Occasionally, I jettison the chief component of the “Talking Animals” format–a long form interview with a single guest–to give voice to a broader array of animal organizations and leaders, concerned animal advocates, and others who simply care about animals. That’s what happened today, when I invited listeners to call in (or email) and briefly serve as the show’s guest, eliciting an array of responses. Including from Melanie Bowles, founder of Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary, who noted the nearly 35-year history of the facility (now based in Lincolnton, GA), and touches on her work as an author, including the books Liberty Biscuit and Little Pearl…after I read a news account of an 88-year-old man in Collier County, FL—and his dog—who were both apparently killed by a black bear, reportedly the first fatal mauling in Florida’s history, a handful of listeners commented on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s, or FWC’s, proposed bear hunt (https://myfwc.com/hunting/bear/), including the opportunity for residents to offer their viewpoints on the hunt on May 21-22 in Ocala, when the FWC meets there at the College of Central Florida, The Ewers Century Center, Klein Conference Center, Building 40, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala, FL 34474. The meeting begins at COMEDY CORNER: Eddie Izzard’s “Talk To The Animals” (https://www.eddieizzard.com/en)MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” Norma Tanega’s “Walkin’ My Cat Named Dog,” instrumentalsNAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: We didn’t play “Name That Animal Tune” today.AUDIO ARCHIVE:Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/TAMay7Final.mp3 | Open Player in New Window