What if the future of animal welfare starts by helping people first?

In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Cheryl McCormick, CEO of the Athens Area Humane Society, to explore how modern shelters are evolving into community resource centers that strengthen the bond between people and their pets.

Drawing from her background in wildlife ecology and nonprofit leadership, Cheryl shares why empathy, collaboration, and community partnerships are transforming animal welfare across rural Georgia and beyond.

In this conversation, we discuss:

✔ Why helping people leads to better outcomes for animals

✔ Building community-centered programs that keep pets with families

✔ Expanding veterinary access in underserved rural communities

✔ Creating a culture of compassion within shelter teams

✔ The importance of trust, partnerships, and relationship-building

✔ Leading with empathy while inspiring staff and volunteers

Discover why the strongest animal welfare organizations don't just rescue animals—they strengthen entire communities.

Learn more about tools supporting animal welfare organizations:

https://doobert.com/

Subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of animal welfare.

Can one bold decision change the future of animal welfare?

In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Sarah Swanty, Executive Director of Animal Friends Alliance. What started with two friends, $1,200, and 17 homeless cats has grown into one of Colorado's leading animal welfare organizations, helping more than 18,000 animals every year.

Sarah shares the leadership lessons she's learned over two decades of growing a nonprofit, adapting to changing community needs, and building programs that keep pets with the families who love them.

In this conversation, we discuss:

✔ Growing a nonprofit from a grassroots rescue to a community leader

✔ Why prevention is more powerful than intervention

✔ Expanding access to spay/neuter and community pet resources

✔ Building teams by trusting people with different strengths

✔ Creating sustainable leadership without burnout

✔ Adapting animal welfare programs to meet changing community needs

Discover how visionary leadership, collaboration, and community support can create lasting change for both animals and people.

Learn more about tools supporting animal welfare organizations:

https://doobert.com/

Subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of animal welfare.

What if the best way to save more animals is to keep them out of shelters in the first place?

In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Ashley Armstrong, Executive Director of We Care Animal Rescue, to discuss how modern animal welfare is evolving beyond adoptions. Ashley shares how her team transformed a cat sanctuary into a thriving community resource center by focusing on prevention, collaboration, and supporting pet owners before they reach a crisis.

Drawing from nearly two decades in animal welfare, Ashley offers practical leadership lessons on innovation, compassion, and empowering both staff and the community.

In this conversation, we discuss:

✔ Transforming a sanctuary into a community resource center

✔ Preventing pet surrenders through proactive support

✔ Leading teams through compassion fatigue and burnout

✔ Why transparency builds stronger community partnerships

✔ Creating innovative programs that keep pets with families

✔ Encouraging future animal welfare leaders to "just try it"

Discover why the future of animal welfare depends on helping people just as much as helping animals.

Learn more about tools supporting animal welfare organizations:

https://doobert.com/

Subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of animal welfare.

What does it take to build a movement rooted in compassion?

In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Kim Sturla, President and Co-Founder of Animal Place, one of the nation's pioneering farm animal sanctuaries. For nearly five decades, Kim has dedicated her life to rescuing animals, promoting compassionate living, and proving that education is just as important as rescue.

From selling her home to build a sanctuary from the ground up to inspiring thousands through advocacy and outreach, Kim shares the leadership lessons that have shaped Animal Place into a nationally recognized organization.

In this conversation, we discuss:

✔ Building one of America's first farm animal sanctuaries

✔ Why education creates lasting change for animals

✔ Leading with compassion instead of judgment

✔ Growing a nonprofit through purpose and persistence

✔ Turning empathy into meaningful action

✔ Creating a legacy that inspires future animal advocates

Discover how one person's commitment to compassion can inspire an entire movement.

Learn more about tools supporting animal welfare organizations:

https://doobert.com/

Subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of animal welfare.

What if the biggest challenge in animal welfare isn't a lack of compassion—but the stories we tell?

In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Hanna Lentz, Executive Director of SPARC (Supporting People and Animal Relationships for Change). Hanna is helping organizations rethink how they communicate with communities, shifting from blame and judgment to empathy, partnership, and systems thinking.

Through research-backed messaging strategies, SPARC is helping animal welfare organizations build stronger relationships, improve community engagement, and create better outcomes for both people and animals.

In this conversation, we discuss:

✔ Why storytelling shapes the future of animal welfare

✔ Moving from blame to empathy in community engagement

✔ How better messaging strengthens the human-animal bond

✔ Systems thinking versus individual responsibility

✔ Helping organizations create lasting cultural change

✔ Why language can transform entire communities

Discover how changing the conversation can change the future of animal welfare.

Learn more about tools supporting animal welfare organizations:

https://doobert.com/

Subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of animal welfare.

What happens when a business leader challenges everything animal shelters have always done?

In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with John Gerrard, President & CEO of Hamilton/Burlington SPCA, who left the corporate world to lead one of Canada's largest animal welfare organizations. Drawing from decades of experience in retail, marketing, and business strategy, John shares how innovation, technology, and bold leadership can transform animal welfare.

By reimagining the adoption process using Shopify and embracing a culture of disruption, John is proving that new ideas can lead to faster adoptions, stronger community engagement, and better outcomes for animals.

In this conversation, we discuss:

✔ Using Shopify to modernize pet adoptions

✔ Why animal welfare needs more innovation and disruption

✔ Building a culture that empowers staff to think differently

✔ Leveraging technology to improve the adopter experience

✔ Lessons from transitioning from corporate leadership to nonprofit leadership

✔ Why future animal welfare leaders must be bold and embrace change

If you're passionate about leadership, innovation, or the future of animal welfare, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

Learn more about tools supporting animal welfare organizations:

https://doobert.com/

Subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of animal welfare.

Animals don't just change lives—they help heal them.

In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Jackie Ducci, Founder of The Human-Animal Alliance. Jackie shares how her lifelong connection with animals inspired her to build a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the human-animal bond through grants, education, and storytelling.

From producing an award-winning documentary to funding organizations that keep pets and people together, Jackie explains why strengthening this unique relationship can transform individuals, families, and entire communities.

In this conversation, we discuss:

✔ Why the human-animal bond is so powerful

✔ Helping nonprofits through strategic philanthropy

✔ Producing a documentary to inspire change

✔ How animals support healing, confidence, and mental health

✔ Leading with purpose and following your passion

✔ Expanding awareness through storytelling and advocacy

Jackie shares how one idea grew into a movement dedicated to helping more people experience the life-changing connection between humans and animals.

🎬 Watch Unspoken Bond and find upcoming theatrical screenings or host a community screening at https://unspokenbondfilm.com/.

👉 Learn more about tools supporting animal welfare organizations at https://doobert.com/

Subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of animal welfare.

What does it take to lead one of the largest municipal animal shelters in the United States?

In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Jon Gary, Director of San Antonio Animal Care Services. With more than 27 years in animal welfare, Jon shares his journey from cleaning kennels to leading one of the nation's busiest municipal shelters, serving a community that welcomes more than 30,000 animals each year.

In this conversation, we discuss:

✔ Leading one of America's largest municipal animal shelters

✔ Building resilient teams in a high-pressure environment

✔ Balancing public safety with lifesaving animal care

✔ Why community investment changes animal welfare outcomes

✔ Lessons learned from nearly three decades of leadership

✔ Supporting the people who dedicate their lives to animals

Jon shares how compassion, experience, and investing in people have shaped his leadership philosophy and why supporting animal welfare professionals is just as important as helping the animals they serve.

👉 Learn more about tools supporting animal welfare organizations at https://doobert.com/

Subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of animal welfare.

Animal shelters are no longer just places for homeless pets—they're becoming the heart of their communities.

In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Jane Tomsich, Executive Director of Licking County Humane Society. Drawing on more than 16 years in animal welfare, Jane shares how modern shelters can strengthen communities through prevention, transparency, fostering, and keeping pets with the families who love them.

In this conversation, we discuss:

✔ Why community-centered sheltering creates better outcomes

✔ Building trust through transparency and compassionate leadership

✔ How foster programs expand lifesaving capacity

✔ Keeping pets and families together through support services

✔ Leading teams with resilience in a challenging profession

✔ Why saying "yes" more often transforms animal welfare

Jane shares how believing in people, empowering staff, and investing in community partnerships can reshape the future of animal welfare.

👉 Learn more about tools supporting animal welfare organizations at https://doobert.com/

Subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of animal welfare.

The best way to save shelter animals is to keep families together before a surrender ever happens.

In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Christy Schilling, Executive Director and Co-Founder of BetterTogether Forever. Drawing on her background in social work, Christy has dedicated her career to helping pet owners overcome housing, financial, and medical challenges so they can keep the pets they love.

In this conversation, we discuss:

✔ Preventing pet surrenders before they happen

✔ The growing housing crisis facing pet owners

✔ Keeping people and pets together through community resources

✔ Building partnerships that multiply impact

✔ Leading with empathy in animal welfare

✔ Why prevention is the future of sheltering

Christy shares how BetterTogether Forever is helping families navigate difficult circumstances through pet food assistance, veterinary support, emotional support animal resources, and community collaboration, creating better outcomes for both people and animals.

👉 Learn more about tools supporting animal welfare organizations at https://doobert.com/

Subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of animal welfare.