We’re beginning a three part series with Dr Michaela Hempen.  The overall topic explores the question: What is the “Mind?” And how is that relevant to assessing animal welfare?  

This conversation grew out of our previous discussion with Dr Joe Layng on public and private events.  I suggest you listen to those episodes as an introduction to this discussion.

Why are these philosophical discussions relevant to horse training?  Michaela begins with a historical perspective.  What are the cultural influences that have shaped our attitude towards animals?  Why do we have this cultural bias that has created a hierarchy of animals?  Primates are high on the evolutionary scale, other animals are lower, and non-vertebrates are lower still.  How does this influence our training and management choices?  

Michaela is a scientific officer at the European Food Safety Authority.  Part of her work focuses on animal welfare.  She’s part of a team that is preparing reports for the European Commission, which, hopefully, will be the basis for updating the European animal welfare regulations.  

To prepare for this project Michaela did considerable background reading.  She wanted to understand the “great divide”.  This refers to a philosophical split between behaviorism and cognitive ethology.  

So join us as Michaela guides us through a historical look back on the evolution of these very different ways of viewing behavior.

For a list of references visit Equiosity.com and refer to the show notes for this episode.

Episode 264 Dr Michaela Hempen -What Is "The Mind" Pt 1 A Historical Perspective

Mark Ruskell MSP is to bring a Bill to the Scottish Parliament to ban greyhound racing. The legislation would make it illegal to hold races and signal the end for Scotland’s last remaining dog track at Thornton in Fife.

New Recording 260

For this conversation Dominique and I both wanted to follow up on our previous conversation with Michaela Hempen.  We were talking about horse welfare.  Dominique shared some useful resources that you can use to assess your horse’s physical welfare.  These included Anja Beran’s Train Your Eye DVD, the horse grimace scale, and the equine discomfort ethogram.  

It can be uncomfortable to stand up for our animals.  In the second half of the episode I share a goat story in which I had to do exactly that.  In the podcast with Michaela, we talked about being good guardians for animals.  Days after we recorded the podcast, I got to practice putting those words into action.

Episode 292 Assessing Your Horse's Physical Comfort And A Goat Story

How are the animals in Lahaina, Maui, doing one year after the wildfires? Tune in for an inspiring discussion with Dr. Lisa Labrecque, Executive Director of Maui Humane Society. 

Moments with Marianne airs in the Southern California area on KMET1490AM & 98.1 FM, an ABC Talk News Radio affiliate!   

Dr. Lisa Labrecque holds a degree in veterinary medicine from the University of California Davis, and has more than 20 years of experience in the animal welfare field.  She began her career as owner and medical director of a private veterinary practice before realizing her true calling was helping homeless animals. Dr. Labrecque served as the first veterinarian for the Lanai Cat Sanctuary, then took on the role of Medical Director of MHS' Mobile Animal Surgery (MASH) Clinics. Under her direction, more than 6,000 animals from the Maui community were spayed and neutered over an 18-month period. Dr. Labrecque completed the Best Friends Executive Leadership Course in July of 2023, the same month she moved back home to Maui to serve as CEO of Maui Humane Society. https://www.mauihumanesociety.org

For more show information visit:
www.MariannePestana.com

#animals #Maui #Lahaina #dogs #cats #animaltransport #Mauiwildfires #MauiHumaneSociety #animalwelfare #animalrescue #animalshelter

Maui Humane Society with Dr. Lisa Labrecque

Christmas should be a time for giving... then keeping!

DON'T BE AN A#!EHOLE THIS XMAS

My uncle John was passionate about animal rights. He was a vegan from the age of fifty, and he dedicated the rest of his life to improving the lives of animals in captivity.

10 min podcast: my uncle John, the animal rights hero

This is Part 1 of our conversation with Lucy Butler. With her fiancé Lucy founded the River Haven Sanctuary in Rhode Island.  The sanctuary is home to about fifty animals, pigs, geese, ducks, chickens, goats, donkeys, and three horses.  The Sanctuary gives forever homes to animals that were in crisis.  Lucy and her fiancé Jeff have plans for developing the sanctuary into an educational center.

In Part 1 Lucy introduces us to the Sanctuary’s three horses, Pearl, River, and Nieve.  Initially, clicker training was used to help the horses settle and to fill in the huge gaps in their basic education.  It’s been a healing process for them physically as well as emotionally.  This sets the stage for the main purpose of our conversation - which is to talk about lateral work.  Lucy is in the early stages of introducing her horses to lateral work.  The discoveries she’s making and the changes she’s seeing in her horses are well worth sharing.

For me central to all performance work is the horse’s balance.  The training helps the horse find his optimal balance and use of his body.  Whatever your performance goals are for your horse, a central, fundamental focus on balance will help you get there. And it will get you there without compromising your horse.  Balance matters for the lifetime of your horse.

Lucy has been an active participant in my on-line clinics so I’ve been watching her horses’ training develop over time.  All three have reached the point where lateral work is beginning to pop out.  In the last coaching session Lucy talked about the exciting changes she’s seeing in her horses.  

The changes in all three horses have been so remarkable, we had to share.  Normally when someone is invited to talk about lateral work, it is because they are an expert in this type of training.  In Lucy’s case it is because this work is so new to her that I wanted her to join us.  The changes she’s seeing in her horses are very much worth sharing.  

I always add something at the end of each episode.  This week I have included a tribute to Karen Pryor who died on January 4, 2025 at the age of 92.  Do please join me in honoring her work.

Episode 309 Lucy Butler Pt 1 River Haven Sanctuary

What you eat doesn’t just impact you – it shapes the world around you. 

 Wonderfully enlightening and engagingly written. Dr Idz

If you are looking at ways to combat the exploitation of the planet this book is for you. Rhiannon Lambert

Well Fed is a vital tool in the ongoing battle against nutrition misinformation. Robbie Lockie, Plant Based News

––

In Well Fed, James Collier, former NHS dietitian and co-founder of Huel, is on a mission to debunk the myths about food and nutrition to reveal why what we eat is not only having a devastating impact on our health, but also on our planet.

The industrialisation of our food system has wreaked havoc on earth's natural biodiversity, diminished the nutritional value of the food that is produced and has been a major contributor to global warming. The result? A planet in crisis and a surge in diseases of excess.

By challenging conventional wisdom and embracing a more balanced and nuanced approach, Collier shows that we can:

• Improve our health by boosting physical and mental well-being
• Protect the planet by reducing our environmental impact
• Support our communities in fostering a more sustainable food system

Supercharge your health with Collier's five pillars of contemplative nutrition, which offer a simple, holistic solution to inspire a sustainable approach to food.

The future of food, our health and the planet is in our hands. Let's act now.

Well Fed: How modern diets are failing us (and what we can do about it), By James Collier, Read by James Collier

@alexlewis

Official lyric video: https://youtu.be/ZdE_eEjkyW0?si=U9nFkuC0nmBV0lw1

© 2025 Alacrity Records

Alex Lewis - Persons Too

Across Mississippi, pets are being abandoned on bridges, at dead ends and even outside closed animal shelters. The issue has grown more pressing as shelters reach full capacity, leaving pet owners with two options: wait for an available surrender date or leave their animals in a place where no one will see them. 

Weak legal protections and limited enforcement make the problem worse. Unlike most states, Mississippi does not explicitly define animal abandonment as a crime, a gap that has led to growing calls for reform from animal advocacy groups. 

Mississippi’s ‘unusual’ lack of laws leaves abandoned pets unprotected

The podcast debates about micro and macro farms, discussing the environmental and social impacts of industrialized agriculture. Experts such as Inger Anderson and Carol Huber highlight concerns such as pollution and animal welfare. Charlotte Bennett advocates for macro farms to increase production and economic benefits. The debate concludes by advocating for sustainable agricultural practices.

Macrofarms Podcast

Discover how the Joseph Dee McLean Paws for a Cause Foundation is transforming animal welfare through rescue, rehabilitation, advocacy, and community education. In this episode, we explore the foundation’s impactful initiatives, from saving animals in distress to shaping policies that protect them. Learn how their innovative programs, passionate volunteers, and strategic partnerships are making a real difference. Join us as Joseph Dee McLean dive into inspiring stories of rescued animals, discuss the importance of responsible pet ownership.

How Joseph Dee McLean Paws for a Cause Foundation Is Changing Animal Welfare

Hope taught me the meaning of life, Tina taught me the meaning of love.  

 It's not everyday you meet a golden retriever in Thailand.

When Niall came across a dog shackled to a short chain and in a poor state of health something reminded him of his personal battle with addiction. He knew he had to rescue her immediately – golden retrievers are rare in Thailand – but there was just something about this dog in particular that told him she was destined for more.

He named her Tina, and what she did next is an incredible tale of survival, hope and love. Despite her terrible treatment at the hands of humans, she refused to distrust them or feel sorry for herself, and only opened her heart wider – always with a grin (yes dogs can smile) and a reassuring wag of her shaggy yellow tail.

From the minute Tina was free of her chains, she got on with what needed to be done, inspiring a dog hospital to be built and named after her and helping dogs from all over the world – whether they're street dogs from Thailand or rescue pups in Montana. The movement behind Tina has not stopped.

This is her story.

Tina: The Dog Who Changed the World, By Niall Harbison, Read by Niall Harbison

Zoos across the UK are set to roll out major animal welfare reforms aimed at giving their residents a better quality of life

What’s Right: UK Zoos Embrace Landmark Animal Welfare Reforms

CELLULOID DREAMS THE MOVIE SHOW -- 5/29/25

THIS WEEK'S SHOW: Feline fraternizing and archival ACTION!

What started as a story about an unsanctioned mission to rescue 25 stray cats from the streets of Qatar (where cats equal the entire country's human population!) turned into a meditation on compassion, identity, and belonging. Filmmaker Mye Hoang takes us behind the scenes of her moving documentary 25 CATS FROM QATAR, sharing what it taught her — about animals, people, and the power of small acts of care and kindness.

Director MYE HOANG talks 25 CATS FROM QATAR on CELLULOID DREAMS THE MOVIE SHOW (5-29-25)

Joseph Dee McLean, founder of the "Paws for a Cause Foundation" is a dedicated advocate for animal welfare. His dedication to promoting adoption and stronger animal protection laws has left a lasting legacy of compassion, transforming lives both in the entertainment world and beyond. ensuring a safer, healthier future for animals and championing their rights nationwide.

Publishers of award-winning fiction and non-fiction audiobooks for adults and children. Listen to exclusive clips from our books and free audioook extracts here on Soundcloud.

Europe's best independent music station based in Luxembourg! English speaking.

In a single moment your life can change!  “Moments with Marianne” is a transformative hour that covers an endless array of topics with the ‘best of the best.’ Her guest are leaders in their fields, ranging from inspirational authors, top industry leaders, business and spiritual entrepreneurs.  Each guest is gifted, and a true visionary!  A recognized leader in her own work, and while teaching others to develop, refocus, and grow; Marianne will bring the best guest, and sometimes a special surprise.  Don’t miss this – you never know just which ‘moment’ will change your life forever.

Full-service record production studio from Spokane, Washington.

Equiosity is the podcast about all things equine with a special emphasis on the horse-human bond.

I am a veterinary surgeon with a passion for communicating my love of my work through writing, radio,  television and the internet. My mission is to use the media to act as an advocate on behalf of animals.
I am a partner in a busy 4 vet practice in Bray, Co Wicklow, Ireland, but I spend 50% of my working week on media work. 
I've been broadcasting a weekly "vet spot" on my local radio station, East Coast FM, for the past fifteen years, and I'm delighted, through Soundcloud, to now make this weekly animal-related discussion available globally as a podcast.

For People. For Planet. 🌍

Promoted by Pete Morrison on behalf of the Scottish Green Party, both at 19b Graham Street, Edinburgh EH6 5QN.

New tracks tagged #animal welfare