So You Want to Run a Dog Rescue

“Science” is often invoked in dog training discussions to signal intelligence, moral superiority, and to shame those who advocate for balanced approaches. In Episode 3.7, hosts Jenny Nordin and Ashlyn Kauh sit down with neurobiologist and dog trainer Dr. Melanie Uhde to examine what science actually says about stress, punishment, welfare, and learning—and what that means for modern dog training. T...

Recorded six weeks ago—if that gives any indication of how busy things have been — Episode 3.6 is short, sweet, and sets the table for the Season 3 finale with Dr. Melanie Uhde. Before taking listeners all the way to Science Town , hosts Jenny Nordin and Ashlyn Kauh start with the basics: operant conditioning, the four quadrants, and what “punishment” actually means—hint: the dog decides, and it’s...

Season 3 Episode 5: Feral, F-bomb heavy, and full of chaos. Hosts Jenny Nordin and Ashlyn Kauh start off “normally” enough—updates on the Dog Detective Case Files, Fixers Collective, and some behind-the-scenes strategery involving a spreadsheet so convoluted Jenny had to learn something called Javascript just to make it work. But then… Jenny goes off the rails. Spreadsheet-induced madness? Or just...

Apologies for the delay — after intaking 30 dogs in just four days, hosts Jenny Nordin and Ashlyn Kauh have had their hands (and homes) full. In Episode 3.4, they catch up on 3.3 Case Files (Luna, Rex, and Claudette) and take listeners behind the scenes of Not Your 9 to 5 , where round-the-clock care at the Community Center is now part of the job. The main discussion covers wins, losses, and downr...

Rescue dogs don’t come with a sign on their heads listing all their most important information It’s often the rescuer’s job to figure it out — piecing together clues from stakeholders, vet records, and in-person evaluations to paint a picture of each dog’s past, present, and future. In Episode 3.3, hosts Jenny Nordin and Ashlyn Kauh dive into three remarkable cases: Luna, a returned cattle dog (ad...

In Episode 3.2, hosts Jenny Nordin and Ashlyn Kauh are back with another dose of chaos and candor. They kick things off in Not Your 9 to 5 , celebrating their first spay/neuter clinic: 31 dogs fixed in a single day — a win for rescue, a loss for Ashlyn’s back. The main topic tackles adopting to seniors, and why some rescues just won’t do it. It’s not about ageism; it’s about reality — fixed income...

Season Three, LFG! In episode 1, hosts Jenny Nordin and Ashlyn Kauh dive straight into a hot-button topic: spay aborts. Why so controversial? In today’s rescue climate, it should be a no-brainer. But with big names like No-Kill Austin Pets Alive pushing a twisted, delusional narrative (and dirty-deleting their infamous video when the internet clapped back), someone’s gotta say it: we’re not sippin...

Season Two Finale! In episode 29, hosts Jenny Nordin and Ashlyn Kauh gear up for a week in Savannah at the IACP conference—with two husbands and five young kids in tow. Between the usual chaos and conference prep, they share rescue updates and dive into the saga of Enzo’s, ahem, “ball situation” (medically: scrotal hematoma). This inspires a slightly uncomfortable trip down rescue memory lane, fea...

In episode 2.28, Jenny Nordin and Ashlyn Kauh reflect on their conversation with Jon and the everyday chaos of running the largest dog rescue in the Pacific Northwest; it's been a wild week of returns, intakes and adoptions (and yes, all at once.) In Not Your 9 to 5, the team mourns the unexpected loss of DGS alum Gina. In the main segment, a long-running medical mystery finally gets a name: M...

Jon Nordin didn’t start the dog rescue—but he married the woman who did. A Ranger-qualified Army paratrooper with a background in logistics and calm under fire, Jon thought he was buying a companion German Shepherd named Rolex. Instead, he got a once-in-a-lifetime dog who nearly broke him... and saved his life. In this episode, Jon opens up about what it’s been like to support Jenny's mission...

In this episode, hosts Jenny Nordin and Ashlyn Kauh reflect on their conversation with Gina and the evolving role of balanced training in rescue—past, present, and what’s next. The Not Your 9 to 5 segment spans two packed weeks of heartwarming adoptions, joyful community events, and the devastating, unexpected loss of Chopper, who passed away just 36 hours after ingesting a stuffed toy. They dig i...

In this episode, hosts Jenny Nordin and Ashlyn Kauh sit down with Gina Cooley—board member of Dog Gone Seattle and owner of Double Down Dog Training —for a wide-ranging conversation about the real-world challenges of rescue and dog training. Gina reflects on her early days as a first-time foster to Dusty, a feral cattle dog-pit bull mix, and how her experience with Bubba, a dog aggressive pitbull,...

Hosts Jenny Nordin and Ashlyn Kauh aren’t here to preach “Adopt Don’t Shop”—but they are here to urge you to adopt or shop responsibly. After spilling the tea in a previous episode on what makes a “good” rescue, this week they tackle how to identify a responsible breeder (spoiler: it’s not your neighbor Linda with Golden Retriever puppies). From red flags to Merle micro Frenchie madness, they brea...

In episode 2.23, hosts Jenny Nordin and Ashlyn Kauh face an unprecedented challenge finding fosters for incoming dogs this summer, a historically busy season. Preparing for the annual foster volunteer party includes a cleanup of the foster database and onboarding new fosters, with most applications woefully 'delulu' in their expectations. In good news, Declan aka Little Dicky finds his forever hom...

​In this delightful and insightful episode, hosts Jenny Nordin and Ashlyn Kauh are joined by Toni 'Clipboard' Crane, the puppy program director at Dog Gone Seattle since 2019. The trio dive into the daily chaos and rewards of running the largest foster-based rescue in the Pacific Northwest, highlighting everything from the development and inner-workings of the puppy program and intricacies...

In 2.21 hosts Jenny Nordin and Ashlyn Kauh dive into the adventures of running the largest foster-based rescue in the Pacific Northwest. In Not Your 9 to 5, they share their Memorial Day weekend forays including an intake of four semi-feral shepherds, and trading fosters. The spotlight is on adorable Great Pyrenees puppies as Jenny falls head over heels in one named Shadowfax, sparking in-depth di...

In Season 2 Episode 20 (take 17) hosts Jenny Nordin and Ashlyn Kauh continue the conversation on what makes a "good" rescue, showcasing what makes DGS truly special with next-level community support for dogs like DGS Alums Rocket and Bear. When bad shit happens to good people, they help -- whether that means paying a very big vet bill or being available in the actual middle of the night....

In episode 2.19 hosts Jenny Nordin and Ashlyn Kauh finally address the question they are often asked: what makes a good rescue? The episode presents seven tell-tale signs that indicate a rescue is reputable, emphasizing key practices such as preparation, transparency, communication, responsible intakes and placements, and lifelong commitment to rescued dogs. They also share three essential questio...

In Episode 2.18 hosts Jenny Nordin and Ashlyn Kauh discuss their experiences managing the largest foster-based rescue in the Pacific Northwest. They share updates on some dogs in their care, and recount both successful adoptions and challenging returns. Amid the chaos, they emphasize core values: people matter, proper preparation is key, and transparency is paramount. Throw in some humor and occas...

In episode 2.17 hosts Jenny Nordin and Ashlyn Kauh are joined by OG Leila Alene for a wild walk down memory lane. Jenny and Leila share memories from 2016 working with some truly challenging people and dogs at another local rescue; move aside Crazy Folder, they’re going to need a File Cabinet! They remember special bully Chewber, a point of connection for the trio before they ever officially worke...

In episode 2.16 hosts Jenny Nordin and Ashlyn Kauh spill the tea on the new Community Center and their plans for Foster Universtiy (DGSFU). They reflect on Easter -- it was fun, but the plastic grass was only slightly less awful than the actual grass SHITUATION covered in Not Your 9 to 5. Jenny and Ashlyn share likely adoptions for both Ludo/Carly AND Rose/Sadie (all the paws crossed) and in the C...

​In this episode of 'So You Wanna Run a Dog Rescue', hosts Jenny Nordin and Ashlyn Kauh celebrate National Doberman Day by sharing the intake process this last week for two surrendered Dobermans, Caspian and Chopper. Along the way, they fend off 'wannabe' adopter Caspian adopter Jason, who lands himself in the Crazy Folder with his agro-antics at Tacoma Humane Society. The episode...

In this hilarious episode, Jenny Nordin and Ashlyn Kauh, the dynamic duo behind the largest foster-based dog rescue in the Pacific Northwest, take listeners through the highs and lows of running a dog rescue. They dive into the nerve-wracking reality of receiving adoption updates, often causing 'butt puckers' from anxiety. Listeners hear uplifting success stories of dogs like Banks and Rei...

In episode 2.13, hosts Jenny Nordin and Ashlyn Kauh serve up a mix of heartwarming stories, ridiculous owner surrender antics, and a fetching debate that broke the internet -- to fetch or not to fetch, that is the question! They have answers. Inside the rescue, they celebrate Brianne at a 50th foster meet up at their old stomping grounds Hellbent Brewing, highlight adoptions of long-term residents...

In this episode, hosts Jenny Nordin and Ashlyn Kauh welcome back Sara Mustelin, director of Taillights Rescue Project, to talk about the 14th dog transport from Shreveport to Seattle. Sara spills the tea on her dog evaluation process and recounts the trauma of visiting a hoarding house of horrors where over 100 dogs were confiscated. Hear all the juicy details of the transport from Hell when the v...