The Animal Control Report

What happens when you hit rock bottom and find a reason to fight your way back? In this episode of Keep It Humane: The Podcast, we sit down with Zach Skow, founder of Marley’s Mutts, for a powerful conversation about addiction, recovery, resilience, and the life-changing bond between humans and animals.Zach’s journey is anything but ordinary. From battling addiction and facing end-stage liver disease to rebuilding his life through sobriety and animal rescue, he’s turned personal struggles into a mission that changes lives. Through Marley’s Mutts, Zach has helped create meaningful connections between people and dogs thr...

What happens when the job you dreamed of becomes something you can no longer reconcile with your values?In this episode of Keep It Humane: The Podcast, we sit down with Madeline Krasno, co-founder and Executive Director of Justify, to discuss her journey from working as a primate caretaker at the University of Wisconsin–Madison to becoming an advocate for animals used in research.Madeline shares her experiences working inside a primate laboratory, the animals who left a lasting impact on her, and what ultimately led her to speak out. We explore the realities of animal experimentation, the emotional toll on...

In this episode, we sit down with Friends of Animals to explore the wide-ranging work they’re doing to advocate for animals around the world.From their roots in low-cost spay and neuter to wildlife protection, animal law, habitat conservation, vegan advocacy, and sanctuary work, Friends of Animals has taken a unique approach to animal advocacy for more than 65 years.We talk about their work protecting wild horses and burros, fighting for threatened and endangered species, supporting chimpanzee sanctuaries, challenging policies through the courts, and finding new ways to create a better future for animals.It’s a fascinating conversation abou...

What happens when animal rescue becomes about more than just saving an animal?In this episode, we sit down with The Gentle Barn to talk about the incredible work happening at their sanctuaries in California and Tennessee. From rescuing animals from abuse, neglect, and situations where they might otherwise be euthanized, to creating unique programs that connect people with animals, The Gentle Barn is doing some truly amazing work.We talk about rescue, rehabilitation, animal sanctuary, education, Cow Hug Therapy®, working with children and vulnerable communities, emergency animal evacuations, and the powerful stories behind the animals who call The Gentle B...

What happens when a professional hockey team uses its platform to make a difference far beyond the ice?In this episode of Keep It Humane: The Podcast, we sit down with Courtney Mahoney of the Chicago Wolves to talk about the incredible community work happening through the organization.Courtney joined us to help promote the Wolves’ upcoming adoption event at their first home game on October 10, 2026, but our conversation quickly became so much more.We dive into the Wolves’ commitment to animal adoption, their long-running Adopt-A-Dog program, community partnerships, charitable initiatives, and the many ways professional sports can create opportunities to h...

Animal welfare is rewarding work—but it can also come with an emotional cost that isn't talked about nearly enough.In this episode of Keep It Humane: The Podcast, we sit down with Jamie McNally of Fortifyu for an honest conversation about moral injury, compassion fatigue, burnout, trauma, and the psychological challenges faced by people who work with animals.What happens when you know what you believe is right for an animal, but circumstances, policies, resources, or the system prevent you from doing it? How does repeatedly facing those situations affect the people doing this work?We explore the difference be...

What happens when a police K-9 is critically injured in the line of duty? Who is responsible for getting that animal lifesaving emergency care—and what happens when every second counts?In this episode of Keep It Humane: The Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Lindsay Kendrick of VEG ER for Pets to take a closer look at Nero’s Law in Massachusetts, legislation created to provide emergency veterinary care and transportation for police dogs injured in the line of duty.We discuss the story behind Nero’s Law, how it works in practice, the role emergency veterinarians play when these...

What happens when a physician, animal welfare advocate, and community educator starts asking some uncomfortable questions about how we approach responsible pet ownership?In this episode of Keep It Humane, we sit down with Robin Lapre to talk about her journey into animal welfare, the challenges facing animal control and shelters, and why education may be one of the most important tools we have to prevent animals from entering the shelter system in the first place.We talk about responsible pet ownership, roaming dogs, public safety, community education, and the sometimes difficult conversation about what it really means to be...

What happens to animals used in scientific research? And what does the world of laboratory animal advocacy actually look like?In this episode of Keep It Humane: The Podcast, we sit down with Meredith Blanchard of the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) for a conversation that takes us into a part of the animal welfare world many of us rarely encounter.We talk about laboratory animals, the history of animal research, the push for alternatives, what happens to animals after research, and the complex ethical and policy questions surrounding the use of animals in science.Whether you already have strong opinions...

In this episode, Ashley, Ashlee, and Daniel explore the resources available to animal welfare professionals—from training and professional organizations to research, grants, tools, and resources for some of the toughest challenges we face.We’ve also created a Keep It Humane Resource Page to make it easier to find trusted organizations and resources all in one place.👉 Visit: keepithumane.com/resourcesAnd there’s a little something extra at the end! 🎉 Listen all the way through for our trivia question. The first person to answer correctly will receive FREE enrollment in a Keep It Humane course!Think you know the answer? Emai...

Holistic pet health has become one of the most talked-about—and debated—topics in animal welfare. In this episode of Keep It Humane, we sit down with Angela Ardolino, founder of CBD Dog Health and MycoDog, to explore the growing world of natural therapies for pets.From CBD and medicinal mushrooms to fresh food diets and the endocannabinoid system, Angela shares how she became one of the leading voices in holistic pet wellness and why she believes a more natural approach can help improve the lives of companion animals.We also discuss the science behind these therapies, where the research stan...

Join Daniel Ettinger, Ashley Bishop, and Ashlee Bishop as they welcome Julie Choi, founder of YongsanCats in Seoul, South Korea.What happens to community cats when an entire neighborhood is demolished? Julie shares the story behind YongsanCats, the challenges of rescuing cats displaced by urban redevelopment, and how her team has helped hundreds of cats find safety through rescue, foster care, and adoption.The conversation explores community cat management, the innovative Trap-Neuter-Adopt (TNA) model, the impact of large-scale redevelopment on animals, and what other communities can learn from YongsanCats' work.Whether you're an animal control officer, shelter professional, rescuer, or...

Elephants are intelligent, emotional, and deeply social animals—but many have endured years of abuse, neglect, and exploitation before finding safety. In this episode of Keep It Humane: The Podcast, hosts Daniel Ettinger, Ashlee Bishop, and Ashley Bishop sit down with Nikki Sharp, Executive Director of Wildlife SOS USA, to explore the incredible work being done to rescue and rehabilitate elephants, sloth bears, leopards, and other wildlife in India.Nikki shares the remarkable stories behind elephant rescues, the successful campaign to end India's dancing bear trade, and what it takes to care for some of the world's largest and most co...

Wildlife rehabilitation is more than rescuing animals—it’s about understanding ecosystems, making difficult decisions, and giving animals the best possible chance to return home. In this episode of Keep It Humane: The Podcast, Daniel sits down with Erin Stacks, founder of Back 2 the Wild Rehab in Michigan.Erin discusses her journey into wildlife rehabilitation, her work with injured and orphaned animals, the challenges of raising and releasing wildlife, and why education is one of the most important tools in conservation. From orphaned deer to birds of prey, Erin gives listeners a rare look into the dedication, heartbreak, and hope behi...

In Part Two of our interview with Kim Alboum, Director of Field Operations at BISSELL Pet Foundation, we pick up where we left off by answering the question Kim posed to us at the end of Part One. From there, we dive even deeper into bullying in animal welfare, respond to questions submitted by our listeners, and even ask AI for its perspective on one of the profession's toughest challenges.If you work in animal welfare, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. Real change starts with honest dialogue—and that's exactly what this episode is about.Help pe...

In Part Two of our interview with Kim Alboum, Director of Field Operations at BISSELL Pet Foundation, we pick up where we left off by answering the question Kim posed to us at the end of Part One. From there, we dive even deeper into bullying in animal welfare, respond to questions submitted by our listeners, and even ask AI for its perspective on one of the profession's toughest challenges.If you work in animal welfare, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. Real change starts with honest dialogue—and that's exactly what this episode is about.Help pe...

Bullying. Toxic workplace culture. Silence.These aren’t topics we often discuss in animal welfare—but they should be.In Part One of this two-part interview, we’re joined by Kim Alboum, Director of Field Operations at BISSELL Pet Foundation, to discuss her powerful article, The Thing Nobody in Animal Welfare Wants to Talk About. Together, we explore why bullying continues to exist in our profession, the impact it has on individuals and organizations, and why creating healthier workplace cultures is essential if we truly want to help animals.This is an honest, sometimes uncomfortable, but incredibly important conversation that every...

Actor, producer, and lifelong animal advocate Billy McNamara joins Keep it Humane for a candid conversation about his remarkable journey from Hollywood to hands-on animal rescue. Billy shares how his passion for animals evolved into a lifelong mission, the unforgettable rescues that have shaped his perspective, and why he believes compassion should always come before convenience.We also discuss the current state of animal welfare, the challenges facing shelters and animal control professionals, and how each of us can make a meaningful difference for animals in our own communities.Whether you know Billy from the big screen or his tireless...

The Fourth of July may be a day of celebration, but for animal control officers and animal shelters, it’s often one of the busiest—and most challenging—times of the year.Join Ashlee and Daniel as they discuss the impact fireworks and holiday festivities have on pets, animal shelters, and the professionals working around the clock to reunite lost animals with their families. They also share practical tips to help keep pets safe and reduce the number of animals that end up in shelters over the holiday.Whether you’re an animal welfare professional or a pet owner, this episode...

This week on Keep it Humane, we sit down with renowned dog trainer, behavior consultant, author, and speaker Melissa McCue-McGrath. Known for her wit, honesty, and practical approach to animal behavior, Melissa shares lessons learned from years of working with dogs and the people who love them.
We discuss the realities of dog training, common misconceptions about canine behavior, and the challenges facing pet owners, shelters, rescues, and animal welfare professionals. Melissa also talks about her books, her podcast, and why understanding behavior is about much more than teaching a dog to sit.
Whether you’re an animal co...

This week on Keep it Humane: The Podcast, we sit down with former St. Clair County Animal Control Director Melissa Miller following her recent resignation after a controversial vote by county commissioners to rewrite the county’s animal control ordinance. The changes shifted criminal animal cruelty investigations away from Animal Control and placed those responsibilities with local law enforcement agencies, a move Miller publicly opposed before stepping down. (St. Clair Area View⁠)
Melissa joins us to discuss the events leading up to her resignation, her concerns about the future of animal cruelty investigations, and what these changes could mean for...

In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, Daniel Ettinger and Ashley Bishop sit down with the team from Feral Fixers TNR Club to discuss the important role Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs play in managing community cat populations and improving the lives of cats and the neighborhoods they call home.
We explore the realities of community cat management, the challenges faced by volunteers and animal welfare organizations, and how grassroots efforts can create meaningful change. From reducing shelter intake to improving cat welfare and strengthening community partnerships, this conversation highlights the impact dedicated advocates can have when they come...

In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, Daniel Ettinger, Ashlee Bishop and Ashley Bishop sit down with Dr. Sara Pizano, founder of Team Shelter USA, for a candid conversation about the current state of animal sheltering in America.
From intake diversion and community-based programs to public policy, field services, and shelter operations, Dr. Pizano shares lessons learned from working with shelters and communities across the country. The discussion explores how animal welfare has evolved over the years, the challenges shelters face today, and the difficult decisions that come with balancing animal care, public expectations, and limited resources.<...

Daniel and Ashley are joined by Nicole Navarro from Pawsitive Beginnings to talk animal rescue, advocacy, and the realities of working in animal welfare. From helping vulnerable animals to supporting the community, Nicole shares the passion and challenges behind the work being done every day to make a difference.
The conversation covers rescue efforts, public perception, collaboration in animal welfare, and the dedication it takes to keep showing up for animals in need. Honest, insightful, and fun, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Ashley Bishop takes over the mic solo for this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast as she sits down with the team from Anti-Cruelty, Chicago’s oldest and largest open-door animal welfare organization. Founded in 1899, Anti-Cruelty has spent more than a century evolving alongside the animal welfare profession while staying committed to the bond between people and pets.
Ashley and her guests dive into the realities of modern sheltering, including access to care, community outreach, veterinary affordability, pet retention, and what sustainable animal welfare really looks like in 2026. The conversation explores how organizations can move beyond statistics and fo...

What started as a classroom demonstration about how quickly cats can reproduce without spay and neuter somehow turned into the CATTOO challenge, 27 tattoos, and now a Forbes article.
In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, Daniel and Ashley break down the story behind the article, why the CATTOO challenge was created, and the bigger conversation around cat overpopulation, access to care, and responsible animal welfare.
They also discuss the real impact of spay and neuter programs, the strain shelters and rescues continue to face, and why community-based solutions matter more than ever.
Sometimes the best...

In this episode, we sit down with the team behind Journey Home Animal Control, a community-driven organization redefining what animal control can look like. Built on compassion, education, and real-world problem solving, Journey Home is filling critical gaps in traditional services—helping keep pets with the families who love them while supporting communities in practical, humane ways.We dive into their innovative approach to lost pet recovery, including the use of trail cameras and behavior-based strategies, and explore how programs like Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and their Home-to-Home rehoming model are reducing shelter intake while improving outcomes for animals and people alike. Fo...

In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, we sit down with Deborah Felin McGaldi from Helen Sanders CatPAWS to talk all things cats, community, and compassion.Deborah shares how CatPAWS is transforming feline welfare in California through their trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs, low-cost spay/neuter clinic, kitten fostering network, and community outreach efforts across Southern California. We dive into the ethics and realities of TNR, including the often controversial topic of spay-abort procedures for pregnant feral cats, and discuss the legal challenges surrounding TNR practices in California.The impact of their work is undeniable—Deborah explains how their programs ha...

In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, we sit down with Genevieve Frederick, the founder of Feeding Pets of the Homeless, to talk about a mission that’s saving lives on both ends of the leash.Genevieve shares how a simple moment of compassion sparked a nationwide movement dedicated to providing food, veterinary care, and essential resources for pets belonging to people experiencing homelessness. We dig into the real challenges faced by this often-overlooked population, the powerful human-animal bond that persists through hardship, and how communities—and animal welfare professionals—can step up in meaningful ways.This conversation challe...

In this episode, Daniel and Ashley sit down with Dr. Kevin Tillman, a veterinarian with over 40 years of experience, to explore what it really means to help pets live longer—and better—lives. From the four pillars of pet longevity to the role of diet, early diagnostics, supplements, and emerging longevity drugs like rapamycin, Dr. Kevin breaks down practical, evidence-based strategies that challenge traditional approaches to veterinary care. The conversation dives into breed-specific health risks, the impact of exercise and injury prevention, and groundbreaking advances in feline medicine, including new treatments for heart disease. Dr. Kevin also shares a candid pers...

What if the challenges we’re facing in animal welfare today aren’t new at all?In this episode of Keep it Humane, we sit down with Audrey Lodato—Senior Director of Regional Programs at Best Friends Animal Society and creator of the animal welfare history blog Barking at the Knot—to uncover how the past continues to shape the present.From the early 1800s “War Against Dogs” to the fear-driven policies surrounding rabies and hydrophobia, Audrey walks us through how societal pressures, public health concerns, and even misinformation helped build the foundation of modern animal control. We explore how practices li...

Daniel is out this week… which means Ashley Bishop and Ashlee Bishop have taken over the podcast.That’s right—no supervision.In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, the Ashleys talk about something that isn’t always easy to discuss in animal welfare: compassion fatigue. They dive into the emotional weight of the job, the stress that comes with working in animal control and shelters, and why even the most dedicated professionals sometimes feel completely drained.Along the way they share real experiences from the field, talk about how this work affects people behind the scenes, and discuss...

A recent large-scale animal seizure in Los Angeles County—where more than 300 animals were removed from a single property—serves as the backdrop for this episode. But this isn’t a breakdown of that case.Because the truth is… we don’t have all the facts. And neither does anyone else—yet.Instead, we use this moment to talk about what really happens when a large-scale impound hits an agency.From the outside, these cases look like heroic rescues. And they are. But behind the scenes, they’re also complex, messy, resource-draining operations that can push even the best-run organizations to their limit...

In this episode, Ashley, Ashlee, and Daniel take a deep dive into the evolution of animal welfare by breaking down the Five Domains of Animal Welfare and how they differ from the traditional Five Freedoms.The team explores how the Five Freedoms laid the foundation for humane care—focusing on preventing suffering—while the Five Domains push the conversation further by emphasizing an animal’s overall experience, including positive mental states. Through real-world examples from animal control and sheltering, they unpack what this shift means for decision-making, enforcement, and daily care.From nutrition and environment to behavior and mental well-being, this e...

In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, Daniel Ettinger and Ashley Bishop unpack a controversial and costly case out of Los Angeles that has many in the animal welfare field asking hard questions.A Los Angeles County jury recently awarded $5.4 million to a woman who was severely injured by a dog while picking it up from a city animal shelter for transport to a rescue group. The dog — a Belgian Malinois named Maximus — reportedly had a documented history of biting multiple people, including incidents that sent a teenager and a shelter employee to the hospital. The transporter alleged she...

In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, Daniel Ettinger and Ashley Bishop sit down with Sam Amalsadwala, a Montreal-based dog behavior expert whose path into animal behavior is anything but traditional.Originally from India and trained as a chef, Sam shares how a career transition — and a deep curiosity about dogs — led him to build a unique approach to canine behavior grounded in observation, relationship-building, and real-world socialization. Drawing from his cultural background, including the role dogs play within Zoroastrian traditions, Sam offers a perspective on human–animal relationships that challenges many Western assumptions about dog ownership and traini...

In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, Daniel Ettinger and Ashley Bishop sit down with Dr. Doonerstag, DVM, for an insightful conversation exploring the critical role veterinarians play in animal welfare, shelter medicine, and community-based care.Dr. Doonerstag shares perspectives from the veterinary field on some of the most complex challenges facing animal control agencies and shelters today — from medical decision-making and capacity for care to collaboration between veterinarians, animal control officers, and shelter professionals. The discussion dives into how veterinary expertise supports humane outcomes, improves field response, and helps agencies balance compassion with practical realities.Together, we ex...

Before Keep it Humane, there was The Humane Roundup — the show that started it all.In this special episode, we bring back two of the original hosts of The Humane Roundup — the voices who helped lay the foundation for the conversations we’re still having today. We revisit where it all began, why the show was created, what was happening in animal welfare at the time, and how those early discussions shaped what the podcast has become.We talk about:The original mission behind The Humane RoundupHow the profession has evolved since those early episodesThe hard lessons, the proud moments, and th...

In this fun and heartfelt episode, Ashley and I dive into one of the most creative shelter fundraisers we’ve seen yet — the “Neuter Your Ex” campaign from Check out the “Neuter Your Ex” promotion and how it helps community cats. We break down how this playful idea raises funds for spay/neuter programs that reduce feral cat overpopulation, support Trap-Neuter-Return efforts, and ultimately save lives. Plus, we share other practical and impactful things shelters can do right now — from low-cost spay/neuter clinics and community TNR efforts to engaging events and creative donor opportunities that help animals find better lives. Whether...

In this episode of Keep It Humane: The Podcast, Daniel Ettinger, Ashley Bishop, and Ashlee Bishop sit down with children’s author Marshall Silverman. Marshall reads from his heartfelt book Can I Please Have a Dog and shares the inspiration behind the story. We talk about patience, responsibility, and the powerful connection between kids, animals, and storytelling. It’s a warm, family-friendly episode that highlights how books can spark empathy and meaningful conversations.