In this episode of Your Natural Dog with Angela Ardolino, Angela is joined by Koco Garcia, founder of Handover Rover, a rescue organization dedicated to saving dogs most shelters overlook—those with behavior challenges, complex medical issues, and histories of neglect or abandonment. Koco shares the deeply personal journey that led her from dog lover to trainer to full-time rescuer, including how one misunderstood dog named Harrison changed the course of her life and became the foundation of her training philosophy. Together, Angela and Koco discuss the emotional resilience required to run a rescue, why behavioral euthanasia must be challenged, and how holistic care—including fresh food and plant-based medicine—has transformed the lives of dogs like Mary Katherine and Scarlett.

Episode Recap:

• Koco’s unexpected journey from dog mom to behavior-focused rescue founder (1:03)
• Why she refuses to give up on dogs with complex behavioral needs (4:52)
• Koco’s life-changing bond with Harrison, the dog “experts” told her to euthanize (6:41)
• Embracing accountability and emotional growth through rescue work (11:19)
• You have to be your pet’s advocate, you have to read the labels (16:42)
• Why it’s vital to question veterinary protocols and take ownership of your pet’s care (20:35)
• The story of Mary Katherine, a senior street dog with a collapsed trachea (24:23)
• How a mushroom extract blend for collapsed trachea helped Mary Katherine breathe again (38:47)
• Why sourcing and formulation matter, when it comes to real results (47:08)
• How full spectrum hemp extract gave senior rescue dog Scarlett a second chance at pain-free living (51:47)

Episode Resources:

• What Helped Mary Katherine: Mushrooms & Adaptogens for Collapsed Trachea in Dogs
• What Helped Scarlett: CBD with Turmeric and Frankincense for Dogs with Joint Pain
• Check out Angela’s Essential Holistic Toolkit for Pets 
• Diamond and Scarlett are still looking for their forever home, learn more or meet the other adoptables at Handover Rover. 
• Visit Handover Rover to adopt, sponsor or donate. 
• Follow Koco & Handover Rover on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, 
• Have a question about your pet that you want answered on the podcast? Email us at [email protected] 
• For Angela’s Free Educational Downloads & Resources, visit: AngelaArdolino.com/podcast-downloads
• Visit Angela Ardolino’s website for more holistic pet health education: www.AngelaArdolino.com

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