We also don't know what Skibidi means (besides everything and nothing?) but we are in it now. Carsten and Gus are here for this week's episode and they tell us all about Bailing Out Benji and the animal welfare world through the lens of (almost) teenagers. These two keep us laughing and have a surprising grasp on some pretty complex issues. 

Carsten was recently named our "Youth Volunteer of the Year" and will be honored at our upcoming 'Bark After Dark' gala. Both Carsten and Gus have become leaders within our pet food pantry program! Tune in and listen to them share their volunteer stories! 

On this week's episode, Jalaine, Kristen, and Mindi sit down and discuss "Kibbles for a Cause"- the newly formed coalition between Central Iowa groups who provide pet food assistance to families! They also take the time to share what every day people can do to help provide pet food to families, without starting an entire new pantry themselves... Beyond that... The episode was a little bit of chaos and a whole lot of fun. 

Big apologies to our podcast editor extraordinaire, Jalaine, for just how messy this truly was. Listeners, just know that we have hours of footage that doesn't make it into each episode because we can get a little * messy * :) 

Everything on our Pantry wishlist is less than $25, if you would like to choose an item or two to send: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/32J89EWBEKXPO/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_3

You can also make a donation directly here: https://secure.everyaction.com/ETtsapRILECTVrUIhSS_ug2

Oh- and if you haven't already planned to come in for our Gala- do ittttttt! We are equally as fun in person: https://bailingoutbenji.com/bark-after-dark-gala/

On this week's episode, Mindi, Kristen, and Jalaine get all dressed up to talk about our Gala! The intent of the episode is to give a glimpse of what the night is like and why we host this kind of event :) We also have many ways that you can support us during the evening in person AND from afar! 

If you can join us in person, please get your tickets soon, as we are almost to our limit: https://tinyurl.com/BenjiGalaTix

If you have a puppy mill survivor that you would like to honor: https://tinyurl.com/2025Survivors

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor: https://tinyurl.com/2025BenjiSponsor

And if you aren't able to attend, but want to participate from afar, please consider making a donation to our Gala fundraiser here: https://tinyurl.com/BarkForBenji

On this extremely special episode, Jalaine and Kristen sit down with two of our Wisconsin volunteers who are also published authors! Both Peggy Race ("Deputy Paws and the Puppy Mill Cause", "Desiree, The Music of My Soul") and Molly Weinfurter  ("Save Our Dogs") share with us what lead them to write their books and how they used their personal experiences to inspire their work. We talk about the process and what it takes to market a book that you've written! 

To learn more about Molly and her writings: https://www.mollyweinfurterwriting.com

To read more about Peggy's books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07GSKXRR7?ccs_id=b49ce8cc-e289-4d14-bb71-788d77c79144

As always, to support our work please consider making a donation: https://bailingoutbenji.com/donate/

On this week's episode, we talk about a world where a magic website exists for the public to use in order to avoid puppy mills. Advocates and consumers can type in a name or license number and learn about a breeder's inspection history in order to make informed decisions. According to one TikTok user, magic is the only way something like that could exist. 

*If only* we had magic. Instead, you get to listen to Alexis, Kristen, and Mindi talk about the totally real and completely cool search engine that we created to help fill some information gaps in the puppy-buying process!  

To view our map for yourself: https://bailingoutbenji.com/search-engine/

To support or attend our gala: https://bailingoutbenji.com/bark-after-dark-gala/

To support our efforts: https://bailingoutbenji.com/donate/

On this week's episode, our team sits down to discuss the interview with Devon and highlight some of the ways we have seen progress within the Amish community. 

Unfortunately, Amish dog breeders are one of the most vilified groups in the country. Often labeled as cruel and inhumane, breeders from the Plain Community have to work twice as hard to prove that their operations are reputable. The comments we hear and read regarding this group of people can be awful and come across as extremely threatening. We are working hard to change that. 

Hate has no place at our organization and we won't tolerate it in the spaces that we sit. 

*This is the last official episode of our 'field research' series* 

If you would like to support our work, click here: https://bailingoutbenji.com/donate/

In our latest episode, Mindi has a candid phone conversation with an unlikely ally, Devon- an Amish dog breeder who sells puppies to pet stores. Their friendship defies expectations, but is rooted in mutual respect and a shared desire to see the dog breeding industry improve. 

For the first time publicly, an Amish breeder shares his story, his breeding program, and why he believes change is necessary from within. This powerful exchange challenges assumptions, finds common ground, and proves that progress sometimes starts with an honest conversation. 

This week, Alexis joins Mindi and Kristen as we continue our conversations about our trips to visit USDA dog breeders and brokers. We share stories about what we've seen and discuss the surprising transparency that we've been given by some of the most notorious names in the business. 

To view our interactive search engine: https://bailingoutbenji.com/search-engine/

To support our work: https://bailingoutbenji.com/donate/

This week we are taking a break from our field research series to discuss a really important and heavy topic after the animal welfare world experienced an incredible loss last week. A fellow rescuer died by self harm due to the cyberbullying that she experienced from her colleagues. Unfortunately, bullying and harassment occurs very frequently in the animal welfare space and it has got to stop. 

Join Kristen and Mindi as they discuss the weight of this work and the realities advocates face when we bury ourselves deep within it. This is a sensitive episode and we suggest only listening if you are in the headspace to do so. 

If you are in need of emotional support or if you are experiencing thoughts of self harm, please reach out to the crisis hotline: 988 

To read Mindi's personal experience with bullying, click here: https://bailingoutbenji.com/dogs-not-drama/

On this week’s episode Mindi and Kristen take a look back at the webinar our team gave last Fall regarding their first trip to visit USDA kennels. The original webinar hosted an audience of inspectors, state officials, animal advocates, dog breeders, dog brokers, pet stores, and more. 

If you are watching on Youtube, you will see the slideshow with photos. If you are listening via audio, then you will just hear our charming selves talking to you like normal 🙂 Thank you for sitting with us again this week! 

To view the webinar in full, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFdyojmKZes&t

To support our work, click here: https://bailingoutbenji.com/donate/