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ABOUT AMY
(informally speaking…)
Greetings and salutations - and welcome to the author website that features dog and cat care books, interactive pet advice and writing tips for those of every furry persuasion. (Writers, editors, and other inquiring minds, take note: You can contact me by email at amy @ shojai.com (no spaces) and find my writers bio further down this page along with my writer's resume, as well as information about speaking opportunities and TV or other appearances.
I've been an equal-opportunity pet lover since birth. All kinds of furred, feathered, finned and fanged beasts have shared my life, but I must admit that dogs and cats top my list. I'm very grateful for my success as a pet writer, but feel even more fortunate that I truly love my work. Bottom line, I get paid to talk and write about dogs and cats-wow!
My college double-majors in music and theater prepared me for performance, and I've worked professionally as a singer/actor, pianist and cellist, playwright and as a television news anchor. This experience also comes in handy when I make appearances and give talks about my writing.
But it was the first job as a veterinary technician back in 1981 that paved the way for my career as a pet writer. Clients didn't always understand health care information-so from the beginning, my work translated medicalese into language all of us non-veterinarians could understand. When successful, my articles and books help make you an equal partner in the health and wellbeing of your cats and dogs.
For those curious about my schedule, I spend 10 to 12 hours, six days a week in my home office on book projects or writing-related work--or on the road speaking. Most times, researchers and other experts are only a phone interview away-you do NOT want to have my phone bills! When I need the break, I explore our 13-acre "spread" called Rosemont located in North Texas-named for the more than 700 antique rose bushes that bloom a kaleidoscope of color each spring and fall.
My office window looks out on the garden, pond, and horse field, and offers a view of wildlife that includes hawks and bobcats, bluebirds and coyotes. The house, a Georgian colonial, contains about ten floor-to-ceiling stained glass floral panels, and seven "Tiffany-style" stained glass lampshades that make inside work much more pleasant. I design and make them in my spare time. Writers tend to bleed for their art anyway, doncha know, so glass-cutting fits right in! And of course, assorted critters make their home at Rosemont. From time to time, I'll post a photo or two of one or more of my furry crew.
Writing can be a lonely business so I hope you'll take a peek at my what's new? page and drop me a line. And if my calendar schedules an event in your neck of the woods, please stop by to say hello-I'd love to meet you and swap pet stories!
Amy Shojai, CABC is a certified animal behavior consultant and nationally known authority on pet care and behavior. She began her career as a veterinary technician and is the award-winning author of 26 nonfiction pet books and more than 2000 published articles and columns.
Amy is the Puppies Guide at puppies.About.com, and the cat behavior expert at cats.About.com, has written features for AOL's PawNation.com and Huffington Post, provides a weekly PETiQuette newspaper column, produces a free E-newsletter Pet Peeves, and hosts a half hour Internet radio "podcast" also called Pet Peeves. Amy appears in a twice monthly Pet Talk feature at KXII-TV and appears as a pet expert on Animal Planet's DOGS 101 and CATS 101. Some of these TV features are posted on the Speaking page.
She's a consultant to the pet products industry and has worked with a variety of clients such as Sergeant's Pet Care, HomeAgain.com, Tidy Cats, Purina, Chewy.com, PetCareRx.com and Pets Best. Amy toured as the national spokesperson for the Purina Cat Chow "Way of Life" Tour and wrote the award-winning "Cats Emotional Health" column as a Cat Chow "Mentor" for more than a decade.
Ms. Shojai has written widely in the pet field on training, behavior, health care (both allopathic and holistic), and the health benefits of keeping cats and dogs. She is the founder and past president of the international Cat Writers' Association, a certified member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, Dog Writer's Association of America, Inc., a past president and honorary lifetime member of Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc., and an active member of International Thriller Writers. She has won numerous awards for her books and articles.
Ms. Shojai frequently lectures at conferences about writing as well as a variety of pet-related issues. Ms. Shojai has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, and in USA Weekend, The New York Times, Washington Post, Reader's Digest, Woman's Day, Family Circle, Woman's World, and many other leading newspapers and magazines. She regularly appears on national radio and television in connection with her pet writing. Most recently, she appeared as a dog and cat expert on Animal Planet's DOGS 101 and CATS 101. Perhaps most memorably, she represented the "cat side" and won a nationally televised tongue-in-cheek debate (NBC Today Show, Fox, CNN and others) arguing whether cats or dogs are the more appropriate White House pets.
To schedule interviews, speaking engagements or other inquiries send requests to the author via email. For pet parents looking for behavior help, please refer to one of Amy's books or request a behavior consult here.
- LOST AND FOUND
1st Edition, Trade Paper, All Ebook Formats
Cool Gus Publishing, September 20, 2012
- COMPETABILITY: Solving Behavior Problems In Your Multi-CAT Household
- COMPETABILITY: Solving Behavior Problems In Your Multi-DOG Household
- COMPETABILITY: Solving Behavior Problems In Your Cat-Dog Household
Updated for Kindle
1st Edition, Crown Publishing Group/Three Rivers Press
- THE AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIER
- CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE CAT LOVER'S SOUL: STORIES OF FELINE AFFECTION, MYSTERY AND CHARM
by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Marty Becker D.V.M., Carol Kline, Amy D. Shojai
- CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE DOG LOVER'S SOUL: STORIES OF CANINE COMPANIONSHIP, COMEDY AND COURAGE
by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Marty Becker D.V.M., Carol Kline, Amy D. Shojai
- PETiQUETTE
Trade Paperback
M. Evans and Company, Inc.
- COMPLETE CARE FOR YOUR AGING CAT
Trade Paperback
New American Library
- COMPLETE CARE FOR YOUR AGING DOG
Trade Paperback
New American Library
- COMPLETE KITTEN CARE
Trade Paperback
New American Library
- PET CARE IN THE NEW CENTURY: Cutting-Edge Medicine for Dogs and Cats
Trade Paperback
New American Library
- THE FIRST-AID COMPANION FOR DOGS AND CATS
Amy Shojai.
Hardcover, 416 pages
Rodale Press
- MY CAT'S TALE: A JOURNAL OF MY CAT'S LIFE AND TIMES
Lorie Glantz, Amy Shojai, Emily Youngreen (Illustrator)
- NEW CHOICES IN NATURAL HEALING FOR DOGS & CATS
Rodale Press
Hardcover & Trade Paper, 480 pages
- THE PURINA ENCYCLOPEDIA OF DOG CARE
Ballantine Publishing Group
- THE PURINA ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CAT CARE
Hardcover, 496 pages/illustrations & photos
Ballantine Publishing Group
Winner of the CWA Muse Medallion, Best Care/Health Book
- THE DOCTOR'S BOOK OF HOME REMEDIES FOR DOGS AND CATS
hardback, 400 pages/illustrations
Rodale Press
- KITTEN CARE AND TRAINING: An Owner's Guide to a Happy, Healthy Pet
hardback, 160 pages/color photos
Howell Book House
Winner of CWA Muse Medallion, Purina Kitten Chow Kitten Care Award & OWFI Award
- FOR THE LOVE OF CATS
hardback, 100+ color illustrations
Publications International
- A DOG'S LIFE
paperback, 100+ color illustrations
Friedman/Fairfax
- THE INCOMPARABLE CAT
paperback, 100+ color illustrations
Friedman/Fairfax
- THE DOG COMPANION: The history, culture and everyday life of the dog
hardback, 120 color photos
Mallard Press (BDD Promotional Books)
- THE CAT COMPANION: The history, culture and everyday life of the cat
hardback, 120 color photos
Mallard Press (BDD Promotional Books). A featured selection in the "Best of 1992/Beautiful Books and Unusual Gifts" of the Book of the Month Club.
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- Herald Democrat newspaper (Don Rey Media Group)
"P'ETiquette," weekly column, 2003 to present
- Woman's World (Heinrich Bauer, N. America Inc.)
"Woman's Best Friend," bi-weekly pet behavior column, 1994 to 1996
- CATS Magazine (CATS Magazine, Inc.)
"Health Handbook" monthly column, 1992 to 1997
- Denison Herald newspaper (Don Rey Media Group)
"Pet Talk", bi-weekly column, 1990-93
- Sherman Democrat newspaper (Don Rey Media Group)
"Pet Talk," bi-weekly column, 1990-92
- Pet Health News (Fancy Publications)
"Unforgettable Patient" monthly column
frequent columns from 1988 to 1991
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- Catnip (Tufts University)
Various Features, 2005
- HealthyPet (Veterinary Learning Systems)
[1+ million circulation, to VCA Animal Hospital clients]
Various Features, 2003-2004
- ASPCA Animal Watch (ASPCA)
Various Features, 2003
- PetLife Magazine (Magnolia Media Group)
frequent features, 1995 to 1997
- Woman's World (Heinrich Bauer, N. America Inc.)
Frequent features, 1994 to 1997
- CATS Magazine (Primedia Special Interest Publications)
Contributing Editor, 1992 to 1997
- Pet Product News & PNN (Fancy Publications)
Contributing Editor, 1992 to 1995
- Cat Fancy, (Fancy Publications)
Frequent articles and features 1988 to 1996,
Contributing Editor 1991 to 1995
- Dog World and Puppy Guide (Primedia Special Interest Publications)
frequent articles and features, 1989 to 1998
- AKC Gazette (American Kennel Club)
articles, 1994 to 1997
- Dog Fancy (Fancy Publications)
frequent articles and features, 1988 to 1993
MAGAZINE ARTICLES IN:
- Cats USA
- Animals
- Popular Cats
- Kennel Healthline
- Pet Age
- Pet Business
- CFA Almanac
- Neku Kurabu (Japanese Cat Magazine)
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NEWSPAPER ARTICLES IN:
- The Elkhart Truth
- The Denison Herald
- The South Bend Tribune
- The Sherman Democrat
- Lake Texoma
- The Paintsville Herald
- The Mountain Chronicle
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- Puppies.About.com
Puppies Guide
8 Articles/4 Newsletters/6+ blogs month, 5-11 to present
- cats.About.com
Cat Behavior Expert, Contributing Writer
12 Articles/Columns/Q&A each month, 2-10 to 5-11
- PawNation.com
Pet Columnist
2-4 times monthly 2010-2012
- Purina Cat Chow
Cat Care Expert, Emotional Health Mentor
Weekly Q & A Column, 2000 to 2010
- Discovery Channel pet articles
Several interactive articles, 2008
- ivillage.com
"Your Pet's Well-Being with Amy Shojai"
Host, several discussion forums, 3-04 to 2008
- HomeAgain Pet Identification
"Dog & Cat Behavior Columns"
Website content, 1-06 to 1-08
- Sergeants.com
"Pet Care Columnist"
Email and website newsletter content, 2006 to 2008
- Tidy Cats Cat and Kitty Litter (Nestle Purina PetCare Company)
glossary of cat terms, 1998
- CompuServe, CatsForum
Section Leader of Behavior/health, and Holistic/Natural Care, 1998 to 2006
- CompuServe, DogsForum
Section Leader of Family Pet (behavior/health) 2003 to 2006
- TheCatSite
TabbyTudes cat behavior expert
Monthly Q & A column, 2-03 to 8-03
- PetPath (Time Warner Electronic Pub.)
200 misc. pet articles, 1996
- PeerlessHealth.com
Columnist and Q & A pet advice, 2000 to 2002
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(note: representative list, not all-inclusive)
- Thrillerfest
New York
2008 to Present
Various panels
- Blog Paws 2013 Conference
Washing DC area
May 16-18
"Kindle-ization" presentation
- Cat Writers' Association, Inc. Annual Writing Conference
Atlanta, Chicago, Anaheim, Kansas City, Houston, & More
Various Lectures and Seminars, 1993 to Present
- Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc
Annual Conference, Oklahoma City
First Weekend of May, 2004 to present
"Famous Author" & various seminars/presentation
- Danish Swedish FarmDogs USA
Webinars
2011-2012
"Senior Moments, Caring for Aging Pets"
"Introducing A New Family Member"
- Wichita Writers Conference
Wichita, KS; April 2012
"Kindle-ization for Writers"
- Border Queen Book Festival
Comanche, OK;, March 29, 2008
- Abilene Writers Group
Abilene, Texas; October 26-27, 2007
Keynote: "Creating A Platform"
- Books 'n Authors 'n All That Jazz
Ft Worth, April 2006
Lecture: "Sell Yourself (AND Your Book)"
- National Association of Professional Pet Sitters, Inc. (NAPPS)
Atlanta, January 2005
Lecture: "Senior Moments: Caring for Aging Cats & Dogs"
- Pet Food Regulatory Workshop, and Nutrition Summit
St. Louis, 2000 to 2001
Lecture, "Consumer's Perception of Pet Foods and Pet Food Labels"
Lecture, "Ingredient Issues: Pet Owner's Perceptions"
- Tufts Animal Expo
Boston, 2001
Lecture, "Hot Topics in Feline Nutrition: Answering Consumers' Concerns"
Lecture, "Senior Moments: Quality of Life Issues for Aging Cats"
- Federation of Texas Humane Societies Annual Conference
Keynote Speaker, New Braunfels, TX 2002
"The Forever Home: Achieving Lifetime Adoptions"
- Pet Food Forum
Chicago, 2002
Lecture: "The Consumer's Perceptions: Pet Food Labels-Do They Serve the Purpose?"
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International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants
International Thriller Writers, Inc.
Cat Writers' Association, Inc., founder and past president
Dog Writer's Association of America, Inc.
Oklahoma Writer's Federation, Inc., past president, Honorary Life Member
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2012 DWAA Maxwell Medallion Award
Best Dog Website, "Puppies.About.com
2012 CWA Muse Medallion Award
Newspaper column, "PETiQuette" (Herald Democrat)
2012 CWA Muse Medallion Award
Online article/health, "10 Tips to Keep Your Cat's Brain Forever Young" (VetStreet.com)
2011 CWA MICHAEL BRIM DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
2011 CWA Muse Medallion Award
Radio, "Pet Peeves: Feral Cats and TNR," (PetLifeRadio.com)
2011 CWA Muse Medallion Award
Online article/behavior, "8 Kinds of Cat Aggression" (Cats.About.com)
2011 DWAA Maxwell Medallion Award
Best Website, "Puppies.About.com"
2010 FRISKIES WRITER OF THE YEAR AWARD
2010 TIDY CATS® FELINE BEHAVIOR AWARD
for "Cat Talk" (cats.About.com)
2010 CWA Muse Medallion Award
Newsletter article, "Debunking 10 Feline Urban Legends" (Catnip)
2010 CWA Muse Medallion Award
Online article/Behavior, "Cat Talk" (cats.About.com)
2010 CWA Muse Medallion Award
Online article/Health & Care, "Old Cat Behavior & Senility" (cats.About.com)
2009 CWA Muse Medallion Award
Televison, "Pet Talk: Allergies, Toxoplasmosis, Flea Product Safety" (KXII-CBS)
2009 CWA Muse Medallion Award
Radio, "Pet Peeves: Cat-egorically Wrong!, Cats, Babies, Myth-takes" (PetLifeRadio.com)
2009 CWA Muse Medallion Award
Online Article, "Claw Training 101" (shojai.com)
2008 North Shore Animal League America Award (DWAA)
Radio, "Pet Peeves: Sex & the Single Pet" (PetLifeRadio.com)
2008 CWA Muse Medallion Award
Radio, "Pet Peeves: A Win-Winn Situation" (PetLifeRadio.com)
2008 CWA Muse Medallion Award
Online Article, "It's All About the Cat!" (shojai.com)
2008 CWA Muse Medallion Award
Newspaper Column, "P'ETiQuette"
2007 DWAA Maxwell Medallion Award
Newsletter Feature, "When Dogs Battle For Status" (Your Dog)
2007 Sticky Paws Training Award
for "Cat Meets Dog: Bringing Magic Home" (Animal Behavior Consulting, Theory & Practice)
2007 CWA Muse Medallion Award
Online Column, "Purina Emotional Health" (catchow.com)
2007 CWA Muse Medallion Award
Essay, "Dr. James R. Richards, A Lasting Legacy" (shojai.com)
2006 Friskies Writer of the Year Award
2006 CWA Muse Medallion Award
Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul
2005 CWA Muse Medallion Award
Newspaper Column, "P'ETiQuette"
2005 DWAA PetSafe Award
for PETiQuette: Solving Behavior Problems in Your Multipet Household
2005 AKC Companion Animal Recovery Award
for "Finding Lost Pets" (Herald Democrat news article
2005 Friskies Writer of the Year Award
2005 Purina O.N.E. Health Award
for "The Many Faces of Feline Infectious Peritonitis" (Herald Democrat news article)
2005 Sticky Paws Training Award
for "Trick Training Tabby" (Herald Democrat news article)
2004 Merial Human-Animal Bond Award
for Complete Care for Your Aging Cat
2004 Hartz Award for writing on senior cat issues
for Complete Care for Your Aging Cat
2004 PetMate Safe Cat Award
for "Avoiding a Cat-astrophe" (Herald Democrat news article)
2004 Purina Cat Chow Nutrition Award
for "A Weighty Problem" (HealthyPet magazine)
2004 CWA Muse Medallion Award
Online Column, "Way of Life-Emotional Health"
2004 CWA Muse Medallion Award
Newspaper Editorial, "Don't Make Litter-ary Errors"
2004 CWA Muse Medallion Award
Newspaper Column, "P'ETiquette"
2004 DWAA Maxwell Medallion Award
for Complete Care for Your Aging Dog, best care/health book
2003 CWA Muse Medallion Award
Newspaper Column, "P'ETiquette"
2003 CWA Muse Medallion Award
Television Presentation, "Pet Talk"
2003 CWA Muse Medallion Award
Online Column, "TabbyTudes"
2003 CWA Muse Medallion Award
Online Article, "Love to the Max"
2002 CWA Muse Medallion Award
for Complete Kitten Care, best cat behavior/training book
2002 CWA Muse Medallion Award
for Complete Kitten Care, best single B&W photo
2002 CWA Muse Medallion Award
for Complete Kitten Care, best series B&W photos
Purina Kitten Chow Kitten Care Award (with CWA) -- 2002
for Complete Kitten Care, best entry on kittens
2002 CWA Muse Medallion Award
Online Column, "Way of Life-Emotional Health"
2001 CWA Muse Medallion Award
for Way of Life-Emotional Health(CatChow.com), best cat online column
2001 CWA Muse Medallion Award
for PeerlessHealth.com Series Article, "The Healing Power of Touch"
2001 DWAA Certificate of Nomination
for The First-Aid Companion for Dogs & Cats, general reference book
2001 DWAA Certificate of Nomination
for PeerlessHealth.com Article, "The Healing Power of Touch"
2000 CWA Muse Medallion Award
for Way of Life-Emotional Health (CatChow.com), best cat online column
2000 DWAA Certificate of Nomination
for New Choices in Natural Healing for Dogs and Cats, general reference book
1998 CWA Muse Medallion Award
for The Purina Encyclopedia of Cat Care, best cat health/care book
1998 Cat Writers' Association, Inc., Certificate of Excellence Award
for ComPETability: A practical guide to building a peaceable kingdom between cats and dogs, behavior and training books
1996 Oklahoma Writers Federation "OKIE" Award
for Kitten Care & Training, best nonfiction book
1996 DWAA Maxwell Medallion Award -- 1996
for "Pets Are Good For Your Health" published in PetLife
Purina Kitten Chow Kitten Care Award -- 1996
for Kitten Care & Training, best entry on kittens
1996 CWA Muse Medallion Award
for Kitten Care & Training, best cat care book
Dog Writer's Association of America, Certificate of Nomination -- 1995
for "Pets: Powerful Medicine" published in Woman's World
Cat Writers' Association, Inc., Certificate of Excellence Award
for "Health Handbook" monthly column, CATS Magazine -- 1994
The Sulfodene/Scratchex Award for Journalistic Excellence
in Dog Grooming and Skin Care -- 1993
The Eukanuba Nutrition Award -- 1993
Presented by IAMS for the best article on canine nutrition
The Mark Francis Award for Journalistic Excellence -- 1993
Presented by the Texas Veterinary Medical Association
National Federation of Press Women National Communications Contest -- 1993:
Texas Press Women Communications Contest -- 1993
First Place, The Cat Companion; First Place, Science/Health Articles
The Mark Francis Award for Journalistic Excellence -- 1992
Presented by the Texas Veterinary Medical Association
Hill's Nutrition Award -- 1992
Dog Writer's Association of America, Certificate of Nomination - 1992
For a series of articles published in Dog World on "Early Spay/Neuter"
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TWICE MONTHLY PET TALK FEATURE ON KXII-TV/CBS
ANIMAL PLANET'S "DOGS 101" AND "CATS 101"
CNN EARLY PRIME
TODAY SHOW, NBC-TV
FOX MORNING NEWS
GOOD DAY NEW YORK
FOX NEWS/PET NEWS
KXAS-TV, NBC, FT.WORTH, TX
TEXAS CABLE; "DAILY TEXAS SHOW" DALLAS, TX
WFFA-TV, ABC; DALLAS, TX
KTRK-TV, ABC; HOUSTON, TX
KHOU-TV, CBS; HOUSTON, TX
KPRC-TV, NBC; HOUSTON, TX
KRIV-TV, FOX; HOUSTON, TX
WTSP-TV, CBS; ST.PETERSBURG, FL
WFLA-TV, NBC; TAMPA, FL
WTVT-TV, FOX; TAMPA, FL
HTZ/Z-100 RADIO, NY, NY
WQCD-FM, NY, NY
KTSA-ABC/SAN ANTONIO
KDKD/ABC-KANSAS CITY
KIKK, AP BUSINESS TALK RADIO NETWORK, HOUSTON
KRST-ALBUQUERQUE
KBRC-ABC/SEATTLE
KLDE-HOUSTON
KISS-LA
WERZ/WQSO, NH
WINK-FM, PA
WBMX-FM, BOSTON
KRAK-FM/SACRAMENTO
KRLA-LA
KATD, SAN FRANCISCO
KSTZ, IOWA
WJJG, CHICAGO
"AROUND ARLINGTON" with Cheryl Nason
"BOOKS IN REVIEW" with Susan McDaniels (Ft. Worth)
720 WGN Chicago, "Pet Central" with Steve Dale
WILI Radio, Hartford, CT
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"The Breakfast Club" with Peter Nichols
CBS Radio, New York, NY
WDAY-AM, Fargo, ND
with Brad Anderson & Les
KFWB-AM, Los Angeles, CA with Ron Kilgore
WRHI-AM, Rockhill, SC with John Collins
USA Radio Network (National Syndication) with Kim Taylor
WWMX, WLIF, WQSR-BALTIMORE
WKTU-FM/NY & NJ
WMJI/WGAR/CLEVELAND
WBMX-FM/BOSTON
WDRC-FM/HARTFORD, CT
KBEZ/TULSA, OK
PET TALK AMERICA w/BOB VELLA
KRBE-HOUSTON
WMGF-ORLANDO
FLZ/SSR/MTX-TAMPA
WGCH-NBC/JONES SATELLITE SERVICE
WLIF-BALTIMORE
WQSX-BOSTON
KRMG/ABC-NEWS TALK/TULSA
WDRC/HARTFORD
TEXAS NEWS NETWORK/ABC
WIHS-HARTFORD
WCHS-AM, Charleston, WV
Newstalk Station with Jenny Murray
WWJ-AM, Detroit/Southfield, MI with Greg Gowman & Pat Vitale
WDOK-FM, Cleveland, OH Fun, Fun, Fun with Trapper Jack
KFBK-AM, Sacramento, CA with Ken Jackman
KRSO, Hollywood Pets (Nat. syndicated) with John Avalon Reed
"Sleepless in South Florida" with Dr. Roberta Firtell
KRLD AM Dallas/Ft. Worth, "News Talk CBS Radio" with Clarissa Douglas
USA Radio Network, with John Clemens
WGET Radio, "Breakfast Nook" with Fred Snyder, Gettysburg, PA
WHJJ-AM, "Pet Care" with Dr. Dan Simpson, Rhode Island
KDKA Pittsburgh, with Chris Bailey
UPI Morning News, with Shirley Smith
KSCO "AnimalTalk" with Kitty Fields, Santa Cruz, CA
"The Gil Gross Show" WOC-AM, Davenport, IA with Gary Lee Wright
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