Dumb Friends League Pawcast

In Episode 10 of the Dumb Friends League Pawcast, we kick off a six-part series featuring the different League locations.

We start our journey at the Dumb Friends League Veterinary Hospital at Yuma, learning about the community impact of this incredible program. We share remarkable stories of compassion in helping provide affordable veterinary care to families in need, helping keep pets in homes - right where they belong.

Hang out at the end of the episode to learn how you can join this amazing team of veterinary professionals - see all current job openings here: https://www.ddfl.org/career-opportunities/ 

There’s no bond closer than with our pets. For more than 110 years, the Dumb Friends League has celebrated these special friendships created right here. 

In this episode of the Dumb Friends League Pawcast, we meet an adopter who has a special bond with her cat that helped her remain positive during chemotherapy treatment. A dog owner that said goodbye to his beloved pup after 12 years together, and we connect with an adoption associate responsible for creating these friendships every day.

Celebrate the pets and people in your life in the Dumb Friends League memorial and tribute giving program. Learn more here: https://www.ddfl.org/give-a-tribute/

Special thanks to Metlife Pet Insurance for their support as a Platinum sponsor of the Dumb Friends League Furry Scurry.

Lace up your sneakers, grab your pup and help animals by registering for the 28th annual Furry Scurry. 

In today’s episode we’re talking about Colorado favorite dog walk and fun run – the Furry Scurry! This year’s event is virtual, which means you can walk, run or scurry in a way that is convenient and safe for you while helping homeless pets and horses at the Dumb Friends League. On Saturday, May 1, join a community of people running trails, walking through neighborhoods and gaining miles on treadmills all for animals in need. 

Register today to take advantage of early-bird pricing at furryscurry.org! And,  when you register as a team of five or more you get an awesome Team Perk! You will receive a Furry Scurry frame so you can showcase your 2021 virtual Furry Scurry photo in style. 

Bio for Special Events Manager, Natalie Cutter:

Natalie has been with the Special Events team at the Dumb Friends League for four years and 2021 will be her fifth Furry Scurry! Prior to her time at the League, she worked for the Denver Athletic Club in catering, wedding and event sales while volunteering for a local dog rescue. She has also worked in marketing and promotions for nearly a decade at various organizations including New Belgium Brewing Company and the Denver Broncos.

Hey animal lovers! Get ready for a fun and informative episode all about Humane Education.

Did you know that the Dumb Friends League has a robust Humane Education program that teaches kiddos all about animal welfare and compassion? Meet the League's Humane Education Manager, Amanda Kludasch as she takes us through all of the history of Humane Ed, the programs that are offered, and the future for the department. 

If you want to learn more about the Humane Ed programs or sign up your child to participate, you can find all the information here: https://www.ddfl.org/humane-education/

Amanda Kludasch Bio:

Amanda has been with the Dumb Friends League for 3.5 years. She has a background in Zoology and teaching animal welfare and conservation. She loves animals, and even spent time with orangutans in Borneo and Sumatra, volunteered at an animal shelter in India, and visited an elephant sanctuary in Thailand. 

View our staff favorite animal picks here: https://www.ddfl.org/adoption/

Welcome to the HOWL-iday Spectacular episode of the Dumb Friends League Pawcast!

We are so excited to bring you three heartwarming stories of pets that made an impact on us at the League this year. 

Hear all about a sweet, 5-week-old kitten that was found frozen to the tire of a semi trailer on a 19 degree day who ended up finding a home with her rescuer. Read more about Xerxes's story here: https://www.ddfl.org/news/kitten-frozen-to-semi-trailer-tire-saved-by-good-samaritan/

Learn about Daisy, the sweet and vibrant pitbull that helped the staff at the League through a hard time. Find more about Daisy's story here: https://www.ddfl.org/news/daisy/

Hear the harrowing story of Trigger, the horse that went viral last year when video surfaced of him being dragged behind a truck. Find out about his recovery and the happy life that he is now living. Find more of Trigger's story here:

https://www.ddfl.org/news/the-best-is-yet-to-come-for-trigger/

All of the featured pets on this episode have found loving homes! To see more adoptable pets at the Dumb Friends League, click here: https://www.ddfl.org/adoption/

We are so grateful for your support of this podcast and of pets in need. If you can, please consider giving to the pets in our care this holiday season. Your gift helps homeless pets find families.

Give here:

t.ly/ATrI

If you would like to order official Dumb Friends League merchandise and rep your love for the League, you can find our online store here: https://dfl.aiacompanystore.com/index.jsf 

Welcome back to the Dumb Friends League Pawcast! This month, we are talking all things Foster! If you have ever thought about becoming a foster parent for homeless pets, make sure you listen to this episode. We dispell the myths surrounding fostering, talk through how to get started and what support you will be given as a foster parent, and talk to one of our volunteers turned foster parents about his first foster experience with an amazing dog named Harley.

First, learn a little bit about the Foster Department at the Dumb Friends League. What types of pets do foster parents take care of, what is the commitment like, how do you apply to become a foster parent for the League?

Apply to be a foster here: https://www.ddfl.org/foster/

We talk with Director of Shelter Veterinary Services, Tori Williams, and learn all about what fostering really means. Tori takes us through some of the myths of fostering...will you just adopt every pet you take home? What if you don't know how to feed a "bottle baby" kitten? 

Then we speak with Steven Cogswell, an amazing League volunteer that became a foster parent to an amazing dog named Harley. Hear about his experience with becoming a foster parent first hand. 

Meet our staff favorite picks for this month! Find them and more adoptable pets here: ddfl.org

It's the season of giving! We are only able to continue to help pets in need thanks to the incredible support from our community. If you can, please donate to help even more pets - through December 31, your gift can be matched up to $100,000! Double your impact, click here to donate today.

Stay tuned for our merch store grand opening! Follow along with our social channels to stay up to date on announcements and, as always, see adorable photos of cute pets.

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Website

In part 2 of our Pet Behavior Series, we continue our interview with guest pet behavior expert, Marissa Martino. In this episode, Marissa answers your questions about fear in pets and how to help them gain confidence, what is overstimulation in pets, and why are cats so noisy sometimes?!

You can find more pet behavior resources at the Dumb Friends League website here: https://www.ddfl.org/resources-publications/pet-behavior-handouts/

Learn about a fearful dog that overcame her confidence issues and is living her best life. Check out the before and after photos below!

Then hear about Maia, Lizzy and Joan's staff favorite adoptable pets!

Peaks for Pets is the Dumb Friends League's brand new virtual hiking event! Registration fees go directly toward helping homeless pets. Hike during the entire month of September to earn incentive prizes and get active all while helping pets in need. Click here to see more info and register!

In this episode, we dive into the world of pet behavior. Have you ever wondered how to introduce your resident pet to your new pet? What should you do if you pets don’t get along? What steps can you take to make sure introducing your pets goes well? What is separation anxiety in pets and how to know if that’s what your pet is experiencing?

Joan tells us all about the behavior department at the Dumb Friends League and all of the ways in which they help improve pet’s lives.

Find our behavior helpline info here: https://www.ddfl.org/behavior-help/

Find the Dumb Friends League pet behavior handouts and resources here:

https://www.ddfl.org/resources-publications/pet-behavior-handouts/

https://www.ddfl.org/resource/enriching-dogs-life/

https://www.ddfl.org/resource/introducing-your-new-dog-to-your-resident-dog/

https://www.ddfl.org/resource/solving-litter-box-problems/

https://www.ddfl.org/resource/your-talkative-cat/

https://www.ddfl.org/resource/introducing-your-new-cat-to-your-other-pets/

We interview guest expert Marissa Martino.  Marissa is the Colorado Humane Society Community Liaison and former Behavior Manager for the Dumb Friends League. She has over ten years of experience as a pet behavior expert (see her full bio below).

Throughout this episode, you will learn all about pet behavior, and have some of the toughest questions regarding pets answered. Topics include introducing pets, what to do if pets don’t get along, what separation anxiety is, how to know when it’s happening, and when to get a trainer involved. This episode provides tons of great information on the fluidity of behavior in pets. Get ready to learn everything you have wanted to know about why dogs and cats do what they do!

After our interview with Marissa, hear the story of Porter. A dog adopted from the Dumb Friends League last year, who benefited greatly from his time going through our shelter behavior program, Canine Courage. This program is designed to help fearful dogs gain confidence. Read more about Porter’s story here: https://www.ddfl.org/news/finding-confidence-and-a-forever-home-a-happy-dog-adoption-tale/

Meet our Dumb Friends League featured adoptable pets!

Hear about Maia’s cat crush, Cosmic (Cosmic has been adopted!)

Lizzy’s favorite, a grey tabby named Ozzy: https://www.ddfl.org/adoption/#A0823728

And Joan’s pick, a sweet boxer mix named Nori: https://www.ddfl.org/adoption/#A0826289

To see more staff favorites at the League, you can click here: https://www.ddfl.org/staff-favorites/

As always, please subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and follow us on social media!

https://www.instagram.com/dumbfriendsleague/

https://www.facebook.com/dumbfriendsleague/

https://www.ddfl.org/pawcast/

Marissa Martino full bio:

I began my career working with canine companions after attending the Academy for Dog Trainers in 2007. Shortly after, I developed my private practice, Paws & Reward: Coaching people, Training dogs. Through my life experiences, education and my relationship with Sully, I have developed a unique approach that inspires behavioral transformation for both dogs and their pet parents.  

I believe that our relationship with our canine companions can be a window into how we relate to our world around us which allows us an opportunity to expand as individuals. This innovative, personal development approach is designed to help people cultivate self-awareness and intimacy in the relationship with their dog, themselves and others. I outlined this approach in my book: Human-Canine Behavior Connection: Building Better Relationships Through Dog Training. 

In addition to my private practice, I have had the pleasure of working for three different animal shelters directing their behavior departments in CO & CA, the most recent being the Dumb Friends League. I have implemented many innovative canine and feline behavior modification programs. As a result of these efforts, I was invited to present at the Humane Society of the United States annual conference in 2014 and 2107, Ontario SPCA’s conference as well as Petfinder’s Adoption Option shelter conferences.  

In addition to that success, I have provided behavior consulting to shelters in Texas, Colorado, California, Puerto Rico and Hawaii. Currently, I am working for the Colorado Humane Society as their Community Liaison offering animal shelters and professionals consulting, education and resources to rural parts of Colorado. I am thrilled to be making a difference.   

In the inaugural episode of the Dumb Friends League Pawcast, meet your hosts Maia Brusseau, Joan Thielen and Lizzy Byrd as they share what to expect, who the Dumb Friends League is, and some purr-fect pets that are available for adoption! In this episode you'll learn where the Dumb Friends League name comes from, some fun facts and history about the League, some of the topics that this show will cover, and all about the host's furry friends.