Lights, Camera, Animal Action

Arthur von Wiesenberger never set out to become an international ambassador for dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and the occasional disgruntled Swiss cow.

He just thought animal shelters deserved better publicity.

Back in 2018, the longtime Santa Barbara resident launched Animal Zone to showcase the remarkable work happening inside local shelters and rescue organizations. He wanted to replace the familiar images of sad animals behind bars with something considerably more hopeful.

Eight years, more than 130 episodes, and several countries later, his little local television project has developed quite a pedigree.

Now Animal Zone is returning to its Santa Barbara roots with a particularly fetching episode on Saturday, October 24, featuring the Fifth Annual Best in Show competition at Rosewood Miramar Beach.

The episode brings actress Jane Lynch together with Santa Barbara Humane and a lively assortment of local dogs, offering a fitting homecoming for a program that has traveled well beyond its original stomping grounds.

A New Leash on Life

Von Wiesenberger’s television career began long before he was chasing animal stories around the globe.

After arriving in Santa Barbara to attend Brooks Institute in the 1970s, he found himself facing a predicament familiar to generations of local graduates. He wanted to stay, yet there were only so many photography jobs available.

Fortunately, television offered another avenue.

At the time, Cox Cable operated a local public-access studio, where von Wiesenberger developed a live movie-review program featuring discussions with guests whose expertise related to the films being shown. For One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, he even invited a psychiatrist to examine Jack Nicholson’s character.

There were no retakes, and occasionally things went sideways. It was, however, an education in television production.

Other projects followed, including a book about water and additional television programs. Yet his affection for animals eventually brought him back behind the camera with a different mission.

“I said, well, we should celebrate the good stuff about animals in shelters,” he recalls.

He had grown frustrated with national advertisements portraying shelters as dreary places filled with hopeless animals. The reality he witnessed at organizations such as Santa Barbara Humane was considerably brighter.

Animals received medical care, attention from volunteers, and help preparing for adoption. These weren’t simply holding facilities. They were places where second chances began.

Animal Zone set out to tell those stories.

From Local Paws to Global Claws

Initially airing on TVSB, the show soon found a larger audience through Cox Cable, expanding beyond Santa Barbara into other states.

Then came the pandemic.

While COVID created enormous challenges, it also introduced many people to the value of animal companionship. Families were spending considerably more time at home, and suddenly a dog, cat, rabbit, or even hamster seemed like excellent company.

Animal Zone found an eager audience.

The program secured a national Saturday morning broadcast slot, and its family-friendly approach helped it reach viewers beyond California. Streaming platforms including Tubi, Plex, and Pluto eventually carried the series internationally.

And von Wiesenberger took the opportunity to follow his subjects overseas.

In Switzerland, where he grew up, he encountered animal welfare regulations requiring guinea pigs to have companions. Apparently, even guinea pigs deserve a roommate.

Then there were the cows.

Researchers had examined how traditional cowbells affected dairy cattle, with findings suggesting that the constant ringing and weight of the bells created stress. Replacing them with GPS trackers offered a considerably gentler way of keeping tabs on the herd.

The cows, presumably, appreciated the peace.

Other travels brought Animal Zone to Japan, where von Wiesenberger visited a hospice that allowed patients to remain with their beloved pets. One rescued dog, Bamboo Poo, had reportedly developed an extraordinary habit of visiting patients near the end of their lives.

For von Wiesenberger, these encounters demonstrate the remarkable relationships between people and animals, sometimes in the most unexpected circumstances.

More Than a Pretty Face

Despite its international travels, Animal Zone remains firmly rooted in Santa Barbara.

Its upcoming October 24 episode, “Best in Show: Paws, Applause & a Winning Chance,” returns to Rosewood Miramar Beach for the Fifth Annual Best in Show competition benefiting Santa Barbara Humane.

Actress Jane Lynch, who starred in the 2000 comedy Best in Show, brings some Hollywood pedigree to the festivities, sharing stories about her experiences working with dogs and her own passion for animal rescue.

“She’s truly wonderful, not only just a great actress and comedian,” von Wiesenberger says. “You could tell she’s an animal lover.”

Unlike traditional dog shows, the Montecito competition celebrates tricks, costumes, and personality. The eventual winner, Chance, seems appropriately named for an event supporting animals in need.

The episode also features Santa Barbara Humane CEO Kerri Burns discussing plans for the organization’s new community campus.

That broader mission particularly resonates with von Wiesenberger.

He emphasizes that organizations such as Santa Barbara Humane do far more than facilitate adoptions. Veterinary services, food assistance, and other resources help families keep their pets during difficult financial periods.

“It’s much more than just a shelter. It’s really a community center,” he says.

And keeping an animal with the family that loves it can be every bit as important as finding a new home.

A Cause Worth Fetching

Today, von Wiesenberger’s own household includes three rescue cats, a rescue donkey, and a rescue hen. He also fondly remembers a rescued pit bull he describes as the best dog he ever had.

Clearly, his affection extends well beyond the television screen.

For all the amusing anecdotes and international adventures, Animal Zone has maintained a consistent philosophy. Rather than dwell on suffering, the nonprofit program seeks to educate, entertain, and inspire people to become involved in animal welfare.

That might mean adopting a dog, fostering a cat, volunteering at a shelter, or helping an injured wild animal receive appropriate care.

“Our mission has always been to educate, to entertain to a certain degree, and also to inspire people to do the best thing they can do for animals,” he says.

And he believes that lesson is particularly important for children, whose natural compassion for animals can grow into a lifelong appreciation for other living creatures.

It’s a philosophy that has taken Animal Zone from neighborhood shelters to television screens around the world, introducing audiences to animals both extraordinary and ordinary.

Because sometimes being best in show has nothing to do with ribbons, pedigrees, or perfectly executed tricks.

Sometimes it simply means giving an animal a chance.  

Animal Zone’s “Best in Show: Paws, Applause & a Winning Chance” airs nationally Saturday, October 24, on Cox Television. Episodes are also available through the show’s streaming platforms and website. Visit www.animalzone.org