Barbara Bruin’s Pets on KIVA Radio – June 6, 2020

Edited Transcript From the Show: Eddy: AM 1600 KIVA 93.7 FM. I’m Eddy Aragon, The Rock of Talk. Glad to be here with you for another edition of Barbara Bruin and her pets, helping the community getting pets found in their forever homes. Barbara, good morning. How are you? Barbara: Good, Eddy. How are you doing? Eddy: I’m good. And I know that it’s that time of year. We don’t need to remind people, but we do need to remind people to keep those pets out of their cars and try to do whatever we possibly can to make sure that we’re preserving their life because it gets very hot in those cars very quickly. Barbara: It does. And it’s supposed to be 95 degrees today. And we’re looking at 100 degrees very soon and your pet can die very quickly. Eddy: Yeah. So let’s make sure we think about that and make sure they get plenty of water, and that they get walked early in the morning or in the evening. And it’s good for your health, too. Let’s not forget about how much it helps that each and every one of you to get your steps in, so to speak, for the day. What have you been doing, Barbara? Barbara: Well, we have good news from the Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department. Georgia, our gray American Pit Bull Terrier mix from last week was adopted. Eddy: Georgia? Barbara: Yeah, Georgie. Yeah, the song did it. Eddy: It really always works. Barbara: Yeah, it does. And Moody was adopted, as in Moody Blues, a three-year-old. Eddy: Another great job there. Barbara: There you go. Three-year-old domestic short hair, gray also. So that’s really good news. But Bernalillo County is having a bit more of a challenge with their pets moving out and into forever homes. Isis still doesn’t have a forever home. Sophie and Buddy, we’ve talked about them for the longest time. And Kenya, a cat. It looks like Ham found a home. Eddy: Ham? Barbara: Yeah. Ham, an old man. 14 years old. Eddy: He’s hamming it up. Barbara: He’s hamming it up. He’s a Brown Tabby. So hopefully, he’s living happily ever after with his person of choice. They do tend to pick their own. The cats particularly will let you know when you’ve been selected. But we have two more pets this week from the Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department. And both shelters, Bernalillo County and Albuquerque, are still doing adoptions by appointment. So go to their websites, or 311 for the city, or 468-PETS for the County. You see a pet online, you want to meet, you can make an appointment, which actually makes it pretty easy. And hopefully, as the summer comes, everybody’s still at home and kids will be home for the summer and maybe have plenty of time to introduce a new pet to your home. Eddy: Technically, they’ve been home. Barbara: I know. Since what, March? Eddy: Yeah, March. Barbara: Yeah. So looking at more home time. And also, fostering is a fun thing to do with the kids and you can help out those shelters. So go online or call them and ask what you can do. And they would love your help. These pets need a break from the shelter sometimes and it’s kitten season. So there are a lot of little kittens who need help. Street Cat HUB is also, they were always feral cats. But now, since the city hasn’t been really taking cats, people are told to take them to Street Cat HUB, which is really not Street Cat HUB’s and mission and they’re not paid to do that. But hopefully, with donations, they can make that work. But they have a lot of cats now to be adopted, cats and kittens are fostered. So streetcathub.org, and that’s a great organization. So there’s lots of kitties there to adopt or foster. Eddy: Folks, we give you all the resources each and every day. We are one of the most pet friendly cities that there is. There’s plenty of pet parks. We have great weather. We’re not Phoenix during the summer. And look, we aren’t Canada in the winter. This is a unique opportunity for you to get one of these cats, dogs. They are available, and they’re looking for their forever home. You can always visit Barbarabruin.com, Street Cat HUB as well. And let’s do what we can to help these cats and dogs and help you as well because having a cat or dog and caring for something just makes you, I hate to say it, but it does make you a better person. Barbara: It does. Eddy: And folks, as always, we want to make sure that if you ever have an interest of something that you missed, you can text me directly, 550-5500. I’ll get the information over to Barbara Bruin and we can get you connected from there. And we have four different animal welfare places, Barbara, county and city. Can you quickly tell us where they are? Barbara: The city has two locations, the one at Coronado, Lucky Paws is closed for now. City is Lomas and Wyoming or way out on Sunset Gardens, if you’re a west sider. And Bernalillo County is on South 2nd street. And it’s the beautiful new shelters, smaller, very friendly, wonderful animals and wonderful people. And then Rio Rancho also has their shelter. So check it out if you’re in Rio Rancho. And then we have private shelters, Animal Humane and Watermelon, and lots of rescues. And some of the rescues are on my website. And the ones that I really like to give money to are on barbarabruin.org. So if you’re looking for something to donate to, to help all these pet groups through tough times, go to barbarabruin.org. And I’m a big fan of donating locally. Groups like the Humane Society of the US and the ASPCA, they have their mission and their money. But for it to really help the pets of Albuquerque, it’s good to give locally. So that’s at barbarabruin.org. Barbarabruin.com has more pet tips, including more summer safety tips and has Pets of the Week. Eddy: And we’re going to get to those right now. Barbara: Yes, we are. Eddy: Let’s talk about these Pets of the Week. Who do we have this week? Barbara: We have Fiesta. Eddy: Fiesta. Barbara: Fiesta, who’s a two year old tan American Pit Bull Terrier mix. Fiesta is hoping to find someone who will take a chance and give her the home she deserves. She’s a very smart girl and is more than willing to learn many different tricks and commands. Fiesta is also an explorer and would love to be a tour guide on a nice leisure walk. Isn’t that nice? If you think Fiesta might be a good match, she’s currently at the East Side Shelter of the Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department, waiting for a forever home. So call 311, or go to CABQ.gov/pets and look her up, or she’s also on my website. So she’s a beautiful two year old, which is a great age because she’s past the puppy age. And we got some Fiesta music [inaudible 00:06:53]? Eddy: Yeah. Lionel Richie says Fiesta in this part. Barbara: Oh, nice. Eddy: Remember? Barbara: Okay. Eddy: Remember? He’s like, “Fiesta forever?” Barbara: Yes, Fiesta forever. She could be your forever pet. Eddy: She can be your forever- Barbara: You give her forever home. Eddy: There you go. And all it takes is you can have Fiesta all night long. Barbara: There you go. Eddy: You don’t even actually have to start the Fiesta. Lionel Richie. Barbara: Very good. That’s a great song. Eddy: We used The Moody Blues last week. Barbara: Yes, we did. Eddy: We also used- Barbara: Georgia. Eddy: Georgie. Barbara: Ray Charles. Eddy: Bang, bang. So I want to make sure, whatever it takes, whatever spirit we can send people’s way as a reminder. Barbara: Yes, that’s good. And it’s a pleasant way to spend our airwaves. Muso, I don’t know if you’ll have a song for. Eddy: Probably not. We could play Muse, but you wouldn’t know what that is. Barbara: I would not. He’s a 13 year old orange domestic long hair mix. He’s beautiful or handsome. He’s a gent, one handsome older gentlemen who would love to be the center of your universe. He can be talkative and opinionated. Eddy: Wow. Barbara: Yep. Eddy: This is like Trump. He’s orange, talking and opinionated, and wants to be the center of your universe. This guy is a winner through and through. Barbara: Yes, he is. His biggest opinion is that he be a one and only cat. So he’s not cat friendly. So if you want just one cat, and a lot of people do, Muso is your guy. Eddy: I just want one president. Sorry about that. Barbara: That’s okay. That was an interesting diversion. Eddy: Yeah. Barbara: He does very much, Muso, enjoy human companionship, but would prefer to have all the love and affection to himself. He has the features of a lion. I know, he’s gorgeous. Eddy: What are we doing here? We’re going to rename this cat. Barbara: Simba is a popular name for a lion. Yeah. His photo will be on my website. Eddy: I cannot wait. Barbara: He’s handsome. He has the features of a lion, but the heart of a sweet kitten. Eddy: Oh, that’s it. Barbara: Yeah. Eddy: That is it to a T. Barbara: There you go. Eddy: T for Trump. Sorry. Barbara: There you go. Eddy: All right. That’s it. I’m done. Barbara: Okay. Eddy: Sorry. Barbara: Wring yourself in. Those two are at the East Side Shelter of the Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department. So check them out or look on Bernalillo County’s website, bernco.gov. I think Animal Control Center, Animal Care and Control Center, but it will come up for you. And check out those pets who’ve really been waiting a long time. Like my buddy, Buddy, and Sophie, and Aisa, and Kenya the cat. So there’s lots of great pets and lots of great people helping great pets, which is a wonderful thing about our committee. Eddy: I did find a good song for Muse, by the way. Barbara: Okay. Eddy: Langston used to play this all the time because it had Trump at the very beginning. So it’s a very, very uplifting song to get Muse done. And it says never come down because maybe our country will never come down. That would be nice. Barbara: That would be great. Well, that was an interesting snippet. Eddy: It was. Hey, I just like to provide insight, opportunity and entertainment. We do that here at The Rock of Talk. Barbara: We do. Eddy: KIVA. Barbara: In the KIVA here. Eddy: In the KIVA, yeah. Barbara: And you kept us rather current there. That was a more current song than some we play. Eddy: It was. Barbara: Yes, which is good to keep current. So these wonderful pets, wonderful pet tips, and you mentioned earlier about walking a dog. Pets are good for your health, both because they get you out walking, which also gets you to meet your neighbors, which makes a safer neighborhood if neighbors know one another. And any pet, cats or dogs, can lower your blood pressure and anxiety. Eddy: Heart rate. Barbara: And heart rate, they give you such comfort. So if you’re ready to add to your family and to commit to a pet for the life of the pet, then hustle down and get a pet. Eddy: Especially if they’re snoozing on your head. My littermates, Sugar and Spice. They would just sit there and just play with my hair all night. I’m like, “I’m trying to sleep.” Barbara: There’s something about the head. Eddy: They don’t care. Barbara: Yes. Eddy: They would knead me. Barbara: Yes. Eddy: I’m like, “What are you doing?” Barbara: They thought you were their daddy. Eddy: On my chest, and they’re sitting there, kneading me. I’m like, “What is going on here?” I don’t know what this is. I was trying to tell people what it is. I didn’t know anything about cats. And it kept kneading me and I’m like, “This is…” Barbara: They’re very kneady. Eddy: Yeah. Barbara: You just were- Eddy: K-N-E-A-D-Y. Kneady. Barbara: It’s also called making biscuits. There’s many names for- Eddy: Making biscuits? Barbara: Yes. Eddy: Really? Barbara: Yeah. Because you’re kneading the dough. Eddy: Oh, yeah. Barbara: Yeah. Eddy: Wow. What’s your favorite part about being a cat? Oh, you never really owned pets. They’re just your friends. Barbara: Exactly. They’re just your friends. [crosstalk 00:11:25] Tony. Eddy: Frank and Bob. Barbara: Tony and Robert. Eddy: Yeah. Robert. Barbara: Robert. I mean, they just give you a lot of love. And it is, like you said earlier, it’s good for the human to nurture something else beyond a houseplant. Eddy: Yeah. Houseplants don’t talk back. Barbara: No. [crosstalk 00:11:43] Well, that’s a good starter. Eddy: Although, there are some people who suggest that they do, those are generally people I don’t interact with very much. Barbara: Okay. Well, you have to really listen to hear the plant. Eddy: Yeah. But if someone starts talking to the plants, Eddy checks out very immediately. Barbara: Yeah. Okay. Well, they do say that’s a good way to grow as a caretaker. You start with the plant, you go to a pet, and then you’re ready for a baby if you’re- Eddy: Well, the fish, then the cat. Barbara: Well, fish is a pet. Yeah. Fish aren’t real cuddly. Eddy: No. Barbara: Yeah. Yeah. They give you so much. And my guys are very demanding. Eddy: Rambunctious. Barbara: Rambunctious and demanding. Eddy: You live with three men. My gosh. Barbara: Yeah. My… Eddy: Bob, Tony, and- Barbara: Team Tabby. Robert. Eddy: Robert. Wow. Barbara: Team Tabby. Yeah. They’re a pain, but they’re fun and they’re very loving. [crosstalk 00:12:31] Buddy. Eddy: There we go. Barbarabruin.com. That’s Barbarabruin.com. We’ll see you next week. Go and adopt those pets, folks, please. And take a look at the archive of the Pets of the Week over at barbarabruin.com. Thanks for listening.