Safer Tools, Smarter Techniques: A Conversation with John Peaveler of Humane Innovations

Animal welfare professionals are routinely asked to handle animals that are frightened, injured, aggressive, difficult to capture, or simply unpredictable. Having the right tool—and knowing how and when to use it—can make the difference between a successful outcome and an injury to the animal or the responder.

In this episode, Eric Thompson and Carla Lewis sit down with John Peaveler, owner of Humane Innovations, to talk about making animal handling and capture safer, more effective, and more humane.

With more than two decades of experience in animal welfare, John has worked in field services, shelter operations, humane capture, disaster response, population management, training, and equipment development around the world. That experience has shaped Humane Innovations and its focus on developing, testing, and teaching practical solutions for the people working directly with animals.

We talk with John about the specialized tools available to today’s Animal Welfare and Animal Control Officers, and most importantly, this conversation focuses on something that sometimes gets overlooked in animal welfare: the safety of the people doing the work. Humane handling and officer safety aren't competing priorities. With good training, thoughtful decision-making, and the right equipment, we can protect both.

Whether you work in Animal Control, field services, sheltering, veterinary medicine, rescue, disaster response, or technical animal rescue, this episode is packed with practical ideas you can take back to your own team.

Because taking care of animals also means taking care of the people who show up to help them.

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When floodwaters began rising and the threat of raw sewage entering the shelter became a reality, there was no time to waste. With 147 animals depending on them, the team faced an enormous challenge: evacuate every animal before disaster struck.

In this episode, Eric and Carla sit down with Leslie Wall and Kristi Boucher from Washington State,  to share the remarkable story of how their shelter navigated one of its most challenging days. You'll hear how Animal Control, shelter staff, emergency responders, volunteers, and an incredible community came together to safely relocate 147 animals into foster homes in an astonishing display of teamwork and compassion.

From split-second decisions and logistical challenges to the power of pre-planning and community partnerships, this episode is packed with valuable lessons for anyone involved in animal welfare or disaster response. Discover what worked, what they learned, and how this experience is shaping future emergency planning.

This isn't just a story about evacuating a shelter—it's a story about resilience, leadership, and a community proving that when people come together, no animal has to face a disaster alone.

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When disasters strike, people often don’t know who to call about their pets. Shelters become overwhelmed with questions, emergency managers lack visibility into animal needs, and families searching for help face confusion during already stressful situations.

In this episode of the ASAR Podcast, hosts Eric Thompson and Carla Lewis talk with Melissa Savage about how Transfurline helps turn chaos into coordination.

More than just a hotline, Transfurline connects pet owners, animal welfare organizations, and emergency management through one trusted number, creating a coordinated system for pet evacuation information, disaster response support, and post-disaster reunification.

Because when every call is routed correctly, it can prevent a bigger crisis — and help keep people and pets together.

To find out more about the transfurline, https://www.transfurline.com/

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In this episode, hosts Eric Thompson and Carla Lewis are joined by special guest Brigid Elchos to introduce ASAR’s new program designed specifically for emergency managers planning for animals during disasters.

From hurricanes and floods to wildfires and evacuations, animals are often an overlooked—but critical—part of emergency response. This conversation explores how the ASAR B.E.S.T. Program helps communities prepare, respond, and recover by integrating animal rescue and sheltering into disaster planning.

Eric, Carla, and Brigid break down why animal-inclusive planning matters, what emergency managers need to know, and how this new program provides practical tools, training, and support to build stronger, safer, and more resilient response systems.

Whether you’re an emergency manager, first responder, animal welfare professional, or disaster response leader, this episode offers real-world insight into protecting people and their animals when it matters most.

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Join Eric and Carla as they give a year in review of 2025, from deployments to conferences to training across the country, and keep listening to hear what is coming up in 2026!

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Join us on this episode as we talk with John Peaveler with Humane Innovations about the amazing work he is doing with developing equipment and safe handling techniques for people who are working in the field and shelters to rescue animals. John brings many years of experience to the Animal Welfare community and ASAR training and response is proud to utilize and promote the incredible products that Humane Innovations brings to Animal Field Services. 

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Join us as we unveil a new partnership between ASAR Training and Response and the National Animal Care and Control Association. As we know disaster response starts at the local level and ASAR and NACA are joining forces to bring disaster response operational coordination teams to your State and Local Animal Control Agencies. 

After listening to the podcast visit the ASIST webpage for additional information https://asartraining.com/asist/ 

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Join us in this episode as we begin to dive into the Hurricane Helene Response. In this episode we will will talk about the beginning of our response, our partnership with Rescue Ranch, the rescue of 22 horses on Black Mountain, and how you can get ASAR Training. 

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Join us on this episode as we talk to a panel of pet sheltering Subject matter experts about the pro's and con's of co-housing. In the current crises of shelters bursting at the seams, many shelters are utilizing co-housing to kennel amicable animals together. You won't want to miss this episode! #animalrescue #petsheltering #animalcontrol #shelter #animalbehavior

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As disaster responders we, and the animals we are there to assist, are exposed to various levels of contamination during disaster and crises response. A safe effective cleanser. In this episode, Carla and Eric will talk to David Hughes about shield cleanser and how ASAR is teaming up to support this cleanser that can be used for a myriad of treatments for human and animals and can be used as an effective cleanser for equipment. 

For more information about Shield products contact David Hughes https://www.shieldcleansers.com/ 

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