The Rocky Mountain Vet Podcast

What’s really going wrong with America’s animal shelters, and what can we do about it? This week, we're joined by Cara Achterberg, cofounder of Who Will Let the Dogs Out, an organization that has visited more than 220 shelters across the country. Cara shares what she's learned about the challenges shelters face, what successful shelters are doing differently, and why more money and bigger buildings aren't always the answer. We also discuss the controversy surrounding the no kill movement, the importance of affordable veterinary care, and how communities can help shelters better serve both animals and the people who...

Animal rescue is driven by compassion, but what happens when the people trying to help are pushed to their breaking point? Joined once again by Becca from Yaqui Animal Rescue, Dr. Jeff and Andrew Duffer discuss the unrealistic expectations placed on rescues, the rising cost of veterinary care, and the emotional and financial toll of trying to save animals with limited resources.

They also tackle some uncomfortable realities of animal welfare, including euthanasia, overpopulation, and why saving every animal isn't always possible. It's a conversation about knowing when to say no, setting boundaries, and understanding that sometimes...

In this episode of The Rocky Mountain Vet Podcast, Andrew Duffer and Dr. Jeff Young welcome back Theresa Strader, founder of National Mill Dog Rescue, for a candid conversation about the darker side of dog breeding.

From French Bulldogs struggling to breathe to dogs bred for exaggerated physical features, we explore what happens when appearance and profit take priority over animal welfare.

Andrew also digs into how puppy mills have moved online, how social media trends influence which dogs are bred and discarded, and what happens to breeding dogs once they're no longer profitable.

On this episode of The Rocky Mountain Vet Podcast, Andrew Duffer and Dr. Jeff Young welcome Emma Clifford, founder and director of Animal Balance, and Jes Soto, Animal Balance's Southern Program Manager and a familiar face from Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet.

Together, they discuss how MASH clinics are bringing affordable spay and neuter services to underserved communities, why preventing animal overpopulation is at the heart of the No Birth Movement, and how Animal Balance is helping communities around the world create lasting change.

They also explore California's AB 2010 legislation, which has now passed, removing...

Dr. Jeff and Andrew are joined by Susy Utzinger for a conversation about the realities of helping animals around the world. Drawing from decades of firsthand experience, Susy shares what she’s seen in Romania and other countries, from overcrowded shelters and street animal populations to the cultural beliefs, limited resources, and lack of education that can make lasting change so difficult.

They also discuss the No Kill movement, international dog rescue, euthanasia, prevention, and the importance of creating sustainable solutions instead of simply treating the problems in front of us. Susy also shares the work behind he...

Few dogs inspire stronger opinions than pit bulls.

This week, Merritt and Beth Clifton of ANIMALS 24 7 join Dr. Jeff and Andy for a candid conversation about their experiences with pit bulls and why their views on the breed have changed over the years.

Beth shares the story of her own pit bull, Trooper, while Merritt explains how decades of journalism and tracking serious and fatal dog attacks shaped his perspective. The conversation explores breed and behavior, reactivity, dog bite severity, shelter overcrowding, the No Kill movement, targeted spay and neuter programs, and the difficult reality...

Dr. Jeff and Andrew sit down with Dr. Tony Ríos of Planned Pethood Mexico to talk about the realities of animal welfare in Mexico and how things have changed after years of spay and neuter work.

Tony shares what life is like for Mexico’s street dogs, including some of the medical problems rarely seen in owned pets in the U.S., from severe tick-borne diseases to TVT, a contagious cancer that can actually spread from dog to dog.

They also get into what it takes to run spay and neu...

Andrew Duffer and Dr. Jeff Young are joined by one of the RMV producers Steve Lukanic and fan favorites Susan Rieger and Hector Martinez for a special reunion before the reunion.

With the Rocky Mountain Vet Reunion just around the corner, the group reflects on their time on the show, shares behind-the-scenes memories, discusses what made the series so special, and talks about why fans continue to connect with Rocky Mountain Vet years after the final episode aired.

They also discuss the realities of filming at Planned Pethood International, the moments viewers never got to...

Andrew Duffer and Dr. Jeff Young are joined by Zach Skow, founder of the Positive Change Prison Dog Program. Zach shares how the program pairs shelter dogs with incarcerated trainers, giving both a second chance while helping dogs become more adoptable and creating future trainers and behaviorists.

The conversation explores how the program got started, how dogs and participants are selected, what daily life inside the program looks like, and the lasting impact it has on both the dogs and the people involved. They also discuss shelter overcrowding, behavior rehabilitation, responsible dog ownership, and some...

his week, Andy Duffer and Dr. Jeff Young are joined by Kathy Gabrielescu from Whiskers Rescue for a raw and eye-opening conversation about feral cat overpopulation, TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return), rescue burnout, and the growing gaps being left behind by shelters and municipalities.

Kathy shares what it’s really like working on the front lines of cat rescue, from trapping over 11,000 cats to dealing with abandoned animals, overcrowded colonies, severe medical neglect, and communities with little to no safety net for animals or the people trying to help them.

The conversation dives into the realities of TNR, th...

Theresa Strader, founder of National Mill Dog Rescue, joins Andy Duffer and Dr. Jeff Young for a raw and eye-opening conversation about the hidden world behind puppy mills, breeding operations, and the dogs caught in the middle of it all.

Together, they discuss the realities of commercial breeding, the ethical questions rescue organizations face, and the emotional, medical, and behavioral damage many of these dogs endure after spending years confined to cages and treated as inventory instead of companions.

The conversation also explores the long road to rehabilitation, the importance of socialization and enrichment, the...

Esther Mechler joins Andrew and Jeff for a conversation about what actually works in animal welfare—and what doesn’t.

We get into the impact of spay and neuter beyond just overpopulation, including longer lifespans, cancer prevention, and behavior. A big focus is Esther’s Fixed by Five campaign and why timing matters more than most people realize.

We also talk about the bigger picture—why we keep reacting to the problem instead of preventing it, where policies and systems are falling short, and how misinformation and money can shape the conversation around animal c...

This conversation gets into where the animal welfare system is actually breaking down, especially when it comes to money, access, and scale.

Ruth Steinberger joins Andrew and Jeff to talk about why so many animals still aren’t getting spayed or neutered, even when we know it works. We dig into the real barriers, cost, distance, wait times...and why a lot of communities are still being left behind.

A big part of the episode focuses on a non-surgical contraception vaccine being developed for street dogs and overpopulated areas...what it is, how it works, an...

In this episode, Andrew Duffer sits down with Dr. Jeff and Daphna Nachminovitch from PETA to talk about what’s really going on inside the animal shelter system. They get into the reality behind no kill policies, how statistics can be misleading, and why a lot of what the public believes doesn’t match what’s actually happening on the ground.

The conversation breaks down where animals end up when they’re turned away, how shelters can look successful on paper while avoiding the hardest cases, and why accountability is often missing. While also talking about the role peo...

Mike Ruiz sits down with Andrew Duffer and Dr. Jeff Young for a real unfiltered conversation about animal cruelty, rescue work, and what is actually happening behind the scenes. Andrew leads the discussion as Mike shares how he got into advocacy through rescue and fundraising, while Jeff brings decades of experience from veterinary medicine and animal control. Together, they get into the misrepresentation of pit bulls, the reality of behavioral issues in shelters, and why so many of these problems start with people, not the animals. The conversation also explores how weak laws and lack of enforcement allow abuse...

This episode takes a hard look at what’s really happening inside the animal welfare system and why so much of it isn’t working the way people think it is.

We get into the lack of transparency in large organizations, how marketing shapes public perception, and why certain practices look good on paper but create real problems in communities. From transport programs and disease spread to intake policies and accountability, we break down how the system is operating behind the scenes.

We also talk about what people aren’t being told, how donors are being...

This episode breaks down what’s actually happening inside the animal welfare system and why so many “feel good” ideas aren’t solving the problem.

We talk about where the money is going, the biggest misconceptions around no-kill shelters, and the difference between publicly funded shelters and private organizations. What sounds humane on paper can lead to overcrowding, suffering, and animals falling through the cracks.

We also get into what actually works—spay and neuter, affordable veterinary care, and real investment in long-term solutions. From Yaqui's MASH clinic to high school programs, we highlight what progress a...

Andrew Joseph Duffer and Dr. Jeff break down what is actually happening inside the animal welfare system, from the rising cost of veterinary care to the gap between what people think is happening and what is really going on. They start with real examples, including a case where basic dental care becomes unaffordable, and how those financial barriers force pet owners into impossible decisions.

The conversation digs into how shelter policies like restricted intake, transfers, and no kill practices can create unintended consequences. Animals are turned away, moved through the system, or never counted at all. It...

Andrew and Dr. Jeff sit down for a real, unfiltered conversation about what’s actually happening in animal welfare and why so much of it isn’t working the way people think it is. They break down the realities behind the no kill movement, the pressure it puts on shelters, and how that affects overcrowding, stress, and long term outcomes for animals.

They get into what shelter management really looks like day to day, why spay and neuter programs are the backbone of any real solution, and how low cost veterinary care can be the difference between an a...