Tails of Resilience

In this episode of Tails of Resilience, Jolene sits down with Dr. Megan Gottschalk, veterinarian and founder of Bradford’s Second Chance Rescue. Inspired by her beloved dog Bradford, the rescue is a foster-based nonprofit dedicated to helping animals receive the medical care they need, supporting community members trying to help animals in crisis, and helping pets find their forever homes. While w...

Rescue Without Borders: Grit, Growth & Giving Retrievers a Second Chance In this heartfelt episode of Tails of Resilience, Jolene sits down with Brittany Amarillas, President of Golden Bond Rescue — a volunteer-run nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of retrievers and retriever mixes since 1991. Brittany shares openly about the growth Golden Bond Rescue has experienced as the need for r...

In this episode of Tails of Resilience, I sit down with Noelle Almrud, Director of Operations at Beagle Freedom Project — the world’s leading organization dedicated to rescuing and rehoming animals used in experimental research while advancing education and legislation to end animal testing. Noelle shares her deeply personal journey from a stable, well-paying corporate career into the world of ani...

In this episode of Tails of Resilience, we’re joined by Kelli Delperdang, Marketing & Communications Manager at Street Dog Hero, for a powerful conversation about purpose, boundaries, and hope in the nonprofit animal welfare space. Kelli shares how working in animal welfare has always been a career goal — and what it means to now help tell the stories of dogs rescued from some of the most diff...

This week on Tails of Resilience, we had the honor of sitting down with Harrison Edell, CEO of PAWS—a leader with more than two decades of experience across animal care, conservation, and nonprofit leadership. Harrison shared powerful stories about the wide-ranging impact of PAWS’ work—from rescuing and rehoming our domestic dog and cat companions, to rehabilitating wild animals of all kinds, from...

In this episode of Tails of Resilience, I sit down with Michael Schneider, founder of Pilots to the Rescue, an organization that has transported 2,000 animals this year alone. Michael shares how a lifelong love for animals and aviation evolved into a mission-driven nonprofit saving lives from the sky. He talks about the realities of running an animal transport organization—what it takes behind the...

In this episode of Tails of Resilience, Jolene talks with Ally Remington, founder of Wildlings Forest Sanctuary. Ally shares how a sanctuary that began with her and her husband doing everything on their own has transformed into a thriving 501(c)(3) supported by a passionate community of volunteers. She highlights the deep collaboration between rescues and sanctuaries across the region, the behind-...

In this episode of Tails of Resilience, we’re joined by Micki Simone from West Columbia Gorge Humane Society—a small but mighty nonprofit based in Washougal, Washington, where every animal is treated as an individual with a story worth honoring. Micki met with us from her car in a parking lot at night—a fitting snapshot of how unpredictable and all-consuming rescue work can be. In our conversation...

In this episode of Tails of Resilience, Jolene sits down with Wendy Smith, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Odd Man Inn Animal Refuge in Jamestown, Tennessee — a 93-acre sanctuary home to nearly 200 rescued animals, including more than 175 pigs. Wendy opens up about the incredible journey of taking on a property filled with animals in need and the years of hard work that followed — from caring...

In this episode of Tails of Resilience, we talk with Nicole Perkins, Director of the Portland Animal Welfare (PAW) Team — a grassroots nonprofit providing veterinary care, supplies, and support to more than 3,000 Portland-area families and their pets each year. Nicole shares openly about the emotional realities of rescue work and what it takes to sustain compassion in the face of overwhelming need...

In this episode of Tails of Resilience, we sit down with Kristen McNab, founder and executive director of Rewild Refuge Farm Sanctuary in Kingston, WA. Kristen shares the heartfelt journey of building a sanctuary from the ground up — from rescuing her horse Charlie, who was once malnourished and shut down, to creating a refuge where animals and people alike can heal and reconnect. She opens up abo...

In this episode of Tails of Resilience, we sit down with Jacintha Sayed, Director of Saving Great Animals, a Seattle-based rescue that has helped more than 8,500 dogs find their forever homes since 2007. Jacintha shares how she turned a one-time foster experience into a lifelong calling—bringing her corporate expertise in systems and processes into the rescue world to build an organization that’s...

Firefighter. EMT. Psychic medium. Cat rescuer. Crystal Wedra wears many hats — but the common thread through them all is her unshakable belief in justice and standing up for those who can’t speak for themselves. As the founder of Spooky Whiskers Rescue, Crystal has spent the past year diving headfirst into the world of feral cat rescue, determined to do more than temporary fixes. Her mission: to g...

In this episode of Tails of Resilience, we talk with Kate Tsyrklevich, co-founder of Heartwood Haven Animal Sanctuary, about the challenges and rewards of running a farm animal rescue. Kate opens up about the importance of founders taking time away from their rescues and building systems that allow sustainability—not just for the animals, but for themselves. She shares candid insights into the two...

In this episode of Tails of Resilience, we sit down with Jme Thomas, the dynamic and passionate founder of Motley Zoo Animal Rescue based in Monroe, Washington. Jme brings both grit and heart to her work—balancing fierce advocacy for animal welfare with the realities of leading a foster-based, volunteer-powered rescue. She shares openly about the importance of boundaries, the necessity of loving b...

In this episode of Tails of Resilience, we sit down with Todd Friedman, the deeply compassionate founder of Arthur’s Acres Animal Sanctuary. Todd shares his journey from feeling a lack of purpose in life to discovering a calling that would transform not only his world, but the lives of countless pigs and other animals. What began as a reluctant step onto a rundown property has, through four years...

In this episode of Tails of Resilience, we sit down with Kelly Bremken, the first Veterinary Social Worker at Oregon Humane Society. Kelly is redefining what it means to see the humane society as a true social service, supporting people in countless ways while strengthening partnerships across the community. She shares how a trauma-informed approach transforms the question from “What’s wrong with...

In this powerful episode of Tails of Resilience, we sit down with Lisa Beggio, Executive Director of Columbia Humane Society, whose nearly three decades in animal welfare have been defined by compassion, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to both animals and the people who care for them. Lisa opens up about the realities of rescue work, including her own experience of surviving a horrific do...

In this episode of Tails of Resilience, we talk with Gloria Stewart of CHEW Dog Rescue—that’s Canine Health Education and Welfare—an all-volunteer, foster-based rescue dedicated to saving dogs and setting them up for the best possible second chance. Gloria opens up about the misconceptions people have about rescues and dog ownership, and why education is central to their mission. She explains how...

In this episode of Tails of Resilience, we sit down with Rachel Davis, founder of Lily’s Pad Rescue — an organization dedicated to giving medically challenged bulldogs a second chance at life. Rachel opens up about the personal and emotional demands of rescue work, including how the sudden, devastating loss of her sister left her questioning if she had anything left to give. With the unwavering su...

In this heartfelt episode of Tails of Resilience, we sit down with Chris Driggins, founder of Parrots for Patriots, a nonprofit connecting orphaned parrots with veterans seeking healing and companionship. With decades of experience in bird rescue, Chris is a wealth of knowledge about parrots and exotic birds. He takes great care in placing each parrot, emphasizing how important education is before...

In this episode of Tails of Resilience, we meet Serena Jewell, a lifelong advocate for animals and a pillar of strength at Grant County Animal Outreach. Serena’s story began in middle school with a volunteer shift that changed the course of her life—and she’s been showing up for animals ever since. From volunteer to board member to full-time staff, Serena shares what it means to rise again and aga...

In this episode of Tails of Resilience, we sit down with Karen Jealous, founder of PDX Cat Trapper, and her right-hand powerhouse Emily Richardson—an RN for veterans and fierce advocate for both cats and people. Together, they run a 100% volunteer-powered TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) organization dedicated to stopping the cycle of uncontrolled community cat breeding in Portland. Through raw and heartf...

In this powerful and deeply human episode, Jolene sits down with Virginia Borden—911 dispatcher, wildlife rescuer, and founder of OCCRA (On-Call Community Rescue for Animals)—to explore the emotional toll of rescue work and what it means to lead with integrity and compassion in the face of constant crisis. Together, they unpack the realities of misplaced anger often directed at those trying to hel...

In our first interview ever on Tails of Resilience, we sit down with Brittany Hazel, the passionate founder of Hazel’s House Rescue , to explore what it really takes to run a small, volunteer-based animal rescue. Brittany shares how her upbringing shaped her path into rescue work, with a family that fostered and saved animals long before it became her mission. We talk about the misunderstood world...