Talking Animals 2012

Helping Animals Talk

At least one pup and several humans spoke up for all animals today on WMNF's Talking Animals program. 


My animal rights activist musician husband performed two songs live, his original Nothing About Heartache about his friend's late cat, and a cover of Larry Murray's Dakota. 

You can listen online in the archives and catch Ronny and bunches of other Tampa Bay musicians and animal-loving do-gooders this Sunday (for free!) at Lowry Park from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Pets welcome!


Volunteers are still needed if you want to be an active part of the fun. Sign up here or email the lovely other Dawn "Do-gooder" Dickens at dawnd@wmnf.org. 

Bark in the Park

Our happy dog Jamaica, former Humane Society orphan

This morning while I was waiting for one of my interviews to show up at the radio station, I looked in on Duncan Strauss, live in the studio with his show Talking Animals. 

He was chatting with a couple of ladies from the Humane Society of Tampa Bay about their upcoming fundraiser Bark in the Park, this Saturday morning at Al Lopez Park. 

They had a Siamese kitten and two puppies, all adoptable. It wasn't long before random WMNF'ers closed in on the puppies, wondering if their spouses would mind one more. (Okay, so maybe it was just me.) 


For the entire month of March, The Humane Society of Tampa Bay is having a half price special on adult cat adoptions. See their website or call 876-7138 for more info. 

Our cat Angel, rescued by my husband from a gas station in St. Pete

Talking Animals

A show like Talking Animals is part of what makes a community radio station like 88.5 WMNF so unique. Hosted by Duncan Strauss, Talking Animals airs the first and second Wednesday of each month from 11:30 a.m. to noon EST. (Or stream it online, or in the archives).

On the upcoming April 7th show Duncan will interview Joan Jett, and this weekend animal lovers in Tampa can see Duncan & friends live from the Lowry Park Band Shell at the very first Talking Animals Festival.

The festival is from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 11th right outside Lowry Park Zoo, and features live music, pet adoption, vendors and community groups tabling, animal art, food, drink and more.

Musical acts include Ronny Elliott, The Equines, Sunset Bridge, Pete Gallagher, and more.

In an email, Strauss said he launched “Talking Animals” in Southern California in 2003, and that the show has been part of the WMNF schedule since late 2005.

“Talking Animals” blends animal songs, animal comedy, animal news and announcement, a quick quiz feature (“Name That Animal Tune”), and—the heart of the show--interviews with the likes of Jane Goodall, Ric O’ Barry, Chrissie Hynde, Wayne Pacelle, Janeane Garofalo, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Temple Grandin and Moby.