Conversations For The Animals

Join Lisa and her guests Rita Garza and Celinda Guerra of the Houston Area Women's Center as they discuss The Link between domestic violence and animal cruelty during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Domestic Violence Hotline:

(713) 528-2121

1-800-256-0551

Sexual Assault Hotline:

(713) 528-RAPE (7273)

1-800-256-0661

TTY:

(346) 295-8994

National Domestic Violence Hotline

Call 800-799-7233

Text BEGIN to 88788

Guadalupe 'Michel' Hurtado is an Animal Enforcement Officer for BARC Animal Shelter and Adoptions for the City of Houston. As an officer, she not only picks up stray, aggressive, and injured animals, she also conducts bite/rabies investigations and responds to cruelty calls. In addition to her role as an enforcement officer, Michel visits local clubs and groups to talk about animal welfare and safety, including disaster preparedness. Join her and Lisa as they talk about getting ready for the next weather emergency.

Felicia served as Chief of the Animal Cruelty Unit with the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office where she trained officers on animal cruelty investigation. In 2016, Felicia was the recipient of THLN’s Bull Dog Award. She is the author of Josie Dreams of Justice, a children’s book that addresses issues such as bullying and self confidence while introducing children to the criminal justice system.

Currently, Felicia serves as a criminal defense attorney with KCLitigation and continues to be an advocate for animal rights.

Bet Betner and Lauren Hodge are President and Secretary of the Houston PetSet Young Executives Board. They are among the very first members of this exciting and motivated group of professionals who are working to support Houston PetSet in our fundraising efforts. Learn about why they got involved, what a Young Executive Board can accomplish, and what to consider if you want to start your own!

Erica Grigg provides psychotherapy that specializes in supporting those experiencing burnout, chronic stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma/PTSD, and substance use challenges. While working through her own mental health challenges, Erica left her 20-year career as a litigator and became a licensed professional counselor.

Join her and Lisa as they talk through signs and symptoms of burnout and healthy mechanisms to improve wellbeing. We hope our partners and friends will find this episode helpful as you navigate your own personal animal welfare journey.

*Content Warning - Discussions of Substance Abuse and Suicide*

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Dial 988. Help is Available.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists

https://ericagriggcounseling.com/

Freddy Cruz is the founder of Speke Podcasting, but the Greater Houston area has heard his voice through the radio for more than

seventeen thousand hours across three decades. When he's not in the lab writing or creating auditory satisfaction, you can find him nose deep in a book, snuggling with his dog Sparrow, or jogging in his neighborhood.

Freddy is a great lover of animals and has used his powerful voice on their behalf for years. Join Freddy and Lisa as they talk about advocacy and marketing for animal welfare on this episode of Conversations for the Animals.

Kelli Betner was born and raised in Midland, Texas. Growing up, her dream was to raise 300 "head of weenie dogs" on a rescue ranch to be called "The Long Dog Ranch". To this day she still dreams of that ranch!

Kelli was in the U.S. Army and served a tour in Afghanistan from 2010-2011. After the military she earned her undergraduate degree from Baylor University and her Master's from New York University. Before joining Houston PetSet, Kelli worked in the corporate world, but is so glad to be a part of the HPS team!

Dr Chumkee Aziz is a first generation Bangladeshi-American and native Houstonian. She is a board-certified shelter medicine veterinary specialist and currently works for the University of California, Davis' Koret Shelter Medicine Program as a pro-bono shelter consultant.

She volunteers with Houston's Street Dog Coalition chapter and supports underserved, Houston-based students who want to obtain post-secondary education training. She is an avid birder, likes to go camping, and loves movies.

Tama Lundquist and Tena Lundquist Faust are twin sisters and Co-Presidents of Houston PetSet. They have been working to elevate animal welfare in Houston since 2007 when they joined Houston PetSet's board, and have grown the small local fundraising organization into the powerhouse that it is today.

In 2023 they produced and starred in For The Animals, A Documentary, bringing to light the immense toll of Houston's homeless animal crisis. They join Lisa to talk about Houston PetSet's past, present and future as we celebrate 20 years. #ForTheAnimals

Trish McMillan is a certified professional dog trainer, certified dog behavior consultant and associate certified cat behavior consultant who holds a Master’s degree in Animal Behavior from the University of Exeter in England. Trish has a wide variety of experience in the animal behavior world, including seven years with the ASPCA where she helped assess and rehabilitate animals from cruelty, hoarding, and dogfighting cases, as well as pets rescued from natural disasters. Trish has a private behavior consulting company, and she founded Shelter Behavior Hub to be a behavior resource for animal shelter professionals. Join her and Lisa as they talk about addressing the animal welfare crisis and behavioral euthanasia.