New Radio Series Focuses on Animal Health

Friday, February 21, 2014

OSU and the Kirkpatrick Foundation Partner to ProduceVet Med Moment

For a growing number of people, animals provide companionship and loyalty.  They’re often considered family and deserve respect, love and care.  To help keep your pet healthy, KOSU, the OSU Center for Veterinary Health Sciences and the Kirkpatrick Foundation are partnering to bring you Vet Med Moment, a new weekly short series airing Wednesday afternoons at 1:20 and Sunday mornings at 6:40 on Uniquely Oklahoma KOSU, 91.7 in Oklahoma City, 88.3 in Stillwater, 107.5 in Tulsa and KOSU.org.

“Public radio listeners love their pets and they love to be informed,” said Kelly Burley, KOSU Director.  “This program will be a great way for Uniquely Oklahoma KOSU to bring these two things together.”

The launch of the program comes at a time when pet ownership continues to climb.  The American Pet Products Association estimates the population of pets includes 95 million cats and 83 million dogs in homes nationwide.  According to its 2013-14 annual survey, 68 percent of households own a pet, up from 56 percent in 1988, the year of its first survey.   As the pet-as-family member bond grows, so does the need for information about how to keep pets safe and healthy.  

“Our goal is to engage the audience around the powerful bond between animals and humans,” said Dr. Lesa Staubus, Clinical Assistant Professor in the center’s Veterinary Medical Hospital and host of the program. “Each week, we’ll touch on a subject that is important to animal health and hope to give listeners information that will promote excellent animal care.” 

The idea for the radio program grew out of conversations between OSU and the Kirkpatrick Foundation, whose Safe & Humane initiative seeks to improve the lives of Oklahoma animals and the people who care for them.