Shelter Pets Turned Stars

By Animal Behaviorist Diane Anderson

Recently Joel Slaven of Joel Slaven’s Professional Animals was honored at the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando’s Furball, our annual live and silent auction event. This year, we celebrated animal rescue and awarded our first Animal Hero Award to Joel Slaven.

Joel Slaven’s company spans the country but is based here in central Florida. Joel Slaven’s Professional Animals (or JSPA) provides animals and trainers for stage shows in theme parks, commercials and talk show TV appearances. Ever seen Jack Hannah on Late Night TV? Those animals are actually provided by Joel’s company.

The animals in the care of JSPA run the gamut from domestics like dogs, cats, birds, and rats, to the exotic. The domestic animals are generally the ones you will see in the shows while the exotics are used for education.
JSPA has a state of the are facility to house all of the animals and a dedicated staff to take care of them.

One thing that many people may not realize about the company is that nearly all of their animals actors are adopted. We see their trainers in our shelter often, looking for their next star. During their shows they also promote adoption, telling the captivated audience to visit their local humane society to adopt a new best friend today.

In addition to being adopted from shelters, the animals in the shows are many times not good adoption candidates to begin with. They are the super hyper, jumping, ball obsessed dogs who bounce in their kennels all day and drag staff and volunteers around on walks. These dogs who may have already been surrendered or returned for these and other behavior ‘issues’ find a place to belong at JSPA where they are encouraged to jump, run, roll, carry things in their mouths and be the fun and crazy dogs they were born to be.

This rule applies to cats as well. You may not like it if your cat climbs your curtains, but that is perfect for a show that needs cats to climb ropes! The treatment of the animals is top notch. I know because I am a former employee of JSPA.

Their enclosures are kept spotless, they receive all they necessary husbandry they require, they get veterinary care, and even time off. The animals in the shows are never forced to perform. If they are feeling off that day or need a break, they get one. They also receive exercise, training and enrichment all day long.

They are around people more than most family pets are. When an animal chooses to retire by showing the trainers they no longer enjoy preforming, they will be placed into a home usually with a trainer or a member of a trainer’s family or friend. There is no set time allotment for an animal to perform. Some are there a short time before retiring to a home, others simply love to work.

I remember a dog named Bear that did the “Con Dog” act (the one at Sea World Orlando where the dog steals the sandwich). He loved to work so much that when given a day off he would bark and howl backstage during show time as if to say: “You forgot me, I can go on!” He was a total ham on stage and seemed to feed of the audiences reactions.

After the show, audience members are encouraged to come to the stage and meet some of the stars. It always amazed me how, in a park that had Orcas, dolphins and polar bears, people were so excited to meet our dogs. I was asked at least once a day if they could adopt one of our show dogs, and that was always a great opportunity to direct them to their local shelter.

Through companies like Joel Slaven’s Professional Animals, people receive important education about adoption. Plus, dogs and cats in shelters get a second chance. Pets that were once unwanted are now stars who shine bright for all to see.