Animal Posse

In Part 2 of Animal Posse , host Dixie continues her conversation with animal advocate Veronica Belletto as they take a deeper look at the challenges facing the animal rescue community—and what we can do differently to protect the animals who depend on us. From trusting your instincts during adoption screenings to the growing problem of pet rehoming, Dixie and Veronica discuss why responsible pet...

In this episode of Animal Posse , host Dixie welcomes back animal advocate Veronica Belletto for an eye-opening discussion about a troubling trend in animal rescue. From social media "rescue" scams to cases involving animals adopted for abuse and financial exploitation, Dixie and Veronica explore how bad actors are finding ways to take advantage of both animals and the people trying to help them....

What happens to bears, big cats, parrots, and other exotic animals when they can no longer be kept as pets, used in entertainment, or housed by failing facilities? In this episode, Dixie sits down with Kati Krouse, founder and executive director of Bears Etc., the nation's first bear-focused sanctuary. Kati shares her journey from a farm kid in Indiana to veterinary medicine, wildlife rehabilitati...

In this heartbreaking episode of Animal Posse , host Dixie sits down with Jonathan from Rescue Alliance to discuss a devastating animal cruelty case in Walker, Louisiana. Authorities discovered nearly 40 cats and kittens trapped in dangerous, triple-digit conditions without proper access to food, water, or ventilation. Tragically, many of the animals did not survive. Jonathan shares what rescuers...

Ever wonder how energy healing and physical alignment can completely change your pet's behavior and well-being? In this episode of Animal Posse , Dixie sits down with Kerri Russell, a certified practitioner of Whole Energy Body Balance and Animal Reiki, to discuss a holistic, whole-animal approach to pet wellness. Kerri shares her journey from a 30-year teaching career to becoming a pioneer in pet...

In this heart‑opening conversation, Dixie sits down with Ellie Laks , founder of The Gentle Barn , a world‑renowned sanctuary where rescued animals help humans heal through connection, compassion, and cow‑hug therapy. Ellie shares the extraordinary true story behind her new Macmillan picture book Gentle , beautifully illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell. The book follows John Lewis , a sick newborn cal...

This episode opens a rare window into what trauma feels like from the animal’s side . Dixie sits down with interspecies communicator Leiah Bowden , whose work blends intuitive perception, core shamanism, energy healing, and her signature soul‑journey portraits to reveal what animals carry beneath their behavior. Together, they explore how rescue cats experience fear, abandonment, multidimensional...

Jami Torrini joins us to talk about the realities of animal rescue — the good, the heartbreaking, and the deeply frustrating. She walks us through the dogs she’s saved over the years, and the moment she stumbled upon two starving puppies locked in a garage with no food or water. We also dive into the darker side of online rehoming groups: breeders pretending to be rescues, pet flippers creating fa...

Songwriter Craig Cortello— The Canine Crooner —shares how his dog‑inspired music is raising funds and lifting spirits across Louisiana’s rescue community. He talks about the Dog Tails album, the legend of Scrim, and the joy of performing at dog‑friendly shows. Hear song clips, learn how his music supports local rescues, and connect with Craig at CanineCrooner.com or on Instagram at @caninecrooner...

A single dog can change a life—sometimes so profoundly that it redirects the entire future. In this deeply moving episode of Animal Posse , Dixie sits down with author A.J. Symon to explore the extraordinary bond he shared with his first service dog, Chip , a golden retriever who became his protector, his partner, and ultimately the inspiration behind his debut novel Golden Boy . A.J. opens up abo...

What happens to wild animals that suffer injuries so severe they can never return to the wild? In this episode, host Dixie sits down with licensed wildlife rehabilitator Moon Taylor, founder of Spiritual Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Sanctuary, to explore the intensive care required for special needs wildlife. Moon shares the heart-wrenching yet inspiring journey of Tyler, a famous rescue bob...

When Seoul’s historic Yongsan district began its multi-billion dollar redevelopment, over 18,000 residents moved out—and left an estimated 1,000 community cats trapped behind demolition barriers. Facing bulldozers, starvation, and strict urban restrictions, these animals had no voice and nowhere to turn. In this episode, host Dixie sits down with Julie Choi , founder of Yongsan Cats , to talk abou...

When a pet changes your life, their impact never really leaves—and few stories embody that truth more than Jonathan Graziano’s. In this heartfelt conversation, Jonathan opens up about life after the loss of his beloved pug Noodle, the viral “Bones or No Bones” phenomenon, and the vulnerable, deeply human process of welcoming a new rescue dog into your world. Jonathan shares how Milton—an anxious,...

Dixie sits down with Cora Moore of Faeryland Farms, a Tennessee sanctuary where rescued goats become partners in wellness, education, and community healing. Cora shares how her background in psychology and her deep connection to nature shaped a program that brings goats into classrooms, assisted‑living homes, universities, and community events — helping people slow down, breathe, and reconnect. Li...

Francine Guillot of the Spay Neuter Iberia Project (SNIP) joins the Animal Posse Podcast to share a raw, boots‑on‑the‑ground look at what it really takes to fight pet overpopulation in Louisiana. From reviving a dormant nonprofit to rescuing special‑needs kittens like Gump , Francine walks us through the daily challenges, emotional wins, and community gaps that shape animal welfare in New Iberia....

In this episode, host Dixie sits down with Katie Hunt, the driving force behind Shagbark Hickory Farm—a Connecticut-based nonprofit dedicated to the life-changing power of equine-assisted therapy. Katie shares how her farm evolved from a family hobby into a vital community asset, matching semi-retired horses with individuals facing anxiety, autism, ADHD, and cerebral palsy. Discover the incredible...

Carin, owner of Hide and Scratch , joins Dixie to share the inspiring story behind her cat‑focused company and the creation of the Give a Cat a Box program—a donation system designed to bring comfort, enrichment, and security to cats in shelters, foster homes, and adoption centers. She explains how a simple cardboard box can reduce stress, support natural feline instincts, and help cats transition...

Families often feel overwhelmed when their cats develop behavior issues—and many consider surrendering them. In this conversation, Dixie sits down with Matt Wildman of the National Cat Behavior Helpline to explore how his team helps keep cats in their homes through free, phone‑based behavior counseling. From litter box mysteries to inter‑cat conflict, stress‑related behaviors, and the emotional si...

In this episode, Dixie talks with Rebecca McCathern from Helena’s Community Cats of SWGA about the realities of rescuing cats in rural Georgia. From nonstop kitten season to bottle‑baby emergencies, dumping, TNR challenges, and the myths that keep people from spaying and neutering, this conversation shines a light on what rescuers in the South are facing every single day. Rebecca shares how she bu...

In this episode, Vicki Davison of Kindred Tails Sanctuary shares how two feral cats turned into a full rescue on five acres of rural Georgia. She talks about caring for 40+ free‑roaming cats, neonatal kittens, goats, dogs, and the daily challenges rescues face—from overpopulation to lack of spay/neuter access. This conversation is a real look at sanctuary life, compassion, burnout, and why adult c...

In this powerful conversation, Dixie sits down with Diana Tuorto of Horse Rescue United to uncover the hidden world of horse rescue. From auction pipelines and Amish workhorses to senior sanctuary care and lifelong adoption contracts, Diana shares the realities most people never see — and the hope that keeps her fighting for every horse. Hear how her team saves lives, rehabilitates neglected horse...

Some cats shut down in shelters. Others hiss, swat, or go silent. But beneath the “spicy” label is almost always one thing—fear. In this episode of Animal Posse , Dixie sits down with Berlin Waters of The Spicy Cat Project to break down why so many cats struggle in shelter environments, how fear is often mistaken for aggression, and what rescuers, fosters, and adopters can do to help stressed cats...

Rabbit bonding can be one of the most stressful experiences for any pet parent. When the "one-size-fits-all" checklists fail, how do you move forward? In this episode, we sit down with Fiona Murphy , the founder of The Bunny Bonding Coach . As Ireland’s only professional rabbit bonder with over 500 successful bonds under her belt, Fiona brings a wealth of hands-on experience to the table. We discu...

Sonia Guillory didn’t plan on returning to the world of rescue, but searching for her lost cat, Moco, opened her eyes to a massive overpopulation crisis in rural Louisiana. Now an independent rescuer, Sonia joins us to discuss the "brick wall" of community indifference, the dangers of "free kittens," and her tireless mission to provide TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) services to underserved colonies. Abo...

Think you can’t help animal rescue because you’re allergic, live in a small apartment, or don’t have the time to foster? Think again. In this episode, Dixie sits down with Tammy Kaehler , Development Coordinator for Love Your Feral Felines (LYFF) . Tammy’s own journey into rescue started late—and without any hands-on cat experience—but she quickly discovered that a rescue’s survival depends on mor...