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Two Bowie residents are taking a different approach to lowering the crime rate in Prince George's County: they are hosting a television show on animal management.

Animal cruelty is often cited as a first sign of violent behavior among violent offenders, so Tim and Linda Saffell believe their new television program, "Compassion Watch," on Bowie's public access channel, will not only help address animal welfare issues but it may help the county overall.

The show aims to educate pet owners and potential owners about better pet care and animal management practices, but Tim Saffell said the ultimate goal is to stop the killing of animals in local animal shelters through revised animal-management practices. If more people adopt a compassionate approach to dealing with animals, they will act more compassionately toward other humans as well, he said.

As of August 2008, approximately 55 percent of the 10,250 dogs and cats surrendered to Prince George's County Animal Management were euthanized, according to data from Animal Management. Saffell believes the cat intake at the shelter could be cut by one-third if feral cats were allowed to roam in groups and not picked up by animal control.

However Chief Rodney Taylor, head of animal management division, said the idea won't work. Too many neighbors call to complain when feral cats make themselves at home in a neighborhood. He would not comment directly on the show without having seen it.

The husband and wife team have long worked to promote animal welfare in the county. They head up the Prince George's Feral Friends Society, which has provided education on feral cat colonies for 10 years. They also sponsor events such as an upcoming seminar on holistic health care for pets. After years of sending newsletters and fliers advertising monthly meetings, the two decided to give television a try.

"I think this has the potential to reach a different audience than the newsletters," Linda Saffell said.

The pair has volunteered as camera crew for other Bowie television programs for eight years so they were familiar with the city's studio. It takes them about 16 hours to research and produce each episode, and so far Tim Saffell estimates they have put about $1,000 into producing and publicizing the show.

They are taping 30-minute shows as time allows and expect to bring in experts in a variety of animal welfare areas, including Christina Chambreau, author of "The Healthy Animal's Journal," who explains some of the early signs of disease that can help owners keep their pets healthy. Ken Shapiro, CEO of the Animals and Society Institute, will speak about the link between animal cruelty and other forms of violence.

"Compassion Watch" will be shown on Comcast channel 77 or Verizon channel 11 on Bowie TV. It began airing in April, and viewers can check the current schedule at http://www.bowie77.org/ to find upcoming episodes. Other municipalities have shown interest in broadcasting it on their public access channels, as well.

Amy Headley the town clerk of University Park, said the program would educate residents about ways to deal with feral cats besides calling animal control to have them removed.

E-mail Andrea Noble at anoble@gazette.net.