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Urban Zoo

Urban Zoo

Written by: NEWSTALK Sauga 960 AM
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Each week Urban Zoo host Bill McBain welcomes vets, care-givers, researchers, spiritual leaders, suppliers, enforcement officers, pet-lovers and companions, etc., who share their stories and expertise.

There is cuteness, joy, practical advice, expert insight and probing into some uncomfortable and challenging corners of our relationship with animal life.

Biped-quadruped, carnivore-herbivore-omnivore-insectivore, invertebrate-vertebrate, pet-working or livestock, tame-feral, on wings-foot-hoof or fin: Peel is as bio-diverse as its’ people. We are a region where river valleys, woodland and farms bump up against ever expanding urban neighbourhoods.

Some animals thrive, others are threatened but together they comprise the rich bio heritage of Peel. The Urban Zoo examines and celebrates the depth and power of the animal-human bond and the many facets of our interrelationship with the creatures we share our lives with.

We want to hear your stories: are you a caregiver, owner, parent, supplier, veterinary health professional, or do you work or volunteer with a rescue group, shelter or rehabilitation centre? Or are you simply a lover of animals? The Urban Zoo would love to hear from you: your thoughts and your stories.Copyright NEWSTALK Sauga 960 AM
Episodes
  • Urban Zoo - Epi 104 - From SuperDogs to an 850-KM Journey & the Fight Over Peel’s Water

    Urban Zoo - Epi 104 - From SuperDogs to an 850-KM Journey & the Fight Over Peel’s Water
    Sep 29 2026
    Bill McBain and Dr. Tiffany Rennick bring you a special edition of The Urban Zoo, recorded on location at the Streetsville Honey Festival! 🍯🐕 It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s the SuperDogs!Amy White, Operations Manager with the SuperDogs, joins Bill and Tiffany to talk about the famous four-legged performers and what goes into bringing the SuperDogs to fairs, festivals and audiences across the country.🛶 Former MP Taylor Bachrach joins the show to discuss his new film, Full Circle: Paddling Home, chronicling his remarkable 850-kilometre solo canoe journey, completed in the summer of 2025.After serving six years as a Member of Parliament, Bachrach embarked on the extraordinary journey from his home in Smithers, B.C., paddling through the Skeena watershed and reconnecting with the landscape along the way.💧 Plus, an important issue for Peel Region residents: a coalition of community, environmental and labour organizations has mobilized over changes to the governance of Peel’s water and wastewater system.Peel is the first region where Ontario’s new publicly owned water-corporation model is being implemented. While the province says the system will remain publicly owned, opponents are raising concerns about corporatization, accountability, costs and the future management of this essential public service.🐾 From high-flying SuperDogs and an incredible Canadian wilderness journey to an issue that could affect residents across Peel Region, it’s all on this edition of The Urban Zoo on Sauga960AM.
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    45 mins
  • Urban Zoo - Epi 103 - Telemedicine, Roadside Zoos & Animal Welfare Reform

    Urban Zoo - Epi 103 - Telemedicine, Roadside Zoos & Animal Welfare Reform
    May 26 2026
    In this episode of The Urban Zoo, Bill McBain and Dr. Tiffany Rennick explore the evolving world of animal care and welfare. The conversation covers the rise of veterinary telemedicine through Vetwise, the ethical concerns surrounding roadside zoos, and the global advocacy work of World Animal Protection. The episode closes with standard reflections on where animal welfare policy is heading and what meaningful reform could look like in practice.
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    54 mins
  • Urban Zoo - Epi 102 - Monty Finds a Home, Pet Housing & Responsible Ownership

    Urban Zoo - Epi 102 - Monty Finds a Home, Pet Housing & Responsible Ownership
    May 5 2026
    On The Urban Zoo, Bill McBain and Dr. Tiffany Rennick share a heartwarming “happy story” about Monty finding a forever home, highlighting positive outcomes in animal rescue and adoption. The discussion continues with Sarah Herring, Government Relations Officer with the BC SPCA. She joins the conversation to explore housing for pets, challenges faced by pet owners, exotic pet ownership, and the transportation of animals across jurisdictions. The episode closes with standard remarks and reflections from the hosts.
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    50 mins
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