April 29, 2026 • 41 mins
A lot of people say they’re “animal lovers,” but love gets real when a pet stops being cute and starts needing structure, money, time, and a long-term plan. We go down the rabbit hole of dysfunctional pet ownership, from ordinary homes with dogs and cats to the risky world of exotic pets, and we ask the question that matters most: is this choice good for the animal or just exciting for the owner? We also talk about exotic pet ownership, a tiger isn’t “Fluffy” just because you named it that the fact is why “I love it” isn’t a care plan for wild animals. If this conversation hits home, subscribe, share it with a fellow pet person, and leave a review, then tell us: what pet trend makes you cringe?
#dogs #cats #birds #exotics #petownership #resonsiblepetownership #lions #tigers #chimps #joeexotic #animalhoarding #potbellypigs #howmuchistomuch #ilovemydog #ilovemypet #goats
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:10):
Welcome to the Dysfunction Junkies Podcast.
We may not have seen it all, butwe've seen enough.
Now, here are your hosts,Chrissy.
KERRY (00:24):
Hello, junkies.
I'm Carrie.
And I'm Chrissy.
How are you doing today?
I'm doing okay.
How are you?
Hanging in there.
I have had some great feedbackfrom some of the doctors from
our episode last week, both ourdoctor's episode and our
(00:46):
Thankful Sunday episode.
They were loving it.
Friends and family also that hadtalked about the episode said it
was really good.
So good job.
We had a real win with ourepisode.
If you didn't listen to it andyou're listening to us now, go
back and listen to our doctor'sepisode.
It was a good one.
So there you go.
This thing.
Well, great.
Well, today I thought it wasinteresting because I try to
(01:09):
find things that aredysfunctional in all aspects of
our lives.
So I thought, well, petownership is a big deal to a lot
of people.
And sometimes, in my opinion,people have pets that I wouldn't
agree with, or a certain numberof pets I wouldn't agree with.
(01:30):
So I thought we would talk aboutthe dysfunction of pet
ownership.
Pretty much.
And I figure this is good foryou because things that you talk
about, I probably have owned ordone.
So I guess I'm completelydysfunctional.
Wait a minute.
You've owned some of these wildanimals?
Well, maybe not owned, butworked directly with for people
(01:54):
that don't have to be.
Well, you work with them.
So well.
I can't buy.
I'm gonna tell you.
That's okay.
That's okay.
Absolutely.
So all right.
SPEAKER_01 (02:11):
So you picked an up.
You picked a topic where you'regonna offend your co-host.
Good job, Chrissy.
KERRY (02:16):
Offender.
I mean, I think if she hasn'tbeen offended already, I don't
know what to do.
I was just gonna say, for aslong as we've known each other
and for the diverse topics we'vetalked about, I think we'll be
okay.
Well, yeah.
So so I have only, I'm easy.
(02:40):
So I guess I'll start.
I've only had in my adult lifedogs.
I'm allergic to cats.
And I it's not that I don'treally I don't like cats, but
because I am allergic, and Igenerally find them to not be as
impressionable or have enoughpersonality for me as a dog
(03:01):
does.
What is that wrong?
Have you had a cat with a reallybig sense of humor or a big
personality or something?
I've never seen one.
Cats are all about attitude.
They've got the biggestattitudes of all.
That's probably why I don't likethem because I have the one with
(03:22):
the attitude.
Yeah, and I don't need anybodyelse with an attitude.
So I've had dogs and I've had atmost, we had three dogs at once,
but they were small, they wereYorkis, which is what we had for
a really long time.
Now we have two golden doodles,which we love.
So that's it.
(03:44):
That's the end of my boringownership of pets.
Now, when I was growing up, wedid have like a cat and a dog.
Yeah.
My mother knew I was probablyallergic to cats, but we had a
cat anyhow, because it was funto watch me have an asthma
attack.
Oh so we had a cat.
The cat was generally not in,you know, didn't bother me.
(04:06):
It didn't come around me.
Why would it want to, anyhow?
That's the other thing.
The cats generally don't likeme, so they don't want to come
around me.
A dog will come to me, a catdoesn't, so forget it.
Wow.
So let's hear your story.
What's this?
What I know I remember a longtime ago, you had taken care of
raccoons.
Yeah.
Because they were abandoned,weren't they, by their mother?
(04:27):
Well, yeah, back way back in theday in my late teen, early 20
years, I worked with anorganization that did
rehabilitation, rescue andrehabilitation and release of
raccoons.
So, you know, in the springtime,everyone's cutting down their
dead trees and, you know,cleaning up their yard, and they
(04:49):
cut down a tree, and oh no,there's this nest of baby
raccoons in there.
And they pick them up and scoopthem up and bring them to the
shelter and say, We cut down atree and there's these baby
raccoons.
And we would tell them, takethem back, let the mother get
them.
No, they won't.
So then now here we have theseraccoon babies.
(05:10):
And so, yeah, we would raisethem until they were about 12
weeks of age, but with thepurpose of rehabilit getting
them to be able to be releasedback in the wild.
So by the time we were done withthem, they were they were not
handleable.
That was the point.
You know, we wanted them to bewild, but that program quickly
ended just because of rabies'concerns and things like that.
(05:30):
Now we had rabies vaccinationswhen we were working with them,
but so they yeah, but yes, therewas uh about three summers, I
think, that I did some raccoonraising in my time.
SPEAKER_04 (05:42):
Yeah, would not recommend them as a pet.
KERRY (05:46):
Yeah, I remember you had them in pens.
Yeah.
And I came over there and I'mlike, you you have raccoons.
Uh, what are you gonna do withthat?
Yes.
And then you quickly explainedthat you were gonna release
them.
Yes, yes, and I was like, okay,they look like they're ready to
go now.
They were just sitting therestaring at us.
(06:07):
Yes.
But um so, so okay, so I doremember the raccoon thing with
you.
And I know that when you were inNevada in Vegas, you I'm sure
worked with I did raise wild,very wild.
Yes, yes.
I worked for a company thatprovided lions for one of the
major hotels on the strip inVegas, and part of my job was to
(06:31):
raise baby lions, and we did alot of education to the public
about lions and you know hadthem on display for for this
major hotel.
But yeah, so I I did spendseveral years walking in the
lion's den.
Yeah, I did absolutely so alsoworked for some magicians that
had some big cats, not the bignames that you're probably
(06:53):
thinking in your head right now,not that magician couple, but a
different magician.
So um, I did work with sometigers too.
So yeah, so I've I've had thegamut of big big cats to house
cats.
I also have a lot of experienceworking with many different
domestic animals.
Had my fair share of farmanimals when we had our farm
(07:16):
back in Ohio.
So it had some goats and sheepand horses and miniature cow.
Well, that's acceptable.
I have that on my sheet.
Oh, you wanted to be clear onthe good list, not the naughty
list.
Well, of course.
I mean, if you have a farm, butbasically you're providing these
animals with a place that isappropriate for them.
SPEAKER_02 (07:37):
Yes, yes, yes.
KERRY (07:38):
I I I I just I don't understand having now you said
you were raising these animals,but you weren't raising them in
your residence.
Correct.
You were raising them on a thereare people who take them into
their actual residence.
Well, how do you feel aboutthat?
Yeah, I I am not a big advocateof of private ownership of of
(08:04):
big, big, wow, like big, wow,how what's the word I want to
use?
Exotic animals.
Yeah, I'm not I'm not a big fanof that.
Way too often it it ends up badfor everybody, both the animal
and the person.
So in the community.
And I just an animal is notgonna be I I think you should
take into consideration what ananimal will be comfortable with
(08:28):
and happy with.
Yeah.
And just because you're sittingthere calling this big 60, 70,
80 plus 100 pound cat fluffy andyou think it's funny, doesn't
mean that fluffy is happy beingin your crappy house.
Yeah, they're still there, youknow, when you're especially
when you're talking about bigcats, I mean, they are innately,
(08:48):
you know, a lion is a lion, atiger is a tiger, they're not a
house cat, you know.
And anytime you take uh anexotic animal or a wild animal,
you know, they have their owninnate.
So it doesn't matter what yournature and nurture is on it,
they they've got those innatetraits.
So it's just like if you have aborder collie, your border
collie that lives in the houseis probably hurting your dining
(09:12):
room table because they weremeant to be herding dogs.
So when they get excited orhappy, they're gonna run
racetracks around your house,around your dining room table.
That's innate, they can't helpthat.
That's what they do, you know.
So the same thing with the theyou know, the exotic animals.
So, no, I'm not a big fan.
I absolutely support ethical andyou know, or AZA affiliated AZA
(09:37):
is the American ZoologicalAssociation.
So, you know, the facilitiesthat follow those type of
guidelines, they understandconservation, they understand
behavior, they understandbehavioral enrichment.
Absolutely have no problem with.
SPEAKER_02 (09:50):
But private ownership gets a little tricky.
KERRY (09:53):
It's usually someone's hoard that they're trying to
support, so they turn into anon-profit or a rescue, and it
just goes downhill from there.
Yeah, yeah.
So not a lot of that.
I know.
I figured you would.
(10:14):
Yeah.
So dog, cat, bird, fish.
Yes, yes.
So I said those are my bases.
Yes, yes.
So you got land, you got by air,by land, by sea.
That's covered.
I actually have a tattoo thatrepresents that, yes.
Oh, I didn't even know that.
SPEAKER_01 (10:33):
You're saying like a Dr.
Seuss book over there.
Yeah.
KERRY (10:37):
How nice.
That's it.
That's it.
If you can say you're animalsand it sounds like a Dr.
Seuss book, then you probablyare in the right place.
Yeah, exactly.
So, but then you get into theweird stuff.
And I'm talking about people whojust live in these houses and
(10:57):
they just like want to be.
Here's the thing I am gonna beoffensive, and I'm gonna say
that sometimes people wantcertain things that are not
themselves to represent who theyare.
Yes, they feel like they have tohave something that screams to
(11:18):
someone look at me.
Look at me.
I am so interesting.
I have a crazy goddamn animal inmy house that most people would
not want.
And when you come over here,you're gonna first go, what's
that smell?
And then you're gonna be like,What the hell is that?
(11:39):
Yep.
And so I'm I'm gonna tell youright now, I'm not a fan.
Um we talked a little bit aboutthis for our Easter episode, the
rabbits.
Yes, having a rabbit, you raisedrabbits because you were
involved with 4-age.
Yes, but I also had a pet rabbitin my house in later life that
was like a cat living in myhouse, but it was a rabbit.
(12:01):
Yes.
Now, was it in a in an aquariumtype facility or was it roaming
free?
Both it had a crate, so if wewere gone or at night, it would
go in his crate, but then duringthe day it would be loose in the
house and roam in the house.
Yes.
It was litter box trained.
Do they not?
(12:22):
Oh, I was just gonna say, did itleave little no rabbits?
Rabbits can be very well litterbox trained.
So yeah, she her name wasTiffany.
She was a lion-headed dwarfrabbit, and she was litter box
trained, so she would go to herlitter box and walk around the
house.
I just had to make sure my housewas bunny proofed, much like how
(12:43):
you have your if you havechildren, you childproof things.
So you have to watch out forelectrical cords and things like
that.
But again, rabbits are finickypets, they require a really
specific diet to be well caredfor and to be, you know, make
sure they get all their newnutrients that they need.
But yes, I did have a houserabbit.
(13:04):
Okay, all right, and that'skidding.
We're starting to get out of mycomfort zone.
But the rabbit, the rabbit's aneasy one, maybe, but I'm not
gonna do it.
But okay, you have a rabbit.
The the lizards and stuff likethat that you want to stare at,
and they stare back at you outof their glass house.
Now I mean, and you're feedingthem bugs, which now we're gonna
(13:29):
get into this place where if youhave to feed your living thing
another living thing, it's I'mout.
I'm out.
I just why, why, why, why?
Yeah.
So you got your snake people.
What please don't tell me youhad a snake before.
I am not big into reptiles asfar as and snakes.
(13:51):
Now we did have a deserttortoise legally when we lived
in Las Vegas, and that wasprobably one of the most awesome
pets that we ever had.
He knew his name, he would callthem awesome.
But as far as snakes, lizards,those type, it's just not my
thing.
I think they're really cool.
I love looking at them when wego to the zoo and stuff like
(14:13):
that.
It doesn't make me want to bringone home and live with it.
Well, bit saying something,then, right?
I'm on some sort of path.
I'm not completely off yourlist.
Okay.
No, no, but so it then there'sanother craze that I don't know
if it's still a thing or not,but like getting a ferret, which
(14:34):
I don't even know what the hellthat is exactly.
I guess it's a rodent, right?
Um I'm not really sure ifthey're classified as a rodent,
but they're part of like aweasel type family, yes.
So I could never I think they'rereally cool animals, and I think
they're really neat to see themplay and be around.
I personally wouldn't have onein my house because they stink,
and no matter descenting, theystink.
(14:56):
So I can't, I can't.
I draw the line because of thestink with those.
They also rip a lot of stuff up.
Well, any you're a littledestructive, any animal can be.
You just got to give them theappropriate behavioral
enrichment so that they don'ttear things they shouldn't up.
Although right now behavioralenrichment right now, I'm having
problems with my own little dogbecause I work in my office and
(15:18):
I have a bookshelf, and he'sdecided that the binders on my
books are fun things to chew.
So talk about destruction rightnow, but uh, but yeah, so yeah,
I'm not I'm not I don't wantthings in my home that stink.
So the ferrets, no.
Chinchillas, no.
They're cute, they're soft, theystink.
(15:39):
They didn't even put those on mylist.
That's a pet.
SPEAKER_02 (15:42):
Yes.
KERRY (15:44):
Isn't that what we used to make coats out of?
Yes.
Are they friendly?
Yeah.
unknown (15:52):
Yes.
KERRY (15:53):
Or they can also gnaw your face off.
I don't think they're gonna gnawyour face off, no.
Oh, all right.
Well, well, speaking ofsomething like that, this is a
horrible thing.
We're gonna get serious for aminute.
Uh-oh.
Because this was something thatwas out there.
If if you want the same pet thatMichael Jackson had, you already
(16:14):
should know that you are not ina good place.
Michael Jackson had a lot ofpets, and some of which we've
already talked about.
What specifically are youtalking about?
Let's understand Michael Jacksonhad a lot of money, at least so
we thought, and he had a placeto put these things and she
could pay people to help carefor them.
(16:34):
Yes.
Having a monkey run around yourhouse.
Yeah, okay, it might be fun fora second, but you know what
terrifies me about animals likethat is if they can get a
weapon, how do you negotiatewith them to not use it on you?
Very true.
I mean, that's that's scary.
(16:56):
But there was an issue.
I'm sure you remember this.
It was uh a few years ago.
There was a woman who wasraising, I think it was a
chimpanzee.
It wasn't like a gorilla,because that's really
terrifying.
I think it was.
And she probably raised it sinceit was little, and when it was
little, it was probably verysweet and fun and loving, but
then they get bigger, and thenyou just never know when they're
(17:19):
gonna have their day.
And it was a horrifying thing.
They played the the damn audio.
This woman, I think she ended upsurviving the attack, but it
ripped her face off.
Ripped her face off, yeah.
But then she ended up she endedup dying though uh later.
Did she really?
It was I think she I think shedid pass away eventually.
(17:40):
Okay, maybe I I don't know ifyou can look that up, Nick, but
that I because I rememberhearing it on different radio
shows.
I she did not die from theattack.
No, but it definitely and herfriend was sitting there
narrating the whole attackbecause she didn't know what to
do.
And what the hell could she do?
Yeah.
So that's scary.
(18:01):
Yeah.
So I actually almost did own amonkey once.
Oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_01 (18:11):
What?
Well, the woman actually wasn'tthe woman that owned the pet, it
was her friend that was over.
KERRY (18:16):
Yeah, I think that's true.
SPEAKER_01 (18:17):
In 2009, Charlotte Nash was brutally attacked by a
200-count pet chimpanzee namedTravis in Stanford, Connecticut.
KERRY (18:24):
Yes, I knew it was a new anger.
SPEAKER_01 (18:25):
Owned by a friend, Sondra Harold, mauled Nash,
causing severe life-alteringinjuries, including the loss of
her hands, nose, eyelids, andlips resolving in permanent
blindness.
The incident highlighted reportsfrom CNN prompted intense debate
over ownership.
KERRY (18:42):
Is this lady who was attacked she passed away?
SPEAKER_01 (18:45):
What's that?
KERRY (18:46):
She did pass away, though.
The woman that was attackedeventually?
The victim.
It doesn't say anything aboutwhere she is now.
Because I thought I heard shedid pass away.
Maybe within the last five yearsor ten years or something like
that.
Wow.
So now let me hear your monkeystory.
So okay, so I I've you knowmentioned before that my husband
(19:08):
and I raised service dogs.
I've always from the beginningof always a passion for you know
service dog training.
And when I was in my late, well,early 20s, it was my early 20s,
I came across an organizationthat raised capuchin monkeys to
help quadrupegics in awheelchair.
(19:28):
And part of the process toraising the service dogs is they
have volunteers who raise themonkeys for the first like two
years to get the foundation, andthen they go back to the
facility for their trainingbefore they're matched with
somebody.
So I was under the process ofgetting approved to do that, but
at the time I didn't qualifybecause of the hours that I was
(19:53):
working, I wasn't going to behome as enough.
And with what I was doing, Icouldn't take it to work with
me, kind of a thing.
So, but it was pretty close.
Almost did it.
Now, with the way service uhanimal laws have changed, and
you that organization no longeris now it's just you know, dogs,
and in like a few areas you canhave miniature horses as service
(20:13):
animals.
But yeah, that was as close as Icame to owning a monkey.
In hindsight, I'm glad I didn'tdo it.
I think that was when I wasyoung and was more, oh, that'd
be cool.
And although, yes, it was for agreat cause, I'm glad in my
older and wiser state, going,Yeah, that probably wouldn't
have been a good decision.
So I guess if you would havetold me you actually did own the
(20:33):
monkey, I wouldn't have beenterribly surprised.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (20:40):
So as of March 3rd of this year, she's still a lot
of she okay.
KERRY (20:45):
Sorry, I apologize.
I did not mean to say that shehad used a lot of people.
Probably somebody else that gotmauled by an exotic animal.
So you're thinking about it.
There might have been someoneelse that got there, might have
been some.
Oh, I'm glad.
Yes.
I didn't I it's terrible whathappened to her.
And I understand that people'sintentions are good.
Oh yeah.
They love these animals and theywanna and they feel a connection
(21:05):
with them, yeah, and they wantto do this, but I just there's a
there's a place and time to saywhen, you know.
Yes, yes, you know, yes.
It's because honestly, any kindof animal you're owning, it's
really should not be about you.
It should be about the animal.
You know, this isn't about yourwants, needs, and desires.
(21:27):
It should be about the animal.
How well can you take care ofthem properly, address not only
their physical needs and theirmental needs, their nutritional
needs, and really understandingthat and obeying your local
laws, you know?
So, like, if your area says youcan't own a tiger, don't go hide
(21:48):
a tiger in your apartment.
You know?
That's terrible because it'sgonna end up eating probably a
neighbor, and they didn't evenhave a chance to know that what
the hell happened.
Because you kept it a secret.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (22:02):
So the lady that owned Travis, the chimp, she
died.
KERRY (22:05):
Oh, maybe that's what you're thinking about.
Maybe that's the thing.
Maybe that's what the woman whogot attacked.
SPEAKER_01 (22:10):
She's still alive, but she's actually she uh
received four million dollarsfrom her the the estate of the
animal's now dead owner.
Yeah.
KERRY (22:18):
There you go.
It sounds just there's nothinggood that's a good idea.
There's nothing good that comesin that situation.
And you know, and that's wherefor me, especially with working
in, you know, animal rescue,animal control, that's always so
hard, is because who reallysuffers about this?
One, the animal, but then two,you have the innocent victims,
(22:38):
you know?
It's the people that raise thedog that is aggressive and
they're like, oh, but he's goodwith me.
It's like, okay, well, yeah, buthe just, you know, mauled your
neighbor's kid or killed an oldwoman in her yard.
You know, it's like you gottaunderstand what you have when
you own these animals, evenwhether it's a dog or a cat or a
(22:59):
lion or a crocodile or a python,you know, whatever it is, you
know, you have to understandwhat you have and you have to be
the responsible person.
And that's what gets me abouthow dysfunctional society is.
They they lose focus about whatit's really about.
They don't think about, youknow, they're just thinking
about themselves.
(23:20):
Oh, I want, I want to own, Iwant, you know, and they're not
thinking about the animal.
So I'll get off my soap.
If you want to own certainthings, no, if you want to own
certain things, get buyinanimate objects, like I really
want this car.
Well, go spend your money andthen try to figure out how
you're gonna pay for it everymonth.
But it's not something that's aliving, breathing thing.
(23:42):
Yes, that there's consequencesthat it gets affected.
I'm guessing they killed thechimpanzee, did they not?
They ended up having to killthis animal because of its
aggressive attack.
I do not know the outcome ofthat animal, but it would not
surprise me if it was had to behumanely euthanized.
But I don't know that case.
But yeah, it's reallyfrustrating.
(24:03):
So it showed up, we I'm surehumanely stood there and said,
okay, what do we do now?
Inhumanely euthanized.
I don't know.
That's a whole nother topic.
You may not want to go down thatroad.
So I suppose not.
But what you know, then it's uh,you know, the survival of, you
(24:23):
know, who's I don't know.
I can't even imagine.
I can't even imagine.
SPEAKER_02 (24:28):
I know.
KERRY (24:29):
Um so you know, uh, the other animal I was gonna talk
about was I think I had I knewsomebody who had those miniature
potbellied pigs.
Yeah.
Now, I have to say, even thoughI am all about the cat dog,
bird, fish, and I don't try todeviate too far from that, I did
(24:52):
notice these little animals arepretty sweet and they stay
pretty small.
If you get the miniature ones,I'm guessing.
Now, a regular potbelly pig, Ithink.
Feed them appropriately.
If you feed them appropriately,because you can easily get a pot
belly pig that weighs 300 poundsif you don't feed it
appropriately.
(25:12):
So uh that is an animal that isextremely intelligent.
I had the opportunity to workwith those kind of animals and
take care of those animals.
Excellent, they could beexcellent pets, they could very
smart smell factor right there.
That's where I'm out.
Can't deal with the smell.
Oh, they they're stinky, they'restinky, yeah.
Stinky.
(25:33):
I don't do stinky.
I want I may want animals aroundme, but I don't want people to
walk in my house and say yourhouse smells like your pet.
And that's always like anyonewho's close to me knows.
I'm always paranoid about that.
And so I'll ask them when youcame into my house, be honest,
tell me what you smell, youknow, because I'm like, I want
to know.
And yeah, because I don't, Idon't, yeah, I don't want to
(25:55):
live like that.
So yeah.
Well, that's a bummer.
I was just gonna wonder if youdid bring this type of animal in
your house, then do you nolonger eat ham?
Because that seems like thatwould be really wrong to do that
to that animal.
Well, I don't know.
We had a cow, but we still hadand we had a sheep, and I But
(26:20):
they weren't in your house.
No, they weren't in my house.
No, no, no.
So that's okay.
No, that's farm.
That's that oh, it's a differentfarm.
That's the exception to therule, God just well, yeah,
because farmers help uh raisethings and grow things that we
all like want and enjoy.
So, but you don't have the cowliving in the house and then
(26:42):
say, Oh, there's your buddy onthe kitchen table.
That would be terrible.
Yeah, I hear you.
So, you know, one other thingwe're when I wanted to mention
before I forget is part of thisresponsible ownership is people
have to know you have to knowthe animal that you're getting.
So going on to you didn'tmention, oh, you did say
(27:05):
birdfish, so bird, okay, bird.
But I have a feeling you're nottalking about parakeets and
cockatiels that have a shortlifespan.
Or I'm talking about I I didn'tknow that.
Yeah, they have a shortlifespan.
Yeah, like the small, I thoughtthere were certain birds that
live forever like longer thanus.
Yes, and there's what I wantedto go to.
(27:26):
Part of responsible petownership is what are you gonna
do when you pass away?
Who what is your plan for youranimals?
Now, it's bad enough trying tofigure out what you're gonna do
with your dog and your cat andyour fish or whatever, but what
are you gonna do with yourAfrican gray parrot that you
(27:47):
thought would be a great idea tobuy when you're 50 years old and
the bird lives to be a hundred?
Oh, yeah.
You know, so like think aboutthis, people.
What are they eating that I'mnot eating?
Seeds, I guess, right?
No, they actually they have avery diverse diet, but yeah, you
(28:08):
know, and one of the one of thedecisions Jim and I even made
was when our when our horseswere getting older, you know, we
said there will be a time thatthere'll be no more because we
expected our last horse to getme into my 60s and 70s, but that
was going to be our last onebecause you know what's gonna
(28:31):
happen?
Well, ended up unfortunately hepassed away with cancer, but I'm
like, I'm not buying anotherhorse because you know, we are
getting it upper in age, and Idon't how fair is that of me to
take in an animal that I knowcould possibly outlive me, or I
won't be able to care for.
(28:53):
And if I can't care for it, thenwhat's the plan B?
Rehome it?
I mean, that's not always anoption, you know, or you don't
know who they're gonna go to, oryou know, so it's just like,
yeah, so that really gets me.
And I I think that's the biggestthing I I I really have a
problem with is when peopledon't have a plan for their
pets.
They may plan in their willwho's gonna take care of their
(29:15):
kids or who's gonna have theircar, who's gonna have their
house, but they don't figure outwhat's gonna happen to Fluffy.
And working in animal control,I've seen it way too many times
where I've had to go to thehouse because someone passed
away and Fluffy's there, and thefamily's like, Well, I don't
know, I don't want it, I don'twant it, I don't want that dog,
or whatever.
(29:36):
And the animals left at theshelter because you did not
plan.
So that's my it's notdysfunctional pets, it's like we
said, dysfunctional ownership.
Well, yeah.
The the pets are just differenttypes of animals.
Yes.
The people, like with everythingelse we usually discuss is where
(29:56):
the whole fingerprint do youhave something you want to do?
SPEAKER_01 (29:59):
Well, that's my I I said, you know, ginger, our our
younger gold doodle, might beour last dog.
Well, I I mean, you know, if shelives her normal lifespan, we'll
be in our mid-sixties probably.
KERRY (30:13):
Well then you know what I think you should do if you get
older is probably adopt olderpets who generally don't get a
chance at having a home.
That's a good plan.
You can have an older you canhave a pet in when you're older,
you just need to have a plan,you know, because there's
nothing worse than going into ahouse when someone passes away
(30:36):
and find out they have 60 cats.
What are you gonna do?
Well, that's it's two differentissues.
Right, but but still You'retelling me you should never have
said that.
Yeah, I don't know.
That this is gonna because Iwill just keep buy dogs because
I'm gonna think they'll help melive forever.
(30:57):
Yeah, I would say that I wouldhave a I will have a dog until
the day I Did you ever tell methat this is gonna be our last
time?
SPEAKER_00 (31:04):
She could very well may be our last.
I don't see that happeningbecause we'll be in our mid-60s.
KERRY (31:09):
Well, he really doesn't.
What do you think you're gonnabe for me?
And I'm the one with uh uhcancer.
So what the will is he saying?
I'm really not happy right now.
SPEAKER_01 (31:25):
I'm trying to be a responsible dog owner here.
KERRY (31:27):
The responsible part of the plain cold.
The responsible part of it isjust having a plan that if you
do have a dog or a cat or a pet,especially in your older years,
but it doesn't matter.
You could be 20 years old, youshould have a plan because you
could get smacked by a car orwhatever, you know what I mean?
(31:48):
So it's just having a plan.
Who's gonna be responsible foryour that should be in your
will?
That absolutely should be inyour will.
Like who's not only who's gonnatake care of your children, but
who's gonna take care of gingerand booker?
Did we do that in our our stuff?
Mr.
Know at all?
Did we do that?
(32:08):
Did we make arrangements for thedogs since I'm gonna be dead
tomorrow?
SPEAKER_01 (32:14):
No, I don't think we did anything with the pets in
the will.
Well, there you go.
KERRY (32:19):
I guess I'm gonna call the lawyer tomorrow.
I guess Booker and Ginger areprobably coming to the anti
carry's house if you guys bothdie in an accident at the same
time.
SPEAKER_01 (32:30):
Wait, I'm not gonna get no 80-pound standard golden
doodle anymore.
Well, that's true.
KERRY (32:35):
Now that see, now there again, Jim and I were just
talking about this the other daybecause we have the little small
dog and then we have a biggerdog.
And we were just saying thatwhen something happens to the
bigger dog, we probably won'tget another bigger dog.
We'll stick with the smallerones because yeah, that's
they're only three years old.
So, in essence, if that's 10years from now, you know, we'll
(32:57):
be in our 60s and 70s.
So, yeah, that might not be thebest time to buy a great
Perenece or a really big greatDane or whatever, you know.
But the smaller dog, that's moreyou're thinking better, you
know.
You still own it, just have aplan, just have somebody on your
call list that if somethinghappens to me, here's Fluffy's
(33:20):
paperwork, and here's the vet,and here's how you take care of
them.
Like I have everything right nowin my binder.
Says what they feed, whatsupplements they get, where
they're vaccine, everything isall there.
So God forbid if somethinghappened to Jim and I, somebody
could know that, at least knowhow to take care of my animals
and they know who to call toresponsible.
My bird, my bird that could live30 years old, 30, 40 years that
(33:43):
I have.
I already have a backup person,a younger girl that I know if
anything happens to me, she willinherit my bird.
And I've talked to them about ittoo.
That's the other thing.
Get permission.
Don't just they'll just puttheir name down and then you
croak, and all of a sudden,knock, knock, knock.
Here's T go.
No.
SPEAKER_01 (34:02):
So I think you should let people know that that
look on your face is about meand not about what Carrie was
saying.
SPEAKER_02 (34:09):
Oh, I can totally tell that that look is going
toward you.
That's that's all aimed at you,Nick.
SPEAKER_01 (34:16):
You know, I have to tell you what.
KERRY (34:18):
My face right now.
SPEAKER_01 (34:20):
I um, you know, all part of this also is I hate that
you know, when you finally haveto put a dog down, it's like
losing a member of the family.
I don't want to go through thattoo many more times in my life.
That's awful.
It is awful, but my dogs, all ofthem.
KERRY (34:37):
It is awful, and everybody handles that
differently.
And some people like you, thathappens, and they they can
never, they don't ever want todo it again.
That's fine.
That's everyone's choice.
But at the same time, like youcan that that is part of pet
ownership, is knowing when youmight have to make a decision
that again, not about you, aboutthe animal, you know.
(34:59):
So, but that's being aresponsible pet ownership is
knowing whenever your animal issuffering.
So, but well, he j Nick is verygood pet owner.
Yes, you both are, even thoughI'm the one that grew up with
pets, he did not have petsgrowing up.
Yeah, so having a pet was newfor him, and he's he's always
(35:23):
been good about you know makingsure you know they have their
necessities, they've gone totheir vet appointments, they've
gotten groomed.
He used to groom our Yorkeshimself, or we've got the bigger
dogs, they go to a groomer, butso he's been that very good, and
he has unfortunately we lost twoof our dogs during the pandemic.
Yeah.
And so I had kids that were homethat didn't go to school, so we
(35:48):
basically had to do our goodbyesseparate.
Yeah, yeah.
So it was it was hard.
Two of our original generationof dogs, the oldest one, the
first one that passed away, hedied at home with us there with
him.
Because we didn't, we were aboutto get him to the vet, but he
didn't make it.
And then the second one we lostwas at the vet, but well, by the
(36:12):
time we got there to be able tobe with him, he actually she
yeah, it was he died before thevet could do what he needed to
do.
Yeah.
So yeah, it was this reallyturned into a daughter.
I really just wanted to attackidiots who had the wrong pets.
This has turned into such aflipping bummer.
SPEAKER_01 (36:33):
I'm sorry.
I know we will, so whatever.
KERRY (36:46):
To my 80s, it doesn't sound like it.
So I guess you can I'll leaveyou my dog for your new wife and
you to take care of.
What?
(37:07):
Yay! So I don't know how to wrapthis up cleanly.
We uh briefly you did mentionabout people who have like 60
cats or yeah, whatever.
That's generally never a goodsituation.
No, it isn't.
And it's usually there's there'sno mental health crisis way to
have that many.
It's a mental health crisis.
It's a mental health crisis.
(37:28):
So yeah, yeah, yeah.
Having too many animals, likehow many would you say is too
many?
Probably five plus.
I can't you can't put a numberon it because if you are
adequately taking care of themand all of their needs, then too
many for one person could beowning one dog.
(37:49):
Too many for another personcould be having two cats, too
many for another person could beeight dogs.
It all depends on how well youare able to care for them and
provide for them.
So that that's hard question toanswer.
Okay, so you're taking care ofthem, that's fine.
(38:10):
But not too many people aregonna visit you when you have if
you know.
Yeah, and I know I know, like inover the years with me, I mean,
there's been times where I'vehad my fair share number of
dogs, and I know that that meanssome people won't visit me, and
that's okay.
They don't have to come to myhouse.
It's my house, you know.
(38:31):
I don't have to go to theirhouse because for whatever thing
that they have in their house.
Too many kids.
Oh boy, they don't do theirdishes, they let their cats sit
on the counter where they'recooking food.
Yeah, I won't go back to thathouse.
Okay, well, I would I wouldagree with that.
(38:52):
It's generally I don't wantpeople in my house because I
just don't, I don't care.
I I just don't want people in myhouse.
Yeah, I hear you.
And I'm getting worse aboutthat.
Jim and I have talked about thatsince we moved here, and I'm
like, yeah, he's like, are wenever gonna have people over?
And I'm like, maybe not, just afew people are allowed.
(39:13):
But where you are, at least it'ssomewhat the temperatures are
yeah, okay that you might beable to keep everybody outside.
Yeah, but that means they wouldhave to come in my house to go
outside.
And I know we'll meet you downat the rec center.
So I kind of got scared theother day because there is
somebody in my life that reachedout that I have not really been
(39:33):
in communication with, and theywere all like, Oh, let me know
when I can come to visit.
And I'm thinking, like, yeah,never.
And then I got scared.
I'm like, holy shit, what ifthey show up on my porch?
Like, they ain't coming in.
Is it somebody I know?
I'll tell you off.
(39:55):
Yeah.
So the point of the story isdon't be the dysfunctional pet
owner.
Appropriate pet.
Don't be the dysfunctional petowner.
Follow the local state, citystate, and local laws on what
you're allowed to own.
And if you are allowed to ownit, make sure you can care for
them properly.
Make sure that you can providethem all of their needs, you
(40:16):
know, their physical needs,their mental needs, their
well-being, everything, and thatthey're not a danger to yourself
or society.
So that's my pet tip for thisepisode.
Thank you for that.
All righty.
Well, this has been uh this is alonger one.
We got yakky on this one.
(40:36):
So, but hey, we are finishing upthe month of April, and this is
our autism awareness month.
So be sure to check out yourlocal autism societies to learn
more about autism.
If you live in the Wooster areaor northeast Ohio, you can check
out the autism society in Akron.
They do amazing work, they havean awesome website.
(40:58):
So here's where I always forgetis it autismacron or
acronutism.org.
But they have great websites, sodefinitely want to support them
this week.
Now we've got some changescoming up here in the next month
or so.
So we are possibly going to beparting partnering with some
other uh groups that are gonnahelp us with our audio and our
video, and so hopefully we'll becoming at you even bigger and
(41:21):
better in the next month or sixweeks or so.
So yes, all right.
Well, that's uh that's the wayit goes.
Go go give your dog kisses.
Yeah, especially since it's mylast one.
SPEAKER_02 (41:36):
Yeah, right.
KERRY (41:41):
Okay, you're good.
That's a wrap.
Welcome to the Dysfunction Junkies Podcast.
We may not have seen it all, butwe've seen enough.
Now, here are your hosts,Chrissy.
KERRY (00:24):
Hello, junkies.
I'm Carrie.
And I'm Chrissy.
How are you doing today?
I'm doing okay.
How are you?
Hanging in there.
I have had some great feedbackfrom some of the doctors from
our episode last week, both ourdoctor's episode and our
(00:46):
Thankful Sunday episode.
They were loving it.
Friends and family also that hadtalked about the episode said it
was really good.
So good job.
We had a real win with ourepisode.
If you didn't listen to it andyou're listening to us now, go
back and listen to our doctor'sepisode.
It was a good one.
So there you go.
This thing.
Well, great.
Well, today I thought it wasinteresting because I try to
(01:09):
find things that aredysfunctional in all aspects of
our lives.
So I thought, well, petownership is a big deal to a lot
of people.
And sometimes, in my opinion,people have pets that I wouldn't
agree with, or a certain numberof pets I wouldn't agree with.
(01:30):
So I thought we would talk aboutthe dysfunction of pet
ownership.
Pretty much.
And I figure this is good foryou because things that you talk
about, I probably have owned ordone.
So I guess I'm completelydysfunctional.
Wait a minute.
You've owned some of these wildanimals?
Well, maybe not owned, butworked directly with for people
(01:54):
that don't have to be.
Well, you work with them.
So well.
I can't buy.
I'm gonna tell you.
That's okay.
That's okay.
Absolutely.
So all right.
SPEAKER_01 (02:11):
So you picked an up.
You picked a topic where you'regonna offend your co-host.
Good job, Chrissy.
KERRY (02:16):
Offender.
I mean, I think if she hasn'tbeen offended already, I don't
know what to do.
I was just gonna say, for aslong as we've known each other
and for the diverse topics we'vetalked about, I think we'll be
okay.
Well, yeah.
So so I have only, I'm easy.
(02:40):
So I guess I'll start.
I've only had in my adult lifedogs.
I'm allergic to cats.
And I it's not that I don'treally I don't like cats, but
because I am allergic, and Igenerally find them to not be as
impressionable or have enoughpersonality for me as a dog
(03:01):
does.
What is that wrong?
Have you had a cat with a reallybig sense of humor or a big
personality or something?
I've never seen one.
Cats are all about attitude.
They've got the biggestattitudes of all.
That's probably why I don't likethem because I have the one with
(03:22):
the attitude.
Yeah, and I don't need anybodyelse with an attitude.
So I've had dogs and I've had atmost, we had three dogs at once,
but they were small, they wereYorkis, which is what we had for
a really long time.
Now we have two golden doodles,which we love.
So that's it.
(03:44):
That's the end of my boringownership of pets.
Now, when I was growing up, wedid have like a cat and a dog.
Yeah.
My mother knew I was probablyallergic to cats, but we had a
cat anyhow, because it was funto watch me have an asthma
attack.
Oh so we had a cat.
The cat was generally not in,you know, didn't bother me.
(04:06):
It didn't come around me.
Why would it want to, anyhow?
That's the other thing.
The cats generally don't likeme, so they don't want to come
around me.
A dog will come to me, a catdoesn't, so forget it.
Wow.
So let's hear your story.
What's this?
What I know I remember a longtime ago, you had taken care of
raccoons.
Yeah.
Because they were abandoned,weren't they, by their mother?
(04:27):
Well, yeah, back way back in theday in my late teen, early 20
years, I worked with anorganization that did
rehabilitation, rescue andrehabilitation and release of
raccoons.
So, you know, in the springtime,everyone's cutting down their
dead trees and, you know,cleaning up their yard, and they
(04:49):
cut down a tree, and oh no,there's this nest of baby
raccoons in there.
And they pick them up and scoopthem up and bring them to the
shelter and say, We cut down atree and there's these baby
raccoons.
And we would tell them, takethem back, let the mother get
them.
No, they won't.
So then now here we have theseraccoon babies.
(05:10):
And so, yeah, we would raisethem until they were about 12
weeks of age, but with thepurpose of rehabilit getting
them to be able to be releasedback in the wild.
So by the time we were done withthem, they were they were not
handleable.
That was the point.
You know, we wanted them to bewild, but that program quickly
ended just because of rabies'concerns and things like that.
(05:30):
Now we had rabies vaccinationswhen we were working with them,
but so they yeah, but yes, therewas uh about three summers, I
think, that I did some raccoonraising in my time.
SPEAKER_04 (05:42):
Yeah, would not recommend them as a pet.
KERRY (05:46):
Yeah, I remember you had them in pens.
Yeah.
And I came over there and I'mlike, you you have raccoons.
Uh, what are you gonna do withthat?
Yes.
And then you quickly explainedthat you were gonna release
them.
Yes, yes, and I was like, okay,they look like they're ready to
go now.
They were just sitting therestaring at us.
(06:07):
Yes.
But um so, so okay, so I doremember the raccoon thing with
you.
And I know that when you were inNevada in Vegas, you I'm sure
worked with I did raise wild,very wild.
Yes, yes.
I worked for a company thatprovided lions for one of the
major hotels on the strip inVegas, and part of my job was to
(06:31):
raise baby lions, and we did alot of education to the public
about lions and you know hadthem on display for for this
major hotel.
But yeah, so I I did spendseveral years walking in the
lion's den.
Yeah, I did absolutely so alsoworked for some magicians that
had some big cats, not the bignames that you're probably
(06:53):
thinking in your head right now,not that magician couple, but a
different magician.
So um, I did work with sometigers too.
So yeah, so I've I've had thegamut of big big cats to house
cats.
I also have a lot of experienceworking with many different
domestic animals.
Had my fair share of farmanimals when we had our farm
(07:16):
back in Ohio.
So it had some goats and sheepand horses and miniature cow.
Well, that's acceptable.
I have that on my sheet.
Oh, you wanted to be clear onthe good list, not the naughty
list.
Well, of course.
I mean, if you have a farm, butbasically you're providing these
animals with a place that isappropriate for them.
SPEAKER_02 (07:37):
Yes, yes, yes.
KERRY (07:38):
I I I I just I don't understand having now you said
you were raising these animals,but you weren't raising them in
your residence.
Correct.
You were raising them on a thereare people who take them into
their actual residence.
Well, how do you feel aboutthat?
Yeah, I I am not a big advocateof of private ownership of of
(08:04):
big, big, wow, like big, wow,how what's the word I want to
use?
Exotic animals.
Yeah, I'm not I'm not a big fanof that.
Way too often it it ends up badfor everybody, both the animal
and the person.
So in the community.
And I just an animal is notgonna be I I think you should
take into consideration what ananimal will be comfortable with
(08:28):
and happy with.
Yeah.
And just because you're sittingthere calling this big 60, 70,
80 plus 100 pound cat fluffy andyou think it's funny, doesn't
mean that fluffy is happy beingin your crappy house.
Yeah, they're still there, youknow, when you're especially
when you're talking about bigcats, I mean, they are innately,
(08:48):
you know, a lion is a lion, atiger is a tiger, they're not a
house cat, you know.
And anytime you take uh anexotic animal or a wild animal,
you know, they have their owninnate.
So it doesn't matter what yournature and nurture is on it,
they they've got those innatetraits.
So it's just like if you have aborder collie, your border
collie that lives in the houseis probably hurting your dining
(09:12):
room table because they weremeant to be herding dogs.
So when they get excited orhappy, they're gonna run
racetracks around your house,around your dining room table.
That's innate, they can't helpthat.
That's what they do, you know.
So the same thing with the theyou know, the exotic animals.
So, no, I'm not a big fan.
I absolutely support ethical andyou know, or AZA affiliated AZA
(09:37):
is the American ZoologicalAssociation.
So, you know, the facilitiesthat follow those type of
guidelines, they understandconservation, they understand
behavior, they understandbehavioral enrichment.
Absolutely have no problem with.
SPEAKER_02 (09:50):
But private ownership gets a little tricky.
KERRY (09:53):
It's usually someone's hoard that they're trying to
support, so they turn into anon-profit or a rescue, and it
just goes downhill from there.
Yeah, yeah.
So not a lot of that.
I know.
I figured you would.
(10:14):
Yeah.
So dog, cat, bird, fish.
Yes, yes.
So I said those are my bases.
Yes, yes.
So you got land, you got by air,by land, by sea.
That's covered.
I actually have a tattoo thatrepresents that, yes.
Oh, I didn't even know that.
SPEAKER_01 (10:33):
You're saying like a Dr.
Seuss book over there.
Yeah.
KERRY (10:37):
How nice.
That's it.
That's it.
If you can say you're animalsand it sounds like a Dr.
Seuss book, then you probablyare in the right place.
Yeah, exactly.
So, but then you get into theweird stuff.
And I'm talking about people whojust live in these houses and
(10:57):
they just like want to be.
Here's the thing I am gonna beoffensive, and I'm gonna say
that sometimes people wantcertain things that are not
themselves to represent who theyare.
Yes, they feel like they have tohave something that screams to
(11:18):
someone look at me.
Look at me.
I am so interesting.
I have a crazy goddamn animal inmy house that most people would
not want.
And when you come over here,you're gonna first go, what's
that smell?
And then you're gonna be like,What the hell is that?
(11:39):
Yep.
And so I'm I'm gonna tell youright now, I'm not a fan.
Um we talked a little bit aboutthis for our Easter episode, the
rabbits.
Yes, having a rabbit, you raisedrabbits because you were
involved with 4-age.
Yes, but I also had a pet rabbitin my house in later life that
was like a cat living in myhouse, but it was a rabbit.
(12:01):
Yes.
Now, was it in a in an aquariumtype facility or was it roaming
free?
Both it had a crate, so if wewere gone or at night, it would
go in his crate, but then duringthe day it would be loose in the
house and roam in the house.
Yes.
It was litter box trained.
Do they not?
(12:22):
Oh, I was just gonna say, did itleave little no rabbits?
Rabbits can be very well litterbox trained.
So yeah, she her name wasTiffany.
She was a lion-headed dwarfrabbit, and she was litter box
trained, so she would go to herlitter box and walk around the
house.
I just had to make sure my housewas bunny proofed, much like how
(12:43):
you have your if you havechildren, you childproof things.
So you have to watch out forelectrical cords and things like
that.
But again, rabbits are finickypets, they require a really
specific diet to be well caredfor and to be, you know, make
sure they get all their newnutrients that they need.
But yes, I did have a houserabbit.
(13:04):
Okay, all right, and that'skidding.
We're starting to get out of mycomfort zone.
But the rabbit, the rabbit's aneasy one, maybe, but I'm not
gonna do it.
But okay, you have a rabbit.
The the lizards and stuff likethat that you want to stare at,
and they stare back at you outof their glass house.
Now I mean, and you're feedingthem bugs, which now we're gonna
(13:29):
get into this place where if youhave to feed your living thing
another living thing, it's I'mout.
I'm out.
I just why, why, why, why?
Yeah.
So you got your snake people.
What please don't tell me youhad a snake before.
I am not big into reptiles asfar as and snakes.
(13:51):
Now we did have a deserttortoise legally when we lived
in Las Vegas, and that wasprobably one of the most awesome
pets that we ever had.
He knew his name, he would callthem awesome.
But as far as snakes, lizards,those type, it's just not my
thing.
I think they're really cool.
I love looking at them when wego to the zoo and stuff like
(14:13):
that.
It doesn't make me want to bringone home and live with it.
Well, bit saying something,then, right?
I'm on some sort of path.
I'm not completely off yourlist.
Okay.
No, no, but so it then there'sanother craze that I don't know
if it's still a thing or not,but like getting a ferret, which
(14:34):
I don't even know what the hellthat is exactly.
I guess it's a rodent, right?
Um I'm not really sure ifthey're classified as a rodent,
but they're part of like aweasel type family, yes.
So I could never I think they'rereally cool animals, and I think
they're really neat to see themplay and be around.
I personally wouldn't have onein my house because they stink,
and no matter descenting, theystink.
(14:56):
So I can't, I can't.
I draw the line because of thestink with those.
They also rip a lot of stuff up.
Well, any you're a littledestructive, any animal can be.
You just got to give them theappropriate behavioral
enrichment so that they don'ttear things they shouldn't up.
Although right now behavioralenrichment right now, I'm having
problems with my own little dogbecause I work in my office and
(15:18):
I have a bookshelf, and he'sdecided that the binders on my
books are fun things to chew.
So talk about destruction rightnow, but uh, but yeah, so yeah,
I'm not I'm not I don't wantthings in my home that stink.
So the ferrets, no.
Chinchillas, no.
They're cute, they're soft, theystink.
(15:39):
They didn't even put those on mylist.
That's a pet.
SPEAKER_02 (15:42):
Yes.
KERRY (15:44):
Isn't that what we used to make coats out of?
Yes.
Are they friendly?
Yeah.
unknown (15:52):
Yes.
KERRY (15:53):
Or they can also gnaw your face off.
I don't think they're gonna gnawyour face off, no.
Oh, all right.
Well, well, speaking ofsomething like that, this is a
horrible thing.
We're gonna get serious for aminute.
Uh-oh.
Because this was something thatwas out there.
If if you want the same pet thatMichael Jackson had, you already
(16:14):
should know that you are not ina good place.
Michael Jackson had a lot ofpets, and some of which we've
already talked about.
What specifically are youtalking about?
Let's understand Michael Jacksonhad a lot of money, at least so
we thought, and he had a placeto put these things and she
could pay people to help carefor them.
(16:34):
Yes.
Having a monkey run around yourhouse.
Yeah, okay, it might be fun fora second, but you know what
terrifies me about animals likethat is if they can get a
weapon, how do you negotiatewith them to not use it on you?
Very true.
I mean, that's that's scary.
(16:56):
But there was an issue.
I'm sure you remember this.
It was uh a few years ago.
There was a woman who wasraising, I think it was a
chimpanzee.
It wasn't like a gorilla,because that's really
terrifying.
I think it was.
And she probably raised it sinceit was little, and when it was
little, it was probably verysweet and fun and loving, but
then they get bigger, and thenyou just never know when they're
(17:19):
gonna have their day.
And it was a horrifying thing.
They played the the damn audio.
This woman, I think she ended upsurviving the attack, but it
ripped her face off.
Ripped her face off, yeah.
But then she ended up she endedup dying though uh later.
Did she really?
It was I think she I think shedid pass away eventually.
(17:40):
Okay, maybe I I don't know ifyou can look that up, Nick, but
that I because I rememberhearing it on different radio
shows.
I she did not die from theattack.
No, but it definitely and herfriend was sitting there
narrating the whole attackbecause she didn't know what to
do.
And what the hell could she do?
Yeah.
So that's scary.
(18:01):
Yeah.
So I actually almost did own amonkey once.
Oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_01 (18:11):
What?
Well, the woman actually wasn'tthe woman that owned the pet, it
was her friend that was over.
KERRY (18:16):
Yeah, I think that's true.
SPEAKER_01 (18:17):
In 2009, Charlotte Nash was brutally attacked by a
200-count pet chimpanzee namedTravis in Stanford, Connecticut.
KERRY (18:24):
Yes, I knew it was a new anger.
SPEAKER_01 (18:25):
Owned by a friend, Sondra Harold, mauled Nash,
causing severe life-alteringinjuries, including the loss of
her hands, nose, eyelids, andlips resolving in permanent
blindness.
The incident highlighted reportsfrom CNN prompted intense debate
over ownership.
KERRY (18:42):
Is this lady who was attacked she passed away?
SPEAKER_01 (18:45):
What's that?
KERRY (18:46):
She did pass away, though.
The woman that was attackedeventually?
The victim.
It doesn't say anything aboutwhere she is now.
Because I thought I heard shedid pass away.
Maybe within the last five yearsor ten years or something like
that.
Wow.
So now let me hear your monkeystory.
So okay, so I I've you knowmentioned before that my husband
(19:08):
and I raised service dogs.
I've always from the beginningof always a passion for you know
service dog training.
And when I was in my late, well,early 20s, it was my early 20s,
I came across an organizationthat raised capuchin monkeys to
help quadrupegics in awheelchair.
(19:28):
And part of the process toraising the service dogs is they
have volunteers who raise themonkeys for the first like two
years to get the foundation, andthen they go back to the
facility for their trainingbefore they're matched with
somebody.
So I was under the process ofgetting approved to do that, but
at the time I didn't qualifybecause of the hours that I was
(19:53):
working, I wasn't going to behome as enough.
And with what I was doing, Icouldn't take it to work with
me, kind of a thing.
So, but it was pretty close.
Almost did it.
Now, with the way service uhanimal laws have changed, and
you that organization no longeris now it's just you know, dogs,
and in like a few areas you canhave miniature horses as service
(20:13):
animals.
But yeah, that was as close as Icame to owning a monkey.
In hindsight, I'm glad I didn'tdo it.
I think that was when I wasyoung and was more, oh, that'd
be cool.
And although, yes, it was for agreat cause, I'm glad in my
older and wiser state, going,Yeah, that probably wouldn't
have been a good decision.
So I guess if you would havetold me you actually did own the
(20:33):
monkey, I wouldn't have beenterribly surprised.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (20:40):
So as of March 3rd of this year, she's still a lot
of she okay.
KERRY (20:45):
Sorry, I apologize.
I did not mean to say that shehad used a lot of people.
Probably somebody else that gotmauled by an exotic animal.
So you're thinking about it.
There might have been someoneelse that got there, might have
been some.
Oh, I'm glad.
Yes.
I didn't I it's terrible whathappened to her.
And I understand that people'sintentions are good.
Oh yeah.
They love these animals and theywanna and they feel a connection
(21:05):
with them, yeah, and they wantto do this, but I just there's a
there's a place and time to saywhen, you know.
Yes, yes, you know, yes.
It's because honestly, any kindof animal you're owning, it's
really should not be about you.
It should be about the animal.
You know, this isn't about yourwants, needs, and desires.
(21:27):
It should be about the animal.
How well can you take care ofthem properly, address not only
their physical needs and theirmental needs, their nutritional
needs, and really understandingthat and obeying your local
laws, you know?
So, like, if your area says youcan't own a tiger, don't go hide
(21:48):
a tiger in your apartment.
You know?
That's terrible because it'sgonna end up eating probably a
neighbor, and they didn't evenhave a chance to know that what
the hell happened.
Because you kept it a secret.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (22:02):
So the lady that owned Travis, the chimp, she
died.
KERRY (22:05):
Oh, maybe that's what you're thinking about.
Maybe that's the thing.
Maybe that's what the woman whogot attacked.
SPEAKER_01 (22:10):
She's still alive, but she's actually she uh
received four million dollarsfrom her the the estate of the
animal's now dead owner.
Yeah.
KERRY (22:18):
There you go.
It sounds just there's nothinggood that's a good idea.
There's nothing good that comesin that situation.
And you know, and that's wherefor me, especially with working
in, you know, animal rescue,animal control, that's always so
hard, is because who reallysuffers about this?
One, the animal, but then two,you have the innocent victims,
(22:38):
you know?
It's the people that raise thedog that is aggressive and
they're like, oh, but he's goodwith me.
It's like, okay, well, yeah, buthe just, you know, mauled your
neighbor's kid or killed an oldwoman in her yard.
You know, it's like you gottaunderstand what you have when
you own these animals, evenwhether it's a dog or a cat or a
(22:59):
lion or a crocodile or a python,you know, whatever it is, you
know, you have to understandwhat you have and you have to be
the responsible person.
And that's what gets me abouthow dysfunctional society is.
They they lose focus about whatit's really about.
They don't think about, youknow, they're just thinking
about themselves.
(23:20):
Oh, I want, I want to own, Iwant, you know, and they're not
thinking about the animal.
So I'll get off my soap.
If you want to own certainthings, no, if you want to own
certain things, get buyinanimate objects, like I really
want this car.
Well, go spend your money andthen try to figure out how
you're gonna pay for it everymonth.
But it's not something that's aliving, breathing thing.
(23:42):
Yes, that there's consequencesthat it gets affected.
I'm guessing they killed thechimpanzee, did they not?
They ended up having to killthis animal because of its
aggressive attack.
I do not know the outcome ofthat animal, but it would not
surprise me if it was had to behumanely euthanized.
But I don't know that case.
But yeah, it's reallyfrustrating.
(24:03):
So it showed up, we I'm surehumanely stood there and said,
okay, what do we do now?
Inhumanely euthanized.
I don't know.
That's a whole nother topic.
You may not want to go down thatroad.
So I suppose not.
But what you know, then it's uh,you know, the survival of, you
(24:23):
know, who's I don't know.
I can't even imagine.
I can't even imagine.
SPEAKER_02 (24:28):
I know.
KERRY (24:29):
Um so you know, uh, the other animal I was gonna talk
about was I think I had I knewsomebody who had those miniature
potbellied pigs.
Yeah.
Now, I have to say, even thoughI am all about the cat dog,
bird, fish, and I don't try todeviate too far from that, I did
(24:52):
notice these little animals arepretty sweet and they stay
pretty small.
If you get the miniature ones,I'm guessing.
Now, a regular potbelly pig, Ithink.
Feed them appropriately.
If you feed them appropriately,because you can easily get a pot
belly pig that weighs 300 poundsif you don't feed it
appropriately.
(25:12):
So uh that is an animal that isextremely intelligent.
I had the opportunity to workwith those kind of animals and
take care of those animals.
Excellent, they could beexcellent pets, they could very
smart smell factor right there.
That's where I'm out.
Can't deal with the smell.
Oh, they they're stinky, they'restinky, yeah.
Stinky.
(25:33):
I don't do stinky.
I want I may want animals aroundme, but I don't want people to
walk in my house and say yourhouse smells like your pet.
And that's always like anyonewho's close to me knows.
I'm always paranoid about that.
And so I'll ask them when youcame into my house, be honest,
tell me what you smell, youknow, because I'm like, I want
to know.
And yeah, because I don't, Idon't, yeah, I don't want to
(25:55):
live like that.
So yeah.
Well, that's a bummer.
I was just gonna wonder if youdid bring this type of animal in
your house, then do you nolonger eat ham?
Because that seems like thatwould be really wrong to do that
to that animal.
Well, I don't know.
We had a cow, but we still hadand we had a sheep, and I But
(26:20):
they weren't in your house.
No, they weren't in my house.
No, no, no.
So that's okay.
No, that's farm.
That's that oh, it's a differentfarm.
That's the exception to therule, God just well, yeah,
because farmers help uh raisethings and grow things that we
all like want and enjoy.
So, but you don't have the cowliving in the house and then
(26:42):
say, Oh, there's your buddy onthe kitchen table.
That would be terrible.
Yeah, I hear you.
So, you know, one other thingwe're when I wanted to mention
before I forget is part of thisresponsible ownership is people
have to know you have to knowthe animal that you're getting.
So going on to you didn'tmention, oh, you did say
(27:05):
birdfish, so bird, okay, bird.
But I have a feeling you're nottalking about parakeets and
cockatiels that have a shortlifespan.
Or I'm talking about I I didn'tknow that.
Yeah, they have a shortlifespan.
Yeah, like the small, I thoughtthere were certain birds that
live forever like longer thanus.
Yes, and there's what I wantedto go to.
(27:26):
Part of responsible petownership is what are you gonna
do when you pass away?
Who what is your plan for youranimals?
Now, it's bad enough trying tofigure out what you're gonna do
with your dog and your cat andyour fish or whatever, but what
are you gonna do with yourAfrican gray parrot that you
(27:47):
thought would be a great idea tobuy when you're 50 years old and
the bird lives to be a hundred?
Oh, yeah.
You know, so like think aboutthis, people.
What are they eating that I'mnot eating?
Seeds, I guess, right?
No, they actually they have avery diverse diet, but yeah, you
(28:08):
know, and one of the one of thedecisions Jim and I even made
was when our when our horseswere getting older, you know, we
said there will be a time thatthere'll be no more because we
expected our last horse to getme into my 60s and 70s, but that
was going to be our last onebecause you know what's gonna
(28:31):
happen?
Well, ended up unfortunately hepassed away with cancer, but I'm
like, I'm not buying anotherhorse because you know, we are
getting it upper in age, and Idon't how fair is that of me to
take in an animal that I knowcould possibly outlive me, or I
won't be able to care for.
(28:53):
And if I can't care for it, thenwhat's the plan B?
Rehome it?
I mean, that's not always anoption, you know, or you don't
know who they're gonna go to, oryou know, so it's just like,
yeah, so that really gets me.
And I I think that's the biggestthing I I I really have a
problem with is when peopledon't have a plan for their
pets.
They may plan in their willwho's gonna take care of their
(29:15):
kids or who's gonna have theircar, who's gonna have their
house, but they don't figure outwhat's gonna happen to Fluffy.
And working in animal control,I've seen it way too many times
where I've had to go to thehouse because someone passed
away and Fluffy's there, and thefamily's like, Well, I don't
know, I don't want it, I don'twant it, I don't want that dog,
or whatever.
(29:36):
And the animals left at theshelter because you did not
plan.
So that's my it's notdysfunctional pets, it's like we
said, dysfunctional ownership.
Well, yeah.
The the pets are just differenttypes of animals.
Yes.
The people, like with everythingelse we usually discuss is where
(29:56):
the whole fingerprint do youhave something you want to do?
SPEAKER_01 (29:59):
Well, that's my I I said, you know, ginger, our our
younger gold doodle, might beour last dog.
Well, I I mean, you know, if shelives her normal lifespan, we'll
be in our mid-sixties probably.
KERRY (30:13):
Well then you know what I think you should do if you get
older is probably adopt olderpets who generally don't get a
chance at having a home.
That's a good plan.
You can have an older you canhave a pet in when you're older,
you just need to have a plan,you know, because there's
nothing worse than going into ahouse when someone passes away
(30:36):
and find out they have 60 cats.
What are you gonna do?
Well, that's it's two differentissues.
Right, but but still You'retelling me you should never have
said that.
Yeah, I don't know.
That this is gonna because Iwill just keep buy dogs because
I'm gonna think they'll help melive forever.
(30:57):
Yeah, I would say that I wouldhave a I will have a dog until
the day I Did you ever tell methat this is gonna be our last
time?
SPEAKER_00 (31:04):
She could very well may be our last.
I don't see that happeningbecause we'll be in our mid-60s.
KERRY (31:09):
Well, he really doesn't.
What do you think you're gonnabe for me?
And I'm the one with uh uhcancer.
So what the will is he saying?
I'm really not happy right now.
SPEAKER_01 (31:25):
I'm trying to be a responsible dog owner here.
KERRY (31:27):
The responsible part of the plain cold.
The responsible part of it isjust having a plan that if you
do have a dog or a cat or a pet,especially in your older years,
but it doesn't matter.
You could be 20 years old, youshould have a plan because you
could get smacked by a car orwhatever, you know what I mean?
(31:48):
So it's just having a plan.
Who's gonna be responsible foryour that should be in your
will?
That absolutely should be inyour will.
Like who's not only who's gonnatake care of your children, but
who's gonna take care of gingerand booker?
Did we do that in our our stuff?
Mr.
Know at all?
Did we do that?
(32:08):
Did we make arrangements for thedogs since I'm gonna be dead
tomorrow?
SPEAKER_01 (32:14):
No, I don't think we did anything with the pets in
the will.
Well, there you go.
KERRY (32:19):
I guess I'm gonna call the lawyer tomorrow.
I guess Booker and Ginger areprobably coming to the anti
carry's house if you guys bothdie in an accident at the same
time.
SPEAKER_01 (32:30):
Wait, I'm not gonna get no 80-pound standard golden
doodle anymore.
Well, that's true.
KERRY (32:35):
Now that see, now there again, Jim and I were just
talking about this the other daybecause we have the little small
dog and then we have a biggerdog.
And we were just saying thatwhen something happens to the
bigger dog, we probably won'tget another bigger dog.
We'll stick with the smallerones because yeah, that's
they're only three years old.
So, in essence, if that's 10years from now, you know, we'll
(32:57):
be in our 60s and 70s.
So, yeah, that might not be thebest time to buy a great
Perenece or a really big greatDane or whatever, you know.
But the smaller dog, that's moreyou're thinking better, you
know.
You still own it, just have aplan, just have somebody on your
call list that if somethinghappens to me, here's Fluffy's
(33:20):
paperwork, and here's the vet,and here's how you take care of
them.
Like I have everything right nowin my binder.
Says what they feed, whatsupplements they get, where
they're vaccine, everything isall there.
So God forbid if somethinghappened to Jim and I, somebody
could know that, at least knowhow to take care of my animals
and they know who to call toresponsible.
My bird, my bird that could live30 years old, 30, 40 years that
(33:43):
I have.
I already have a backup person,a younger girl that I know if
anything happens to me, she willinherit my bird.
And I've talked to them about ittoo.
That's the other thing.
Get permission.
Don't just they'll just puttheir name down and then you
croak, and all of a sudden,knock, knock, knock.
Here's T go.
No.
SPEAKER_01 (34:02):
So I think you should let people know that that
look on your face is about meand not about what Carrie was
saying.
SPEAKER_02 (34:09):
Oh, I can totally tell that that look is going
toward you.
That's that's all aimed at you,Nick.
SPEAKER_01 (34:16):
You know, I have to tell you what.
KERRY (34:18):
My face right now.
SPEAKER_01 (34:20):
I um, you know, all part of this also is I hate that
you know, when you finally haveto put a dog down, it's like
losing a member of the family.
I don't want to go through thattoo many more times in my life.
That's awful.
It is awful, but my dogs, all ofthem.
KERRY (34:37):
It is awful, and everybody handles that
differently.
And some people like you, thathappens, and they they can
never, they don't ever want todo it again.
That's fine.
That's everyone's choice.
But at the same time, like youcan that that is part of pet
ownership, is knowing when youmight have to make a decision
that again, not about you, aboutthe animal, you know.
(34:59):
So, but that's being aresponsible pet ownership is
knowing whenever your animal issuffering.
So, but well, he j Nick is verygood pet owner.
Yes, you both are, even thoughI'm the one that grew up with
pets, he did not have petsgrowing up.
Yeah, so having a pet was newfor him, and he's he's always
(35:23):
been good about you know makingsure you know they have their
necessities, they've gone totheir vet appointments, they've
gotten groomed.
He used to groom our Yorkeshimself, or we've got the bigger
dogs, they go to a groomer, butso he's been that very good, and
he has unfortunately we lost twoof our dogs during the pandemic.
Yeah.
And so I had kids that were homethat didn't go to school, so we
(35:48):
basically had to do our goodbyesseparate.
Yeah, yeah.
So it was it was hard.
Two of our original generationof dogs, the oldest one, the
first one that passed away, hedied at home with us there with
him.
Because we didn't, we were aboutto get him to the vet, but he
didn't make it.
And then the second one we lostwas at the vet, but well, by the
(36:12):
time we got there to be able tobe with him, he actually she
yeah, it was he died before thevet could do what he needed to
do.
Yeah.
So yeah, it was this reallyturned into a daughter.
I really just wanted to attackidiots who had the wrong pets.
This has turned into such aflipping bummer.
SPEAKER_01 (36:33):
I'm sorry.
I know we will, so whatever.
KERRY (36:46):
To my 80s, it doesn't sound like it.
So I guess you can I'll leaveyou my dog for your new wife and
you to take care of.
What?
(37:07):
Yay! So I don't know how to wrapthis up cleanly.
We uh briefly you did mentionabout people who have like 60
cats or yeah, whatever.
That's generally never a goodsituation.
No, it isn't.
And it's usually there's there'sno mental health crisis way to
have that many.
It's a mental health crisis.
It's a mental health crisis.
(37:28):
So yeah, yeah, yeah.
Having too many animals, likehow many would you say is too
many?
Probably five plus.
I can't you can't put a numberon it because if you are
adequately taking care of themand all of their needs, then too
many for one person could beowning one dog.
(37:49):
Too many for another personcould be having two cats, too
many for another person could beeight dogs.
It all depends on how well youare able to care for them and
provide for them.
So that that's hard question toanswer.
Okay, so you're taking care ofthem, that's fine.
(38:10):
But not too many people aregonna visit you when you have if
you know.
Yeah, and I know I know, like inover the years with me, I mean,
there's been times where I'vehad my fair share number of
dogs, and I know that that meanssome people won't visit me, and
that's okay.
They don't have to come to myhouse.
It's my house, you know.
(38:31):
I don't have to go to theirhouse because for whatever thing
that they have in their house.
Too many kids.
Oh boy, they don't do theirdishes, they let their cats sit
on the counter where they'recooking food.
Yeah, I won't go back to thathouse.
Okay, well, I would I wouldagree with that.
(38:52):
It's generally I don't wantpeople in my house because I
just don't, I don't care.
I I just don't want people in myhouse.
Yeah, I hear you.
And I'm getting worse aboutthat.
Jim and I have talked about thatsince we moved here, and I'm
like, yeah, he's like, are wenever gonna have people over?
And I'm like, maybe not, just afew people are allowed.
(39:13):
But where you are, at least it'ssomewhat the temperatures are
yeah, okay that you might beable to keep everybody outside.
Yeah, but that means they wouldhave to come in my house to go
outside.
And I know we'll meet you downat the rec center.
So I kind of got scared theother day because there is
somebody in my life that reachedout that I have not really been
(39:33):
in communication with, and theywere all like, Oh, let me know
when I can come to visit.
And I'm thinking, like, yeah,never.
And then I got scared.
I'm like, holy shit, what ifthey show up on my porch?
Like, they ain't coming in.
Is it somebody I know?
I'll tell you off.
(39:55):
Yeah.
So the point of the story isdon't be the dysfunctional pet
owner.
Appropriate pet.
Don't be the dysfunctional petowner.
Follow the local state, citystate, and local laws on what
you're allowed to own.
And if you are allowed to ownit, make sure you can care for
them properly.
Make sure that you can providethem all of their needs, you
(40:16):
know, their physical needs,their mental needs, their
well-being, everything, and thatthey're not a danger to yourself
or society.
So that's my pet tip for thisepisode.
Thank you for that.
All righty.
Well, this has been uh this is alonger one.
We got yakky on this one.
(40:36):
So, but hey, we are finishing upthe month of April, and this is
our autism awareness month.
So be sure to check out yourlocal autism societies to learn
more about autism.
If you live in the Wooster areaor northeast Ohio, you can check
out the autism society in Akron.
They do amazing work, they havean awesome website.
(40:58):
So here's where I always forgetis it autismacron or
acronutism.org.
But they have great websites, sodefinitely want to support them
this week.
Now we've got some changescoming up here in the next month
or so.
So we are possibly going to beparting partnering with some
other uh groups that are gonnahelp us with our audio and our
video, and so hopefully we'll becoming at you even bigger and
(41:21):
better in the next month or sixweeks or so.
So yes, all right.
Well, that's uh that's the wayit goes.
Go go give your dog kisses.
Yeah, especially since it's mylast one.
SPEAKER_02 (41:36):
Yeah, right.
KERRY (41:41):
Okay, you're good.
That's a wrap.
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