An Interview with Vicki Constantine Croke

How did you get interested in the animal world?
Like most animal lovers, I believe, I was born this way. My earliest memories are of our family dog, Penny, a pretty little collie mix. She was my closest companion—and I even perpetually forgave her when she ‘outed’ my hiding spot during games of hide-and-go-seek—she'd loyally sit right in front of me, whenever I was crouched down or squeezed behind something. What a great girl she was!

To my family's horror, I loved the smell of barnyards because it meant animals were nearby. And I read everything I could about animals. Born Free by Joy Adamson and ‘In the Shadow of Man by Jane Goodall were life-changers.

Whose idea was The Secret Life of Animals?
Charles Kravetz is the president of NECN and the visionary behind this show. While writing my column on animals for the Boston Globe, I had been on NECN many times, and Charlie and I spoke often about trying to put something together. Finally, the time was right. My amazing friend Kerry Gould created all our business partnerships and Charlie made it happen. He even came up with the name for the show, which I adore. It speaks to the wonder and mystery of the animals around us.

What do you enjoy most about working with animals?
Just this week I had a lemur on my shoulders and I felt if there were such a thing as a joy meter, it would be off the charts for me in that moment. Why do animals make so many of us feel this way? What is the mystery of that bond? How is it that animals can make us ‘more’ human? It's something I will happily spend the rest of my life trying—and failing —to answer completely. I will never truly understand all its complexity—but that is the very definition of love!

At the heart of it all for me, personally, is that I believe we get a glimpse of the divine when the boundaries between species blur. Greater minds than mine have compared nature to a cathedral, and this is the essence of the greatest things in life—that they take us outside ourselves and bring us a sense of the infinite.

Through studies on the benefits of pet ownership, among other things, science is just beginning to measure some of what we have felt for years. They reveal what animals can do for us physically and psychologically. What I love are the studies that show that there are things animals can do for us emotionally that fellow human beings cannot. One inquiry at the medical school in Buffalo, NY, revealed that in certain stressful situations, no human in your life can lower your blood pressure—and yet, in those same circumstances, your dog can. Well, in just this one study, researchers have disproved the long-held notion in our society that pets are nothing more than high-shedding, carpet-staining substitutes for some other human relationships we crave. But guess what? No, they are not substitutes for children or mates. They provide their own vital and unique connection in our lives and while we may not have the right language yet to express that,  we definitely feel it in our hearts. 

What has been the most enlightening topic the show has covered so far?
I hope that there are many moments of enlightenment for people—we certainly want to provide useful information for animals lovers. The more we know, the safer and healthier our pets will be, the deeper our relationship with them can become, and the stronger our bond will be with all the animals around us.

For me, one of the most illuminating stories was that of Boswell, a gray goose who has been receiving chemotherapy for bone cancer. The bond between Boswell and his owner Mark is a miracle to witness. That relationship made me realize that our bond with animals can really come in many sizes and shapes and it can certainly be covered in feathers instead of fur. Driving that lesson home was Lemon, a sweet duck with neurological issues. Her owner hardly feels burdened by Lemon's problems—she feels lucky to be caring for such a wonderful creature. And, you know, when you are with Lemon and Laura, you ‘get’ it. There is a serenity to their bond that is amazing to see.

What kind of response is the show getting from the community?
I LOVE our audience. We have been getting mail and email from the kindest, funniest, and most intriguing people possible. They tell us their own stories, they ask questions, they send pictures, and now they using our easy instructions, they even upload videos to our website (www.thesecretlifeofanimals.com)! We love making all of that a part of the broadcast show.

How does the show bring awareness to animal welfare organizations in the community?
We partner with the International Fund for Animal Welfare and are sponsored also by The Animal Rescue League of Boston. We take great pride in those associations. Our relationship gives us easy access to the incredible experts on staff at both organizations. Each week, we spotlight a conservation or rescue story from IFAW's global programs (Daphne Sheldrick's elephant orphanage in Kenya, for instance) and we regularly feature stories inspired by ARL. In fact, one of our most popular segments is ‘Ask Dr. Smithy,’ in which viewers get their veterinary questions answered by Dr. Martha Smith-Blackmore, director of veterinary medical services for ARL.

Another sponsor, Especially for Pets, is a chain of stores that is extremely active in the animal welfare community. They help keep us plugged in.

These groups serve as a real compass for us—we always want to be heading in the right direction on all animal issues.

For more information on Vicki, visit her website at www.vickicroke.com and tune in Sunday nights at 7:30pm on New England Cable News.