The Animal Welfare Junction

This week KD Hearst, from Don't F* up the Crime Scene, joins us to discuss... well... how to not mess up on criminal investigations. As an animal control officer and educator, he provides insight into how to address animal cruelty and neglect assessments, developing rapport and assessing the situation before coming up with a solution.This episode is labeled explicit for language and content, so listener discretion is advised. But this is a fun and wild ride into the world of the ACO and it is both entertaining and educational.

Vicki Diesner, Esq., Executive Director and one of the founders of Ohio Animal Advocates, joins us to discuss the role of the organization in fighting for animal welfare issues and laws at the state level, and the many programs and resources available in Ohio. Topics include puppy mills and domestic violence.This episode contains some examples of animal abuse and interpersonal violence that can be hard to listen to, so listener discretion is advised.For more information on the programs, including the Real Ohio Tours, visit their website at https://www.ohioanimaladvocates.org/

Warning: Sensitive content related to animal cruelty and neglect casesDana Pannella, associate attorney at Holland and Muirden, joins us for a discussion on animal law and prosecuting animal cruelty and neglect cases in Ohio. Learn about the difference in animal cruelty charges and why suspended jail time is not a bad thing. We review the Trumbull v. Charles Parks case, as well as other cases she has worked on including hoarding and bestiality.

Rabbits can make great pets, but it is important to know about their specific needs if we are going to consider giving one a home.On today's episode, Danielle Patterson and Terri Cook from the Columbus House Rabbit Society join us to talk about all the things rabbits need to have a happy, healthy life. We will discuss their food, housing, reproduction, and diseases.Do you have a bunny or think a bunny could be in your future? You won't want to miss this!For more information about rabbits, follow their Facebook and Instagram pages, or visit columbusrabbit.org

TNR, or trap-neuter-release, is the most effective and humane method of controlling the outdoor cat population. On this episode, we are joined by Dan Spehar of the Together Initiative for Ohio's Community Cats, and Mona McKinniss from Colony Cats to address facts and myths about community cat management.If you are interested in community cat welfare and control, this episode is a great source of education about the ins and outs of TNR.

The Animal Control Report is a podcast hosted by humane officers to educate and share stories and cases that showcase the role of the animal control officer as well as other individuals involved in animal welfare.In Part 2, Dan Ettinger joins us to share his experiences as a humane officer in Colorado as well as an educator, and his efforts to help grow the profession and get away from being thought of as simply the "dog catcher".We also talk about how to deal with compassion fatigue and thoughts on behavioral euthanasia.The Animal Control Report can be found on your favorite podcast provider or on their website at https://humanemain.com/animalcontrolreport/

The Animal Control Report is a podcast hosted by humane officers to educate and share stories and cases that showcase the role of the animal control officer as well as other individuals involved in animal welfare.In Part 1, co-host Ashlee Bishop shares her role as an ACO in Wisconsin and talks about some of the cases she has worked on, the law as it applies in her service area, and things that could improve for the benefit of the animals.The Animal Control Report can be found on your favorite podcast service provider or on their website ar https://humanemain.com/animalcontrolreport/

Trumbull County Dog Warden, Charles Parks, was recently in court after being charged with alleged animal neglect for failing to provide care to animals at the Trumbull County Dog Pound. Dr. G and Diane King, Trumbull County's Chief Humane Officer, share the details of the case and the path of the investigation that lead to the successful prosecution of Charles Parks.This episode offers a in-depth look into the steps a humane officer must take, as well as the obstacles they face, when investigating animal cruelty cases. We hope this is not only informative, but that it also encourages humane agents and veterinary personnel to become involved to protect animals and the community.

This episode of the Animal Welfare Junction is about learning about our wildlife neighbors. Dr. G will be speaking with experts in the field about what to do with injured wildlife, what diseases we need to worry about, and how to become a wildlife rehabilitation amongst other topics. Joining us are:David Donahue from the Ohio Wildlife CenterJess Armstrong from SCRAM! Wildlife ControlBarbara Ray and Gwen Hoogendoorn from the Ohio Wildlife Rehabilitators Association.This is Part 1 of a wildlife topic that we hope to follow soon with Part 2: Wildlife Forensics

What is behavioral euthanasia? This is a very sensitive subject that often brings strong opinions from both sides of the table. On Episode 4 of The Animal Welfare Junction we will discuss this subject matter with individuals who are often faced with making these decisions, as well as a foster and pet owner who had to make this decision herself.Our guests today are:Jenn Thomas, Executive Director for the Ross County Humane SocietyMissy Haughton, Richland County Ohio Dog WardenAmanda Wampler, dog foster and ownerThis episode is a very honest discussion on aggression and euthanasia, and we know it is not easy. But if we want to help dogs and the community, we have to understand and work together for everyone's benefit.

In this episode we dive into what are hoarders and go into the details of a rescue hoarder case from our 2017 files in Athens County, Ohio. Our guest is Mary Beth Brown, the former Dog Warden who worked with us in this case where we rescued… well… you will have to listen to find out how many dogs this elderly lady had in her house.Hoarding is not just animal cruelty. This is a mental health problem and we have to do better to protect the animals and to rehabilitate the individual. Without mental health assessments and treatment, animal hoarding has a near 100% recidivism rate, meaning they will likely do it again.For images from this case visit our facebook page at The Animal Welfare Junction podcast.

Episode 2 is about the veterinary shortage. This is a problem affecting pet owners everywhere, but has an even greater impact in underserved communities. There is no easy answer, and it will take different stakeholders to find solutions to this problem. Our guests today are:Dan Spehar, Co-Founder of the Together Initiative for Ohio's Community Cats and Independent Researcher, on a report demonstrating the resource deserts present in Ohio.Dr. Rustin Moore, Dean of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, on how the school is addressing the need for veterinarians and the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in providing veterinary care to underserved communities.Cheri Storms, Executive Director of Pet Friendly Services of Indiana and Chair of the United Spay Alliance's Veterinary Shortage Task ForceThe questions today are: Is there a veterinary shortage, is it present everywhere, and what can we do. We look to address these questions and also discuss how the veterinary field is affected by this shortage.

Episode 1 discusses the importance of providing affordable and accessible care to animals, especially pets living in underserved communities. Our guests are:Myke Davis, Founder and Executive Director of The Animal Health OrganizationJenn Thomas, Executive Director of the Ross County Humane SocietyDr. Andrea Iglesias, a clinical and community psychologist working with underserved communities through a non-profit organization. The question today is: What is your opinion of "If you cannot afford an animal you should not have one"? Our guests will answer this question and provide their experience-based opinion on the importance of pet ownership and pet retention and how providing resources for veterinary care helps both animals and the community.

In this episode we introduce you to our host, Michelle González (Dr. G), and we give you an overview of what to expect from our episodes. If you are interested in animal welfare and veterinary forensics, we invite you to join us on our journey as we explore how different disciplines are involved in keeping our animals and our communities safe.