought it in. Or maybe I ushered in.
Barbara Bruin: Yeah, you’re a trendsetter… In so many ways.
Barbara Bruin: Anyway, back to Elaina. She loves meeting new people and is a great compact size. At 32 pounds, she’s not too big, but is also able to keep up with you on your long hikes.
Eddy Aragon: And she meets the luggage requirements, that you can put her in the cabin. So, that’s awesome.
Barbara Bruin: Oh, okay. What’s the-
Eddy Aragon: 32 pounds… 50 pounds.
Barbara Bruin: Really?
Eddy Aragon: Then you got to pay for it.
Barbara Bruin: Really? But not in the cabin. You mean… checked. Checked luggage.
Eddy Aragon: Well, whatever. Yeah, checked luggage.
Barbara Bruin: We’re not checking Elaina, but that’s good to know.
Barbara Bruin: She can keep up with you on your long hike. So she’s just waiting for the right family to notice how special she is. And she does look very special.
Barbara Bruin: So go down and meet… Well, actually you have to get on their website or make an appointment. Check out their website, because you can then get a good sense of who all is there.
Barbara Bruin: But there’s Elaina and Lucy, this week’s pets. But we still have cute Dingo, who’s smiling for his picture. And Cheese, and Athena, who’s beautiful. And Bruce Wayne-
Eddy Aragon: Bruce Wayne. Bat Man.
Barbara Bruin: … And Sophie. Sophie has been there way too long.
Eddy Aragon: Oh, yes. She should be your choice this week.
Barbara Bruin: Yes. She’s a brindle boxer mix if you will recall. And then Trooper, who’s a gorgeous Belgian Malinois/Dutch Shepherd mix.
Eddy Aragon: Wow. That just sounds fancy.
Barbara Bruin: I know.
Eddy Aragon: It sounds like it’s going to rot my teeth.
Barbara Bruin: He is a fancy dog, as opposed to an Albuquerque brown dog. But we love our mutts and we have lots of them. So don’t add to the mutt mix and have yours fixed.
Eddy Aragon: Oh, I like it. That should be a great slogan. Don’t add to the mutt mix, just have yours fixed.
Barbara Bruin: Don’t add to the mutt mix, get yours… There you go.
Eddy Aragon: Yeah, there we go. Someone’s going to grab that-
Barbara Bruin: Happy [inaudible 00:10:24].
Eddy Aragon: … And they’re going to roll with it, and they’re going to say that they came up with that on their own.
Eddy Aragon: Barbara Bruin, thanks for being here. barbarabruin.com.
Eddy Aragon: As always, she is working hard on her life’s passion, which of course is cats and dogs and making sure that they find their forever homes.
Eddy Aragon: Thanks, everybody for joining us. Back after a quick break.