The Animal Rescue Podcast: what you always wanted to know but didn’t know who to ask

This week I talk with Aaron "AC" Christensen, founder of Animal Advocacy Network, to discuss his remarkable journey in animal disaster relief spanning two decades. From his beginnings during Hurricane Katrina to rescuing over 500 animals during the 2025 LA fires, AC shares powerful stories from the front lines of disaster response, including his pivotal role in passing California's AB478 legislation that grants certified volunteers access to disaster zones for animal rescue. He also recounts a dramatic river rescue that took an unexpected turn. Finally, we also announce an exciting new collaboration between AC and The Animal Rescue Podcast called "West...

This week I am thrilled to talk with Richie Marino, a balanced dog trainer from New Jersey whose personal journey from emergency services to dog training is as compelling as his training philosophy. After battling alcoholism and PTSD, Richie credits his rescue German Shepherd Greta with saving his life, which inspired him to dedicate his career to helping dogs stay in their homes through clear, kind communication and balanced training methods. In this episode, Richie breaks down what it really means to be a leader for your dog, why we need to stop talking so much and start understanding...

This week I talk with Anna Nichols from Down and Dirty Dogs, a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of shelter dogs through positive reinforcement training. Anna shares her inspiring journey from volunteering at the Humane Society of Tennessee Valley to becoming an Animal Behavior Specialist, and introduces us to Down and Dirty Dogs—a team of five passionate women working to improve adoptability and prevent returns by providing crucial training and post-adoption support. You'll hear about the power of mental stimulation, the importance of understanding breed genetics, and a touching story about Burgundy, a dog whose case re...

This week I talk with Heather Ripley, founder of Orange Orchard PR, who discusses how animal welfare organizations can effectively use public relations to advance their missions. After becoming vegan in 2017 and realizing there was more she could do to support animals, Heather launched Orange Orchard as a specialized division of Ripley PR focused on helping animal rescues, sanctuaries, and conservation projects tell their stories through strategic media outreach, social media, and fundraising campaigns. She emphasizes the importance of building local media relationships, balancing messaging to avoid overwhelming audiences with negativity, and treating nonprofits like businesses with clear goals—ul...

This week I talk with Katya Lidsky, author of "Be Your Dog's Best Friend" and self-described "recovering dog trainer." Katya challenges traditional obedience-focused training methods, advocating instead for genuine bonding and relationship-building with our dogs. Drawing from her experience volunteering at South LA Animal Shelter, she shares how being present and trusting our instincts creates deeper connections with our pets. Discover how the human-dog bond is mutually transformative and why focusing on awareness rather than control leads to better outcomes for both you and your dog. To learn more about the work Katya is doing you can find her...

This week I talk with Rachel Horton, Director of Saginaw County Animal Care and Control. We discuss how she has transformed the shelter by increasing the save rate from 56% to 82%, moving into a new state-of-the-art facility, and opening a low-cost surgical center in summer 2024. Coming from a farm background and Michigan State University education, she shifted the organization from a punitive enforcement model to a community support approach, establishing programs like a pet food pantry and partnering with veterinarians and MSU for student training. Despite facing significant community pushback and online harassment during these changes, Rachel successfully changed the...

This week I talk with Holly Gutwillinger, a Canadian author and podcaster who went from having no writing background to creating a fictional story inspired by her anxious rescue dog Sully that explores acceptance rather than trying to "fix" each other. Her self-published book, North of Broken & Furever Home, is due out on February 14th and is a "love letter to her dogs" with proceeds supporting  local animal rescue. After owning rescue dogs Cash and Sully for over 12 years, Holly overcame her digital fears to launch "Ramblings from the Little Shed" podcast with her son, exploring how pets influence crea...

This week I talk with Adam Spencer, founder of Furlanthropy, who went from being afraid of dogs to creating the first charity-owned crowdfunding platform for animal welfare after adopting Hazelnut, a rescue dog whose original family surrendered her due to their inability to afford Parvo treatment. Discovering that two-thirds of pet euthanasia in America occurs due to financial constraints, Adam developed a crowdfunding platform that sends funds directly to veterinarians (often within 48 hours for emergencies), provides donation receipts for all donations, accepts various payment methods including stocks and donor-advised funds, and charges only 8% in fees versus the 15% typical with...

This week I talk with Julia Pennington, founder of Hera the Dog Vodka, who transformed her approach to animal activism after discovering criminal abuse at a Nashville animal shelter in high school, leading her to devote 25 years to Los Angeles rescue work before realizing traditional methods weren't addressing root causes. To create sustainable funding beyond donor fatigue, Julia developed a premium vodka using organic Italian wheat base from spent pasta grain, operating as a social benefit corporation that donates 50% of profits (currently 6% of sales) to local animal rescues in the same cities where the vodka is sold. The company...

This week I talk with Monica (pen name Leokadia George), author of a 4-book children's series about Trumpet, a "miracle" Mexican gray wolf at the Wolf Conservation Center in New York. Monica shares insights into the center's breeding programs for critically endangered wolves, creative conservation partnerships with ranchers (including AC/DC-playing drones as deterrents), and how her storytelling approach—with 50% of book royalties supporting conservation—demonstrates the powerful connection between literature and real-world wildlife protection efforts. To learn more about wolf conservation you can check out @wolfconservationcenter on social media or at www.nywolf.org. Also check out @lighthawk_org o...

This week I talk with Linda Velwest, author of "City Rescue Pets, Second Chances for Love and Hope". We discuss her early experiences with animal rescue, how that influenced her adult life, and what led to the creation of her website City Rescue Pets and the book "City Rescue Pets, Second Chances for Love and Hope". To learn more you can find her online at www.cityrescuepets.com and the book is available anywhere books are sold, but you know I like to recommend www.bookshop.org!

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This week I talk with Beth Gould, Executive Director, and Erica Kubersky, Director of Community Outreach, for Positive Tails, an organization based in New York City. Positive Tails focuses on supporting people and their pets by providing funding for emergency care, hosting health clinics, and spay/neuter resources. We discuss their experiences in animal rescue and welfare from a young age, how seeing the need in the community led them to conversations with a local vet group about how to get involved, and actually bringing people together to create Positive Tails. The work they do touches not only the...

This week I talk with Jenna Hage-Hassan about the unique way she got into rescue. From seeing a news story to getting involved with a rescue in Lebanon, her experience should leave anyone hopeful about their ability to help, no matter how big or small of an impact they think they are making. Spoiler, even if you think you are only making a small impact, you still are leaving a ripple effect of goodness in your wake. To learn more about Bekaa Rescue in Lebanon and how you can help check them out at www.bekaashelterlebanon.org and on so...

This week I talk with Angela Adan. Angela was highly recommended and she did not disappoint. Honestly, I don't even know how to summarize our conversation. We cover her experiences with animals from a young age, how she went from Vet Tech, to trainer, to rescuer, to educator, and everything in between. Angela shares her experience in the animal rescue world and this is a great episode for anyone who is interested in getting involved. You can learn more about her work on social media @deservingdogs @deservingpaws and @angelaadan and on YouTube @thedeservingdogsshow. 

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This week I talk with Tim Woodward of Animal Rescue Corps. This was a really cool one for me because it is an organization right down the road and I will definitely be stopping by for a visit! Tim and I discuss his journey into animal rescue, how he was a founding member of Animal Rescue Corps, and the work they do on serious animal cases throughout North America. And in case you were wondering, they work with animals from dogs and cats to lemurs and ferrets and everything in between. To learn more about the work Animal Rescue...

This week I talk with Nikki Sharp, Executive Director of Wildlife SOS. Nikki and I discuss how a chance meeting at a dinner led her to joining Wildlife SOS and helping people and animals in India. She shares how the founders saw a need to end dancing bears and set a goal to end the practice in 2010. However, through persistence and determination they were able to end the practice earlier than they hoped and are continuing this trajectory with other animals. This episode does cover some disturbing ways that people have used animals to earn a living. To learn...

This week I talk with Shawn Allen Stewart about his book series Bailey and Daisy. We discuss how growing up with rescue animals shaped him, the work he is doing in the animal world with grooming and daycare/boarding, and most importantly, the Bailey and Daisy series! This series, while intended for children, has something for everyone. And if you are like me and need a fidget to stay focused, there is a companion coloring book you can color and follow along with! Seriously, something for everyone. To learn more about Bailey and Daisy you can find them online...

This week I talk with Tom Kiesche about, well, a little bit of everything. How animal rescue wasn't necessarily on his radar until a date he went on, balancing shelter volunteering with life, and most importantly his advice for how to keep going in a space that can be mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausting. To learn more about Tom's work both as a volunteer and an actor/writer/producer (supporting that side of his work also helps support the animals) you can find him on social media @tomkiesche.

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This week I talk with Meghan Lehman, Shelter Brand Manager, at Hill's Pet Nutrition. Meghan joined Hill’s Pet Nutrition in 2025 to lead the Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love program. Leveraging extensive experience across both the animal shelter and corporate sectors, she focuses on developing high-impact strategies that drive growth, strong partnership development, marketing engagement, and social good. 

We discuss this year's results of the State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report, some surprising findings, and how anyone can help shelter pets regardless of  your circumstances. To learn more about the State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report go to www...

This week I talk with Kimberly Haley-Coleman, founder of Globe Aware, an organization that coordinates volunteer opportunities in countries around the world. We discuss how the organization got started, the types of programs they arrange, and how you can get involved. To learn more about Globe Aware you can find them online at www.globeaware.org or on social media @globeaware. You can also give them a call to ask more specific questions about the work they do: 877-LUV-GLOBE or 877-588-4562.

#community #volunteer #animalwelfare #giveback

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Project AnimalAid is back, this time with Executive Director Meghan Curtis. We get her perspective of the evolution of the organization and the groups they have been able to help over the years. When it comes to product donations I don't always think creatively about how they can be used, but these organizations they donate to are able to find new ways to use things that may be imperfect or nearly expired. We also discuss The Great Paw Walk, their latest fundraiser to help raise money for all of the wonderful work they do to both support animals and...

This week I talk with Dr. Kelly Curtin and Molly about their book "Molly and Potato". This is a sweet book that helps kids think and talk about their emotions and processing hard situations. It was so fun getting to interview Molly about her experience writing a book and what her plans are for future books. To learn more about "Molly and Potato" you can find them online at www.mollyandpotato.com. "Molly and Potato" is out now at booksellers everywhere, but if you are like me and prefer to support local bookshops you can also find it at ww...

This week I talk with Arthur von Wiesenberger about his show AnimalZone. But first, we cover his history in animal welfare, starting as a young child. As an adult he managed to pursue the things he loves most, food, beverages, travel, and animal welfare. While these may not seem connected at face value, we see how he has been able to blend them together in the work he is doing now. Currently, as executive producer of AnimalZone, he is able to highlight rescues and sanctuaries throughout the world. You can find AnimalZone on Pluto.tv, Tubi, and The Roku...

This week I talk with Thomas Klein and Brooke Moreland of The Animal Alliance. We discuss what led them into the animal welfare world and how they are using their unique backgrounds to support communities across the globe. Currently they are working on The Community Engagement Program, a 6-week cohort-based program designed to bring community members together to participate in research and collaboration to further the support of animals in respective communities. To learn more about The Community Engagement Program or the spay/neuter initiatives they support you can check them out online at www.theanimalalliance.org or on so...

This week Nicole Navarro, founder of Pawsitive Beginnings, a fox sanctuary located in Key Largo, FL, joins us again to discuss some of the toxicity in animal welfare and rescue work and ways she takes care of herself to make sure she is able to continue doing the good work she is doing with the foxes and the community. She also shares about some new partnerships the santuary has formed, and a new little spitfire she has adopted. To learn more about Pawsitive Beginnings, how to help end the fur trade, or how to get involved you can find...

This week I talk with Charles Howard of Mountain Dog Products. We discuss how a life change led to the creation of, in my opinion, one of the greatest leashes ever. We also talk about the mission of sustainability and being environmentally friendly, that has led the company to where it is now. I have been using these leashes for a few years now and will not go back to any other leash. The quality and comfort is unmatched. Mountain Dog Products also puts their money where their mouth is with initiatives to support rescues and trainers. To learn...

This week I am joined by Don Levin, owner of the Chicago Wolves hockey team. Before we get into animal rescue, I first needed to learn a little bit more about professional and affiliate teams, always love learning! Then we discuss the work the Wolves have been doing with animal rescue over the last 20 years! From adoption events to community resources, they are a great example of what can happen when you support animals and the people who love them. To learn more check out www.chicagowolves.com or check them out on social media @chicagowolves. If you want to...

Leif Cocks returns to talk about the ins and outs of rescuing and rehabilitating Orangutans, as well as typical behaviors in the wild. We also discuss easy ways you can get involved to help both local and global communities. If you are interested in setting up collectives in your area please check out www.theorangutanproject.org for resources in getting events going. You can learn more about Leif and his work at www.leifcocks.org or on social media @theorangutanproject.

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Content warning for talk of suicide and suicidal thoughts.

This week Jen Blough joins us again to discuss suicide in animal rescue. Recently, a well known rescuer took her life. While I do not know the specifics surrounding her situation, toxicity and harassment in the animal rescue world is all too common. Jen and I discuss risk factors for suicidality, things to look out for, how to be a support, and resources for yourself or those you know. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out for help. Humans were built for c...

This week I talk with Dr. Cliff Redford, Worldwide Vet. We discuss how he got into veterinary medicine, his global travels to volunteer with different organizations helping with wildlife rescue in places like Greece, India, and Ukraine, and his righthand woman, his daughter Emily. Even if you aren't interested in becoming a vet, this episode is a great reminder to have compassion for the people and animals around you. To learn more about Cliff you can check him out on Instagram @drcliffworldwidevet and online at www.drcliff.ca

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This week I talk with Cydian Kauffman of Pure Water Northwest to discuss all things water! This was a rollercoaster of an episode. There are some daunting things about water quality and treatment, but fortunately there are things you can do to help protect yourself and your pets from some of the harmful things that end up in our water. To learn more about Pure Water Northwest check them out online at www.purewaternorthwest.com. You can also check out the Environmental Working Group to see if your municipality has water tests on their database at www.ewg...

This week I talk with Doug Green about his books The Teachings of Shirelle: Life Lessons from a Divine Knucklehead and A Dog of Many Names. We get into his history with rescue dogs, what led him to want to write a book about his experiences with Shirelle, and what we can all learn from dogs. I definitely walked away from this book and this interview with a renewed perspective on what it means to live with dogs. The Teachings of Shirelle: Life Lessons from a Divine Knucklehead and A Dog of Many Names are available directly from the...

This week I talk with Tricia Montgomery of Moose's March. We discuss her journey in the pet wellness world, how Moose came into her life, and the legacy he has now left behind. Moose's March focuses on early detection of pet cancer by providing resources for pet owners. In addition to these resources they are also launching the Moose Approved Badge program. To learn more about pet cancer and Moose's March check them out online at www.moosesmarch.com or on social media @moosesmarch.

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This week I talk with Alyssa Muse, director of Aviary Creature Rescue in Deep South Louisiana. We discuss how she got started in rescue, cases she has been involved in, and how she keeps her cup filled in order to keep going back out there to do this work. If you live in a rural area and don't know how to get started or how to keep going, this is the listen for you. To learn more about Aviary Creature Rescue you can check them out on all the socials @aviarycreaturerescue.

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This week I talk with Lori and Denise of Heavenly Paws of Michigan. We discuss how they got started in rescue, the changes they have seen in the rescue world over the last 16 years they have been in operation, and the surprising reason they have a different adoption fee for designer breeds, because they do end up in rescues just like any other breed of dog. To learn more about the work they do or how to support them you can find them online at www.heavenlypawsofmi.org or on social media @heavenlypawsofmi. 

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This week I talk with Skarlet Rockwood about marketing in the animal welfare world. We discuss what led her into marketing, what she has learned about animal shelters and rescues, and how you can get involved. Listen to the end to hear some pretty fascinating facts about how social media algorithms work and how you can use that to your benefit! To learn more about Skarlet's work, check out www.petbusinessmarketer.com. Her website has tons of resources ranging from a free community, different levels of support and trainings, and even one-on-one support. 

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This week I talk with Nita Godwin of Dog Heaven LLC. We discuss her experience with animals, healing from trauma, and how she has figured out a way to merge animal rescue and helping others heal from their own trauma. We also talk about how animals can help you on your journey of finding yourself and learning to hear your intuition. To learn more you can check them out at www.dogheavenllc.com

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This week I talk with Nicole Navarro founder of Pawsitive Beginnings, a fox sanctuary located in Key Largo, FL. We discuss how she got into fox rescue, what a Sheriff's Office Animal Farm is (I had no idea!), and how she has figured out a way to merge fox rescue with human healing. We also touch on the fox fur trade and how it is STILL happening today. To learn more about Pawsitive Beginnings, how to help end the fur trade, or how to get involved you can find them at www.pawsitivebeginnings.org and on social media @pawsitive_be...

This week I talk with Liz Adams of Pet Protect and Connect. We discuss her journey in the animal rescue world, the moment she realized she could do something more, and the app she is designing with the goal of helping to match adopters and pets. To learn more about Pet Protect and Connect you can check them out online at www.petprotectandconnect.com, which I recommend even if it is just to check out their adorable Pet Team, and on social media @petprotectandconnect.

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This week I talk with Cynthia Chomos, founder and designer of Catio Spaces. We discuss how she fell into the world of designing catios, what it's like for a woman in a primarily male industry, and just how deep her passion runs when it comes to keeping animals safe! You can learn more about Catio Spaces at www.catiospaces.comand on social media @catiospaces. 

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LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order!

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