As pet parents, our jobs are much more than just making sure our pet has the basic needs—we also have to make sure they are loved and protected. In this month’s episode of EPAS Unleashed, we talk with Certified Behavior Consultant Jenna Pellerito about dog behavior, what to look out for when looking for a dog trainer, how to keep our pets happy with enrichment, and the importance of Fear Free Training. 

About Jenna Pellerito CBCC-KA, ABC-DT

Jenna Pellerito is a Canine Behavior Consultant and Dog Trainer who has been in and out of the animal welfare field for 7 years. Outside of working in shelters, Jenna primarily consults behavior cases full time, both in Columbia, SC and virtually worldwide, where she works hands on with clients and their dogs to help them overcome severe behavioral issuesShe also has a vibrant social media presence where she talks about the importance of teaching dogs with compassion, mutual understanding and backed by science. For more information on Jenna, visit her website www.TheFutureIsForceFree.com or follow her on social media @thefutureisforcefree. 

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Living in the vibrant Chihuahuan Desert, we are no strangers to seeing wildlife. In this month's episode of EPAS Unleashed, we talk with Nicole Roque from Texas Parks and Wildlife about our diverse ecosystem, how we can not only live amongst but coexist with our local wildlife, and how to protect ourselves, our pets and our wildlife.

About Nicole Roque
Nicole Roque has serves as the Community Outreach Specialist at Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site in El Paso, Texas. She has worked within the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for about six years, beginning her career as an AmeriCorps VISTA at the Franklin Mountains State Park focused on creating opportunities for underserved communities in the outdoors. Since beginning her journey at Hueco, she has developed a personal passion for cultural and heritage interpretation as well as community engagement. She is driven by the joy of sharing the wonders of the outdoors and culture in her community. Outside of work she enjoys cats, nature bathing, doodles, aerial arts, and letting the sun filter through her eyelids.

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May is National Mental Health Awareness month and we sat down with Executive Director, Isidro Torres with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) El Paso branch to talk about mental health, mental illness, resources for the community and of course, how pets can help support mental health and wellness. 

During the month of May, NAMI's national Mental Health Awareness campaign was all about "Taking the Moment" and prioritizing talking about mental health without feeling guilty or ashamed. While stigma around mental health persists, one thing remains true—our pets never judge us and are always there to support us with unconditional love!

Learn more about NAMI El Paso and the resources they have available to the borderland community at www.namiep.org.

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Temperatures are rising and we're feeling the heat—the heat of being inundated with puppies and kittens, and the prevalence of disease in our region. In this month's episode of EPAS Unleashed, we sit down with our guest, Dr. Priscilla Rubio from TLC Animal Hospital to talk about how YOU can help 'Beat The Heat.'

This episode covers the importance of vaccinating your pets, spaying and neutering, and how by taking these actions as a responsible pet owner, you can make our community a healthier place for pets. 

What topics do you want to hear next? Reach out and let us know your thoughts!

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EPAS Education Coordinator, Jessica Navarro sits down with Wayside Waifs to talk about their No More Bullying program and how it increases empathy amongst elementary school students toward both humans and animals. 

Thanks to a partnership following a recent fellowship, El Paso Animal Services will be bringing this program to the El Paso community! Learn more about the No More Bullying program in this month’s episode. If you're an educator that would like to learn how you can bring the No More Bullying program into your classroom, reach out to us at [email protected].

Check out Wayside Waifs' podcast, 'Wayside Tails' on Apple Podcasts and the iHeartRadio app!

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Happy Howlidays from all of us at El Paso Animal Services! In this month's episode of EPAS Unleashed, we sit with Dr. Priscilla Rubio from TLC Animal Hospital to answer your questions about pet safety around the holidays—everything from what can and CAN'T pets eat, what plants are dangerous, and other ways you can avoid an emergency trip to the vet that nobody wants. 

Thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in to our very first year of our podcast. We want to cover the topics you want to hear, and help make this podcast even better in 2024—reach out to let us know what topics you are interested in hearing!

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Did you know that there is extensive research that proves there's a strong link between family violence and animal abuse? People abused by people often abuse animals, and people who abuse animals also often abuse people—it's an endless cycle. 

In this month's episode of EPAS Unleashed, we sit with Anabel and Marissa from the EmpOURment Project at the El Paso Center Against Sexual and Family Violence to talk about the link between human and animal violence, different types of violence and abuse, what to look out for, and how to seek out help or offer support.

Also, be sure to check out their podcast, La Voz De La Gente on Spotify!

If you find yourself in a situation where you need help or support, or would like to provide support to a loved one, call the CASFV hotline at (915) 593-7300, which is available 24/7. 

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You've probably heard the popular saying, "Adopt Don't Shop." In this month's episode of EPAS Unleashed, we talk about why you should make adoption your ONLY option, how breeding is not only (in most cases) illegal in the borderland, the impact it has on pet overpopulation, and how you can help.

Every year, millions of animals end up in shelters across the country, while backyard breeders and puppy mills sell puppies and kittens by the thousands solely for profit, and not for the well-being of their animals. 

We talk to our Animal Protection Supervisor, Alberto Ortiz and Veterinary Technician, Wesley Walker about the detriment backyard breeding has to animal health and welfare, the importance of spaying, neutering and adopting, and what the community can do to stop these illegal practices right here in El Paso.

If you're inspired by this episode, go to www.AdoptEP.org for more information on how you can make a difference!

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Our guest this month said it best, “From East Coast to West Coast, ear tips save lives!”

This month’s episode of EPAS Unleashed, we chat with host of The Community Cats Podcast, Stacy LeBaron about community cats, TNR, and how a community can come together to save lives while also reducing the cat population in neighborhoods.

We cover a lot of information in this episode, and reference some great resources for anyone looking to start, or enhance, TNR efforts! You can find links to some of those resources below:

The Community Cats Podcast: https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/
Trapper Tips & Tricks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtXyr...
Neighborhood Cats: https://www.neighborhoodcats.org/


Thank you, Stacy for joining us, and be sure to check out her podcast and resources by searching The Community Cats Podcast!

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Anyone can foster, and we mean ANYONE! But don't take it from us, one of our amazing fosters and volunteers Josette sits down with us to talk about how she finds the time to make a difference in shelter pets lives, even with a full time job and pets of her own.

We hope this inspires you to consider fostering with your local shelter or rescue, too! If you're local to El Paso and want to try fostering a pet, visit our website for more information on our Foster program: www.ElPasoAnimalServices.org/foster.

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