The Animal Welfare Junction

Laura Koivula,  director of Animal Crimes and Investigations for Humane World for Animal’s Animal Rescue Team, discusses the LINK between animal cruelty and family violence. 

The 2025 Animal ForensiCon: The Animal Forensic Investigations Conference is a three-day event, offered in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida from May 7th to 9th, 2025. The conference is hosted by the University of Florida’s Veterinary Forensic Sciences Laboratory.

ForensiCon offers workshops and educational sessions on a wide variety of topics pertaining to criminal investigations, law, small animal investigations, equine and livestock investigations, and wildlife crimes. This conference is open to anyone i...

Can the internet be a resource for criminal investigations? Jacob Lloyd, from the Animal Welfare Investigations Project, shares with us do’s and don’ts of internet searching in animal crimes.

The 2025 Animal ForensiCon: The Animal Forensic Investigations Conference is a three-day event, offered in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida from May 7th to 9th, 2025. The conference is hosted by the University of Florida’s Veterinary Forensic Sciences Laboratory.

ForensiCon offers workshops and educational sessions on a wide variety of topics pertaining to criminal investigations, law, small animal investigations, equine and livestock investigations, and wildlife crimes. This c...

If you ever watched the show Bones, here is the real thing. Verity Mathis talks about the collection of species and how they can help with identification of unknown samples.

The 2025 Animal ForensiCon: The Animal Forensic Investigations Conference is a three-day event, offered in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida from May 7th to 9th, 2025. The conference is hosted by the University of Florida’s Veterinary Forensic Sciences Laboratory.

ForensiCon offers workshops and educational sessions on a wide variety of topics pertaining to criminal investigations, law, small animal investigations, equine and livestock investigations, and wildlife crimes. This co...

FBI Agent Lauren Regucci discusses the FBI’s 12-step approach to evidence collection and the importance of properly documenting a crime scene.

The 2025 Animal ForensiCon: The Animal Forensic Investigations Conference is a three-day event, offered in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida from May 7th to 9th, 2025. The conference is hosted by the University of Florida’s Veterinary Forensic Sciences Laboratory.

ForensiCon offers workshops and educational sessions on a wide variety of topics pertaining to criminal investigations, law, small animal investigations, equine and livestock investigations, and wildlife crimes. This conference is open to anyone interested in animal fore...

Justin McClure, Agriculture Investigator for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, shares information on the evaluation of livestock for cruelty and neglect and gives advise on how to assess their condition to determine if a crime is being committed.

The 2025 Animal ForensiCon: The Animal Forensic Investigations Conference is a three-day event, offered in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida from May 7th to 9th, 2025. The conference is hosted by the University of Florida’s Veterinary Forensic Sciences Laboratory.

ForensiCon offers workshops and educational sessions on a wide variety of topics pertaining to criminal investigations, law, smal...

Laura Hope, Assistant State Attorney for the 5th Circuit, shares information on jury selection and expert witness testimony in jury trials.

The 2025 Animal ForensiCon: The Animal Forensic Investigations Conference is a three-day event, offered in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida from May 7th to 9th, 2025. The conference is hosted by the University of Florida’s Veterinary Forensic Sciences Laboratory.

ForensiCon offers workshops and educational sessions on a wide variety of topics pertaining to criminal investigations, law, small animal investigations, equine and livestock investigations, and wildlife crimes. This conference is open to anyone interested in animal forensic inv...

Janette Reever, dogfighting expert from the Humane World for Animals gives a quick review on dogfighting, what to look for and document both to present a strong criminal case.

The 2025 Animal ForensiCon: The Animal Forensic Investigations Conference is a three-day event, offered in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida from May 7th to 9th, 2025. The conference is hosted by the University of Florida’s Veterinary Forensic Sciences Laboratory.

ForensiCon offers workshops and educational sessions on a wide variety of topics pertaining to criminal investigations, law, small animal investigations, equine and livestock investigations, and wildlife crimes. This conference is...

The 2025 Animal ForensiCon: The Animal Forensic Investigations Conference is a three-day event, offered in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida from May 7th to 9th, 2025. The conference is hosted by the University of Florida’s Veterinary Forensic Sciences Laboratory.

ForensiCon offers workshops and educational sessions on a wide variety of topics pertaining to criminal investigations, law, small animal investigations, equine and livestock investigations, and wildlife crimes. This conference is open to anyone interested in animal forensic investigations. Attendees will also have the opportunity to network with faculty, experts, and investigators.

Day One: Dr. G interviewed the speakers fo...

Join us on a behind the scenes look at the HBO documentary Chimp Crazy. Dr. G is joined by Brittany Peet,  General Counsel for Captive Animal Law Enforcement for the PETA Foundation, and Angela Scott, volunteer turned whistleblower who helped rescue several chimps from the Missouri Primate Foundation. On this episode, we discuss the documentary as well as some facts not mentioned on the show. Brittany Peet also shares an overview of the Captive Primate Safety Act, and how we need this legislation for the welfare of primates and the safety of humans.

You can help us pr...

Last year, a case came before the Ohio Supreme Court that challenged the legal status of dogs and cats as companion animals based on being "kept". Dr. G's guests, Cuyahoga County Assistant Prosecutors Tasha Forchione and Sarah Hutnik, will take you through the entire process, from the initial guilty verdict to the court of appeals, and ultimately their work presenting this case at the Ohio Supreme Court. This case was important beyond justice for this cat and accountability for Mr. Kyles. You will hear about other cases that were directly impacted by the Supreme Court's decision.

Ohio...

Are you successful at reaching your clients, donors, or adopters? We do not have a single audience, and our message has to be directed towards a multitude of individuals if we want to make a difference in the lives of animals. This is not always an easy task, but it is not an impossible one either.

To help us learn the different ways in which we can reach our audience, and the importance of understanding the community in which we live in, Dr. G has invited Mia Navedo-Williams to discuss marketing and communications in multi-cultural environments.

Kathleen Wood, Senior Staff Attorney for The Animal Legal Defense Fund (aldf.org), joins Dr. G to discuss the 2023 ALDF State Animal Protection Ranking Report. Learn about the purpose and the information found on this document, and how it can help promote better animal protection laws in every state.

You can help us spread the word and protect more animals from cruelty and neglect by liking, rating, and sharing the podcast. Together we can make a difference in the lives of animals everywhere.

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Investigative reporters for the LA Times, Melody Gutierrez and Alene Tchekmedyian, discuss the findings of their investigation into the puppy mill pipeline to California, the cruelty and the fraud. From the LA Times:

Help us by sharing, liking, and rating this ep...

Dr. G chats with the Executive Director of Cat Hustler, Julia Grosz, about the Acatemy, a weekend program geared towards cat owners, rescuers, and caretakers. Learn about the program and the amazing speakers who will be featured at this event.

About the Acatemy

They say “it's all about the cats” but The Acatemy understands that nothing can be achieved without people like you behind the scenes.

Our programming is designed to support individuals and their organizations by providing a space for networking, education, personal and professional growth, community building, skill development, and fostering bran...

The interconnection between humans and animals extends beyond the human-animal bond into many different ways in which we interact with animals. On this episode, Dr. G and guest Marika Bell, dive into Anthrozoology, behavior, shelter animals, and more. Marika also shares her experiences interviewing individuals who helped the animals from the Maui wildfires.

About our guest: Marika has an MA in Anthrozoology from the ⁠University of Exeter⁠, holds a ⁠BA in Zoology (UW)⁠ and has been a CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer, from the ⁠Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers⁠, since 2011. As the host of The Deal with Animals, she en...

The Animal Welfare Junction Episode 70: The Puppy Mill Pipeline to Texas, with guest Shelby Bobosky, Esq.

Attorney Shelby Bobosky, Executive Director of the Texas Humane Legislation Network, joins us to discuss the puppy mill pipeline to Texas, Texas breeder laws, and how consumers are dumped into spending thousands of dollars on sick puppies.

For information on the efforts of the Texas Humane Legislation Network, visit www.THLN.org

Mentioned in this episode:

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Use keyword keepithumane at checkout at livetrap.com

Keep it Humane Podcast...

All animals deserve a life free from pain and suffering, and this includes farm animals.

Dr. Susan Krebsbach, Executive Director for the Veterinary Association for Farm Animal Welfare, joins us to discuss this difficult topic. While we realize that animal use for food and fiber won't end soon, we must ensure that these animals are not abused and neglected simply because of their final fate. This is a discussion of what is currently being done, what can be done better, and how we can all help farm animals live a better life.

Please take a...

Dr. Rustin Moore, Dean of The Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine and author of the book "Unleashing the Bond: Harnessing the Benefits and Safeguarding the Risks of Human-Animal Interactions", joins us to discuss the importance of the human-animal bond and his upcoming book release. This book is for all audiences, and shares the science behind the bond as well as stories that highlight the important role animals have in our lives.

To pre-order, visit www.rustinmooredvm.com

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The Animal Welfare Junction...

This episode of The Animal Welfare Junction podcast takes place during the My Dog is My Home and Found House 10th Anniversary celebration in Cincinnati, OH. These organizations help individuals experiencing homelessness with their pets.

This episode contains the stories of four individuals who, for different reasons, found themselves homeless along with their animal companions. They share their stories of heartbreak and hope, and how Found House and My Dog is My Home helped them along their journey. For more information, visit www.mydogismyhome.org and www.foundhouse.org

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Dan Ettinger, host of The Animal Control Report, joins Dr. G to discuss SMART animal shelters and its goal to Save More Animals Responsibly Together.

For more information on SMART, visit www.keepithumane.com

Like our content? Help us by rating and sharing our podcast. Together we can make a difference in the lives of animals and the people who care for them.

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Keep it Humane Podcast Network

The Animal Welfare Junction is part of the Keep It Humane Podcast Network. Visit keepithumane.com/podcastnetwork...

What is a puppy mill? Mark Finneran, Ohio State Director for the Humane Society of the United States shares information about puppy mills, their horrible practices, the problems with the current laws and what advocates are doing to help both the dogs and consumers.

Did you know that Ohio is the 2nd state in Commercial Dog Breeding and Broker licenses, second only to Missouri? This is not something that Ohioans should be proud of, and it is up to advocacy groups, government entities, and consumers to put a stop to this practice.

Please help us...

This is part two of a two-part series on the petition created by the Harvard Law School's Animal Law Clinic on behalf of wildlife animal advocates seeking to eliminate anticoagulant rodenticides in Massachusetts. Not only are these poisons a cruel way to kill rodents, the victims of these devices extend to wildlife and even species that are protected.

Our guests will discuss how they have come together in this fight, the importance of education of the public on this issue, and what we can do together to promote species conservation and welfare. They will also share their...

This is part one of a two-part series on the petition created by the Harvard Law School's Animal Law Clinic on behalf of wildlife animal advocates seeking to eliminate anticoagulant rodenticides in Massachusetts. Not only are these poisons a cruel way to kill rodents, the victims of these devices extend to wildlife and even species that are protected.

Our guests will discuss how they have come together in this fight, the importance of education of the public on this issue, and what we can do together to promote species conservation and welfare. They will also share their...

When animals are in danger, people are in danger.

We know that there is a direct link between animal abuse and interpersonal violence, which is the driving force behind mandatory reporting laws. This is not just for cases of violence but also of neglect.

Our guest Rachel Batten, Humane Officer at the Medina County SPCA in Ohio, shares her experience with a case of animal hoarding that revealed child neglect. Thanks to her efforts both the animals and the child were removed from the situation.

Listen to the story of how it unfolded...

We are in person at the 2024 Animal Forensic Conference in Gainesville, Florida! Dr. G will be interviewing several of the speakers to give our audience a bit of the knowledge gained through the presentations. We will be releasing each interview individually to allow our listeners to find topics of interest.

Adam Leath shares his knowledge on cockfighting, and we contrast it to dogfighting to learn the similarities and differences of both forms of criminal activity.

We would also like to invite our listeners involved in animal cruelty investigations to visit and join the International Society...

We are in person at the 2024 Animal Forensic Conference in Gainesville, Florida! Dr. G will be interviewing several of the speakers to give our audience a bit of the knowledge gained through the presentations. We will be releasing each interview individually to allow our listeners to find topics of interest.

Dr. Diego De Gasperi, Equine clinician and faculty at the University of Florida, helps us understand the uniques needs of horse dental care, common problems, and the consequences of dental disease.

We would also like to invite our listeners involved in animal cruelty investigations to...

We are in person at the 2024 Animal Forensic Conference in Gainesville, Florida! Dr. G will be interviewing several of the speakers to give our audience a bit of the knowledge gained through the presentations. We will be releasing each interview individually to allow our listeners to find topics of interest.

Snakes! What you don't know may hurt you. Robert O'Horo from Florida Fish and Wildlife discusses the venomous snakes most commonly found in the U.S., the mechanism of their venom, and how to avoid a deadly encounter.

We would also like to invite our...

We are in person at the 2024 Animal Forensic Conference in Gainesville, Florida! Dr. G will be interviewing several of the speakers to give our audience a bit of the knowledge gained through the presentations. We will be releasing each interview individually to allow our listeners to find topics of interest.

Ken Trusley, from Florida Fish and Wildlife, discusses the types of hunting incidents seen in the field, from human causes to animal causes.

We would also like to invite our listeners involved in animal cruelty investigations to visit and join the International Society for Animal...

We are in person at the 2024 Animal Forensic Conference in Gainesville, Florida! Dr. G will be interviewing several of the speakers to give our audience a bit of the knowledge gained through the presentations. We will be releasing each interview individually to allow our listeners to find topics of interest.

Dr. Rachel Barton, Chief Veterinarian for Tallahassee Animal Services, discusses the importance of recognizing and reporting blunt force trauma in cases of suspected abuse.

We would also like to invite our listeners involved in animal cruelty investigations to visit and join the International Society for...

We are in person at the 2024 Animal Forensic Conference in Gainesville, Florida! Dr. G will be interviewing several of the speakers to give our audience a bit of the knowledge gained through the presentations. We will be releasing each interview individually to allow our listeners to find topics of interest.

Dr. Jim Crosby is an expert on animal aggression and dog bites, especially fatalities. With a previous background in police work, he brings a different perspective to crimes involving dog bites. What makes a dog bite? How serious are bites depending on severity? What is the Dunbar...

We are in person at the 2024 Animal Forensic Conference in Gainesville, Florida! Dr. G will be interviewing several of the speakers to give our audience a bit of the knowledge gained through the presentations. We will be releasing each interview individually to allow our listeners to find topics of interest.

Dr. Courtney Valerio, Veterinary Forensic Pathologist, breaks down the process of a forensic necropsy and describes the information that can be obtained when investigating an animal crime or suspicious death.

We would also like to invite our listeners involved in animal cruelty investigations to visit...

We are in person at the 2024 Animal Forensic Conference in Gainesville, Florida! Dr. G will be interviewing several of the speakers to give our audience a bit of the knowledge gained through the presentations. We will be releasing each interview individually to allow our listeners to find topics of interest.

We all have rights against illegal search and seizure, but how are our rights leveled with victim rights and what can officers do to ensure that evidence collected is allowed in trial? Prosecutor Lauryn Day asnwers these questions and gives advice on how to help build a...

We are in person at the 2024 Animal Forensic Conference in Gainesville, Florida! Dr. G will be interviewing several of the speakers to give our audience a bit of the knowledge gained through the presentations. We will be releasing each interview individually to allow our listeners to find topics of interest.

Dr. Maria Serrano explains the live animal forensic examination and what veterinarians can do to be better advocates for animals.

We would also like to invite our listeners involved in animal cruelty investigations to visit and join the International Society for Animal Forensic Sciences https://i...

We are in person at the 2024 Animal Forensic Conference in Gainesville, Florida! Dr. G will be interviewing several of the speakers to give our audience a bit of the knowledge gained through the presentations. We will be releasing each interview individually to allow our listeners to find topics of interest.

Preparing for court has many moving parts and Jamie McManus discusses the process from initial hearings to trial. She also explains witness preparation and what veterinarians can do to be better advocates for animals.

We would also like to invite our listeners involved in animal...

We are in person at the 2024 Animal Forensic Conference in Gainesville, Florida! Dr. G will be interviewing several of the speakers to give our audience a bit of the knowledge gained through the presentations. We will be releasing each interview individually to allow our listeners to find topics of interest.

We all know, or at least think we know, the uses of DNA in criminal cases, but with true crime and criminal drama shows, our expectations may not be realistic. Ginger Clark, DNA Analyst at the University of Florida Veterinary Forensic Sciences Laboratory, discusses the uses of...

We are in person at the 2024 Animal Forensic Conference in Gainesville, Florida! Dr. G will be interviewing several of the speakers to give our audience a bit of the knowledge gained through the presentations. We will be releasing each interview individually to allow our listeners to find topics of interest.

What is photogrammetry and how can it help in animal crime investigations? Eileen Roy-Zokan discusses the use of known objects in images to estimate the size of other objects, how this is done now, and where is this technology headed.

We would also like to...

We are in person at the 2024 Animal Forensic Conference in Gainesville, Florida! Dr. G will be interviewing several of the speakers to give our audience a bit of the knowledge gained through the presentations. We will be releasing each interview individually to allow our listeners to find topics of interest.

Dr. Jason Byrd, Board Certified Forensic Entomologist, discusses the use and importance of insect collection at crime scenes and from deceased animals, how to submit them, and the information that can be obtained from this forensic tool.

We would also like to invite our listeners...

We are in person at the 2024 Animal Forensic Conference in Gainesville, Florida! Dr. G will be interviewing several of the speakers to give our audience a bit of the knowledge gained through the presentations. We will be releasing each interview individually to allow our listeners to find topics of interest.

Shoe prints and tire tracks can help place individuals at crime scenes. To learn more about this we interviewed Katherine Beck from the Alachua County Sheriff's Office.

We would also like to invite our listeners involved in animal cruelty investigations to visit and join the...

We are in person at the 2024 Animal Forensic Conference in Gainesville, Florida! Dr. G will be interviewing several of the speakers to give our audience a bit of the knowledge gained through the presentations. We will be releasing each interview individually to allow our listeners to find topics of interest.

Geographic Information Systems is the use of technology to identify crime hotspots through the use of spatial data. This is very useful in the prevention of wildlife crimes and poaching. Experts Jessica Pfohl and Anne Washington from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, share their knowledge and...

We are in person at the 2024 Animal Forensic Conference in Gainesville, Florida! Dr. G will be interviewing several of the speakers to give our audience a bit of the knowledge gained through the presentations. We will be releasing each interview individually to allow our listeners to find topics of interest.

This episode is the first interview of the conference, and we have Amber Wallyn, Animal Cruelty Investigator in Lake County, Florida. She will discuss best practices in an animal crimes investigation to build a strong case. This episode is valuable to all individuals involved in the case...