Wednesday, on my weekly WBTNAM radio show, station director Thomas Toscano and I launched a new, interactive way for ordinary people to support broadcasting and content that they like.

We suggested that listeners to our baby broadcast, just six weeks old could purchase an hour of every two-hour broadcast in the name of any cause, person or pet that they wished to honor or publicize.

We just thought of this yesterday, and were expecting to launch the idea in a few weeks, but the listeners to “Talking To Animals” got ahead of us. By Wednesday evening, six people had purchased slots – Thomas called the “Golden Leash Supporters” for “Talking To Animals.”  We will make sure they are acknowledged next week and in coming broadcasts, and we invite anybody else who wishes to help “sponsor” this kind of animal programming to join in: it’s $25 an hour,  you can buy one hour or many.

So far, so very good.  Now, you don’t have to be Exxon-Mobil or General Motors to take out an add on a program you love. Anne Sweeney is buying a monthly spot, Elizabeth Heyenga wants to call attention to her bioenergy and tuning fork healing with with animals (www. elizabethheyenga.com), Bev  Graham bought an hour in honor of Ed, Maria bought an hour in honor of Full Moon Fiber Art and Fate, and Susan Popper bought an hour to honor her dog Sally, Lisa Hatch bought $100 worth of time, she gets four hours to use anyway she wishes.

If you wish to be a “Golden Leash Supporter” of Talking to Animals, just go here and send the station $25 via Paypal. We will mention you or your pet or cause or friend. If you can’t send a note with your payment, e-mail me at [email protected] and I’ll make sure the appropriate message is relayed on the air.

This money goes to the station, none of it to me. If you prefer using s-mail, as many of you do, the station is address is: Thomas Toscano, Golden Leash Program, 407 Harwood Hill,  Bennington, Vt., 05201.

I am working hard to make this work, I feel it is happening. This is good for me, for animals, for civility and thoughtfulness, and for a community radio station that really needs help in surviving.

We took in over $300 yesterday with this program.

We will make sure that the causes, animals or people to be mentioned are mentioned. This is not only a way to support community radio, but also a way to reach a national audience of animal and pet lovers. We are already getting calls from all over the country.

The show is catching fire, I can feel it. Please e-mail me any questions you have relating to your pets or other animals, and I will read them and answer them on the show.

We encourage you strongly to call 866 406 – 9186 (if you live in the station’s listening area, you can call at 802 442-1010. You can also live stream the program (Wednesdays one to three) here or download a free Simple Radio App and listen that way from anywhere.

With new digital technology, every station is national. You can hear the show from anywhere, and there is also a podcast, just go to WBTNAM.US.

Thanks so much, On top of everything else, this program means to help animals and be useful to their owners.