2007 is now a thing of the past and Lucky and I were there with Animal Planet to help recap the biggest stories of the 2007 for their special 2007: The Year in Animals. While according to Chinese culture 2007 was the year of the pig, and will not end until February 7th, let's just say that the year of the pig saw a trough-full of huge animal headlines. The year of the pig saw the Iggy adoption controversy, the bald eagle removed from the endangered species list, the rise of the meerkat, the millionaire made Maltese, Trouble, who inherited millions from hotelier Leona Helmsley and Michael Vick's arrest and subsequent sentence to jail time for illegal dog fighting. According to the Chinese calendar 2008 will be the year of the rat, but in 2007 we all saw Ratatouille, Disney/Pixar's box-office smash and one of Animal Fair Magazine's favorite movies of the year!

 A New Year can also mean big changes and new goals, begging the question: are your pets overweight? Studies have shown that one in four dogs and cats in the Western world are overweight, with figures even higher in the United States. Lucky and I did a segment on FOX this week to alert pet owners about the significant health problems related to obesity. There to help were Ashley, a very round Russian Blue, and Ike a huge Bull Dog, both from the Humane Society. So how do you know if your pet could afford lose a few? If you cannot feel any bones on your pet's body, whether it is their ribs, spine, shoulders, or by the tail (all of which should lie under a healthy layer of fat), then your pet is overweight. But before you consider canine cosmetic surgery, you can just follow three simple steps to help your pet slim down. The first is diet. If your dog or cat is on a self-feeding system, get them off of it. Feed them in small, frequent intervals throughout the day rather than letting them eat whenever they want. Choose foods that are high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Pet food brands such as Pedigree, Wellness offer diet-friendly foods that will help your pet loose the pounds. The next step in the battle of the bulge is exercise. By exercising your pet will burn more calories and develop a reduced appetite while toning the overall body composition. The final step is to modify your own behavior as an owner. Get out with your pet, don't feed them table scraps, and turn in your pet treats for pet toys, so your little animal can play fetch rather than staying cooped in the house. It's a New Year and time for changes. Although Lucky has a supermodel body because her mother keeps her active with a busy social schedule,  daily walks and limits treats for only when she's good ;), her brother, Pasha (the Russian Blue) could stand to lose a few. Backstage at FOX we spoke with actors Emily Skinner and Max Von Essen of the Jerry Springer – The Opera in Concert at Carnegie Hall, which will star Harvey Keitel. Skinner and Essen were going to perform a song, but the libretto of the opera was a little too inappropriate for daytime TV, and overweight pets!   Let's just say Lucky and I have had our Jerry Springer moments!

 In response to the recent primaries, Lucky wants to give Senator Hillary Clinton a big "you go girl" as the presidential race looms forward. Also she wants to let Seamus (the Clinton's dog) know that she's always up for a play date!