Ask The Vet RadioShow Notes

Show #: 06-107

Show Description: “Family Outings with Pets and Animals”

Audio Files: ATVR-06-107.mp3, ATVR-06-107.wma

This week’s Ask The Vet Radio featured information on local attractions and activities, including some that can be enjoyed with and by your pets.  Guests Pete Owens from Dollywood and Evan James from the Knoxville Zoo joined Dr. Tracy Dewhirst in taking calls and providing details about the programs offered at their respective parks.

Show Notes and Resources:

  • Pete Owens, Public Relations Manager for Dollywood, phoned in to give listeners more information on new attractions Dollywood offers involving animals such as the Birds of Prey show.  Dollywood’s Birds of Prey show allows families to get up close and personal with bald eagles, buzzards, and condors.  Dollywood and The American Eagle Foundation work together to protect and rehabilitate the animals while sharing the majesty and wonder of these creatures.  The American Eagle Foundation has released more than 70 eagles back into the wild and hosts a breeding program to eliminate the possibility of extinction.  To see eagles and their young or to learn more about the foundation, go to www.eagles.org.  Mr. Owens also gave listeners information on Doggywood, a climate-controlled facility in Dollywood that allows park visitors to drop off their dogs while they visit and enjoy the park.  Though no pets are allowed in the actual park, Doggywood is a convenient place for dog owners, especially those from out of town, to board their dogs for the day.  Doggywood provides a large area for the dogs to play while their owners are away!   For more information on Dollywood’s Doggywood and other park events, go to www.dollywood.com
  • Dr. Tracy Dewhirst provided listeners with activities that provide interaction with animals as well as local places to experience with your pets.
    • Biltmore House and Gardens Estate:  Biltmore offers a beautiful lake where you can take dogs and even trails surrounding the estate where owners can take their own horses to ride. http://www.biltmore.com/
    • Ijams Nature Center:   Owners can take dogs on a leash here as well as view and learn more about local animals such as birds and fish.  http://www.ijams.org/
    • Kentucky Horse Park:  In Lexington, this a good place for families to go and rent horses to ride. http://www.kyhorsepark.com/
    • The Great Smokies: Though horses are welcome, no dogs are allowed on the trails due to the possibility of disturbing natural wildlife and their habitats.  Dogs are welcome in the campground areas.  The Great Smokies also offers hayrides in Cade’s Cove which is a great opportunity to see wildlife such as deer and bears in their natural environment. http://www.nps.gov/grsm/ http://www.nps.gov/grsm/gsmsite/cadescove.html
    • Appalachian Bear Center: This facility rescues bears, feed them and nurse them back to health.  The center allows visitors to see black bears up close while getting an understanding of the facility and its excellent cause. http://www.nps.gov/grsm/gsmsite/cadescove.html
    • The Western North Carolina Nature Center: Located in Asheville, this is a good place for families to get to experience typically wild animals in a zoo-like environment.  The center offers wolves, coyotes, birds of prey, large cats, and much more for everyone to see! http://wildwnc.org/
    • Pet Safe Village:  A dog park that offers on-leash hours most of the time, with off-leash hours 5:00 pm to sunset weekdays and 3:00 pm to sunset on weekends.  Pet Safe Village gives dogs an opportunity to run around and play with other dogs and offers agility courses, day camp facilities, boarding, grooming, and training as well. http://www.petsafevillage.com/
    • Victor Ashe Dog Park: This dog park is off-leash and allows dogs and owners to run around and play together. http://www.cityofknoxville.org/parks/victor.asp
    • The Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga: Take the family to see all the different types of aquatic creatures in an ocean journey from the bottom floor up! http://www.tnaqua.org/VisitorInfo/OceanJourney.asp
    • Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies: Enjoy the amazement of underwater creatures and the interactive exhibits!  http://www.ripleysaquariumofthesmokies.com/

    Note: In the city, it is a law to pick up after your animals no matter where you go.  Failing to pick up after your animals can cause serious problems such as parasite and bacteria issues for other animals in the areas.

  • Evan James, Kid’s Cove Curator at the Knoxville Zoo, stopped by to inform listeners about some exciting new exhibits to look forward to as well as provided information on the popular Kid’s Cove area.  Visitors can look forward to The Bird Show featuring the infamous talking parrot Einstein, the Naked Mole Rat exhibit, the Red Pandas, and the recent addition The Barn Loft featuring animals typically found in a barn.  Also popular at the zoo is Clayton’s Play Cabin and the African Elephant exhibit.  Mr. James would like to remind visitors that in order to see the animals at their most active time, come early in the morning and not during the hottest times of the day.  To learn more about the upcoming Feast with the Beast, The Bird Show times, or any other information about the zoo, go to www.knoxville-zoo.org.