Happy Furry Friday!

Happy Furry Friday! It’s a furbulous day here in Dallas, Texas! We are proud to say we have partnered with Castor & Pollux Pet Food! As the leader and maker of America’s #1 organic pet food, Castor & Pollux has set a new standard with the most comprehensive portfolio of purposeful pet food. At the half we have a wonderful guest, Stacy Sutton Kerby from The Texas Humane Legislation Network talking about abolishing puppy mills! But first up, we have Maura Davies of The SPCA Texas, so let's get started!

Maura Davies

Maura Davies is the Vice President for Marketing & Communications at the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) of Texas. As a longtime friend of One Life Radio, Maura is with us almost every Friday!

How Pets Support Our Mental Health

Bernadette says that having a pet in the family home can teach kids empathy, responsibly, and more! Children with ADHD can benefit from working with and keeping a pet. Taking charge of the jobs on a pet care schedule, such as feeding, walking and bathing, helps a child learn to plan and be responsible. Walking a dog often leads to conversations with other dog owners and this helps owners to stay socially connected and less withdrawn. People who have more social relationships and friendships tend to be mentally healthier.Having a pet in the house increases the positive energy! It’s also no surprise that 98% of pet owners consider their pet to be a member of the family. Not only are people happier in the presence of animals, they’re also healthier. In a survey of pet owners, 74% of pet owners reported mental health improvements from pet ownership, and 75% of pet owners reported a friend’s or family member’s mental health has improved from pet ownership. The simple act of petting a cat or a dog can reduce stress related hormones and lower your heart rate! If you have anxiety and suffer from panic attacks, you can begin to pet your animal to help aid in preventing a big anxiety attack.

Stacy Sutton Kerby

Stacy’s tenure with Texas Humane Legislation Network, or THLN, began in 2012 with fundraising and grassroots organizing. Since then, Stacy has worn several hats for THLN, including Volunteer Coordinator, Director of Operations, and Legislative Liaison. Stacy served as THLN’s Interim Executive Director in 2015 when they successfully passed HB 593 – the Mandatory Canine Encounter Training Law. In 2019, Stacy launched Safekeeping – a program supporting the pets of people exiting crises. She received her Master’s in Public Affairs from the LBJ School in August 2019, and returned to THLN in 2020 as the Director of Government relations. Stacy volunteers in her local community with the Austin Humane Society and PALS – a program supporting the pets of Meals On Wheels clients

Texas Human Legislation Network Fight To Abolish Puppy Mills In Texas

The Texas legislature is preparing to gut the state program that prevents unregulated puppy mills. Since 2011, the Texas Dog & Cat Breeder Act has given the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) the right to regulate the conditions in large-scale animal breeding facilities. Without this Act, unregulated, large scale breeding facilities could likely become inhumane puppy mills producing dogs for profit in the cruelest conditions.We must remind Texas legislators of the importance of this Program. Elimination of the Program means zero regulations for those profiting off puppies. The absence of even the most basic minimum care standards will lead to horrific puppy mills. This will be causing thousands of dogs and cats will suffer a lifetime of neglect. THLN’s goals are to protect this incredibly important Program and then fix the existing loopholes to strengthen it. NOW is the time for action. Please help us change the fate of thousands of animals in commercial breeding facilities by signing and sharing our Petition today. When you sign our Petition, your state representative and state senator will know you support the regulation of large-scale animal breeding facilities.To ensure the Petition’s validity and efficiency, please include your full address so we can notify your state senator and representative of your support.

Thank You!

A big thank you to our guests, Stacy Sutton Kerby and Maura Davies! Find more about The Texas Humane Legislation Network here! To donate to the SPCA Texas, Click Here. Every little amount makes such a difference!Thank you to all of our One Life Radio listeners. We truly appreciate each and every one of you, so If you’d like to hear more from One Life Radio, please subscribe to our podcast.If you have any hot ideas or burning questions, email us at info@oneliferadio.com. Bernadette loves hearing from listeners.And, last but never least, thank you to our sponsors. We couldn’t do the show without you; Crazy Water, Sunwarrior, Enviromedica, VEGWORLD Magazine, Castor & Pollux, Paleo Magazine, the Well Being Journal and the ISSN. Visit our sponsor page for some great offers just for One Life Radio listeners!