Patricia McConnell
Zoologist and talk show host Patricia McConnell has spent much of her life helping people and their pets communicate with one another. "One of my earliest memories is lying on the carpet beside my dog, Fudge, wondering what she was thinking. I was five then, and just lately I've realized that I spent the rest of my life trying to figure out the answer."
In pursuit of the answer, McConnell earned a Ph.D. in zoology with an emphasis on animal-human interaction; her publishing company, Patricia McConnell Publishing Ltd., specializes in behavioral problem-solving and companion animal training for cats and dogs; and she is one of the few Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists in the country.
"Behavioral problems are the most common reason people abandon cats and dogs at shelters," says McConnell. "That means literally millions of dogs and cats die each year because of our lack of knowledge about behavior and training."
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Larry Meiller
Larry Meiller may seem an unlikely fellow to co-host a call-in show on pets. Not that he doesn't have the radio experience -- he's been on air for nearly 30 years! But until meeting up with his wife's cat, Frosty, Meiller hadn't shared space with a pet in years.
Still, Meiller finds great satisfaction in co-hosting CALLING ALL PETS with Patricia McConnell. "For many people, pets are the most important thing in their lives," says Meiller. "It's heartwarming to hear about the many hours of pleasure they share, and if we can help them deal with the occasional trouble spots, it makes the show worth doing. Besides, we get our share of zany problems, and that keeps the show fun."
In addition to co-hosting CALLING ALL PETS, Meiller hosts a statewide, weekday call-in radio show on Wisconsin Public Radio that covers environmental, lifestyle and recreation topics. An outdoor enthusiast, his own leisure pursuits lie in fishing and biking. "I love to get up to the Flambeau and Chippewa flowages in Northern Wisconsin," Meiller says. "They're still relatively wild waters, and I always come away renewed and ready to return to work." |
