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

This week Nicole Navarro, founder of Pawsitive Beginnings Fox Sanctuary, joins us again to celebrate the sanctuary's 6-year anniversary. Nicole shares exciting milestones including publishing her children's book "Reef the Fox" and hosting a yoga fundraiser, while currently caring for 7 foxes rescued from fur farms. She discusses valuable lessons about trusting her instincts, her meaningful work with children from Florida Keys Children's Shelter, and her commitment to self-care. Looking ahead, Nicole remains open to future rescues and hopes to write more children's books addressing important topics like grief and the fur trade. To learn more about Pawsitive Beginnings you can find them online at www.pawsitivebeginnings.org and on social media @pawsitive_beginnings_inc.Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at theanimalrescuepodcast@gmail.com or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

This week I talk with Patti Eddington, author of "Don't Look in the Freezer: The Very Strange Life of a Veterinarian's Wife," who shares her experiences as the spouse of veterinarian Jim, including the challenges of frequent moves, financial struggles, unexpected client home visits, and memorable incidents like confrontations with irate clients and poor hiring decisions. The book addresses misconceptions about veterinary costs while highlighting the compassion and emotional demands of veterinary work, including performing euthanasias while dealing with personal grief. This book is a must read! "Don't Look in the Freezer" is available April 28 everywhere books are sold. But you should definitely support your local indie bookstore! You can also learn more about Patti's work at www.pattieddington.com and on social media @pattieddingtonauthor.Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at theanimalrescuepodcast@gmail.com or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

This week I talk with Josh from Red Barn Rescue and the Rescueality Podcast. Josh has been rescuing animals since age 5 and founded Red Barn Rescue in Mexico in 2018 with his mom, successfully adopting over 1,500 dogs primarily to the U.S. Currently caring for about 70 dogs—including 25-30 permanent sanctuary residents—Josh and his mom run operations that have included massive adoption events, like placing 84 out of 85 dogs in Washington. Beyond rescue work, Josh launched the Rescueality Podcast to tackle the controversial and difficult topics the rescue community often avoids, from border crossing challenges and cultural differences to corruption, fake rescues, and the realities of managing pack dynamics, disease, and dog fights. His mission is simple: prioritize dogs' welfare and bring transparency to what rescue truly involves beyond the social media highlights. To learn more about Josh's work you can find him on YouTube and social media @rescuealitypodcast and @redbarnrescueranch. You can also go towww.redbarnrescue.org to learn more about the rescue.Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at theanimalrescuepodcast@gmail.com or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

Wildlife SOS, founded in 1995 by Kartick Satyanarayan and Geeta Seshamani, is an Indian animal welfare organization that has made remarkable impact through compassionate, community-focused conservation. Their groundbreaking Dancing Bears Project rescued 628 sloth bears from brutal exploitation while providing alternative livelihoods and education to 3,000 families in the Kalandar community, successfully ending this cruel practice. Building on this success, they established India's first elephant hospital and ambulance service, currently caring for 40 elephants and operating mobile clinics that have helped 142 elephants in 2025 alone. Through their five pillars—rescue and rehabilitation, outreach, education, training, and prevention—Wildlife SOS continues to protect India's wildlife while empowering local communities to become partners in conservation. To learn more about the work of Wildlife SOS you can find them online at www.wildlifesos.org or on social media @wildlifesos.Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at theanimalrescuepodcast@gmail.com or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

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 canine body language, and how to cut through social media's unrealistic portrayals of "perfect" dogs. Whether you're struggling with your own dog or looking for a trainer, Richie shares invaluable insights on building structure, setting boundaries, and honoring dogs for who they truly are—not as humans or objects, but as dogs. Bonus, my husband, Dan, joins in on the fun to get some of his own questions answered! To learn more about Richie and his work you can find him on social media @gretatrainsdogs and online at www.gretasdogtraining.com.Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at theanimalrescuepodcast@gmail.com or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

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—ultimately helping organizations amplify their impact while maintaining authentic connections with their communities. To learn more about the work Heather and her team are doing you can find them at www.orangeorchardpr.com or on social media @orangeorchardpr. Heather Ripley is the founder and CEO of Ripley PR, an elite global public relations agency, and its affiliate agencies, Orange Orchard, an award-winning public relations agency specializing in animal advocacy and the promotion of animal-friendly brands, and Adventure PR, a new division created to elevate adventure travel, RV manufacturers, camping and outdoor companies.At Orange Orchard, Heather leads a passionate team that helps purpose-driven brands elevate their message and inspire action. Drawing on more than two decades of PR experience, she has positioned the agency as a trusted partner for organizations involved in animal advocacy and welfare and for companies who work in the pet care industry. Her work centers on thoughtful communication, authentic brand alignment and purpose-driven growth.In 2013, Heather started Ripley PR and has built it into one of the most respected agencies in the skilled trades, franchising and B2B technology sectors in just 12 short years. After five years of success at Ripley PR, she was inspired by her commitment to animal welfare to launch Orange Orchard in 2018.For its work with organizations like The Orangutan Project, Orange Orchard won the gold award for Best Public Service Campaign in the 2025 Merit Awards.As the visionary behind both agencies, Heather has been honored as a 2024 PRNews Top Women in Business Entrepreneur and as one of ACHR News’ Top Women in HVAC. She is also the author of NEXT LEVEL NOW: PR Secrets to Drive Explosive Growth for Your Home Service Business, a highly regarded guide for entrepreneurs seeking to amplify their growth through public relations.Heather’s leadership across all three agencies reflects her belief that PR can be both a catalyst for business growth and a force for good by helping innovative and compassionate companies make a measurable impact on the world.Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at theanimalrescuepodcast@gmail.com or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

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 culture by focusing on education, removing barriers to pet ownership, and helping families keep their pets while serving 190,000 residents across 800 square miles. To learn more about the work Rachel is doing in Saginaw County you can go to www.saginawcountymi.gov/ click on Departments and then Animal Care and Control. You can also find them on social media @saginawanimalcare.Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at theanimalrescuepodcast@gmail.com or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

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 for-profit platforms. The platform has helped pets in nearly every US state and is working on expanding internationally. And they don't just focus on vet bills, rather they support most animal-related causes. To learn more about Furlanthropy you can check them out online at www.furlanthropy.org or on social media @furlanthropycharity. Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at theanimalrescuepodcast@gmail.com or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

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 on social media and @briley.baxter.books for more on the Trumpet book series!Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at theanimalrescuepodcast@gmail.com or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

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 people and pets supported, but also the veterinarians they work with. To learn more about Positive Tails you can find them online at www.positivetails.org and on social media @positivetails. Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at theanimalrescuepodcast@gmail.com or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

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. Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at theanimalrescuepodcast@gmail.com or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

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 more about the work of Wildlife SOS you can find them online at www.wildlifesos.org or on social media @wildlifesos. Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at theanimalrescuepodcast@gmail.com or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

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.Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at theanimalrescuepodcast@gmail.com or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site