wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

I first saw Temple Grandin a couple of years ago on PBS. This woman is way more in touch and down in the trenches with real life experiences on domesticated animals and wild animals then a lot of animal activists I have herd or read about. Thank you for having her on your show again.

What a great guest! Never expected to be interested in such a topic, but Temple is thoroughly captivating. Her passion and knowledge, not often used together, is sooo apparent. thanks.

I am so glad that Temple Grandin is a guest on the show. This is a very informative show.

If "animals share the same core emotional systems that humans do," what gives humans the right to raise them for human consumption? It seems to me that if the animals feel pain, suffer and have the same emotional systems as humans there shouldn't be a distinction between eating them or humans. Both just don't seem right.

I wonder if birds are good pets. rather, if we are able to give birds a good life as a pet.

I'm wondering about the animal rennet used to make many cheeses. Does it come from the same calves whose meat is used for veal? A lot of meat-eaters don't eat veal because of the way the calves are treated. Thanks.

RE Comment 3: cats and dogs can be good companions - do research if you get a pure-bred dog though (see notorious long-term problems with Jack Russells).
Otherwise, I enjoy listening to and reading Ms Grandin - but I've noticed she really doesn't get cats, though. Food-training is not particularly appropriate/effective - the owner and trainer of the Moscow Cats Theater doesn't use it, for one.

Re Sasha's comment: my dog's food bowl has been full all morning. He'll eat when he's hungry.

AFTER MY DOG DIED I GOT A CAT THAT NEEDED A HOME. NOW SHE EXHIBITS "DOG-LIKE" BEHAVIOR.
SHE SLEEPS BESIDE ME, COMES WHEN CALLED,.ETC

This woman doesn't have any respect for cats - they are not solely food motivated. She just hasn't taken the time to get to know a cat. After all, cats can have food out all day, but dogs can't pace themselves.

Recently a dog in my neighborhood ferociously lunged at me. The dog was being walked by a young woman who was not able to control him. The dog basically dragged her half a block and was raging at me. Usually, I try to disarm a dog by being very sweet - cooing "Hello, puppy dog. Hi there!" And 90% of the time this works.

However, this dog was NOT having it. Fortunately I was not attacked. But it made me wonder how to prevent a dog attack. What is the best thing to avoid being bitten?

How does she reconcile her work designing slaughterhouses with her deep awareness of the animals' internal lives?

I do not ask this with any ulterior agenda in mind.

I have 2 parrots. people dont realize how..emotional / social they can be, and how sensitive they are. my parrots show visible seperation anxiety when we leave (head shaking),and get very excited when we come home. i work from home and they sit with me all day, and are never in cages. we have to bring them with on vacation, as they get all out of sorts when we leave them.

In the morning, they come in bed and cuddle - preening our ears, eyelashes, teeth, etc.

they are, however, very emotionally needy; i assume its b/c of the level of intelligence.

Is a cat a good enough companion for an apartment dog?

I used to be a ravenous carnivore. Then, Ages ago I heard an interview with a french woman who produced duck livers...she was asked why the ducks were so horribly treated..her answer was that "you know, they taste better if they suffer."
Now I rarely eat flesh....not because vegetables are better (although I have come to adore them) but because I don't wish to financially support industries that are built on suffering.

What's been happening to "Listen to the Whole Show" and "On Demand"? Yesterday, only two segments were available, even on MP3. Has the webmeister begun his/her Easter/Passover vacation early?

The Lopate Show responds: That audio is now available. We apologize for the delay.