Welcome to Pet Nation and Why It Is the Best Time to Be a Pet
A quarter-century ago, dogs spend days in backyard doghouses while many cats prowled yards as mousers. Today, dogs and cats are social media stars, conversation starters, work place cheerleaders and simply good medicine for many. Join us for this special Oh Behave Show episode as host Arden Moore talks about this pet revolution with Mark Cushing, the author of a must-get book called, "Pet Nation: The Love Affair That Changed America." Cushing, a founding member of Animal Policy Group, an attorney and the proud pet parent of two cats and a Papillion puppy, talks about the roles that Lassie and Pope Frances have played in the lives of today's pets. Tune in now!
BIO:
Sterling “TrapKing” Davis is a well-traveled, ex-military, music and cat enthusiast who has always loved entertaining and interacting with people. Since childhood, he was also the only guy in his neighborhood that loved cats. One day, while taking a break from the rap group he was performing with, Sterling saw a posting for a job cleaning litter boxes at his local shelter. He needed something to do to pass the time so he applied for the job.
He started cleaning litter boxes and loved working with cats so much, he was promoted to an outreach position where he could focus on trap-neuter-return (TNR), the only way to humanely control cat overpopulation. It was at that point he decided to give up his successful music career and focus on his passion for cats.
In 2017, he started his own nonprofit, Trapking Humane Cat Solutions, where he focuses on educating, assisting, and doing TNR and community cat management. Davis’ mission is to change the stereotypes of not only men in cat rescue, but also bridge the gap in communication between black communities and predominantly white animal welfare organizations. He lives and breathes his motto, you don’t lose cool points for compassion.
Today Davis is a sought-after speaker all over the world, speaking at events like Cat Con, Cat Camp, Meow DC and fundraising events for small rescues and shelters across the United States. Sterling hopes to one day travel the country in a recreational vehicle, teaching animal advocates in communities of all sizes how to care for their community cats.