Alison Eastwood —the actress, director and animal advocate whose Eastwood Ranch Foundation recently launched FosterFurkids.com, a website that connects rescue groups and animal shelters with a nationwide network of pet fosters and transporters—discusses a childhood growing up amidst an array of animals.
But not so much the conventional critters, like dogs and cats—which her Dad is allergic to, among other animals: Turns out Clint Eastwood is allergic to horses! Eastwood also recounts her stint on “Animal Intervention,” the 2012 Nat Geo Wild series she helped create and co-hosted, noting some of the encounters she had with people who owned wild and exotic animals, the mixed results in urging them to relinquish the animals to sanctuaries and other more appropriate facilities. While 
explaining that the “Animal Intervention” experience was difficult in many respects, one significant virtue is that it spurred her to create Eastwood Ranch Foundation, her Southern California-based animal welfare and rescue organization. Eastwood says that organization’s work, particularly its efforts in adopting out or finding fosters for animals in overcrowded and high-kill shelters has, in turn, prompted her to start FosterFurkids.com, the multiple purposes of which she describes in some detail. (www.eastwoodranch.org, https://fosterfurkids.com/home)
ALSO: I spoke briefly with Nash McCutchen, of the Humane Society of Tampa Bay (HSTB), about their Bullies and Browns program, in which—thanks to a grant HSTB received from PetSmart Charities—the organization is able to spay/neuter and vaccinate a total of 600 bully breeds, bully breed mixes, and brown dogs for $10 per dog. Appointments are required, and can be made by calling 813-870-3304 or emailing [email protected]. (http://humanesocietytampa.org)
COMEDY CORNER: Nick Turner’s “Rescue Dogs” (www.nickturner.website)
MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: George Harrison’s “Dark Horse”
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