By Dean Vickers
As with most nonprofit organizations, The HSUS is constantly looking for avenues to expand outreach on animal welfare issues. With this in mind, I contacted the radio station CD101 in Columbus, Ohio, submitted a list of songs, and requested to be featured as a guest DJ. DJ Lesley James called me back. She liked my song selection and invited me on for a "gig."
It was not easy to come up with the playlist—my goal was to come up with songs and artists with animals in the names. The station plays alternative rock, which is what I like, so that part was easy. In addition, I needed to come up with topics for discussion between the song plays. I wanted to use this time to highlight Ohio animal issues as well as national HSUS initiatives.
I knew I wanted to talk about the importance of stopping horse slaughter, so I picked “Bring on the Dancing Horses” by Echo and the Bunnymen. I took that opportunity to encourage listeners to contact their legislators to support the ban.
The next item to push was an exotic animal ban for the state of Ohio. For this I opted to use the New York Doll’s song “Dance Like a Monkey,” and I once again directed listeners to contact their local and state representatives to sponsor a statewide ban. For puppy mills and overcrowded shelters I chose the Ramones' “Pet Sematary.” This gave me the opportunity to talk about the importance of spay/neuter and responsible pet ownership. I also mentioned the option of volunteering at a local shelter for a daily pet fix.
I ended the set with Elvis Presley’s “A Little Less Conversation.” This song served two purposes. First, it’s Elvis. Second, this song speaks to the fact that it’s time to stop just talking about what you don’t like and start doing something about it. The session was a big hit, and I felt good about getting our animal protection messages out in a fun way. It pays to jump at every opportunity to spread the word. You never know who might be listening.
Dean Vickers is HSUS program coordinator for Michigan and Ohio.
Dean’s Complete Playlist
Here are the songs Dean played during his gig. In parenthesis are notes about how the songs connect to the animal protection issues and themes he hoped to get across in his show:
1. “Bom, Bom, Bom” by The Living Things (overall theme)
2. “Prince Charming” by Adam and the Ants (fur-free)
3. “I Love You Because I Have To” by Dogs Die in Hot Cars (companion animals)
4. “Pets” by Porno for Pyros (companion animals)
5. “Thirsty Dog” by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds (companion animals)
6. “Birdhouse in Your Soul” by They Might Be Giants (battery cages)
7. “Meat is Murder” by The Smiths (factory farming)
8. “Bring on the Dancing Horses” by Echo and the Bunnymen (horse slaughter)
9. “Dance Like a Monkey” by New York Dolls (exotic animals)
10. “Elephant’s Graveyard” by Boomtown Rats (exotic animals/circuses)
11. “Pet Sematary” by the Ramones (spay/neuter)
12. “A Little Less Conversation” by Elvis Presley versus JXL (call to action)
