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Season 4 of Animal Talk Delivers Heart, Humor—and Plenty of Animal Antics

"Animal Talk" host Karen Kalunian follows the work of star therapy dog, Little Bear
RI PBS
"Animal Talk" host Karen Kalunian follows the work of star therapy dog, Little Bear

From therapy dogs and healing horses to wildlife rescues and foster journeys, host Karen Kalunian and the Animal Talk crew go behind the scenes with Rhode Island’s most inspiring animal advocates

They are the most notorious of scene stealers, animals and children. The "Animal Talk" crew spends a lot of time with both during Season 4 and as the producer, I can reveal the formula behind the adage: adorable + unpredictable = fun!

The “Animal Talk” team is—out of necessity—nimble, quick to laughter, and not afraid to get messy. Inevitably, perfectly framed shots are 'ruined' by the boop of a horse muzzle, a dog's lick, or an untimely hawk squawk. These are the bloopers that result in the most memorable onscreen moments.

This season, host Karen Kalunian tracks hardworking social media star Little Bear to learn about the former shelter dog’s transformation to a confident therapy pooch, and the impact of his work on the well-being of Rhode Island's children.

We continue our exploration of the connection between people, animals, and mental health during a visit to a Beachwood Integrative Equine Therapy center in a moving episode featuring horses that heal.

Our crew also spends time at Rhode Home Rescue to better understand the realities of fostering pets and to share the joy of a successful dog transport from southern kill shelters to foster homes in the Ocean State.

Finally, Karen goes wild this season, making her first visit to the Wildlife Clinic of Rhode Island. There she becomes witness to a morning of nonstop triage, as good Samaritans bring in wounded, ill, and orphaned animals. We feel privileged to have watched the repair of a wounded mama turtle and we’re thrilled to share that story with you.

Mary Steele is an experienced New England Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. A producer, writer, and educator, her work in broadcast journalism encompasses news, features, and long-form documentary. She’s shared stories from more than a dozen countries and loves digging through archives to bring history to life. A New England native, Steele is thrilled to be part of the creative team at Ocean State Media, finding and telling the stories behind three of her passions: art, animals and current affairs.
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