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Nancy Grace
Animals to the Rescue
Aired December 25, 2009 - 20:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
NANCY GRACE, HOST: Tonight, incredible animals to the rescue, real- life pet detectives, dogs, cats, pigs, even birds, saving lives, fighting crime. Tonight, amazing animals.
Paris Hilton, you may have a Chihuahua and a kinkajou, but I got it all over you! I have a wild dingo dog with me right now. Here in the studio with me, Jack Hanna of the Columbus, Ohio, Zoo. Also, what a show! I love this show, "Jack Hanna`s Animal" -- it`s "Animal Adventures," right?
JACK HANNA, DIR. EMERITUS, COLUMBUS ZOO AND AQUARIUM: Right. Right.
GRACE: I saw you picking up a snake and eating some crazy nuts from Africa.
HANNA: Well, as you see...
GRACE: Please don`t eat my baby!
HANNA: In Africa, it`s hard to get some good food sometimes, so I just eat whatever I can find, leaves and nuts and...
GRACE: Can you first tell me about the dingo?
HANNA: The dingo is one of the two wild dogs we have left in the world. You have the wild dogs of Australia, the dingo...
GRACE: This is not a wild dog.
HANNA: This one -- it will grow up to be. And then you have the wild dogs of Africa, the Cape hunting dogs. Now, the dingo does go in packs, not as many as the wild dogs of Africa. But the dingo`s an animal that the aborigines 4,000 or 5,000 years ago...
GRACE: Maybe I can get it to wake up. What is her name?
HANNA: This one`s name is -- what`s this one`s name?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE)
HANNA: Megan! And this one, by the way...
GRACE: Megan!
HANNA: The aborigines about 4,000 or 5,000 years ago took the dingoes from the dens out in the wild. The men would bring them back, and the women would breast-feed the dingoes. Now, you might say, Why is that? Because then the animal...
GRACE: Oh, it`s cold!
HANNA: ... would learn to go back to the house after they made a kill of a kangaroo. So this was their hunting dog, the aborigines.
GRACE: So they would raise the dingo as their own...
HANNA: Exactly.
GRACE: ... because all the aborigines had to hunt with were stones.
HANNA: Right, because there were stones. There weren`t really spears or guns or anything back then.
GRACE: Too cute.
HANNA: But they are -- the dingo does not bark, it only howls. And they have a scent gland on the back of their tail when they grow up and...
GRACE: They have what?
HANNA: A scent gland right on the back of their tail, they mark their territory with. But you must remember that the dingoes -- there are about 350, 400 purebred dingoes. Most of the dingoes you see today in Australia are inbred with domestic dogs.
GRACE: Is this one pure?
HANNA: Oh, yes. This is a purebred dingo, yes. This is from the Niabi Zoo. And DeWayne (ph) helps raise these up there.
GRACE: Joining me right now, in addition to Jack Hanna from the Columbus Zoo and "Jack Hanna`s Animal Adventures," Jane Velez-Mitchell with her special reporter, Cabo San Lucas (ph), the doggie investigative reporters. Wait a minute, there`s three investigative reporters. Who`s the other one?
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST, ISSUES: This is Tina Lou (ph). She`s a rescue who was given away when she was 9 because her owners had to move to an apartment that didn`t take dogs. So I rescued her and now she belongs with me, an incredible, incredible dog. Both of these are. And that`s why I say rescue a puppy from the pound.
GRACE: Wait a minute, Jane. Jane, Jane, Jane, you`re here to report on an animal hero...
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes.
GRACE: ... not on Cabo and Tina.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, these are my personal heroes because they protect me by barking and whining at home when danger comes by. But I will tell you, you`re absolutely right. We`re talking about 160-pound German Shepherd-timberwolf mix. To give you an idea, Cabo`s 12 pounds, Tina Lou is 100 -- is 50 pounds.
GRACE: Oh, you`re going to make it all about Cabo and Tina. You know what? Hold on. Take a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And it started to pile up. And the snow started to pile up, and I said, Nolan, we can`t stand here. We`ll die. It`s now 9:30. It`s getting cold. It was very cold. We watched Shana under the tree dig. The whole thing, as we say in Hebrew, was beshert, was planned. It was meant to be.
She takes her mouth and grabs my jacket, throws me on top of her. I roll over on her back. I said, She wants us to follow. I said, Keep crawling! Because she thought we were going to get out. It was quite a distance. And we get out and she pulls us out. We get on the back deck. We just got the back door open and we fell inside with her and laid there all night.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRACE: So long story short, Jane, the dog, who was taken in like yours, like my cat -- and I`m a dog person, and I have this crazy cat that runs my life. They took the cat -- the dog in as a stray, and she ended up carrying her elderly human mom on her back. The dog carried the mom on the dog`s back all the way through this tunnel.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Absolutely. This is a hero dog. Not only that, this couple, both of them 81 years old, were both carried back through this tunnel that this German shepherd-timberwolf mix created after they got trapped in the storm. So the woman is on the back of the dog and the husband is hanging on. And this 160-pound dog drags both of them back through this tunnel that the dog herself made, Shana the dog made back to their house, saving both of their lives.
GRACE: And they are 81-year-old seniors totally, Jack Hanna, as Jane told us, snowed in. I`ve forgotten how deep. How deep did the snow get, Jane?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, what happened was, it was in October and they weren`t dressed for winter. They actually run a wildlife sanctuary and they were out tending to their crows without coats, without a glove. And this freak snowstorm not only brought snow but it knocked down trees. So they were literally trapped in this sort of triangle of trees and snow. And that`s when the dog dug under the tree.
GRACE: Incredible. Incredible.
HANNA: These animals are something.
GRACE: Instinctively, Jack. You`ve seen so many wild animals. This dog knew how to save her owners.
HANNA: Well, we have golden retrievers and golden labs, and what they know about us is unbelievable. So even when we`re sick or when we`re leaving, packing our bags, they`re there crying, almost. And just like the dog over here -- I don`t know if you saw the animal over here. You talk about animals helping animals.
GRACE: You know, you`re right. Let`s go over to Jeff Brosi (ph) and his dog, Jasper (ph). They are part of Canine Companions. Jeff, thank you for being with us tonight. Explain Canine Companions. Hi, Jasper.
JEFF BROSI, CANINE COMPANIONS: Hello, buddy. Jasper is a mix between a yellow lab and a golden retriever. He`s a service dog from Canine Companions. They`re located in five different places around the United States. He`s here just to provide -- to help people with disabilities and from all different aspects, you know, of their disability. I have a spinal cord injury, and Jasper`s been part of my life now for about three-and-a- half years and he`s been the best thing that I`ve ever had.
HANNA: It`s amazing, Nancy. I know an organization, Canine Companions for Independence. These animals can do anything. They can take -- if you go shopping -- like, he was injured in an automobile wreck. But if he goes shopping, he can take a bag of money, put it on the counter. The dog will put it with his mouth. He`ll put the change in there, bring it back down.
They have 50-something commands. It takes -- it`s almost $50,000 a dog. But everything -- Canine Companions does not pay for the dogs. They get them -- as he knows, get -- you have to apply for your dogs.
And watch what -- I know -- I met them 1979 by a man dropping his keys on the ground, just like Jeff here. And show them what this dog will do if you drop something.
BROSI: Unfortunately, my hand function is very limited, so the dog -- I drop a lot of things, and the dog picks up everything, just a simple thing like a remote.
Jasper, get it. That`s it. Come on. Get it.
Just the simple things like that, everyday life, makes it so much easier just to, you know, survive and get around and...
GRACE: Now, the dog -- it takes $50,000 to train the dog?
HANNA: Just train one dog.
GRACE: To train one dog. And how long did you have to wait to get Jasper?
BROSI: I waited almost two years to get the dog after I signed up.
HANNA: About 175 dogs a year is all they -- is how many they can do since 1975. But it`s an amazing organization. They turn on light switches. I`ve seen them take the food out of the grocery bag, put the meat in the freezer...
GRACE: You`re kidding!
HANNA: ... put the other stuff in the refrigerator. One man just wanted to watch a ballgame, had a beer. The dog went over and got that and brought it to him. I mean, it`s -- what these dogs can do is beyond -- it`s more than that, though, Nancy. It`s the companion. It`s people that used to take a lot of medicines. It`s, as Jeff knows, people that were depressed. This animal becomes part of their lives. They go off their medicines a lot of times. It becomes -- then they become independent, like Jeff. They become independent and can do much...
GRACE: What does Jasper...
HANNA: ... many things they can`t...
GRACE: ... do for you?
BROSI: Simple things, from just opening and closing the door, from getting the mail to...
GRACE: Jasper can get the mail?
BROSI: Yes.
GRACE: Wow!
BROSI: Every time he goes through, he goes and gets the mail. He brings it to me. Just if I drop my keys in the street between, like, the car and the curb, that I can`t reach things, he goes under and gets it, getting the phone if I need it. If I`m in bed, he`ll get the remote if it falls on the floor instead of getting up.
GRACE: You know what? People with all their faculties don`t understand.
BROSI: Yes. Right.
GRACE: My own brother-in-law is in a wheelchair. And the smallest thing can become the biggest thing.
BROSI: The biggest. Yes.
GRACE: Like you just said, dropping your keys in a spot where you can`t get them.
HANNA: Nancy, the puppies are raised by puppy raisers for a year-and- a-half. Then they go, and then for six months, it`s a difficult training. And about 40 percent of them only make it. And then those -- then Jeff comes, and then for two weeks, they`re with their dogs...
GRACE: Who pays for it? Who pays the $50,000?
HANNA: Donations.
BROSI: Donations.
HANNA: It`s all donations.
GRACE: Now, OK, that -- Jeff, you and Jasper, please don`t move.
Now, this does not seem like the wild, crazy, baby-eating dingo dog.
HANNA: No. It`s always -- somebody said that...
GRACE: He`s so cute! But I understand, before we bring the fox out, we`ve got to take away the dingo?
HANNA: Yes, Suzie (ph) will come and get that.
GRACE: So would the fox eat the dingo?
HANNA: No, the fox is -- but it`s just a baby dingo. The dingo would end up eating the fox, if it was bigger. Here`s Suzie right here. She`ll take the dingo.
GRACE: You would not...
HANNA: I know you don`t...
GRACE: ... eat the fox!
HANNA: I know you don`t want to give it up, but Suzie needs to take the...
GRACE: You would not eat this fox!
HANNA: Suzie Rapp (ph) loves dingoes much as much as you love dingoes. She has two of them.
GRACE: Bye, Megan!
HANNA: That`s from the Columbus Zoo.
GRACE: Fifty thousand dollars. Ouch!
HANNA: Oh, it -- but you don`t -- the amount of time...
GRACE: Who pays for that, donations?
HANNA: Yes, I just got through with a fund-raiser, Canine Companions in Florida. There`s five different areas of the country.
GRACE: Can you put that up, Liz, so the viewers can...
HANNA: It`s amazing.
GRACE: ... can see the Web site if they want to donate? Oh, wait. Never mind. A big -- Look at this. Look at this, Liz. Hi.
HANNA: Can she touch it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
HANNA: No, I just want to make sure. Foxes carry rabies, and it`s...
GRACE: Well, certainly do not bring a rabid...
HANNA: No, I would never do that.
GRACE: OK. He looks like he`s going to bite.
HANNA: No, no. These guys would tell you that, if it was in heat or something maybe. But just...
GRACE: And now that I smell like a dingo, is he going to bite?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, she`ll be all right.
HANNA: And...
GRACE: I`m not a dingo.
HANNA: Nancy, you won`t believe this. In England alone -- in England -- there are two million fox in England. Can you imagine that? Just in down -- I`m sorry, in London.
GRACE: This is beautiful!
HANNA: In London, England -- two million foxes in London alone. This is a red fox. There`s a gray fox, red fox, Arctic fox, all sorts of foxes.
GRACE: Can he sit there?
HANNA: He better hold him. Yes, his legs, yes.
GRACE: Well, he`s got time to -- OK.
HANNA: Yes. Foxes are -- have adapted to our environment, Nancy, all over this country. You wouldn`t believe it. Foxes also -- we talk about what Jeff was talking about with his canine companion. Foxes...
GRACE: What would he do if he got on the table?
HANNA: He would just slide and slip a little bit. But remember something. They`re one of the most social creatures in the world. And this fox here -- I want to show you another fox right here behind you.
GRACE: Well, what is this one`s name? What is that one`s name?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sierra (ph).
GRACE: Sierra. Oh, oh, oh, oh!
HANNA: Now, this fox here...
GRACE: Oh, you`re beautiful!
HANNA: Isn`t this something? This is a fennec fox, Nancy.
GRACE: What`s that?
HANNA: The smallest fox in the world. This animal is full grown, about 6 years old, that Jared (ph) has.
GRACE: What would happen if I hold him? Will he bite?
HANNA: I don`t know about...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He might squirm around.
HANNA: Yes, he`d squirm around. You have to know how to hold...
GRACE: Let me just...
HANNA: No, you -- I don`t think you can do that. He has to hold him.
GRACE: Like squirm (INAUDIBLE) with his teeth?
HANNA: Well, he could, yes. Because this...
GRACE: OK, you stay right there!
(LAUGHTER)
HANNA: Here`s something. This animal here loves scorpions. This animal here loves scorpions. This loves scorpions. And they...
GRACE: They love scorpions?
HANNA: Yes. They can pull the stinger right off the scorpion. They`re nocturnal. They`re an animal that lives in the Sahara Desert in northern Africa, and they have big ears for one reason, to keep them cool. There`s blood vessels behind those ears like an elephant and they keep them cool. And these...
GRACE: Oh, turn him to the side so the viewers can see. Look at that.
HANNA: I think the thing...
GRACE: He`s a little bitty thing.
HANNA: I think the neat thing, Nancy -- because we`re talking about animals that help people, right? The fox -- come on with these two foxes here while we`re at it.
GRACE: Oh, wow!
HANNA: Now, Nancy, remember something. The fox is very social.
GRACE: Nice to meet you.
HANNA: They take care of the old. Thank you, Jared. They take care of the old...
GRACE: OK, if any of you people...
HANNA: ... the sick...
GRACE: ... are thinking fur stole, get out! Just get out! I wish you could see, the whole floor here in the studio is full of people to meet Jack Hanna`s animals and Jasper and Jeff.
Are they going to have a fight?
HANNA: No. You can stand up, DeWayne. Why don`t you stand up? They`re meeting each other.
GRACE: That one`s a very -- you have bad manners.
HANNA: This is an Arctic fox. Look at the color of this animal.
GRACE: You`re going to have to go to etiquette classes.
HANNA: It`s wintertime right now, Nancy. Look at the -- look at the -- look at the coat of this animal here. Now, look at the coat. This is a different type of Arctic fox from southern -- from more south of the tundra.
GRACE: You stop that growling!
HANNA: South of the tundra, all right? The Arctic fox...
GRACE: Wait. This one is south of tundra?
HANNA: This one`s south. That one`s way north. Remember, they have to be white for camouflage. And you know what they eat? The polar bears make a kill, these are the cleanup. Like a buzzard would clean up, these clean up after the polar bears.
GRACE: You little scavenger!
HANNA: You see that tail? That tail wraps around them when it gets real cold, like way below zero.
GRACE: Oh!
HANNA: Isn`t that gorgeous?
GRACE: You see this thing? It`s thick. It`s super thick.
HANNA: That goes around the animal`s face. So when the temperatures go, like, 60 below zero or whatever, that animal goes into a ball and curls up like this.
GRACE: Jane Velez, can you believe that somebody would wear this around their neck, like a human?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: No. I mean, you know what`s really tragic...
GRACE: I hate to get you all chinned (ph) up, but if you could just see this beautiful -- I wish you could see it, Jane. I wish you were here.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I wish I was.
GRACE: It`s just beautiful, even though one has very bad manners.
HANNA: This is from the Niabi Zoo, Jane. These animals are -- Tom gets all these animals from people, the government people that hand them to him when people have these as pets when they`re little. And of course, it turns into disaster, as Jane knows.
GRACE: Having a pet like this turns into a disaster?
HANNA: Oh, yes, because they grow up. These animals can take your fingers or hand off. You know, any wild animal in most states, Nancy, it`s against the law to have them.
GRACE: Can I ask you something? Speaking of wild animals just reverting to their wild selves, what happened with Siegfried and Roy? Why did that happen?
HANNA: Well, my opinion is that he tripped and fell. And when you`re...
GRACE: Well, you are Jack Hanna, animal expert!
HANNA: Right. But when they go -- when a big tiger or something, you go below a cat, you`re below their level, that`s an automatic to go down, to go after that, whatever that is.
GRACE: Can you get a close-up on this, Darcy (ph)? Look at this little face. Look at that! Oh, you`re so beautiful!
HANNA: Again, a fox will take care of the sick, the old. They`ll take care of everybody first before they`ll feed themselves if they`re in good health.
GRACE: You mean within their own pack?
HANNA: Within their own pack.
GRACE: Now, about Siegfried and Roy -- why did that happen?
HANNA: Because he fell over. He was below -- Siegfried or Roy, whatever, he was below him. And so tigers will go down automatically on anything that`s below them. You just always want to be above a predator, especially.
GRACE: So even with all those years of living with humans, it didn`t matter.
HANNA: No. It doesn`t matter. No.
GRACE: You need to go learn some manners!
(LAUGHTER)
GRACE: When we come back, real-life pet detective and animal heroes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT KORNFELD, RET. E. HARTFORD POLICE K-9 UNIT: So ultimately, we try to have the dog trained to bite in the upper back. And even if the dog doesn`t bite, you still have 80 pounds coming at you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRACE: Animal detectives, animal heroes, birds, cats, dogs, even pigs to the rescue. Animal detectives, real-life animals to the rescue -- birds, parrots, cats, dogs.
Take a look at this pet. What kind of a penguin is it?
HANNA: This is a jackass penguin. It`s not really a pet, though.
GRACE: I didn`t say -- well...
(CROSSTALK)
HANNA: Right. But it`s a jackass penguin or a black-footed penguin...
GRACE: Can you bring him up?
HANNA: ... from South Africa. And Suzie raises these at the Columbus Zoo.
GRACE: Now, why couldn`t he get near Jasper?
HANNA: Well, Jasper wouldn`t do anything, but the penguin would be quite -- quite inquisitive.
GRACE: You mean, like, he might peck -- peck the dog?
HANNA: Yes. But see, this is a penguin. You love penguins, right?
GRACE: I do. It`s my favorite bird.
HANNA: Sue`s favorite bird, too. But the penguin...
GRACE: You even have funny looking feet!
HANNA: This is a black-footed penguin. And remember something, 17 species of penguin, only -- only four...
GRACE: Guys, I`m getting to pet a penguin! I never thought it could happen to me! Oh, wait, wait, his little -- his wings feel like vinyl, like a steering wheel. What is this?
HANNA: That`s -- they`re so fast in the water. That`s how they propel themselves and turn themselves. Remember, 17 species of penguin, only five of them in cold weather, Nancy. This is a warm weather penguin from South Africa. Penguins live in the Galapagos Islands. Penguins live in South Africa. Penguins live in -- all over the place. But only five live in the cold climates down in Antarctic.
GRACE: Wait. Wait. Do you trim his -- do you trim his wing at all right there?
HANNA: No, no.
GRACE: It`s so perfectly symmetrical to swim with.
HANNA: Oh, yes. Mother Nature makes these animals to where they adapt to their environment tremendously.
GRACE: And speaking of favorite birds, what about the hero parrot, Jane Velez?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Absolutely. A hero parrot in Pennsylvania named Sunshine was home alone -- Dad was at work -- when a robber burst in. This hero fiercely defended his home, bit the robber on the hand and...
GRACE: We have video of that, Liz? There you go. There they are. Go ahead, Jane.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: ... and also let out a huge squawk. That allowed authorities to pinpoint the time of the crime, and the bite allowed authorities to identify the robber.
GRACE: Isn`t it true that Sunshine the parrot was found all curled up in the laundry basket, missing a lot of feathers, very bloody, and wouldn`t sing for, like, three weeks, but now Sunshine is singing her repertoire of Cher songs?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Absolutely. She does Cher. And also, Sunshine dances in the shower while doing Cher. So she is fully recuperated.
GRACE: I`ve just been attacked by a penguin. He actually kind of, like, gummed my finger. So you`re telling me about Sunshine the parrot who attacked Michael Deeter (ph). He had broken in. He got away with a camcorder and 100 bucks, but not before Sunshine the parrot attacked him. He bit him on the head?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: He bit him on the hand, and that allowed authorities to identify him once they arrested him. So he actually was doing some detective work, as well.
GRACE: Wait! Did you -- this parrot -- I mean, this penguin is extremely aggressive! I think you need to go to boot camp and get calmed down.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Come here, baby. No, no, no.
HANNA: You`ve got to remember something. That parrot she`s talking about could take your finger off. Those are macaw parrots. That`s what I tell people, if you want to get a parrot, you need a smaller one because that thing is big.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Come here, baby.
GRACE: Will you come home with me?
HANNA: You got a good bathtub?
GRACE: Come home with me and catch a burglar? You`re beautiful!
Next, more amazing animals to the rescue, saving human lives.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRACE: More animal heroes saving human lives. This time, a 150-pound pig to the rescue. Welcome back. A potbelly saves a boy from a pit bull. Tonight, animal heroes, pets to the rescue.
Jane Velez, I`m about to meet a badger who is hissing at me. Could you just tell me the story about the pot-bellied hero?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: OK. Daisy (ph), 150-pound pot-bellied pig, minding its own business, little Jordan Jones (ph) playing in the yard. Suddenly, a pit bull from the neighbor`s comes charging at the boy. Daisy intercepts and takes the hit from the pit bull, fighting to protect this little boy, and in fact, does protect the little boy. Ultimately, a vet is called, and they give him two cans of beer to medicate him.
HANNA: Two cans of beer?
GRACE: Jane, speaking of medicating with beer, this badger is hissing. It sounds like a opossum. I`m afraid -- oh!
HANNA: No, we talk about -- you talk about pit bulls, which are very powerful animals. You talk about powerful...
GRACE: I don`t like the way he`s looking at me.
HANNA: No, no. This is a badger, Nancy. People -- people never get to see a badger.
GRACE: Jane, he`s very close to being a hat.
HANNA: People never get to see badgers. Nancy, a lot of paintbrushes back years ago, that`s what they would use, the badger fur. Now...
GRACE: Can I touch anything?
HANNA: Just right here. You`ll feel this. Now, you notice how he`s got a lot of flab? What happens is, let`s say a predator comes. Or let`s say somebody tries to attack a badger, like a wolf or something.
GRACE: (INAUDIBLE) stubble!
HANNA: If they grab -- if they grab this animal, he`s got so much extra skin, he`ll squeal around and just bite that animal right in the head.
GRACE: Tell me about a badger. You said this is only the second show he`s ever been on.
HANNA: Right. No, no, second time we`ve ever used that badger. He`s at the Niabi Zoo, where he`s used for education.
GRACE: This is only the second show a badger has ever been.
HANNA: Yes. Yes.
GRACE: Any badger. You brought a badger.
HANNA: No, I don`t use -- this is the first badger I`ve ever even known. I mean, not known, but that Todd has.
GRACE: But why? Why is it so difficult?
HANNA: Because a badger, pound for pound, is a very aggressive animal, like a -- like a -- what`s that animal? The wolverine. Exactly. This animal digs a hole. You see those claws?
GRACE: I do.
HANNA: Can dig a hole so fast. They love to eat rattlesnakes, too, by the way. The only place a rattlesnake can get them is on the nose. It`s the only place they can hurt him, is on the nose.
GRACE: You know, Renee Rockwell, I know you`re there with your dog Didiot, spelled D-I-D-I-O-T. Hold him up a little bit. I can`t see him.
Bye-bye, badger. You`re hissing at me.
You know, some of the best witnesses I`ve ever had -- hey, Didiot -- were dog witnesses, drug dogs.
RENEE ROCKWELL, ATTORNEY: Nancy, you know why these dogs were such good witnesses? Because they won`t lie. You have drug dogs. You have bomb dogs. You have epilepsy dogs. You have diabetes dogs.
GRACE: Cadaver dogs.
ROCKWELL: Yes.
GRACE: Scent dogs, drug dogs. Go ahead.
ROCKWELL: It`s expensive to train these dogs. But Nancy, you don`t want to have a dog, a parrot or a pig testifying against you because they don`t lie. They`ll tell it like it is.
GRACE: I`ve never brought a pig into court, but it ain`t over yet, Renee.
HANNA: Ow!
GRACE: When we come back, more with Jack Hanna and amazing animal heroes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KORNFELD: And if I get assaulted, I don`t need to say anything because the theory is, well, if I get knocked unconscious, there`s not much I can say. So he`s trained to immediately apprehend the guy.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRACE: Amazing animals helping our armed forces. Crime scene investigators in law enforcement across the country and overseas. True animal heroes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The training, veterinary care, research and logistics facilities that support the Navy`s marine mammal program are located in and around San Diego Bay.
Our primary mission is to train marine mammals and people to participate as members of human-animal teams that perform a variety of missions in the open ocean that are of tremendous benefits to the United States and its allies.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRACE: Animal heroes. Pet detectives. Saving human lives. Here in the studio with me is Jack Hanna of the Columbus, Ohio zoo and animal -- wait, Jack Hanna`s "Animal Adventures" which I have been watching. I love it.
JACK HANNA, DIRECTOR EMERITUS, COLUMBUS ZOO & AQUARIUM: It`s a lot of fun. Took 12 years.
GRACE: Is it 30 minutes?
HANNA: Yes. Every week.
GRACE: Because I saw two in a row.
HANNA: Oh yes?
GRACE: And I couldn`t tell if it was all one big show or just a 30.
HANNA: It shows all over the world.
GRACE: Now about the dolphins, that was secret, right, until recently?
HANNA: Exactly. Out of about 290 shows, it was one of the phenomenal shows I`ve ever done. Remember something. Dolphins and sea lions. The dolphins of 1960 were studied by scientists with the Navy to see how to build torpedoes.
That worked OK, but what they found was how they the dolphins are so sleek and so they said, maybe we can do something with their sonar. So sure enough, you see here that these animals have tremendous sonar. They located the mines, for examples, in the bay there during the Vietnam War, then of course when September 11th happened, these animals, believe it or not, protected our coast, even our ports, and now in Iraq.
GRACE: After September 11?
HANNA: Yes. And now in Iraq, they`re used to get the ships in there -- into those bays to locate the mines. The dolphins, remember -- the dolphins locate the mines, they go down, the sonar finds them. They send up -- as you see here, they send up a buoy, then the divers can go in.
The dolphin doesn`t get to the mine. Just maybe about 50 yards or whatever. Puts the buoy there and goes up to the surface. You follow me? That`s what the dolphins do.
The sea lions, you won`t believe this. The sea lions.
GRACE: They`re, too, my favorite animal.
HANNA: They`re incredible. The sea lions have a hearing that`s a low frequency hearing. They put me in the water out there at San Diego where the center is. The center for these animals where they train them. About 100 are trained today. That`s all. About 100 of them.
And the sea lion found me in dark water at night and they come up, the sea lion, like a bullet. He puts a clasp on your leg like this, like a handcuff, and then that`s tied to a rope, it goes up to the Navy SEALs or whoever out there and they reel the terrorist or whoever it is in.
Isn`t that amazing? Then also what they do is their eyesight down -- they go 1,000 feet. The sea lion can go down 1,000 feet and also can see things.
GRACE: Can see 1,000 feet?
HANNA: Can see. Yes. Because they`re eyesight is almost in the dark.
GRACE: When I dive.
HANNA: Right.
GRACE: . after about 40 or 50 feet down, it`s very difficult to see sometimes.
HANNA: Impossible to see. But these animals -- see we think that -- man thinks they can build something to solve everything. But you`ll never build anything like a dolphin or a sea lion.
These folks out there in San Diego where they train these animals, I have to take my hat off to them. And plus all that. These animals, when they get through working, whatever they want to do, they go right back out. In San Diego, they keep them in these huge large areas. If they want to go out the ocean, they open the door by the ocean, the animal comes back.
You see here.
GRACE: Let me ask you something. You said they train 100 a day?
HANNA: No. No. No. Only 100 now are trained in the world.
GRACE: Only 100 are trained in the world?
HANNA: Yes. Yes. Right now.
GRACE: To do this.
HANNA: To do this.
GRACE: So they actually protected our coast after 9/11? I did not know that.
HANNA: In Iraq, when our ships (INAUDIBLE) with Iraqi to free them and to bring supplies to the injured and stuff, they had to go in there and sweep the bay for mines.
GRACE: OK, wait, wait, wait. Elizabeth just told me in my ear, we`ve only got six minutes left and I believe I`m being rude to my new guests.
HANNA: You`re right. This is an armadillo.
GRACE: OK. Wait a minute.
HANNA: And Cindy is very proud.
GRACE: This little bitty ball is a baby armadillo.
HANNA: Is a baby. Exactly.
GRACE: Do they bite?
HANNA: They don`t bite. You won`t believe it. You know what? They bred on David Letterman`s desk. I`m not joking. They did. And this was the result.
GRACE: Please don`t do that here. I have to have you arrested for public indecency.
HANNA: No, no.
GRACE: I don`t want to do that.
HANNA: We were having a race but it didn`t happen.
GRACE: Wait, they`re kind of scuttling around pretty quickly. I never thought in my whole life I would get to hold an armadillo.
HANNA: No, the armadillo, years ago, did carry leprosy. Not these.
GRACE: Good to know.
HANNA: No. No. They were (INAUDIBLE) they carry leprosy.
GRACE: And this is her baby?
HANNA: Yes. And pretty prehistoric. These animals.
GRACE: Can I look at her stomach? Her stomach.
HANNA: Yes.
GRACE: Do they get mad when you pick them up?
HANNA: No.
GRACE: I always wondered what was under there. I would do it like that and tickle it but I don`t think.
HANNA: Remember the (INAUDIBLE) armadillo from this country.
GRACE: Remember the hairy armadillo you brought that time with the long hairs?
HANNA: Yes. Oh my gosh. That`s really prehistoric. Look that this animal here. This is Jarred Miller`s. Look at that. Don`t touch this.
GRACE: Wait. What is this?
HANNA: This is poisonous, right, Jarred? They`re little poison glands, right there. They`re not glands, they`re teeth.
GRACE: It might jump and I`m about to.
HANNA: No. This is very -- it`s a Slow Lawrence. It`s called the Slow Lawrence from Asia. Ain`t this animal unique? Look at this animal.
GRACE: I`m not sure. Now that you said it`s poisonous.
HANNA: I don`t know what crime you could solve, but I`ll tell you something, in nighttime, they`re nocturnal. They see very well at night. Isn`t that -- look at that face.
GRACE: So we can`t touch him?
HANNA: No. You touch -- just the fur on the back.
GRACE: No, that`s OK. OK. It`s not going to whip around and like.
HANNA: Now what Jarred has -- this is an animal here. We talk about animals helping people?
GRACE: Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait. Who`s -- I don`t know enough about this one.
HANNA: This is Slow Lawrence. Eats a lot of insects.
GRACE: His little hands look exactly like a person`s. He`s even got little fingernails.
HANNA: Right. Jarred, what else those fingernails?
JARRED MILLER, ANIMAL OWNER: They`re fingernails on their fingertips.
(LAUGHTER)
GRACE: But what -- it looks just like. Oh, it`s poisonous. Did they not tell you?
MILLER: I know he is.
HANNA: It is his animal.
MILLER: Yes, put your hand out like that, Nancy.
HANNA: He`ll reach with his hand.
GRACE: Not feeling good about this.
HANNA: No, no. He`ll reach his hand.
GRACE: Hey.
HANNA: Look over there. Look at Nancy. Look over here.
GRACE: Not working.
HANNA: No. He`s just looking the wrong way.
GRACE: Hi Slow Lawrence. It`s a -- please don`t bite me. OK. His mouth is getting really close.
HANNA: No, no.
GRACE: Poisonous? As in a snake poisonous?
HANNA: No. No. He`ll grab it. He`s not going grab it, is he?
MILLER: No. He`s just slow.
GRACE: Tell me about him. Why is he poisonous? Why is.
HANNA: What is it, Jarred?
MILLER: Affects the babies. They lick their babies and cover them with the poisons.
GRACE: He`s not going to eat the blueberry.
HANNA: No. And meal worms he really likes.
MILLER: Loves meal worms.
HANNA: Yes. Loves meal worms.
GRACE: He loves what?
HANNA: Meal worms.
GRACE: I`d rather feed him the blueberry.
HANNA: But these are Asians, they`re nocturnal. Just remember that. They`re very difficult to find in the wilds.
GRACE: What would the bite do to a human?
HANNA: It wouldn`t kill you? No. Just like a bee sting, right? It`s just -- but you remember, if it`s a real small animal, it would be bad. Now this right here, Nancy, was used in the pet trade. This next animal was used in the pet trade. But he won`t eat right now.
GRACE: OK. I don`t want to force feed him.
HANNA: But this is a little spider monkey. Now Jarred got this animal.
GRACE: There you go.
(CROSSTALK)
MILLER: There she goes.
GRACE: Sweet.
HANNA: Now, you see? Sweet but make sure everybody at home understands. Number one, it`s illegal to own them. Number two, they carry diseases.
GRACE: Why is it illegal? Wait, I want to.
HANNA: They`re just illegal.
GRACE: Is it a him or a her?
HANNA: The spider monkey (INAUDIBLE) in most of central and south America.
GRACE: Can you see her/him face? His face?
HANNA: In the show, we`re going to talk about exotic animals and what happens when people do own them.
GRACE: But please don`t bite.
HANNA: They end up beautiful zoological parks like at the Columbus Zoo or other places like that. A lot of times we cannot take these animals.
GRACE: I don`t taste very good. You wouldn`t like it.
HANNA: We can`t take these animals. If somebody has one as a pet and the law enforcement people come in there so you have to get rid of them because we have certain breeding policies and also diseases.
GRACE: Why is it illegal to have a little spider monkey?
HANNA: Just because everyone wants a spider monkey. Everyone wants a monkey.
GRACE: It wants to go somewhere.
HANNA: Everybody wants a monkey, Nancy, and this is not -- they`re not clean. They bite. They carry diseases.
GRACE: It looks very clean. Because you gave it a bath?
HANNA: No, no. No, most people don`t know how to care for animals like this because they`re all wild animals and the best place for them is we left them in the wild.
GRACE: It looks like curious George.
HANNA: Unless there`s a logical situation where we teach people about them.
GRACE: Can you turn around for the camera? Can I give it -- I want to give it a berry. Don`t bite fingers. They don`t taste good.
HANNA: The spider monkey, Nancy, is called that because they live in trees. All their life in trees.
GRACE: Dusty, can you get his -- is it a girl or a boy?
MILLER: That`s a girl.
GRACE: You`re sweet.
HANNA: Do you see, Nancy, how their legs are very long like a spider, their arms?
GRACE: Yes.
HANNA: That`s why it`s called a spider monkey. They can swing 20, 40 feet in the trees.
GRACE: How did you meet your wife? Through a goat? You know, I don`t think she even exists because you always talk about her and nobody has ever seen her.
HANNA: Someone find my wife out there, Susie? We`ll bring her out here. Is my wife out there? We`ll find her somewhere. She didn`t believe my wife exists.
GRACE: Remember the goat? You told me the story about the goat.
HANNA: Susie is not my wife. Susie is my other wife. Not other wife.
(LAUGHTER)
Let me get this straight.
GRACE: The goat. Remember there was a goat and she was cheerleader or you were.
(CROSSTALK)
HANNA: She was a cheerleader in college. And I took two donkeys in college and she loved donkeys.
GRACE: A donkey, not a goat.
HANNA: That`s how we met. Yes.
GRACE: It`s -- this monkey has -- wait.
HANNA: No, no, no. He`s fine.
GRACE: She.
HANNA: She`s fine. There you go, Jarred. Take your little monkey. The monkey likes me, Jarred. Not you.
GRACE: So back to trial work and pet witnesses, Renee, do you remember the last time I brought a dog witness into court to find -- in front of the jury to find the cocaine? That he found in the doper`s house? Do you remember that?
We started practicing with the dog at 6:30 in the morning. And the dog found the cocaine in five different -- hidden spots in the courtroom.
Renee, I think they make the best witnesses.
RENEE ROCKWELL, WITH DIDIOT: They do, Nancy, because you can`t coach a do. They jury knows that that you`re not going to be able to coach the dog and forget about it. Just like the parrot that bit the guy on the hand. The blood on the beak, that guy needs to cut a deal.
(LAUGHTER)
ROCKWELL: Good job.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are 150 cats here. The (INAUDIBLE) next door neighbor is another female lion, Sarabi. This is Tovi, a cougar in heat. Nearly every animal is here because their owner no longer wanted them.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We found carriers in our front gate before. A bobcat.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And nearly every animal is a byproduct of a booming U.S. trade in exotic animals.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRACE: Pet detectives. Real-life animal heroes that save human lives. And with me here on the set, in addition to Jane Velez-Mitchell and Renee Rockwell, Jack Hanna of "Jack Hanna`s Animal Adventures." He`s from the Columbus, Ohio, zoo.
And who is this?
HANNA: This is a baby kangaroo.
GRACE: Please don`t rip my throat out.
HANNA: No, no. It`s a -- a marsupial, obviously. And I know we`re talking about exotic pets, some people have pets but some people have done a pretty good job of raising these for zoological parks. But I would not have one as a pet.
GRACE: Now wait a minute. Before you start the whole exotic pet ban, also with us tonight for the first time on air.
HANNA: No, they`ve never done this.
GRACE: The family of Jack Hanna. They really exist. This is Susie, who they met through a donkey. I`ll go no further. And these are your daughters, right?
HANNA: This is Suzanne here. She has four children, and this is Julie, my youngest daughter. And I have one daughter, Kathleen, who lives in England.
GRACE: It`s so great to meet you, guys. I didn`t think you really existed.
(LAUGHTER)
GRACE: OK. Now, the ban on exotic animals.
HANNA: Right. Right now all the states have certain bans except for about 11 states. And the thing is, Nancy, what we have to do is make sure that people.
GRACE: Is this an exotic animal?
HANNA: Yes. I would consider it exotic animal.
GRACE: Why are her ears so big? Her ears so big.
HANNA: Well, obviously they have to hear with, especially a kangaroo because they (INAUDIBLE) their speed.
GRACE: What kind of kangaroo is this?
HANNA: This is a red kangaroo. (INAUDIBLE) the kangaroo. Raising the pouch and the mother would kick the baby out prematurely while the next one is coming in the pouch. Here`s an example here, Nancy, of an animal that should never be a pet.
GRACE: No, wait, wait. Do I have to lose the kangaroo?
HANNA: Well, I would, yes.
GRACE: What is her name?
HANNA: This is Pogo.
GRACE: Bye, Pogo.
HANNA: Yes. This is from the Columbus Zoo.
GRACE: Bye, love. He`s so cute.
HANNA: This next animal, you wonder why, Nancy, is this next animal, you can see this right here.
GRACE: You don`t have a snake tonight, do you?
HANNA: No, no. This is the skull of a -- the longest cat in the world. This is a clouded leopard.
GRACE: Is going to think I smell like an animal and bite me?
HANNA: No, he`d be right there with Jill (ph) But look at this animal here, Nancy.
GRACE: Can I touch him?
HANNA: Only 300 left in the wild in the world, Nancy, in the wild we think in Asia. All right? The clouded leopard coat sells for.
GRACE: Beautiful.
HANNA: That coat sells for $80,000 in the black market. $80,000.
GRACE: No.
HANNA: Yes. This animal has the longest canine teeth as I said before. You see the skull here. Of any cat in the world. Look at that. Eats monkeys and birds. Lives about 90 percent of his life in trees.
GRACE: Look at these fangs.
HANNA: They`re beautiful.
GRACE: Wait, which one?
HANNA: You want to sit up here? You want to sit up here? Come here. Come here. That`s it.
GRACE: Can I touch him?
HANNA: Yes.
GRACE: Or will he.
HANNA: Beautiful. Come here. That`s OK. Come here, come here.
GRACE: Oh wow.
HANNA: Isn`t he gorgeous?
GRACE: Wait, tell me about it.
HANNA: This animal here, Nancy, would go to the highest places what it tries to do. As you can see here. But this animal here.
GRACE: How old?
HANNA: More of these animals in zoological parks that there are in the wild.
GRACE: There`s only 300 alive?
HANNA: Well, no. There`s more in zoological parks than in the wild. There`s about 300 we think left in the wild. We`re not quite sure.
GRACE: You know what? You just come here and we can look at -- the viewers can look at him with you. He`s eating your hair.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
GRACE: You`re pretty. Don`t bite my throat out, OK?
HANNA: OK, beautiful. It`s a gorgeous cat. They can`t growl.
GRACE: Why?
HANNA: They just can`t. They have a slight -- you can see the whine. They`re just like lions and tigers, yet this cat can`t. They have a long tail for balance. They live out -- again, 90 percent of the lives in trees.
GRACE: Look at the tail.
HANNA: It`s gorgeous, isn`t it?
GRACE: The tail is long and beautiful. So this animal`s pelt would be $80,000?
HANNA: Right. Exactly. It`s about -- almost not quite full grown.
GRACE: Did you hear about the guy.
HANNA: Thank you, Jill.
GRACE: . here in New York -- goodbye.
HANNA: Here`s another.
GRACE: Hold on, I`m sitting on a wire. That was raising a tiger and what else was it, Liz? In his apartment. Ellie? Remember the guy?
HANNA: I remember that, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I remember the tiger, yes.
GRACE: He`s raising a giant, like three feet.
(CROSSTALK)
HANNA: That`s the problem, Nancy. People don`t understand. These animals like tigers and lions as pets.
GRACE: I know what that is. I know what that is.
HANNA: No, this is a skunk. But you talk about.
GRACE: I know what they do.
HANNA: This is another animal, Nancy, that people cannot have as pets. Most states have a law against having.
GRACE: Can I touch him?
HANNA: Yes. Most people have a -- this is not an animal that was turned into them. Someone has a pet as a little skunk.
GRACE: Wait. You`re showing them his behind. Can you show them his little face?
HANNA: Remember, Nancy, why wouldn`t you have it as a pet? Because they carry the rabies parasite.
GRACE: No. Because I thought that they would spray a stinky perfume.
HANNA: Right. You see that`s not -- people have them descented but you still cannot have these animals as pets. They bite, they carry diseases, in places -- it`s against the law in most state to take a native animal out of a central habitat. You find one of these animals in the wild, don`t ever go out and get it. Leave it alone and call somebody that knows what they`re doing.
GRACE: But, but, this animal, what type of a skunk is this?
HANNA: It`s a striped skunk. Skunks are all over North America because they`re having to adapt to our environment right now, Nancy. Now here`s some animals here that people.
GRACE: Did you see where monkeys are taking over the big cities in India?
HANNA: Oh, yes.
GRACE: Because they are -- people have encroached on their terrain.
HANNA: On their terrain.
GRACE: And they nowhere else to go?
HANNA: Right.
GRACE: And they`re all over the street.
HANNA: Right. You`re not allowed to hurt monkeys in Asia. You`re not allowed to hurt.
GRACE: What kind of monkeys were they?
HANNA: Not even a cat. So I don`t know what it would be. Here`s another animal you should....
GRACE: Oh, I asked -- specifically said no snakes. I`m sure I said no snakes. And here is a snake.
HANNA: No snake.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a Honduran milk snake.
GRACE: A what?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A Honduran milk snake.
HANNA: With these animals, Nancy, you have to know what you`re doing with -- and what he has is a Gila monster. Some people believe.
GRACE: Wait. OK. Wait. Can you put his tongue facing the other way? So I can touch him. Ah, ah, gross. Sorry. I just don`t have a -- OK. His tongue is red!
HANNA: That`s all right. Thank you, Tom. Some people, Nancy, try to have this. Believe it or not, this is a poisonous animal, this is a Gila monster. And this a -- a neurotoxic poison, right?
GRACE: Then why is he sitting here?
HANNA: Because he is not -- this animal you really have to -- have to really be aggressive for it to bite you. You can touch it right back here but never touch a Gila monster if you don`t know what you`re doing. Now look at this, Nancy. Look at this. Look at how nature made it. Look at the tail. The tail is like the head. Similar.
GRACE: Very.
HANNA: If a predator tries to attack this, he`ll turn his tail around as a last-minute defense, and the predator will come up and grab the tail and pull the tail off and he`ll go run away.
GRACE: That is Gila monster?
HANNA: Yes. You`ve always heard a Gila monster. Exactly.
GRACE: I`ve always heard of them.
HANNA: That`s why I want to show him tonight because some people try to have -- pick these up out in the desert and you can never do that.
GRACE: Where does a Gila monster live?
HANNA: Out in the deserts, our deserts, out west.
GRACE: Jasper, are you enjoying this? With us still -- oh. Can you show Jasper?
HANNA: Can you imagine this dog? There`s a lot of canine companion dogs, Nancy. Look at this dog. Through all these animals -- what we`ve done tonight.
GRACE: He`s been totally well behaved.
HANNA: This dog has not moved. He has not moved. And that`s why the training is so vital to these animals.
GRACE: OK. This guy`s tongue is scary. Did you see that?
HANNA: Well, that`s how he`s locating his ways, you know. Kind of smells you over here probably.
GRACE: Tell me.
HANNA: Smells with his tongue.
GRACE: Remember the turtle you brought that goes down the hall and makes a left turn?
HANNA: Yes. Yes, Lucky.
GRACE: Another turn and then eats a tomato.
HANNA: That`s Lucky.
GRACE: How`s Lucky?
HANNA: He`s good. He`s only 30 years old. He lives another 75 years probably.
GRACE: Tell me what you do at the zoo.
HANNA: What I do?
GRACE: Uh-huh.
HANNA: I clean cages. No, no. No.
GRACE: What else?
HANNA: I helped start the zoo back in 1978. Not helped start it but I was there as a director of the zoo for many years and then Jerry Bormick (ph) became the director and I go there to promote the zoo, help plan the new exhibits, I sit on the board. So, you know, the Columbus Zoo is now one of the largest zoos in North America. We`re very proud.
GRACE: I can`t wait to see it.
HANNA: It`s beautiful. You (INAUDIBLE) a show.
GRACE: Before we go to break, let`s take a look at Jane Velez- Mitchell with Cabo and Tina. There they are. And Renee Rockwell here with -- where is he? Didiot.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLOTTE LAWRENCE: I don`t believe this. You never think it`s going to happen to you. My little girl`s baptism dress. The kettle that I`ve had since I was five. Stove, tables, computers. Halloween costumes, pictures and everything.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Charlotte Lawrence is devastated. Everything she`s worked for and collected completely destroyed within minutes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s just really hard that everything is a total loss.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But Charlotte is alive, thanks to her cat Diamond Oliver. It all started about 1:30 in the morning when Diamond jumped on Charlotte`s bed and tried to wake her up.
LAWRENCE: I fell back to sleep and it just kept on my face, purring on my face. And I`m -- get off me, I`m trying to sleep. I kept pushing him off, but he bit me. I woke up and I smelled something, I came halfway down the stairs and I looked into my kitchen and it was all engulfed in flames.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The flames were covering the front door so Charlotte ran upstairs and climbed out the bedroom window, on to her roof, and waited for firefighters. Fortunately Charlotte`s two kids were at grandma`s spending the night.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`d hate to think. Today they`re fine. They may not have been.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As for Diamond, she ended up synching her eyes and cutting her legs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think that`s very good that he saved my mom`s life.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m proud of it.
LAWRENCE: I don`t know if I`d be here because I sleep so sound and so heavy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m not a cat person, but today I like the cat.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The exotic animal trade is second only to the drug trade in raw dollars. It`s literally billions of dollars are exchanged in the exotic animal trade.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRACE: With us back is the wild dingo dog. FYI, you`re a little stinky. And a lemur.
HANNA: Lemur, which you would never have as a pet.
GRACE: And a kinkajou, now famous for biting Paris Hilton.
HANNA: Yes, but this animal here back in the `60s almost became extinct because people tried to have them as pets, Nancy, that`s why you cannot do this.
GRACE: Hold on. Ellie, what about the man that had the giant animals here, speaking of banning exotic animals?
ELLIE JOSTAD, NANCY GRACE PRODUCER: That`s right. He had a 500-pound Bengal tiger and an alligator in his fifth floor apartment. He actually spent 3 1/2 months in jail for that little.
GRACE: 500 pound alligator and.
HANNA: He could have killed somebody.
GRACE: . and 500-pound Bengal tiger and alligator in his apartment. Speaking of bans on exotic. OK, now, tell me about the lemur and the kinkajou.
HANNA: All right, the lemur is a very rare animal.
GRACE: You need to turn around so we can see his face. The lemur is gorgeous.
HANNA: Yes. Beautiful animal.
GRACE: Its got like three different colored fur.
HANNA: Right.
GRACE: They`re not going to bite each other, are they?
HANNA: No. No.
GRACE: We`re going to have a National Geo.
HANNA: No, no, no. The lemur, Nancy, is from Madagascar. It`s going downhill very fast because the loss of the rainforest.
GRACE: What`s that all about?
(CROSSTALK)
HANNA: See there? That`s a beautiful tail. This animal here is a kinkajou. Excuse me, Jarred. This animal here is kinkajou.
GRACE: Why would she bite Paris Hilton?
HANNA: But this animal -- that`s a perfect example. This was very much used in the pet trade in the `60s.
GRACE: Beautiful.
HANNA: It`s a nocturnal animal from the rainforest in central and south America. And no one should ever have this as a pet. It just doesn`t work.
GRACE: So how do we go about banning?
HANNA: We passed laws, which we`re trying to do now throughout the entire country.
GRACE: And you`re holding up a book.
HANNA: Right. This book is about canine companions by Dean Koontz. It`s incredible. It tells the stories about the canine companion. All the dogs throughout the country. It`s beautiful what these folks do.
GRACE: You know, these are the -- no offense, but these are the greatest -- no offense, Renee and Jane Velez, but these are the greatest gifts I`ve ever, ever had. I can`t wait to come visit you and your beautiful family. At the zoo. I can`t wait.
As we all celebrate Christmas tonight, let`s stop to remember Army Sergeant Todd Singleton, 24, Muskegon, Michigan, killed in Iraq. On his second tour, awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart.
Loved bowling, shooting pool, riding his crouch rocket bike, and karaoke. He leaves behind grieving parents Donna and Doug, one sister, three brothers, widow and high school sweetheart, Stephanie, daughter Emma.
Todd Singleton, American hero.
Thank you for being with us tonight and inviting all of us into your home. And on this most holy night, we welcome the Prince of Peace. See you tomorrow night 8:00 sharp, Eastern, and until then, good night and merry Christmas, friend.
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