Dianne Prado leads a unique LA non-profit that is straight from the heart! Dianne is the Founder and Executive Director of the Housing Equity & Advocacy Resource Team (HEART LA), a legal non-profit that helps ensure people and their pets remain together through equitable housing. Dianne started her career as a staff attorney with the Eviction Defense Network and later, joined Inner City Law Center where she defended tenants in evictions and sued slumlords in affirmative litigation suits. Dianne is an appointed public member of the California Veterinary Medical Board and a lecturer at UCLA Law School teaching Los Angeles Housing Law and Policy.  She is also a trainer and consultant for the Stay Housed Los Angeles (SHLA) eviction defense program. Dianne and the HEART LA team dedicate their lives to empowering renters and pet owners through legal service, education, and advocacy.

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Sterling “TrapKing” Davis is known in the animal welfare community as the man leading the charge in trap-neuter-return (TNR) to help prevent the spread of disease and cat overpopulation within communities. Sterling started his own nonprofit, Trapking Humane Cat Solutions, where he focuses on educating, assisting, and doing TNR and community cat management.  Davis’ mission is to change the stereotypes of not only men in cat rescue, but also bridge the gap in communication between black communities and predominantly white animal welfare organizations. From rapping to trapping, Sterling lives and breathes his motto—you don’t lose cool points for compassion.

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In this episode, we are speaking with an individual who has dedicated her time, research and passion toward understanding how to keep people and pets together. Lexis Ly, a PHD student at the University of British Columbia studying Animal Welfare. Specifically, Lexis has published fascinating studies on the reasons behind animal shelter intake, supported-self rehoming and more.

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Our world can use a little hope, healing, and happiness—and BestyBnB aims to deliver just that for every animal in need of crisis sheltering. BestyBnB was born out of a mission to keep pets and people safe, connected, and together, especially in times of emergency. Founders Andy Bond and Matt Krentz share the important work BestyBnB is doing to provide cutting-edge technology to create a better community for pets and people.

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Dr. Steven R. Hansen, President and CEO of Arizona Humane Society, is the leader behind a new, state of the art animal welfare campus designed with the welfare of both people and pets in mind. More than an animal hospital and trauma center—this facility is a  full pet resource and adoption center. Dr. Hansen discusses why Arizona Humane decided to make their focus about engaging with the community versus a more traditional or medical center shelter model and how it's already making a major difference. 

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What does the future of data and technology in animal welfare look like in the next five years and beyond? Samantha Hill, Director of Data & Technology at Shelter Animals Count, the leading national database for the animal welfare industry, shares insights on this question and more data-driven topics, from implementation challenges to understanding how to make the best use of your organization's data.

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To celebrate Animal Control Officer (ACO) Appreciation Week, HASS is joining the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA) in honoring field service officers. Join our special guest, Jerrica Owen, executive director of NACA, to learn more about the real role field officers play for our community and how they are often the first line of defense for preserving the human-animal bond. 

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This guest is not only an accomplished author, adventurer, and nano-mechanics professional but someone who faced a life-altering injury that led him to found the Moment Foundation, an aviation-based organization with a mission to curate life-enhancing, perspective-shifting experiential positivity for both people and animals. Learn more about Grant Korgan and his incredible journey in this episode.

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While farm animals are not our usual topic of conversation on People, Pets, and Purpose, we think you’ll love this program that helps people heal. Jamie Tanner is the founder of  Simple Sparrow Care Farm, a nonprofit organization based near Austin, TX that truly understands the power of community and the human-animal bond. Now, what is a care farm, and how did this one start? Listen to this episode of People, Pets, and Purpose to find out.

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Have you ever seen the videos of pets of people experiencing homelessness treated on the streets of Los Angeles? Well, it may have been due to Dr. Kwane Stewart’s incredible work. Dr. Stewart has dedicated himself to preventing the separation of pets from people who love them. He is the co-founder and Board President of Project Street Vet, which started primarily on Skid Row in Los Angeles and now has 6 different locations across the country. And in case you haven’t heard, just recently, Dr. Stewart was recognized with the 2023 CNN Hero of the Year award. Learn more about his story in this episode of People, Pets, and Purpose.

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