The Animal Control Report

In this episode, we’re joined by representatives from the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) to dive into their highly anticipated State Rankings Report, a comprehensive annual review of how each U.S. state protects—or fails to protect—animals through its laws. We break down the top-performing states, the ones falling behind, and what these rankings really mean for the animals, the public, and the p...

In this powerful episode of Keep It Humane: The Podcast, we sit down with Jessica Rock, Georgia’s state animal crimes resource prosecutor, to discuss the staggering 475-year prison sentence handed down to Vincent Lemark Burrell for his role in a massive dogfighting operation. Jessica walks us through the details of this groundbreaking case—how an Amazon driver’s report led to the discovery of 107...

In this gripping follow-up episode, Ashlee continues to unravel the shocking reality of her experience in Wisconsin. After exposing deep-seated issues within the local animal welfare system, the fallout intensifies. She shares the emotional and professional toll of standing up for what’s right, the resistance she faced, and the unexpected allies who emerged. From internal battles to public scrutin...

In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, Daniel Ettinger and Ashley Bishop sit down with Cole Wakefield — a passionate advocate and leader in animal welfare — to explore the unique challenges and opportunities of serving rural communities. As the Executive Director of Good Shepherd Humane Society and Managing Advisor for Rural Humane, Cole brings a wealth of experience in leadership develop...

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, hosts Daniel Ettinger and Ashley Bishop sit down with their very own co-host, Ashlee Bishop, to discuss the unexpected and challenging turn in her career as an animal control officer. Ashlee opens up about losing her position as Wausau's full-time humane officer following a controversial city council decision. The move, p...

In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, Daniel and Ashley sit down with Jessica Solano, the 2024 Animal Control Officer of the Year. Jessica's journey in animal welfare is a testament to hard work, passion, and perseverance. Recognized with multiple nominations, it's clear she’s not just doing the job — she’s living her mission to help both animals and the communities they belong to. From...

In this powerful episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, Daniel and Ashley sit down with Cara Achterberg, co-founder of Who Will Let the Dogs Out, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about homeless dogs and the challenges faced by under-resourced shelters in rural areas. Cara shares her inspiring journey — from fostering over 200 dogs to traveling the country, spotlighting shelters that...

In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, Daniel Ettinger, Ashlee Bishop and Ashley Bishop sit down with Will Zweigart, founder of Flatbush Cats , to discuss the incredible work his organization is doing to improve the lives of cats in Brooklyn and beyond. From groundbreaking TNR (trap-neuter-return) efforts to the launch of the Flatbush Veterinary Clinic, Will shares insights into the chall...

In this episode of *Keep it Humane: The Podcast*, Daniel and Ashley sit down with Mia Navedo-Williams to explore how the term *No Kill* is perceived within Spanish-speaking communities. They discuss the linguistic and cultural barriers that contribute to misunderstandings around animal sheltering, euthanasia policies, and access to care. How does the messaging around *No Kill* impact trust in shel...

This week on Keep it Humane: The Podcast, Ashlee and Ashley dive into the latest debate over animal control in Kansas City. With the city considering taking over enforcement from KC Pet Project, they break down the challenges of municipal vs. nonprofit animal control, the need for better enforcement, and what this shift could mean for officers, animals, and the community. Sponsored by Tomahawk Liv...

In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, Daniel and Ashley break down a controversial incident in Jacksonville, Florida, involving an off-duty animal control officer and a 5-year-old pit bull named Luna. What started as an off-leash dog enjoying a routine outing turned into a heated confrontation, leaving the community and social media buzzing. We explore the complexities of this case, incl...

In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, hosts Daniel Ettinger, Ashlee Bishop and Ashley Bishop are joined by Hanna Lentz, Executive Director of Supporting People and Animal Relationships for Change (SPARC). Hanna shares how SPARC is revolutionizing the animal welfare field by harnessing the power of storytelling and impactful messaging to create meaningful change for animals and people ali...

In this deeply unsettling episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, hosts Daniel Ettinger and Ashley Bishop are joined by Kevin Hearst from Don't F Up the Podcast to unpack the horrifying details of the dogfighting case involving Fredrick Douglas Moorefield Jr., a former Pentagon official. Moorefield, a high-ranking Department of Defense employee, was recently sentenced to 18 months in federal priso...

This episode is sponsored by Tomahawk Live Trap. Check them out at livetrap.com In this exciting episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, hosts Daniel Ettinger, Ashlee Bishop, and Ashley Bishop unveil the show's new name and broader focus. Formerly The Animal Control Report, the podcast has evolved into Keep it Humane to better reflect its mission of supporting animal control officers, shelter prof...

In this collaborative episode of The Animal Control Report and The Animal Welfare Junction, hosts Daniel Ettinger and Dr. Michelle Gonzalez dive into one of the most debated topics in animal welfare today: Colorado’s newly passed Proposition 129. Joining the discussion is Ali Mickelson, Senior Director of Advocacy and Education at the Denver Dumb Friends League, a key advocate for the Veterinary P...

In this special crosspost episode of The Animal Welfare Junction, Dr. Michelle Gonzalez (Dr. G) sits down with Daniel Ettinger, host of The Animal Control Report, for an inspiring conversation about SMART animal shelters. SMART—Save More Animals Responsibly Together—represents a forward-thinking approach to animal welfare, focusing on collaboration, community needs, and sustainable solutions for i...

In the season finale of The Animal Control Report, hosts Daniel, Ashley, and Ashlee sit down with Tori Fugate, Chief Communications Officer for Shelter Animals Count, to discuss the transformative role of data transparency in animal welfare. With her extensive experience as a communications professional and her leadership at Missouri’s largest shelter, KC Pet Project, Tori brings a fresh perspecti...

In this solo-hosted episode of *The Animal Control Report*, Daniel Ettinger sits down with Kristen Hassen, Principal and Founder of Outcomes for Pets Consulting, LLC, to explore the latest trends and strategies shaping the future of animal sheltering and welfare. Kristen, a nationally recognized leader and innovator in the field, brings a wealth of experience from managing some of the largest anim...

In this heartfelt episode, hosts Daniel Ettinger and Ashley Bishop take a deep dive into compassion fatigue, a challenge that touches nearly everyone in the field of animal welfare. They explore the emotional toll that rescuing, sheltering, and caring for animals can take on dedicated professionals and the strategies to manage it effectively. With personal stories, insights from the field, and pra...

*The Animal Control Report*, hosts Ashlee, Ashley, and Daniel sit down with Mark Sloat, a longtime animal welfare professional with a wealth of knowledge and a dedication to moving the field forward. Mark shares insights from his career and discusses the future of animal control, touching on the challenges and innovations that can help improve the profession. In the spirit of Halloween, the team a...

In this episode of *The Animal Control Report*, hosts Daniel, Ashlee, and Ashley dive into the critical topic of disaster preparedness for animals. With natural disasters becoming more frequent, it's essential to have a plan in place for pets. The team discusses best practices for preparing shelters, coordinating rescue efforts, and ensuring the safety of both animals and the people who care for t...

In this heartwarming episode of The Animal Control Report, hosts Ashlee Bishop and Ashley discuss the transformative power of dog rescue and adoption with Katherine Carver, author of ABANDONED: Chronicling the Journeys of Once-Forsaken Dogs. This visually stunning book captures the lives of nearly 60 once-abandoned dogs, showcasing their incredible journeys from shelters or rescue organizations to...

The final episode (3 of 3) of the animal hoarding nightmare of LuAnne Strickland. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/animalcontrolreport/support

In this episode of *The Animal Control Report*, hosted by Daniel Ettinger and Ashley Bishop, we dive into a recent lawsuit filed by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) over its alleged failure to properly regulate a notorious Iowa puppy mill. The lawsuit targets breeder Steve Kruse, whose facility has been the subj...

In this episode of The Animal Control Report, hosts Ashlee and Ashley sit down with Carie Broecker, Executive Director and Co-founder of Peace of Mind Dog Rescue. Carie shares the inspiring story behind her organization’s mission to provide care and shelter to senior dogs and help senior citizens care for their beloved pets. The conversation delves into the unique challenges faced by older dogs an...