Friends with Dogs Podcast

In this episode, we speak with Michelle Holsinger, the co-founder of Florida-based Mutty Paws Rescue. Michelle tells the inspiring story of Khaleesi, a dog who was neglected, abused and nearly starved to death. Fortunately, Michelle and Mutty Paws rescued Khaleesi when she may have been only hours away from death. Find out how this small rescue organization saved Khaleesi’s life and get an update on her current condition. 

In this episode, we speak with Vikki Smith, the inspirational leader of Edmond, Okla.-based rescue Fetch Fido a Flight. Every month, Vikki and her team charter flights to the Pacific Northwest and rescue more than 100 dogs from overcrowded Oklahoma shelters. Each flight costs nearly $20,000 and Vikki must fundraise that amount every month in order to save the lives of animals in danger of euthanasia. It’s a wonderful story of a woman who saw a problem, refused to accept the status quo, and then worked diligently to find a solution. 

It was a splashing good time when a Lexington park turned its pools over to the dogs on the last day of the season. In this week’s episode, we talk to attendees of the 2021 Doggie Paddle event, which raises needed funds for the @Lexington Humane Society while providing a wet and wonderful morning for hundreds of local dogs. 

Yes, we spend a lot of time-consuming dog-related social media content and then pass it off as “show prep.” The truth is we just like reading dog stories, looking at dog photos and watching dog videos. In this episode, we share some of our favorite dog-related social media accounts. Hope you will check them out and let us know your favorite pages to follow!

https://www.facebook.com/bigfluffydogrescue
https://twitter.com/dog_rates
https://www.facebook.com/PuppiesBehindBarsOrganization
https://www.instagram.com/rescuepetsofinstagram/
https://www.facebook.com/thelaspca/

Many dog owners will confirm that July 4th fireworks can be terrifying for their furry friends. And some of us go to great lengths to distract our pups and keep them calm when all the big booms start. In this week’s episode of the podcast, hear how one creative animal shelter staff enlists a team of volunteers to keep their adoptable dogs calm on July 4th – by reading books to them! It’s a great story from our friends at the Kentucky Humane Society. We also share some tips to help you help your dog cope with Independence Day fireworks (or summertime thunderstorms). 

This week, we share the remarkable story of Baby Girl, who spent nearly seven years in an animal shelter before finally being adopted. Hear from the happy adopters who made Baby Girl part of their family, and from the shelter staffers who never gave up hope for finding her the perfect home. Thank you to the Winnie Berry Humane Society of Angelina County, Texas, for sharing Baby Girl’s amazing and inspiring story.

What’s better than attending a walk to benefit your local Humane Society? How about attending two walks for the dogs, on back-to-back days? The FWD team recently attended both the Lexington Humane Society Mutt Strut and the Kentucky Humane Society Waggin’ Trail Walk. Tune in to hear from participants, staffers, volunteers and sponsors from both of these awesome events. Get an update on Ethan from Jeff Callaway of the Kentucky Humane Society and hear the story of Star, the sweet dog who is recovering from chemical burns thanks to the Lexington Humane Society team. (Spoiler alert: It’s good news all around.)

Since 1994, GRRAND (Golden Retriever Rescue & Adoption of Needy Dogs) has found homes for thousands of Golden Retrievers in need. And amazingly, with the exception of two part-time kennel employees, GRRAND is run entirely by volunteers! In the latest FWD episode, we talk to GRRAND President Nina Scott, who talks about breed rescue, GRRAND’s history, what’s on the horizon, and how they find homes for up to 300 dogs each year with a virtually all-volunteer staff. And she even tells us her sweet story of being a foster fail. (Join the club, Nina!)

Ask animal shelter staffers what they are most thankful for and they probably won’t hesitate before they say “our volunteers.” Typically understaffed, many shelters depend on a roster of dedicated, animal-loving helpers to exercise, train and socialize the many dogs in their care. As Volunteer Appreciation Month wraps up, this episode of the Friends With Dogs Podcast features a shelter volunteer spotlight.

 While there are plenty of ways to volunteer at your local animal shelter, this week we talk with Becky Johnson, who found a specific niche helping out at her local shelter. And over the years, she has put in nearly 7,000 hours walking dogs! Tune in to find out why volunteering is her passion, how it benefits the dogs, and how she has turned volunteer work into a family activity.

 To Becky and all the other volunteers who help out at local animal shelters, thank you!