The Animal Rescue Podcast: what you always wanted to know but didn’t know who to ask

This week I talk with Anna Nichols from Down and Dirty Dogs, a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of shelter dogs through positive reinforcement training. Anna shares her inspiring journey from volunteering at the Humane Society of Tennessee Valley to becoming an Animal Behavior Specialist, and introduces us to Down and Dirty Dogs—a team of five passionate women working to improve adoptability and prevent returns by providing crucial training and post-adoption support. You'll hear about the power of mental stimulation, the importance of understanding breed genetics, and a touching story about Burgundy, a dog whose case reinforced Anna's commitment to this vital work. Join us as we explore how even minimal training intervention can make a life-changing difference for shelter dogs and their future families. To learn more about Down and Dirty Dogs you can find them online at www.downanddirtydogs.com or on social media @downanddirtydogs. You can also reach Anna @thelazydogtrainer with any questions!

Sponsor:
LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order!
 
Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at [email protected] or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

This week I talk with Heather Ripley, founder of Orange Orchard PR, who discusses how animal welfare organizations can effectively use public relations to advance their missions. After becoming vegan in 2017 and realizing there was more she could do to support animals, Heather launched Orange Orchard as a specialized division of Ripley PR focused on helping animal rescues, sanctuaries, and conservation projects tell their stories through strategic media outreach, social media, and fundraising campaigns. She emphasizes the importance of building local media relationships, balancing messaging to avoid overwhelming audiences with negativity, and treating nonprofits like businesses with clear goals—ultimately helping organizations amplify their impact while maintaining authentic connections with their communities. To learn more about the work Heather and her team are doing you can find them at www.orangeorchardpr.com or on social media @orangeorchardpr.
 
Heather Ripley is the founder and CEO of Ripley PR, an elite global public relations agency, and its affiliate agencies, Orange Orchard, an award-winning public relations agency specializing in animal advocacy and the promotion of animal-friendly brands, and Adventure PR, a new division created to elevate adventure travel, RV manufacturers, camping and outdoor companies.
At Orange Orchard, Heather leads a passionate team that helps purpose-driven brands elevate their message and inspire action. Drawing on more than two decades of PR experience, she has positioned the agency as a trusted partner for organizations involved in animal advocacy and welfare and for companies who work in the pet care industry. Her work centers on thoughtful communication, authentic brand alignment and purpose-driven growth.
In 2013, Heather started Ripley PR and has built it into one of the most respected agencies in the skilled trades, franchising and B2B technology sectors in just 12 short years. After five years of success at Ripley PR, she was inspired by her commitment to animal welfare to launch Orange Orchard in 2018.
For its work with organizations like The Orangutan Project, Orange Orchard won the gold award for Best Public Service Campaign in the 2025 Merit Awards.
As the visionary behind both agencies, Heather has been honored as a 2024 PRNews Top Women in Business Entrepreneur and as one of ACHR News’ Top Women in HVAC. She is also the author of NEXT LEVEL NOW: PR Secrets to Drive Explosive Growth for Your Home Service Business, a highly regarded guide for entrepreneurs seeking to amplify their growth through public relations.
Heather’s leadership across all three agencies reflects her belief that PR can be both a catalyst for business growth and a force for good by helping innovative and compassionate companies make a measurable impact on the world.

Sponsor:
LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order!
 
Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at [email protected] or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

This week I talk with Katya Lidsky, author of "Be Your Dog's Best Friend" and self-described "recovering dog trainer." Katya challenges traditional obedience-focused training methods, advocating instead for genuine bonding and relationship-building with our dogs. Drawing from her experience volunteering at South LA Animal Shelter, she shares how being present and trusting our instincts creates deeper connections with our pets. Discover how the human-dog bond is mutually transformative and why focusing on awareness rather than control leads to better outcomes for both you and your dog. To learn more about the work Katya is doing you can find her on social media @katyalidsky and find her book "Be Your Dog's Best Friend" wherever books are sold, but hopefully you go to your local indie bookstore!

Sponsor:
LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order!
 
Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at [email protected] or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

This week I talk with Rachel Horton, Director of Saginaw County Animal Care and Control. We discuss how she has transformed the shelter by increasing the save rate from 56% to 82%, moving into a new state-of-the-art facility, and opening a low-cost surgical center in summer 2024. Coming from a farm background and Michigan State University education, she shifted the organization from a punitive enforcement model to a community support approach, establishing programs like a pet food pantry and partnering with veterinarians and MSU for student training. Despite facing significant community pushback and online harassment during these changes, Rachel successfully changed the culture by focusing on education, removing barriers to pet ownership, and helping families keep their pets while serving 190,000 residents across 800 square miles. To learn more about the work Rachel is doing in Saginaw County you can go to www.saginawcountymi.gov/ click on Departments and then Animal Care and Control. You can also find them on social media @saginawanimalcare.

Sponsor:
LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order!
 
Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at [email protected] or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

This week I talk with Holly Gutwillinger, a Canadian author and podcaster who went from having no writing background to creating a fictional story inspired by her anxious rescue dog Sully that explores acceptance rather than trying to "fix" each other. Her self-published book, North of Broken & Furever Home, is due out on February 14th and is a "love letter to her dogs" with proceeds supporting  local animal rescue. After owning rescue dogs Cash and Sully for over 12 years, Holly overcame her digital fears to launch "Ramblings from the Little Shed" podcast with her son, exploring how pets influence creativity.  This episode also discusses Canada's significant feral dog population in remote northern areas, where rescue organizations regularly pull large litters, challenging assumptions that overpopulation issues are limited to states in the south. To learn more about Holly and her work you can find her at www.ramblingsfromthelittleshed.com and on social media @ramblingfromthelittleshed. And keep an eye out at your favorite book store for North of Broken & Furever Home.

Sponsor:
LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order!
 
Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at [email protected] or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site